IPVanish vs. NordVPN: Differences, pros and cons in 2024
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 2:07 a.m. UTC March 25, 2024
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Pros
- Several specialty servers.
- Supports zero-trust user provisioning.
- Second fastest average upload speed.
Cons
- Business plans cost more than its rivals.
- Limited to 10 simultaneous connections.
- Servers in fewer countries than Surfshark.
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections.
- Dedicated VPN for Chrome operating systems.
- Live chat available 24/7.
Cons
- No multi-factor authentication.
- Can’t use IPVanish in all countries.
- Lacks browser extensions.
Featured VPN service offers
NordVPN
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$12.99
Download speed (average)
235 Mbps
Surfshark
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$15.45
Download speed (average)
263 Mbps
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$11.95
Download speed (average)
124 Mbps
Both NordVPN and IPVanish are top VPN services with sizable, global server networks. However, there are a few notable differences between the two. From pricing and features to speed and service, here’s what you need to know.
NordVPN vs. IPVanish: Cost
| LOWEST MONTHLY PLAN PRICE (PER MONTH) | LOWEST ANNUAL PLAN PRICE (PER MONTH) | HIGHEST MONTHLY PLAN PRICE (PER MONTH) | HIGHEST ANNUAL PLAN PRICE (PER MONTH) | FREE TRIAL AVAILABLE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN
| $12.99
| $4.59
| $15.99
| $7.49
| Yes, through the Google Play Store
|
IPVanish
| $12.99
| $3.33
| Single-tier
| Single-tier
| Yes, through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store
|
With IPVanish, you can get a seven-day free trial through the mobile app. However, you also have to purchase a yearly plan instead of a monthly plan. You can also land a free trial of NordVPN by downloading its app from the Google Play Store.
NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. IPVanish also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but only on its annual and two-year plans. Both require you to pay by credit card and then request a refund if you are not satisfied.
As for each company’s pricing plans, both offer monthly, one-year and two-year plans. NordVPN offers three pricing tiers in each category, while IPVanish only offers one per category. Still, at $2.99 per month in its annual plan (compared to $4.49 for NordVPN), IPVanish’s only pricing tier is cheaper than NordVPN’s cheapest option across the board. You can save a bit by going with IPVanish, but it may cost you a few features and benefits — more on that below.
While bulk user discounts are not available for the regular NordVPN plan, its business VPN product, NordLayer, offers discounts. However, this product only supports a minimum of five licenses. For example, by going with the business product, you bring your month-to-month rate down from $12.99 to $9.00 per user per month (with a minimum of five licenses).
NordVPN vs. IPVanish: Features
| ANONYMOUS BROWSING | DEDICATED IP | KILL SWITCH | SPLIT TUNNELING | MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
IPVanish
| Yes
| No
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
NordVPN and IPVanish have many similarities. They both offer anonymous browsing, a kill switch and split tunneling. NordVPN goes a bit further with security features, though, offering a dedicated IP add-on and a more advanced multi-factor authentication (MFA) options, including code-based and security-key options. IPVanish, in contrast, only offers code-based 2-factor authentication through an app like Authy.
With NordVPN, dedicated IP addresses can be added to your VPN subscription for an additional monthly fee. An IP address that isn’t shared by others is less likely to be blocked by websites due to bad behavior of past users. It also helps to prevent repetitive verification processes because it is unique to you. IPVanish currently only offers dynamic shared IPs.
NordVPN vs. IPVanish: Servers
| NUMBER OF CONTINENTS WITH SERVERS | TOTAL NUMBER OF SERVERS | NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WITH SERVERS | |
|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN
| 6 | 6,200+
| 110+
|
IPVanish
| 6 | 2,200+
| 52 |
IPVanish has less than half the number of servers NordVPN has, so NordVPN is the clear winner when it comes to server count. NordVPN also covers a lot more servers, at more than 110 compared to IPVanish’s 52. Both companies have servers across six continents.
