Both NordVPN and IPVanish are great VPN services, but which one is better based on the latest test results?
In this post, we are going to compare NordVPN and IPVanish by running each VPN through a series of tests.
Here is a list of tests we’ll be running:
- Speed test – Testing speed on the various servers in the U.S and Europe
- Features – Which VPN comes with the best features?
- Cost – Which VPN offers value for money?
- Security and Encryption – Which VPN offers solid security?
- Logs – A closer look at logging and privacy policies of the two VPNs
- Streaming – Which VPN is the best for unblocking Netflix and streaming services
- Customer support – Which one offers the best customer support.
Read on to find which VPN server emerged the winner in each category.
Quick Overlook
Speed Test of NordVPN and Ipvanish
The baseline connection for all speed tests was 155 Mbps and OpenVPN protocol was used in the respective VPN apps. The test was conducted using www.speedtest.net.
The first test was for nearby servers (Europe).
NordVPN server in Germany
Speed – 149 Mbps.
Considering the baseline speed was 155 Mbps, this is fast enough.
IPVanish server in German
Speed – 87 Mbps
As you can see, NordVPN is the clear winner in this category.
NordVPN server in UK
Speed 150 Mbps
IPVanish server in London, UK
Speed – 65 Mbps
If you are looking for a reliable VPN service in the UK, then you should opt for NordVPN.
We also have test results for servers in the U.S.
NordVPN server in New York, U.S
Speed – 148 Mbps
This speed is amazing, considering the test is being done in Europe and the servers are located in the U.S.
IPVanish server in New York, US
Speed – 65 Mbps
NordVPN server in Dallas, Texas
Speed – 149 Mbps
As you can see, ping (latency) is high because of the longer distance from the testing location to the VPN server. However, speeds are still impressive.
IPVanish server in Dallas, Texas
Speed – 46 Mbps
As you can see, NordVPN offers better speed from US servers.
We also conducted speed tests for servers in Toronto, Canada.
The results were as follows:
Speed – 147 Mbps
IPVanish server in Toronto, Canada
Speed – 78 Mbps
All the tests above have revealed that NordVPN is faster than IPVanish.
So, why does NordVPN offer faster server speeds than IPVanish?
NordVPN has a larger server network, which means they offer more bandwidth and subsequently faster speeds for users
NordVPN has a CyberSec ad-blocking feature which prevents ads from loading, thus increasing speeds and saving on the amount of bandwidth used.
Winner for speed test – NordVPN.
Features of NordVPN and Ipvanish
IPVanish has not offered as many features as you would expect since 2015. This is somehow weird keeping in mind that most VPNs try to introduce new features in an effort to stay up to date with the latest trends in the industry.
Apart from a large server network and basic leak protection, there is nothing much you can find on IPVanish.
NordVPN comes with a wide range of privacy and security features, and they are constantly working to improve the features every day.
- Double-VPN Server Configurations
This feature encrypts traffic on two separate servers, thus providing a high level of anonymity.
- CyberSec
This feature is built into the NordVPN app and is used to block ads, tracking, and malware. CyberSec is one of the most useful features. It increases your browsing speeds by blocking ads from loading on your browser.
- Obfuscated servers
With obfuscated servers, you can bypass VPN blocks. These can come in handy for people living in countries that restrict the use of VPNs, such as China.
- Leak protection settings
These are configured into the app and worked very well during the testing process
- Streaming
NordVPN allows you to unblock Netflix and other streaming services
The image below shows leak protection features offered by NordVPN. There’s a two-level kill switch that has been designed to block internet traffic or close apps whenever your connection drops or is interrupted.
When compared to IPVanish, NordVPN offers more and improved features, while IPVanish is a basic VPN.
Winner for features – NordVPN.
Price of NordVPN and Ipvanish
When it comes to price, the clear winner is NordVPN, especially when you take advantage of the 70% discount.
IPVanish Price
IPVanish offers a 20% discount that you can use to access lowered prices. You may also want to visit the IPVanish coupon page to check out the latest discounts.
So, the cheapest VPN plan is $5.19/month. When compared to IPVanish, NordVPN offers a cheaper option at just $3.49/month with the 3-year plan.
You can pay for your IPVanish subscription with a credit card and PayPal, but they do not accept cryptocurrency.
IPVanish also offers a 7-day money-back guarantee. This is quite short when compared to NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee, which applies to all plans.
NordVPN Price
NordVPN offers some of the best deals on the market.
The VPN is currently offering a 70% discount coupon. The discounted prices are as follows:
Although you will pay a significantly lower rate for NordVPN than IPVanish if you choose the monthly plan, you have to pay for longer subscriptions to save more.
NordVPN accepts all the major payment methods, including cryptocurrency, but they do not accept PayPal.
