IPVanish is definitely one of the most well-known VPNs on the market. And in the past, it’s even earned the endorsement of hacktivist groups like Anonymous [source].
But is it still good today? And more importantly, is it a good VPN for torrenting?
We’ll fill you in on IPVanish’s security, speeds, and usability in this detailed review.
[+] 'IPVanish Torrenting' contents (select to expand)
Is IPVanish Good for Torrenting?
Checklist
Here’s a quick rundown of IPVanish’s most notable features for torrenting. Keep reading for a more in-depth explanation of each.
Is IPVanish Safe for Torrenting?
First and foremost, when choosing a torrenting VPN, is safety. Here’s a look at IPVanish’s security chops.
No Logs Provider?
We always recommend choosing a VPN provider that doesn’t keep logs, especially if you’ll be using it for torrenting. Unfortunately, with IPVanish, this is a rather complicated – and controversial – subject.
That’s because, back in 2018, it was revealed that IPVanish, which had always marketed itself as a no-logs provider, was exposed for keeping logs. That’s when court documents were released regarding a 2016 FBI investigation, where IPVanish’s extensive logs of user activity on their network were used to identify and track a suspected criminal.
Now, by the time these documents were released, IPVanish had come under new ownership. And these new owners have repeatedly assured everyone that they had nothing to do with the shady and dishonest practices of the past owners.
The question is, should we believe them? It’s hard to say.
However, it’s worth pointing out that IPVanish could prove their no-logs claims with a third-party audit. Many other VPNs have done this is recent years, including NordVPN, ExpressVPN, VyprVPN, and more.
And yet IPVanish has not. You’d think if their no-logs claims were true, they’d be one of the first in line for an audit.
So, while we can’t say that IPVanish does log, we can’t say they don’t log either. And therein lies the problem.
Torrent Friendly
Like ExpressVPN, IPVanish seems to have shied away from pro-torrenting language on their homepage and in their other marketing information. In fact, there seems to be little mention of torrenting anywhere on the IPVanish website.
So, we reached out to their support team for some answers.
As you can see, we were told that IPVanish “for sure” allows torrenting. Nice.
Based in the US
Since a VPN is subject to the privacy laws of the country that it’s based in and the US has some of the worst privacy laws, it’s often thought that VPNs with their headquarters there, like IPVanish, are at greater risk.
And there’s certainly some truth to this. However, Private Internet Access is also based in the US, and it’s proven its commitment to user privacy multiple times in court. Meanwhile, non-US based PureVPN has failed to live up to its logging claims in court.
In short, we think it’s a slight negative if a VPN is based in the US, but it’s not really a black and white, either/or issue. And if they don’t keep logs, it should be fine.
Owns Its Server Network
Most VPNs rent the servers they use. This allows them to provide users with a bigger network, with more total servers and more locations.
However, rented servers come with a small security risk.
But IPVanish is one of just a small handful of VPNs that take a different approach: owning all their servers. In short, this means a slightly smaller network, but better security.
Built-in Leak Protection
IP and DNS leaks are bad news, especially when you’re torrenting. After all, the whole reason we use VPNs is to keep that data private.
Fortunately, IPVanish has built-in leak protection, to make sure that’s not a problem.
Easy-to-Use Kill Switch
Depending on the size of a torrent, your internet speed, and the number of seeders, it could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to download. And heavy torrenters often leave files downloading around the clock.
This could lead to trouble if your VPN connection drops while you’re not paying attention. Because any data downloaded between the time the VPN disconnects and the time it reconnects will be unprotected.
That’s where a kill switch comes in. You don’t have to worry about a dropped VPN connection, because the IPVanish app will automatically kill your internet if it happens, meaning your torrent activity won’t be exposed.
Is IPVanish Fast for Torrenting?
Hey, we love blazin’ fast torrent downloads as much as the next guy or gal. So, we make sure to run each and every VPN we review through the gauntlet, to see how it stacks up on speed.
Here’s how IPVanish fared.
In short, their performance was a bit ‘meh’. We wouldn’t quite call it slow, at least considering our base speeds. But it certainly wasn’t the fastest VPN we’ve used for torrenting either.
How about their server network? Well, in terms of raw numbers, IPVanish’s network is fairly small, with just 1,500+ servers in 50+ countries (75+ locations). But as we pointed out earlier, they own all their servers, and so it’s simply not feasible for them to have the kind of massive networks NordVPN or Private Internet Access do.
When compared to other VPNs that run their own servers, like ProtonVPN and VyprVPN, IPVanish’s network is actually on the larger side.
