Which VPN is better?
Torrents are supported on some servers, but whatever you’re doing, high performance servers mean it won’t take very long. You can choose other protocols, though, depending on your needs.
And platform support covers everything from the regular Windows, Mac, Android and iOS apps, to routers, Android TV, QNAP, Blackphone, Anonabox and more. On Android, you can access P2P, obfuscated, double VPN, and dedicated IP servers, but you can only use Onion Over VPN and P2P on iOS.
Netflix Firewall and Servers detect DNS and IPs which escalates difficulty for users to stream their favorite movies and TV shows. NordVPN is one of those VPNs that are still working with Netflix and continuously expanding its servers in different countries for Netflix libraries, including the US.
Is NordVPN better than IPVanish?
Both IPVanish and Nord are good for torrenting. IPVanish allows P2P on all of its servers. NordVPN, on the other hand, has dedicated servers in specific locations. While NordVPN’s Android app is more limited (only 1,600 servers instead of the 1,800), its Android app is more user-friendly.
Still, most vendors don’t allow Tor on mobile at all, so NordVPN is still way out in front in this area. IPVanish also provides applications that can be used on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. The mobile applications for both Android and iOS are outstanding. Due to their large ecosystem of supported operating systems, you can use your account on your different devices.
MAC users will appreciate ExpressVPN’s sleek design and simple interface. NordVPN isn’t as intuitive, but it comes with incredible security features that MAC users will love. IPVanish offers access to all of its servers on their Android app. While NordVPN’s Android app is more limited (only 1,600 servers instead of the 1,800), its Android app is more user-friendly.
NordVPN uses IKEv2/IPSec as the default option for macOS and iOS devices, with the option to change to OpenVPN. To find out why, I spoke to their customer support team who told me that NordVPN simply provides greater choice for iOS users, which is a slight disappointment. The company has its own zero-knowledge DNS service, for instance. Its proprietary Chameleon protocol could help you get online even in VPN-blocking countries like China and Iran.
What is better than NordVPN?
Conclusion: NordVPN wins Speed – NordVPN had faster speeds in every location tested. Features – NordVPN offers more (and better) features than IPVanish. Price and Value – NordVPN is much cheaper, but you need to go with a longer subscription plan.
Unfortunately, we have to confirm that IPVanish can no longer be used for viewing Netflix content. Netflix blacklisted all of its servers and IPVanish gave up on trying to unblock its content and focused on other aspects of its service. Luckily for IPVanish, many users have decided to give up on trying to stream Netflix using a VPN and turned to the next best thing – torrents. Due to the aforementioned qualities of IPVanish, this VPN service is still highly popular among users in spite of its decision to abandon any further attempts to unblock Netflix. It is a perfect choice for torrenting, so there is no doubt that it is going to remain as successful and popular as it was before Netflix’s crusade against VPN services.
A separate complication with watching with a VPN is the two different ways in which you access the Netflix service. As well as banning IP addresses, Netflix also detects VPNs by looking at whether the location of your IP address and your DNS server matches. As well as having extremely fast servers that are ideal for streaming video, the most reliable VPN provider for accessing Netflix is ExpressVPN. With its huge network of servers in 145 cities in 94 countries, you’ll easily be able to use ExpressVPN to spoof your location to watch Netflix from places like the US, Canada, and Germany. IPVanish is one of few providers that owns and operates their own network.
Conclusion: NordVPN wins
- Once you’re past any multi-device issues, VPN Unlimited performs very well.
- It runs on almost anything (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Apple TV, even Windows phone), and unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer with ease.
In places like China, Turkey, and the UAE, these help you bypass geoblocks and avoid government surveillance, so NordVPN is ideal if you find yourself in a restricted country. NordVPN offers DNS and IP leak protection that claims to stop any accidental exposure. I put it to the test using my Windows and Mac devices, on UK, US, Netherlands, and China servers.
