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ExpressVPN vs. IPVanish

ExpressVPN-vs-IPVanishExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPNs out there, but IPVanish can easily compete with it. Both are very reliable VPN solutions that come with quite appealing features for protecting your online privacy and enabling you to stream and download various online content and block irritating ads.

We’ve tested both and give you this detailed head-to-head comparison to help you make an informed decision. Let’s go over the essential pros and cons of these VPNs before diving into everything you need to know about them.

ExpressVPN Pros:

  • No-logs policy
  • 3000+ server locations in 94 countries
  • DNS leak protection, split tunneling and kill switch
  • Up to 5 simultaneous connections
  • Unblocks Netflix

ExpressVPN Cons:

  • No free trial
  • Steep price tag

IPVanish Pros:

  • No-logs policy
  • 1300+ servers in 75+ countries
  • Split tunneling, kill switch, and obfuscation
  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections
  • 24/7 live chat support

IPVanish Cons:

  • No free trial
  • Doesn’t unblock Netflix

Read the full review of IPVanish and ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN vs. IPVanish: Features

Both of these VPNs come with excellent features, so you really can’t go wrong with either of them.

They have in common the following essential features:

  • Military-grade security
  • IP address masking
  • DNS leak protection
  • Split tunneling
  • Kill switch
  • Bypassing geo-restrictions for streaming
  • P2P torrenting support
  • Multiple-platform support
  • Global server coverage
  • Excellent customer support
  • Simultaneous connections

Now, there are slight differences between these features. ExpressVPN has a broader network of servers than IPVanish, and is much better for streaming, as it unblocks Netflix and other streaming services. However, it allows up to 5 simultaneous connections, while IPVanish allows up to 10.

There’s more to explore regarding all these features, so read on.

Speed test and performance

We’ve tested both of these VPNs for connection speed and performance. We found that they provide some of the most exceptional speeds in the industry. ExpressVPN is a bit faster, but IPVanish delivers speeds that are more than satisfactory.

When testing ExpressVPN’s speed on a base connection of 30 Mbps, we measured a 26.62 Mbps download speed and an 18.04 Mbps upload speed, with a ping of 193 ms.

ExpressVPN-speed

When testing IPVanish’s speed on the same base connection, we measured a 24.63 Mbps download speed and an 11.51 upload speed, with a ping of 199 ms. It’s slightly slower than ExpressVPN, but you can barely notice the difference.

IPVanish-speed

On higher base connections, we found that IPVanish could quickly get to around 62.15 Mbps, while ExpressVPN could reach 106.78 Mbps.

Security: Encryption & protocols

When looking closely at the ExpressVPN vs. IPVanish security features, we found that both include military-grade encryption and security protocols. Whichever you choose, you can be sure that you’ll get best-in-class online protection, without ever worrying about potential data breaches and DNS leaks.

Both ExpressVPN and IPVanish use an AES 256-bit encryption, and PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and OpenVPN security protocols. They both come with a DNS leak protection, IPv6 leak protection, kill switch, and split tunneling, while IPVanish also has an obfuscation feature for scrambling VPN activity to make it appear as regular traffic.

Logging policies

ExpressVPN operates under the jurisdiction of BVI (British Virgin Islands), which is a privacy-friendly country where VPN providers don’t need to log and store any user data and activity. ExpressVPN has a zero-logging policy, meaning it doesn’t log or store any user data.

IPVanish also follows a no-logs policy, although it operates under the US jurisdiction, where providers are encouraged to keep logs of user data. They’re not required to do so, so IPVanish doesn’t keep those records, but its privacy policy is a bit vague.

ExpressVPN vs. IPVanish: Compatibility

Both IPVanish and ExpressVPN are compatible with a broad range of devices, browsers, and operating systems. Still, the latter has dedicated app solutions for a more significant number of platforms, including smart TVs and gaming consoles.

Here’s everything that ExpressVPN is compatible with:

ExpressVPN-compatibility

IPVanish supports only desktop and mobile platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Ubuntu, and Chromebook, and has apps for VPN routers.

IPVanish-devices-supported

ExpressVPN vs. IPVanish: Pricing and plans

ExpressVPN has a very steep price tag, while the IPVanish provider offers its services at a meager price.

With ExpressVPN, you can choose from the following pricing plans:

  • 1 month: $12.95
  • 6 months: $9.99 per month, billed $59.95 every 6 months
  • 12 months: $8.32 per month, billed $99.95 annually

IPVanish offers these pricing plans:

  • 1 month: $10
  • 3 months: $8.99 per month, billed $26.99 every 3 months
  • 1 year: $6.49 per month, billed $77.99 annually

While there isn’t a big difference among these price tags, IPVanish is cheaper, and it regularly offers amazing discounts, while ExpressVPN holds on to its pricing structure. Both support various payment methods, although IPVanish supports fewer and doesn’t accept Bitcoin payments.

Neither of these VPNs offers a free trial for taking their services for a test drive, but both provide a full refund for canceling their service. ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, while IPVanish offers a 7-day money-back guarantee

IPVanish vs. ExpressVPN: Which is better for Torrenting?

Both ExpressVPN and IPVanish have servers optimized for P2P torrenting, but the former is a bit faster.

What’s more important is the jurisdiction: since IPVansh is located in the US, it must adhere to the DMCA law, which isn’t the case with ExpressVPN. It might make ExpressVPN better for torrenting.

Can ExpressVPN and IPVanish unblock Netflix?

If you reside in a location that doesn’t support Netflix, you’d probably want a VPN that can unblock geo-restricted content. You’re in luck if you choose ExpressVPN, as it can unblock not only Netflix in the US and abroad, but also various other streaming services, such as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO GO, Amazon Prime, and more.

You might not have such luck with IPVanish, as it isn’t very consistent with unblocking Netflix US. Netflix’s proxy detection system almost always catches it. You can bypass the restrictions only from a limited number of US servers, but you still can’t be confident that the VPN will work. Also, if you want to unblock Netflix UK or BBC iPlayer, you won’t be able to do so with this VPN.

What kind of customer support do they offer?

Both of these VPN providers offer excellent customer support, although IPVanish might be better. It is because ExpressVPN’s live chat option becomes unavailable every once in a while, so you need to submit a ticket. IPVanish has a very responsive 24/7 live chat.

Both VPNs also have email support, troubleshooting guides, and FAQs, and IPVanish adds phone support to the bunch.

IPVanish vs. ExpressVPN: Which is better for Australia?

Both of these VPNs are excellent for Australia, but ExpressVPN might be a bit better. That is because it offers a slightly faster connection speed, but the difference is barely noticeable indeed.

When testing ExpressVPN on a base connection of 30 Mbps in Australia, we measured the download speed of 26.43 Mbps. IPVanish showed a download speed of 24.96 Mbps on the same connection.

Final verdict

We hope this ExpressVPN vs. IPVanish comparison has answered all your burning questions about these great VPNs so that you can make the right decision for your needs. We highly recommend both of them, as they truly stand out in terms of quality, so choosing between them is just a matter of choice.

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