NordVPN’s refund policy is a 30-day money-back guarantee. This is actually the best deal you will ever find on the market.
Therefore, NordVPN is not only cheaper than IPVanish with longer subscriptions but also has a longer money-back guarantee window.
Winner for the price – NordVPN.
Security and Encryption
The two VPN offers solid security and encryption, but one holds a small edge over the other.
IPVanish – IPVanish uses AES-256 cipher, 2,048-bit key exchange, and SHA1 authentication to encrypt data
NordVPN – NordVPN uses AES-256 cipher, 4,096-bit key exchange, and SHA256 hash authentication to employ Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS). When compared to IPVanish, NordVPN uses stronger encryption.
In addition, NordVPN has unveiled a bug bounty program and a solid security plan for 2020 and years to come. This plan includes upgrading the server infrastructure and running servers in RAM-disk mode, which helps to boost security and prevents logging on the server.
Winner for security and encryption – NordVPN.
Customer Support
We’ve been dealing with customer support for both NordVPN and IPVanish for the last few years. Here is what we’ve learned so far:
NordVPN – NordVPN has a live chat system which operates 24/7 and can be accessed from the provider’s official website. The chat support is very professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. Most importantly, they respond in a timely manner and you won’t experience any issues.
You can access NordVPN chat support any time you wish.
IPVanish – IPVanish does not have a 24/7 live support system. In fact, they use a chatbot instead of a real human. If you would like to speak to a human, you will need to either send a direct message or call the phone number provided during the available hours.
If you are looking to have access to human support 24/7, then you may want to choose NordVPN.
Winner for customer support – NordVPN.
Streaming
VPN is used around the globe to unblock streaming services. Netflix, in particular, restricts access based on your location.
There are few VPNs that can unblock Netflix, but most of them don’t have that capability.
IPVanish – IPVanish was unable to block Netflix sometime back, but it now works with the streaming service in the US. In addition, IPVanish is one of the best options for anyone who is looking for a VPN for Kodi as it has dedicated apps for Kodi streaming.
However, unlike NordVPN, IPVanish does not work with BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime.
NordVPN – NordVPN unblocks Netflix. It is actually the best VPN for using Netflix and other streaming services.
You can use NordVPN to stream Netflix from anywhere in the world. In addition, the VPN works well with Amazon Prime and BBC iPlayer.
If you are looking for a VPN that will unblock Netflix in the US, you can use either IPVanish or NordVPN. However, if you would like to access Netflix and other streaming services while in other parts of the world, then you should go with NordVPN.
Winner for streaming – NordVPN.
Logs and Privacy
Our last category is logs. This refers to the information that the VPN collects when you use their service. There is a clear winner in this category as well. While both VPNs claim to be no-log VPN providers, only one has been proven to be correct.
IPVanish “no logs” Policy (the accusation)
IPVanish has previously been accused of logging customer data and handing it over to the FBI. This happened during a criminal investigation when the FBI requested customer data dn IPVanish provided it, thus violating their no logs policy.
A report released by IPVanish stated this was done under different management and that they still have the “no logs” policy in place.
Jurisdiction – IPVanish is located in the United States, which puts the VPN service under US law. This means they could be pressured by the relevant authorities in the US to collect and store user day. With the US being a Five Eye surveillance country, it is not the best privacy jurisdiction.
NordVPN “no logs” Policy (verified by third-party audit)
NordVPN is a verified “no logs” VPN service. The verification was done by a third-party auditing firm, which proved that the VPN’s no-log policy is indeed true. The firm was PricewaterhouseCoopers, a multinational auditing firm.
Jurisdiction – NordVPN is located in Panama, which means they are protected from countries like the UK and the US that ask VPN providers to hand over user data to them.
Winner for logs and privacy – NordVPN.
Conclusion
NordVPN emerged the winner in all the tests conducted.
This might seem biased but NordVPN was indeed the winner in all categories.
Here is a summary of the test results:
| Speed | NordVPN recorded the fastest speed on all its servers |
| Features | NordVPN not only offers more but also better features than IPVanish |
| Price | NordVPN is cheaper than IPVanish if you subscribe to a longer plan |
| Security and encryption | NordVPN uses stronger encryption standards and offers solid security |
| Streaming | NordVPN unblocks American Netflix and other streaming services. IPVanish only works with American Netflix |
| Logs | NordVPN is a verified “no logs” VPN service. On the other hand, IPVanish has previously been accused of handing over user data to the FBI |
| Customer support | NordVPN offers around the clock live chat support |
Although NordVPN is the obvious winner in this comparison test, they are both great VPN providers. It depends on your needs and how you intend to use the VPN.
If you don’t know which one to choose, you can try both and commit to one that suits you. Note that NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, while IPVanish offers a 7-day money-back guarantee.