A VPN routes your internet data through an encrypted connection, which hides your activity from your ISP and makes it harder for spies and advertisers to track you online. IVPN is an affordable VPN with billing cycles as short as one week and as long as three years. Its app is simple, but it packs an extremely versatile multi-hop connection feature and uses the latest WireGuard technology. Most impressive is IVPN's commitment to transparency and privacy, which more than outweighs the drawback of its comparably small server network. These features, along with its affordable pricing, make IVPN a clear Editors' Choice winner.
We have several other top picks in this category, but two that are especially comparable are Proton VPN and Mullvad VPN. The former is our highest-rated VPN, in part because it offers the best free subscription we've yet seen. The latter is similar to IVPN, using a near-identical account system and also accepting cash payments.
How Much Does IVPN Cost?
IVPN's pricing is all about flexibility, in terms of both lengths of contracts and features. Its subscription system does reserve some features for more expensive tiers—which we normally don't like—but even those plans are affordable. It also allows customers to find the right price for their budget.
IVPN offers two tiers: IVPN Standard and IVPN Pro. The Standard plan costs $2 per week, $6 per month, $60 per year, $100 every two years, and $140 every three years. Standard allows just two devices to be connected simultaneously. The Pro plan raises the device cap to seven licenses, unlocks port forwarding, and grants access to multi-hop connections (more on this later). A Pro plan goes for $4 per week, $10 per month, $100 every year, $160 every two years, or $220 every three years.
(Credit: IVPN)The industry average for simultaneous VPN connections is five, so we used the Pro plan in our testing. While it's the company's priciest tier, it still compares favorably with the competition. The average monthly price of a VPN we've reviewed is $9.84, and the average annual cost is $66.28. In that light, the IVPN Pro plan is just under average for monthly costs, but it doesn't discount its longer-term plans as heavily as others do. We recommend new customers start with the shortest, cheapest plan for any VPN so they can try it before committing to a longer, cost-saving plan.
We should note that although IVPN offers more than the average number of simultaneous connections, that's increasingly less important. Some VPNs are abandoning limitations on simultaneous connections altogether, including Atlas VPN, Avira Phantom VPN, IPVanish VPN, Private Internet Access VPN, and Editors' Choice winners Surfshark VPN and TunnelBear VPN.
(Editors' Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company.)
There are good, cheaper options, too. Editors' Choice winner Mullvad VPN is similar in its privacy stance and features, but it costs only €5 per month ($5.42 at the time of writing) with no annual discount. The least expensive annual plan for a paid VPN we've reviewed is Opera VPN Pro, which costs just $23.88 per year.
Nothing is cheaper than free, however, and some free VPNs (and VPNs with functional free plans) are also worth your consideration. TunnelBear VPN limits the bandwidth of its free subscriptions to 500MB per month, with another 1GB available if you post about the company on social media. Editors' Choice winner Proton VPN is the only VPN we've reviewed that places no restrictions on data at the free level. IVPN does not have a no-cost subscription.
You can purchase an IVPN subscription with most major credit cards (American Express is notably excluded), PayPal, or Bitcoin. Like Editors' Choice winner Mullvad VPN, IVPN also accepts cash payments, which you have to mail to IVPN's Berlin offices. The process can take several days to process, and your money runs the risk of being lost, but this is perhaps your most anonymous option.
How a VPN WorksWhat Do You Get for Your Money With IVPN?
Beyond basic VPN protection, IVPN includes a multi-hop connection feature. This routes your web traffic through two VPN servers instead of just one. That way, your traffic remains secure even if one of the VPN servers has been compromised. This is a fairly rare feature, and IVPN's implementation is unusual. With IVPN, you can select any two servers for your multi-hop path. Most other services we've tested require you to stick to the company's premade paths.
IVPN does provide split tunneling but only in its Android, Linux, and Windows apps. This feature lets you define which traffic is encrypted and which travels in the clear. While you don't need a VPN to connect to the Tor anonymization network, push-button access to Tor through your VPN client is handy. IVPN does not offer this feature, but a few other VPNs do. Proton VPN and NordVPN are the only VPNs we've reviewed that offer multi-hop, split tunneling, and access to Tor. Note that IVPN also supports port forwarding at the Pro tier, but it does not sell static IP addresses. NordVPN provides customers with static IPs for an additional fee and Surfshark VPN offers shared static IPs for free to all its subscribers.
(Credit: IVPN)As the VPN space has become increasingly crowded, some VPNs have opted to diversify with other privacy and security apps. NordVPN, for example, offers a password manager and secure online storage for additional fees. Proton VPN is bundled with the privacy-focused email service ProtonMail, along with secure online file storage. IVPN does not offer any other services beyond VPN protection.
Keep in mind that despite everything they offer, VPNs cannot protect against every threat. We strongly recommend installing antivirus software, using a password manager, and enabling two-factor authentication wherever it's supported. VPNs cannot stop every method of tracking you online, so we recommend installing a tracker blocker and enabling browser features that protect your privacy.
