NordVPN VS IPVanish 2020
Winner: NordVPN
A Virtual Private Network can help keep your internet activities private online. You can also circumvent geo-locked content with one. Many consider a VPN to be a must-have for any internet user. However, figuring out which is the right one can be challenging.
Below is a head-to-head comparison of NordVPN vs IPVanish to help you decide which is better.
NordVPN vs IPVanish – Face Off!
NordVPN and IPVanish are two of the biggest VPN brands in the industry. But which one performs better?
NordVPN is the winner in this comparison with IPVanish in terms of speed, server network, logging policy, Netflix support and more.
GET NORDVPN
Here’s a quick summary of the key features of NordVPN vs IPVanish:
| Factors | NordVPN | IPVanish |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | U.S |
| Logging Policy | No logs | No logs |
| Pricing | $3.49/mo | $3.25/mo |
| Speed | 24.91 Mbps | |
| Server Network | 5,500+ servers 60+ countries |
1300+ servers 60+ countries |
| Torrenting | Supported | Supported |
| Netflix Unblocking | Supported | Supported |
| Customer Support | Live Chat, Email/Ticketing | Live Chat, Email/Ticketing |
| Website | NordVPN.com | IPVanish.com |
| Security | Strong | Strong |
Now lets look at the comparison in detail.
Pricing
| NordVPN | IPVanish | |
| Price | $/mo | $/mo |
| Monthly | 11.95(0%) | $11.99(0%) |
| Yearly | 6.99(42%) | $3.25 (73%) |
| Best Plan | 3.49(71%) | $3.25 (73%) |
Under monthly pricing, NordVPN and IPVanish are almost identical. However, the annual price of IPVanish offers significant savings compared to NordVPN. If buying for the long-term, IPVanish is the better-priced option.
Winner: IPVanish
Features
| Features | NordVPN | IPVanish |
| Multi-Login | 6 | 10 |
| Apps | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android & iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Amazon Fire, Android & iOS |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
| Encryption | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Split Tunneling | No | Android Only |
| Customer Support | Live Chat, Email/Ticketing | Email/Ticketing |
| Added Features | Ad-Block, Browser Extensions, Malware Protection and Wi-Fi Protection | SugarSync Cloud Storage |
IPVanish offers more device logins, an Amazon Fire app and comes with SugarSync cloud storage. It also has split-tunneling on Android. This allows users to choose what data is encrypted, However, it does not have live chat as a support option.
NordVPN has an easier Linux app and live chat support. It also has some add-on features such as ad-block and browser extensions. However, NordVPN does not have any split-tunneling support. Each option has some minor advantages and disadvantages.
Winner: Draw
Geo Unblocking Capabilities
| Geo Unblocking Capabilities | NordVPN | IPVanish |
| Netflix | US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan & Netherlands | US, Australia |
| Hulu | US & Japan | No |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes | No |
| HBO | US | US |
| SkyGo | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Prime | Yes | No |
| ABC | No | No |
| CBS | Yes | Yes |
| NBC | Yes | Yes |
| ITV | Yes | Yes |
| Channel 4 | Yes | Yes |
NordVPN is the clear victor here. It has significantly more options including Amazon Prime, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. Additionally, Netflix country availability is much higher. This is one of the most common reasons that average users get VPNs. NordVPN wins a big victory in this category.
Winner: NordVPN
App Interface and Usability
| App Interface & Usability | NordVPN | IPVanish |
| User-Friendly Apps | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android & iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Amazon Fire, Android & iOS |
| Server Selection | Map or List | List |
| Automatic Setup Wizard | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Amazon Fire, Android & iOS |
| Auto Updates Available | Yes | Yes |
Both services offer high-quality apps that are easy to use. IPVanish offers a little more control over the desktop version but without being overwhelming. It only has a list-based server selection, but it is very easy to use. Users can either choose a country and city or a specific server.
NordVPN is also very simple. Its map-based server selection is especially user-friendly. There are a number of advanced options that are hidden behind warnings. This works well to accommodate both novice and advanced users.
Winner: Draw
Servers
| Servers | NordVPN | IPVanish |
| Number of Servers | 5,000+ | 1,300+ |
| Number of Countries | 60+ | 60+ |
| Obfuscation | Yes | No |
| Speed | Fast | Slow |
NordVPN is again the victor in comparison between NordVPN vs IPVanish. The two services have similar strategies for server options and very similar country offerings. However, NordVPN has almost four times as many servers. It also offers obfuscation and faster speeds.
The sheer number of servers run by NordVPN makes it a great option. It also has many servers in popular countries such as the U.S. and Japan. Anyone trying to use a VPN at peak hours will appreciate the extra servers from NordVPN.
Winner: NordVPN
Security and Privacy
| Security and Privacy | NordVPN | IPVanish |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | United States |
| Logging Policy (Connection, Usage Logs) | None | None |
| Encryption | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Tunneling Protocols | OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, PPTP and IKEv2 | OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, IPsec, SSTP and PPTP |
| IP Leak | No | No |
| WebRTC Leak | No | No |
| DNS Leak | No | No |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
| Secure Payment Method | Cryptocurrencies | None |
This comparison is fairly close but NordVPN has two major advantages. First, it is located in Panama, away from the Five Eyes and the Enemies of the Internet. Second, it has options for secure and anonymous payments.
Although IPVanish offers a lot for technical security and has a policy against logging, it is located in U.S. jurisdiction. For anyone who prizes privacy, this can be a point of concern. Despite its major role on the internet, the U.S. is considered a current Enemy of the Internet due principally to filtering and censorship both by private and public organizations.
Winner: NordVPN
Payment Methods
| Payment Methods | NordVPN | IPVanish |
| Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Paypal | No | Yes |
| Money wall | No | No |
| Bitcoin | Yes | No |
For payment methods, the two services are again in a close race. IPVanish allows PayPal which is very convenient for average users. However, it does not allow cryptocurrencies or other anonymous payment options. NordVPN allows Bitcoin payments. Despite being very close, NordVPN gets a close victory because cryptocurrencies offer a little more than PayPal.
Winner: NordVPN
Customer Service
| Customer Service | NordVPN | IPVanish |
| Live Chat | Yes | No |
| Email/Ticketing | Yes | Yes |
| Phone support | No | No |
| Searchable Knowledgebase | Yes | Yes |
| Video Guides | Yes | Yes |
Both services offer email/ticket support, searchable knowledge-bases, and video guides. NordVPN offers in-house live chat which is often the best option. Additionally, the response times to emails and tickets are better for NordVPN. Therefore, it takes the victory. However, it is worth noting that IPVanish customers aren’t hurting for service options.
Winner: NordVPN
Conclusion
Overall, NordVPN is the victor in this VPN comparison. IPVanish was only able to edge out its competitor on price. Even then, the difference was never huge except for the annual plan.
Conversely, NordVPN won victories in Geo-unblocking, servers, security and privacy, payment methods and customer service. For NordVPN vs IPVanish, the former is the better option for most users.
Of course, IPVanish is no slouch either, especially with its low annual pricing and SugarSync feature. NordVPN simply has a larger network and greater versatility. Users can certainly enjoy their experience with IPVanish, but, if choosing between the two, would be better served by the larger competitor.