There’s a lot to consider when signing up to a VPN service, so here at The Game Haus we’re doing our bit to help. Check out our IPVanish review to discover whether it could be the perfect option for you.
With well over 2,000 servers spread across 80 locations and growing, IPVanish aims to provide a super-fast and totally secure browsing experience that’s strictly between you and the websites you choose to visit. And we’ve been putting it to the test, uncovering all the facts you need to know.
IPVanish has been operating for over a decade now, so it’s already an established name in the industry. The service provides a secure environment for browsing the internet, streaming video content, file-sharing and messaging in complete privacy. Once connected to IPVanish, all internet traffic is passed through the service’s encrypted tunnel, hiding your IP address for extra security and complete anonymity.
This is a service that promises no logs, so your online activities can’t be subjected to any scrutiny. Once you’ve created your IPVanish account, you’ll be assured of complete online privacy across any network, with all your devices covered - and no metering. There are plenty of added-value features too, so here at The Game Haus, we decided it was time for an IPVanish test, to see if the service lives up to expectations.
Any worthwhile VPN review needs to start with a check on its legitimacy, safety and security. And we’re happy to report that the encryption at IPVanish is military grade, also referred to as AES 256-bit encryption. There is no higher level, and with a character key of 256 bits, even the most powerful computers in the world would take hundreds of years to crack the code. The service is based in the US, so it operates under exceptionally tight controls, providing an extra level of reassurance for its users.
Some early IPVanish reviews noted that this wasn’t the best platform for streaming, but the provider has gone to great lengths to improve this aspect of its service. We found it was capable of bypassing most geo-restrictions imposed by Netflix, with no buffering or freezing. The service was also able to unblock BBC iPlayer (with some buffering) and HBO Max. YouTube TV was another success, enabling unblocking of geographically restricted content, including sporting highlights, which is bound to attract plenty of attention from sports fans.
There’s a downloadable .apk file for the Kodi box available on the IPVanish website. And if you have a 2nd Generation or later Amazon Fire TV stick, you’ll be able to install the software. If you have a Roku box, you’ll need some extra kit in the form of a Tomato router of DD-WRT to get connected to the service.
Not all VPNs support torrenting, but if this is something you’re interested in, IPVanish is a good option. The servers support P2P file sharing with fast download speeds, robust security and no blocks. This is a platform that provides SOCKS5 proxy support and is fully compatible with most torrent clients, including BitTorrent, Vuze and Deluge.
One of the main purposes of a VPN is to keep your data and browsing activities completely private and secure. That means you need to have complete confidence that the service you choose is completely reliable, with a proven no logs policy. IPVanish promises not to log any data or store any information about user connections or online activity. The operator doesn’t even know how or where you’re connecting online, but it doesn’t ask you to simply take its word for it, as our IPVanish review discovered.
In order to prove its claims, IPVanish commissioned Leviathan Security Group, a renowned cybersecurity organization, to put its VPN to the test – and they certainly didn’t cut any corners. The audit involved interviews with server maintenance technicians as well as thorough investigations of technical documentation, system configurations and procedures for server deployment. Extensive tests were carried out to confirm that IPVanish adheres strictly to its Privacy Policy, and that no customer session data is ever retained.
Of course, some diagnostic data needs to be collected in order for the service to function correctly. But IPVanish is one of the very few providers to voluntarily undergo independent auditing as an added reassurance for its users.
All safe and reputable VPNs hide your actual IP address, so that your online activities can’t be monitored, and your location can’t be identified. But there are various features and add-ons that give extra value to the service, so the next part of our review involved taking a look at what IPVanish has to offer.
Introduced by popular demand, the Trusted Networks feature lets you instruct IPVanish about the networks you trust, avoiding the need to connect via VPN. But if you connect to a network that’s not on your trusted list, the VPN will automatically activate, ensuring safe and encrypted browsing.
If you want to ensure complete privacy and security from the moment you power up your device, the automatic startup feature included in IPVanish will be of interest to you. This is something that can be enabled for Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, and Amazon Fire Stick devices, with helpful onsite guides on how to activate the feature.
Even with the best of VPN services, there are always bound to be times when the connection is interrupted, potentially leaving your data exposed. The kill switch is a feature that quickly and safely shuts down internet traffic the moment your VPN drops out, so you’re always protected. During the course of compiling our IPVanish reviews we picked up on the fact that the service offers a kill switch for MacOS, Android and Windows apps, although you’ll need to enable it first. This needs to be done while you’re not connected – head for the Settings menu to activate the feature for additional protection and peace of mind.
There might be occasions when you’d like some of your internet traffic to be routed through your VPN, while other sites can be accessed through your standard ISP. This is something that can be achieved with the help of split tunneling, which is particularly useful when logging into sites that are suspicious of VPN use, such as financial institutions. IPVanish has recently introduced this feature for Android devices, so there’s every likelihood it will expand to cover other devices in the future.
