A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a critical piece of equipment for browsing the internet privately. However, with so many available options, it’s all too easy to succumb to decision fatigue and wind up vulnerable with no VPN at all.
That is especially true when deciding between two well-known and reputable VPN companies. Which of the two, NordVPN or IPVanish, is the better fit for you?
IPVanish vs. NordVPN: Differences?
NordVPN and IPVanish were both founded in the early 2010s in response to the growth of streaming services and growing awareness of internet safety and security.
While both VPN services are comparable, their implementation is slightly different. NordVPN is a VPN in the conventional sense. IPVanish, on the other hand, is an IP VPN service.
They provide the VPN portion of the service, rerouting and encrypting your internet traffic. IP VPNs, on the other hand, use Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology to prioritize and optimize network traffic by skipping public gateways, resulting in greater speed and security.
Price
IPVanish and NordVPN share a similar price range. NordVPN, on the other hand, offers a broader selection of packages that vary in terms of price and subscription time.
NordVPN is currently available for $3.30 per month on a two-year plan that includes three months free. The first two years are invoiced at $89, and subsequent renewals are billed at $322.65. NordVPN’s package includes a 30-day, no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.
IPVanish’s single subscription plan begins at $3.75 per month and is billed annually at $44.99, but automatically renews at $89.99. Annual and two-year plans both come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
However, you should keep in mind that both VPNs charge much more for single-month subscriptions. A single month costs $11.99 with NordVPN and $10.99 with IPVanish.
Servers and Headquarters Location of IPVanish vs. NordVPN
IPVanish has just under 2,000 servers spread over 55 countries and 75 distinct locations. Alternatively, NordVPN’s 5,000 servers are distributed across 60 countries.
IPVanish is a Florida-based firm, which means it is subject to state and federal data retention, user information, and privacy laws.
The headquarters of NordVPN is located in Panama, a country that does not have strict data retention rules.
Geo-Restricted Content Access
Restriction of content can occur for a number of reasons, including copy and distribution rights, censorship, and pricing discrimination. VPNs alter your location in order to allow you to access prohibited content, but not all of them are equally effective. Some users are able to circumvent YouTube’s geo-restriction yet are unable to do so with Netflix.
NordVPN and IPVanish both claim to provide access to a range of websites and streaming services, including Netflix, SoundCloud, YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify. Additionally, with their location-changing services, you can access and purchase online games that are not available in your zone.
User Experience
While functionality, features, and price are all crucial, they mean little if you cannot use the VPN comfortably on a daily basis. Before you commit to an annual membership with a VPN provider, you should verify that they support the sorts and amount of devices you regularly use.
NordVPN supports the following operating systems: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android TV. Additionally, they offer Firefox and Google Chrome browser extensions. However, it is not all. NordVPN secures all network-connected devices, including your Xbox, PlayStation, Chromebook, Kindle Fire, Nintendo Switch, and Chromecast.
NordVPN’s apps and browser extensions all feature a simple, flat-color user interface. They’re simple to use, and you don’t need to be a tech whiz to change your location or access any of NordVPN’s additional features.
IPVanish has official apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux, as well as the Amazon Fire TV. Additionally, IPVanish offers router protection, which secures and encrypts all connected devices’ internet traffic.
IPVanish’s apps are likewise straightforward to use, but they do require some skill. The user interface is simple and straightforward, with a dark style. While you may connect directly to the server location of your choice, IPVanish’s apps feature a plethora of settings that let you tweak and improve your experience—some more difficult than others.
Privacy and Security
The majority of consumers use VPNs to change their location and conceal their surfing activity from their ISP. However, the primary aim of VPNs is to protect your privacy and security by encrypting network traffic and masking your IP address.
NordVPN and IPVanish are both extremely reputable. They secure your data and connection from server to server using end-to-end encryption and AES 256-bit encryption. Additionally, both companies claim to have a rigorous no-log policy, meaning they do not record or retain any user activity for any period of time.
Nonetheless, it’s natural if you’re concerned about your privacy and don’t trust how businesses sell themselves.
The Fourteen-, Nine-, and Five-Eyes are surveillance alliances in which governments pool information about internet users in order to benefit national security. To ensure optimal data privacy, it is essential to avoid countries that are members of one of three alliances.
If the VPN provider is headquartered in one of the alliance’s 14 member nations, they will be required by law to send over all user and internet activity information they log.
Panama, where NordVPN is headquartered, is one of the most privacy-friendly countries in the world due to a lack of bilateral monitoring agreements and domestic data collecting legislation. IPVanish is based in the United States of America—a Five-, Nine-, and Fourteen-Eyes member—but with a rigorous no-logs policy, they should have no information to divulge even if pressed.
Summary
Whether it’s a free trial, as with NordVPN, or a 30-day money-back guarantee. As with IPVanish, you should make the most of the free services available to help you make the best choice. Certain advantages and disadvantages of each VPN are objective and quantifiable; others are not.
At the very least, you may take advantage of our exclusive NordVPN promotion, which includes a discount on a two-year subscription.
Perhaps you’re dissatisfied with the interface of one of the VPN applications. Both provide fast connection speeds. However, the areas to which you connect the most may be slower with VPN than with the other. You will never know which VPN is the greatest fit for you unless you give it a try.