Is IPVanish Easy to Use?
Okay, so we’ve seen how IPVanish works. But is it easy to use? Let’s see.
Easy Server Selection
One of our favorite things about the IPVanish is how easy it makes to find and select the server you want.
There’s a server list, which you can sort by country, load, or ping. And then there’s a map view, where you can look for the servers closest to your location.
Connect with a Click
Of course, if you’d rather not spend time searching for a server, you can always just let IPVanish pick the ‘best available’ server for you. And connecting is as easy as clicking your mouse.
Functional App
However, while the IPVanish app is functional and does most of the things we want, we couldn’t help feel there was something missing compared to the apps offered by VPN providers like Private Internet Access, NordVPN, or ExpressVPN.
It seems IPVanish hasn’t updated the appearance and layout of their app for a long time, and as a result, the UI looks a little dated. It’s not nearly as sleek and sexy as its major competitors. But then again, many VPN users might not care.
Quick Sign Up
If you do decide to sign up for IPVanish, you shouldn’t have any trouble. The sign up process is super easy and straightforward, and only takes a minute. From there, just download the IPVanish app, and you’re ready to go.
24/7 Live Chat Support
Need help? You can get in touch with IPVanish support 24/7, either through their live chat or email. And they even have a support phone number you can call, though it’s only available during US business hours.
Available in Multiple Languages
If you’re a native Spanish, Russian, or Hindi speaker, you’re in luck! Because the IPVanish app provides support for your language. Along with English, of course.
4.7 TrustPilot Rating
It’s always good to get a second opinion. And with TrustPilot, you can get a few thousand of them.
The IPVanish review page currently sits a 4.7 (out of 5) rating with over 5,000+ reviews, all from VPN users just like you.
IPVanish Torrenting Tips
We’ve written plenty on the subject of anonymous torrenting. But here are some tips specific to IPVanish to get you started.
All of these can be enabled from the ‘Connection’ section of the IPVanish app’s Settings menu.
1. Enable the kill switch before your start torrenting
The kill switch won’t work if it’s not turned on! But it’s off by default, so make sure to enable it before your next torrenting session. We’d suggest turning on Auto Reconnect while you’re at it.
2. Use the OpenVPN protocol
IPVanish has a few different protocols to choose form, but OpenVPN is the most secure, so we’d recommend using it when torrenting.
3. Turn on traffic scrambling
With OpenVPN selected as your protocol, you can also take advantage of IPVanish’s scramble feature. This will make it harder for your ISP and parties to tell you’re using a VPN.
Note: For some general tips on finding the best torrents, check here.
IPVanish Plans & Prices
IPVanish only offers one plan type, but your monthly price gets cheaper as your subscription length gets longer. In other words, if you pay for a few months to a year upfront, you can save a lot of money.
Unfortunately, IPVanish’s normal pricing, which comes to $6.49 per month for a year, isn’t all that impressive. In fact, it’s on the high side.
However, with a special Cogipas discount and their two-year plan, you can get that price down to a much more competitive $3.70 per month.
IPVanish also allows a whopping unlimited number of connections per account. That’s tied with Private Internet Access as the highest in the industry. And all plans come with a 30-day money back guarantee.
But IPVanish does not accept Bitcoin payments, which is a confusing decision for a privacy-focused service.
IPVanish Apps
IPVanish has apps for allyour devices, including:
- Windows
- MacOS
- Linux
- Android
- iOS
You can also use it on your Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, as well as your router.
More Uses for IPVanish
A good VPN has tons of uses outside of torrenting. Here are a few other ways IPVanish can come in handy.
1. Bypass Geo-Restricted Content
Want to access a site that’s not available in your country? Or access another country’s streaming catalogue on Netflix?
With IPVanish, you can do both by simply changing your server. Now, it can be a little hit and miss depending on which server and streaming service you’re using, but we were able to watch Netflix US.
2. Protect Your Privacy
At this point, it’s no secret: your privacy is at constant risk when you’re online, whether it’s using a search engine or accessing social media.
If you care about your privacy at all and would like to keep your personal info away from prying eyes, a VPN is one of the best tools for doing so.
3. Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is simultaneously awesome and dangerous. Awesome because, hey, it’s free Wi-Fi. Dangerous because these public Wi-Fi connections can attract all sorts of shady characters, who use the unsecured nature of these networks to steal your data or infect your device.
Fortunately, as long as you connect your VPN when accessing the hotspot, you’ll be protected by IPVanish’s encryption.
Final Thoughts
Checklist
So, what’s our conclusion? Would we recommend IPVanish for torrent users?
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