NordVPN vs. IPVanish: Speed
| DOWNLOAD SPEED (AVERAGE) | UPLOAD SPEED (AVERAGE) | DOWNLOAD SPEED (MIN TO MAX) | UPLOAD SPEED (MIN TO MAX) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN
| 235 Mbps
| 186 Mbps
| 90 to 97 mbps
| 26 to 98 mbps
|
IPVanish
| 238 Mbps
| 32 Mbps
| 149 to 166 mbps
| 212 to 315 mbps
|
Though helpful, VPNs can slow down your internet speed. The degree to which they slow it down varies depending on factors like a company’s tunneling protocols, split tunneling options and server loads. Both NordVPN and IPVanish perform fairly well on speed tests but IPVanish comes out ahead. It reports speed drops of just 10% to 20%, which outshine NordVPN’s speed drops of 20% to 30%.
However, both offer split tunneling options, which can decrease the slow-down effect of a VPN. This option allows you to split your application or device traffic between using the VPN and not. So, data you want to keep private can go through the VPN, while other data can be routed through your regular internet connection. This allows you to avoid the slower connection that may result if all of your data went through the VPN.
NordVPN vs. IPVanish: Customer support
| 24/7 CUSTOMER SUPPORT | PHONE SUPPORT | LIVE CHAT | KNOWLEDGE BASE/HELP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN
| Yes
| No
| Yes: Human
| Yes
|
IPVanish
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes: Human
| Yes
|
When comparing reviews from past customers on TrustPilot, IPVanish earned a 4.2 rating after over 8,500 reviews. NordVPN also earned a 4.2, but after over 31,000 reviews. Both companies have a reputation for providing a quality VPN service, but NordVPN seems to be more popular. Neither provider has a presence or rating on the Better Business Bureau website.
Here’s a closer look at the different support channels offered by each provider:
Phone support
IPVanish offers phone support Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. NordVPN doesn’t currently have a phone support line.
Email support
Both providers offer a contact email address. NordVPN doesn’t provide an expected response time for emails, whereas IPVanish says it responds within 48 hours.
Knowledge bases
Both companies offer extensive knowledge bases, so you can find the answers you need on their websites.
Live chat
Both companies offer 24/7 support through live chat.
In testing NordVPN’s live chat service, the interaction began with a bot trying to resolve my issue. After asking to speak with an agent and providing an email address, a representative entered the chat within a minute. She quickly answered my questions and provided me with reference materials.
IPVanish’s live chat service also started with a bot. After requesting an agent, I had to provide my name, email address and type of problem. After that, an agent entered the chat within seconds. He was also very friendly and quickly answered my questions.
Which VPN is right for your business?
The right VPN for your business is going to depend on your needs and preferences.
NordVPN has slightly higher prices, no phone support and slightly slower speeds. But, it has 31,000+ reviews from past customers, additional security features (such as more multi-factor authentication options) and a much larger network of servers. It also offers premium add-ons like dedicated IP addresses. This, coupled with more servers, can lend to a more comfortable browsing experience. So, if ease of use is what you need, consider NordVPN.
NordVPN’s parent company also owns NordLayer, which provides businesses with a suite of cybersecurity solutions and better rates for multiple licenses. If you foresee expanding business needs in the future, you may prefer to get NordVPN now and then shift to its business product, NordLayer, down the road.
On the other hand, IPVanish will likely be a better fit if your top priorities include retaining max download/upload speeds, keeping costs as low as possible and reaching customer service by phone. IPVanish shines on those fronts but falls a bit short when it comes to features, security and plan versatility.
Want to compare more VPN providers? Check out the best business VPN providers.
Featured VPN service offers
NordVPN
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$12.99
Download speed (average)
235 Mbps
Surfshark
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$15.45
Download speed (average)
263 Mbps
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$11.95
Download speed (average)
124 Mbps
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