I didn’t detect any leaks, even across multiple servers, on both desktop and mobile. You can configure most any device to use IPVanish’s services, but the company also offers native apps for Android, Chromebooks, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows. IPVanish does not offer browser plugins, as many competitors do. The total number of servers a VPN company provides is obviously linked to how many subscribers it servers—more subscribers, more servers.
These are designed for locations with heavy digital censorship that makes it difficult to use a VPN. However by hopping onto one of NordVPN’s obfuscated servers, not only are your internet traffic and location hidden, but so is your VPN activity.
Still, more is always better since more servers can mean less overcrowding on those servers. NordVPN currently leads the pack with well over 5,200 servers, followed by CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and TorGuard, all of which have around 3,000 total servers. Nearly all VPNs allow the use of BitTorrent and P2P file sharing on their networks, although some do restrict the activity to specific servers. If you’re a heavy downloader, you’re sure to appreciate the freedom and flexibility of IPVanish, which doesn’t restrict BitTorrent at all.
You may have heard rumors that IPVanish is no longer on the list of VPN services that work with Netflix. This post is dedicated to revealing whether there is any truth to these claims. I followed up with NordVPN support regarding the issue and it seems that the recent Netflix update has restricted VPN usage on Android boxes or TVs.
One of our favorite things about this VPN service (other than the price) is the fact that your subscription covers an unlimited devices and services. ExpressVPN offers access to more than 3,000 servers in 160 locations across 94 countries, alongside maybe the widest platform support you’ll find anywhere.
Still, I would like to see IPVanish offer specialized servers, as NordVPN does, for activities like using a streaming video service. NordVPN even lets you connect to Tor via VPN connection, for additional anonymity. Therefore, if you want to use IPVanish only for accessing US Netflix or the entertainment company’s content for any other country, we have to say that you should definitely look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you want to use torrents or stream other content anonymously and without any limits, IPVanish can be a great choice. We would also like to warn you that Netflix is investing an insane amount of both effort and money into detecting and blocking VPN users.
That’s why NordVPN is not working on Nvidia Shield as well. I would recommend that you try alternative VPN services for any Android-based device, such as ExpressVPN or PureVPN. Did you ever find yourself unable to browse the internet when connected to the VPN? It’s a common problem causes due to DNS configuration issues.
Once you’re past any multi-device issues, VPN Unlimited performs very well. It runs on almost anything (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Apple TV, even Windows phone), and unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer with ease.
IPVanish vs NordVPN price comparison
Since it is based in BVI which falls out of the jurisdiction of 14 Eyes group of countries, it is safe to assume that it has no external pressures to reveal the users’ data. Not to mention the lightning-fast speeds and reliability for wherever you are—even in countries with strict digital censorship. NordVPN is compatible with all major devices, including Android, Windows, and iOS. My tests did show some differences between the iOS and Android apps, though these are more due to Apple’s restrictions than NordVPN’s. Another great privacy feature from NordVPN is its obfuscated servers.
Best VPNs by category
That means the service can only work on devices where you can run its Windows, Mac, Android or iOS apps. The company covers the basics well, with more than 6,000 servers spread across 90-odd countries, apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, torrents allowed and speedy live chat support. I like that the IPVanish app has lots of customization and advanced features—and that it keeps them hidden unless you need them. You can, for instance, have the app change your IP address at a set interval. The Kill Switch feature blocks access to the web unless the VPN is connected, and the app can be configured to connect automatically on startup.
ExpressVPN proves time and time again that they can access any US-based content from around the world with great speed. NordVPN also can, and with over 1,100 servers in the US alone, you’ll never have a problem connecting. In fact, NordVPN is our current #1 VPN for Netflix, Hulu and BBC iPlayer (but ExpressVPN also works with all of them). iOS users tend to have more devices, so NordVPN is the better option because you can get up 6 devices on one subscription (instead of ExpressVPN’s 5). However, ExpressVPN has the better interface with its easy-to-use app.