Some VPNs offer a free trial period, so you can explore the features and try out the service for yourself before making any kind of financial commitment. Although this isn’t something currently offered by IPVanish, signing up for anything other than the monthly plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied.
It’s worth noting that iOS app downloads don’t qualify for the money-back guarantee from IPVanish. These subscriptions are handled by Apple, so any refund requests must be made directly to Apple, using the Manage Subscription tab within your account.
We discovered a choice of plans at IPVanish, ranging from one month to two years. But unless you only have a very short-term requirement for a VPN, the monthly option isn’t going to be cost effective, although that seems to be standard for most VPN services. There are hefty discounts if you sign up for one or two years, with a 75% reduction for subscribing to the two-year option.
One thing we noticed during the course of our IPVanish review is that the costs seem to rise sharply when it comes to renewing your subscription. So if you’re considering signing up to this service, we recommend you go for the two-year plan, ensuring the best long-term benefits from the reduced price.
| Plan | Monthly cost | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $11.99 | |
| 1 Year | $3.33 | 72% |
| 2 Years | $2.92 | 75% |
Up until recently, there was no free IPVanish trial available for new customers, although there’s always an option to close your account within the first month without incurring any penalties. But the service has recently launched a free trial for mobile users who download the IPVanish app from the Google Play or Apple online stores.
To access the free 7-day trial, you’ll need to register for a yearly account. If you decide not to continue with your subscription, it’s essential to cancel before the end of the 7th day following your sign up. Simply download the app to your mobile, launch the software, create your account and you’re ready to get started. You’ll be required to confirm your subscription to IPVanish through your app store, which authorizes and processes the free trial.
Even though your subscription is for mobile use, you can still access the entire software suite at IPVanish. That gives you the chance to try it out on streaming devices and your computer, to check that it offers the functionality you’re looking for.
To use the free trial, your first step is to install IPVanish onto your chosen device. Now you need to create your new account, either through your email, or by choosing a username and password, before tapping the Sign Up button.
Unless you’ve previously used a VPN, you’re almost certainly going to need some help and advice with getting started. And even if you’re experienced with using this type of service, you’re bound to have questions at some point. Whether it’s troubleshooting an unexpected problem, or just a simple query about your account, our IPVanish review was keen to discover what the options are.
We were pleased to find that IPVanish offers a comprehensive Support Center, which you can access from the head or footer of every page. Not only can you take your pick from an entire suite of support resources here, but you can also check the status of your VPN, quickly identifying any maintenance issues that could be temporarily disrupting the service.
There are detailed guides for setting up IPVanish across all your devices, a comprehensive FAQ section and sections dedicated to billing questions and troubleshooting – which includes guides to error codes and diagnostics.
IPVanish are keen to emphasize that customer satisfaction is given the highest priority, which is why the support team operates 24/7 to deal with any issues or questions users might have. If your query is particularly urgent, the fastest response is available through the Live Chat service, which starts with a bot, but you can be referred to a member of the team if necessary.
There’s an option to send an email, although a response may take up to 48 hours. You can also get in touch via the IPVanish Facebook and Twitter social media channels. And telephone support is available too, with dedicated numbers for clients in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, UK, and Australia, although this service is only available from Monday to Friday.
Now that we’ve reached the end of our IPVanish review, you should have a good idea whether this could be the VPN you’ve been looking for. And it certainly has plenty to offer, including high-speed performance, lightweight protocols, a global network of more than 2,000 servers and unlimited bandwidth.
In our view, IPVanish is a great option for anyone looking for a safe, secure and reliable VPN. All of its servers are P2P compatible, so torrenting isn’t a problem, and the service unlocks most popular TV streaming platforms too. Just watch out for high fees for the monthly plans – which is fairly common among VPN platforms - and be aware that renewal fees can be on the steep side. But with a free 7-day trial available for mobile users and a 30-day money back guarantee on all plans longer than a month, there’s really nothing to lose by testing it out for yourself.
Here at The Game Haus, we believe the best VPN is the one that offers the features you’re most interested in. So we’ve prepared insightful reviews and guides to help you find that’s right for you. Come and take a look at our IPVanish reviews to find out all about the service and we’ll help you decide whether it’s the perfect option for your needs.
If you’re thinking about signing up to a VPN, you need to come and check our what our experts here at The Game Haus have to say. Our IPVanish reviews will tell you everything you need to know, from safety and security to pricing, support and much more. Come and take a look!
Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to sign up to a VPN, so our reviews and guides are designed to give you the complete picture. Come and check out our IPVanish review here at The Game Haus to help you decide whether this could be the right option for you.
Not all VPNs are equal, so here at The Game Haus we aim to make it as easy and intuitive as possible to find the service that’s right for you. Come and check out our IPVanish review, to discover whether this could be the best VPN for your streaming requirements.
