IPVanish scores 3.5/5 overall in our tests, against 3.8/5 for Windscribe. That 0.3-point gap is decisive in one direction, but the right pick still depends on what you actually need.
| Criteria | IPVanish | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 3.5/5 | 3.8/5 ★ |
| Jurisdiction | USA | Canada |
| 14-Eyes / 5-Eyes | Five | Five |
| No-logs policy | Audited 5/5 ★ | Not audited 2/5 |
| Speed score | 4/5 | 5/5 ★ |
| Protocols score | 5/5 ★ | 4/5 |
| Streaming score | 2/5 | 3.5/5 ★ |
| Leak protection | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| RAM-only servers | 3/5 | 5/5 ★ |
| Encryption score | 5/5 ★ | 3/5 |
| Security subtotal | 4.0/5 ★ | 3.4/5 |
| Trust subtotal | 3.0/5 | 3.7/5 ★ |
| Price (monthly) | $12.99/mo | $9.00/mo |
| Price (1-year total) | $39.99/yr | $69.00/yr |
| Price (2-year total) | $52.56/yr | N/A |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes, 30 days | Yes, 3 days |
| Pricing score | 3.5/5 | 4.0/5 ★ |
Where IPVanish wins
IPVanish leads on privacy and security (4.0/5 vs 3.4/5).
Where Windscribe wins
Where Windscribe has an edge: speed (5/5 vs 4/5), streaming (3.5/5 vs 2/5), value for money (4.0/5 vs 3.5/5), transparency and trust (3.7/5 vs 3.0/5), features (3.7/5 vs 3.0/5). If these are your priorities, Windscribe is the better fit.
Who should pick what
The simplest rule: Windscribe is the default recommendation based on overall scores. The only reason to choose IPVanish instead is if speed is critical for your use case.
Want to compare all VPNs side by side? Check our full VPN comparison table with scores across 18 criteria.
Pick Windscribe. It scores 3.8/5 vs 3.5/5 for IPVanish, with a clear edge on streaming. IPVanish is not a bad VPN, but Windscribe wins this matchup. See Windscribe's current deal.
For more context, check our full VPN comparison table or the best cheap VPN guide. Read our full IPVanish review for a complete breakdown. See our Windscribe review for more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Windscribe is the better streaming option, with a 3.5/5 streaming score. If streaming is your main use case, check our [best VPN for Netflix](/blog/best-vpn-netflix-2026/) guide.
IPVanish scores higher on security (4.0/5). IPVanish is based in USA (Audited), Windscribe in Canada (Not audited).
Our pricing score gives IPVanish 3.5/5 and Windscribe 4.0/5. IPVanish is $12.99/mo monthly or $39.99/yr per year. Windscribe is $9.00/mo monthly or $69.00/yr per year. Both include a money-back guarantee.