What Is Two-Factor Authentication?IVPN's VPN Protocols
Virtual private networking is not a new technology, and there are several different ways to set up a connection. We're pleased that IVPN provides a useful primer on the difference between protocols. More companies should offer this sort of helpful guide to customers.
(Credit: IVPN)WireGuard is the new hotness for VPN protocols. This is an open-source protocol, meaning it can be examined for potential vulnerabilities. It also uses the latest encryption technology and can be remarkably fast. OpenVPN, another open-source protocol, is still our preferred protocol, but WireGuard is quickly becoming a new standard.
IVPN currently supports WireGuard and OpenVPN in its Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows apps. IVPN's iOS app also supports the excellent IKEv2 protocol. Note that IVPN has open-sourced the code of its apps and has made its Android app available on the F-Droid open-source app repository.
IVPN Servers and Server Locations
IVPN provides servers in 48 locations across 35 countries. That's well below the industry average of 51 countries. HMA VPN has servers in 190 countries, Surfshark VPN has 100 countries, and ExpressVPN has 94. A larger, more diverse collection of server locations gives customers more choices for location spoofing and means it's easier to find a nearby server wherever you are.
We're happy to see IVPN has expanded the reach of its servers, and now offers servers in Africa as well as South America—two entire continents many other VPNs ignore. IVPN also has servers in Hong Kong but not in some of the regions known for repressive internet policies, such as Russia, Turkey, and Viet Nam.
(Credit: IVPN)Virtual servers are software-defined servers hosted on a physical server that can run many virtual servers. Virtual locations can be configured to appear somewhere other than where they are physically located. For instance, the vast majority of HMA VPN's servers are physically located somewhere other than where they're labeled. Neither virtual servers nor locations are necessarily problematic, but we prefer VPNs that make it clear where your information is headed. This is not an issue with IVPN. A company representative tells me that IVPN only uses "bare metal" (that is, not virtual) servers, and all of them are located exactly where they claim to be.
IVPN leases all its servers, but the company assures me they are rebuilt from scratch on installation, and access requires hardware token authentication. Other companies tout their physical security as a potential benefit. NordVPN and ExpressVPN, for example, eschew writing data to hard disks, eliminating opportunities for tampering.
Your Privacy With IVPN
Because it carries all your web traffic, a VPN could potentially spy on everything you do online. That's why it's important to understand what efforts the company makes to secure your information. To its credit, IVPN's privacy policy is carefully written and extremely readable.
The company says it does not log the content of your traffic, connection timestamps, DNS requests, user bandwidth, or IP addresses. Thanks to its unusual account ID system (more on this later), IVPN does not even need contact information—though providing it allows you to receive customer support. Anonymized crash logs are sent with user approval on desktop and mobile. That's all excellent. In addition to confirming all this information, an IVPN representative stated further that the company does not sell any customer data.
The culture around VPNs has been historically toxic, which is why we appreciate IVPN's ethics statement that outlines what it does and does not do when it comes to advertising. It's not a legally binding document, but it is refreshing to see a VPN company so concerned about ethics.
IVPN is owned by Privatus Ltd and operates under the legal jurisdiction of Gibraltar. The company makes clear it only responds to legal requests for information from Gibraltar authorities. The company notes it has little information to share, even for valid requests. IVPN reports its interactions with law enforcement in its transparency report. Over the seven years covered in the report, IVPN appears to have provided no information to law enforcement. IVPN also publishes a cryptographically signed warrant canary. Not nearly enough VPN companies publish documents like these.
Audits are imperfect tools, but they are still valuable for demonstrating good faith to customers. IVPN has followed in the footsteps of TunnelBear VPN and has begun releasing annual security audits. The most recent audit contracted Cure53 to examine the company's infrastructure for potential security vulnerabilities. We hope IVPN will take action on the report's findings, but customers have some assurance that IVPN is making an effort to run a tight ship. Not included in the audit was an evaluation of whether IVPN is complying with its own privacy policy—we'd like to see such an audit in the future.
Hands On With IVPN for Windows
We had no trouble installing IVPN on an Intel NUC 11 (NUC11PHKi7C, 'Phantom Canyon') desktop running the latest version of Windows 11, although creating an account was different than with other companies. Like Mullvad VPN, IVPN does not ask users to create a username or password. Instead, it issues you an account ID number, which activates your apps and takes the place of traditional login credentials. This is good for privacy and makes logging in a snap, but it's also sure to confuse some customers.
(Credit: IVPN)The IVPN app has been completely revamped since we last looked at it. The new interface is stylishly cast in what we'd call dark mode gray. Instead of buttons, iOS-styled toggles cover the interface. These are red when toggled off and blue when toggled on. Connecting is simple: just toggle the topmost switch. You can disconnect from the VPN completely with the same toggle or press the Pause button to disconnect and automatically reconnect after a set time.
(Credit: IVPN)The IVPN Windows app puts toggles for key features within easy reach. The Firewall option functions like a Kill Switch in other apps, halting web traffic from your machine if the VPN becomes disconnected. The AntiTracker toggle controls the app's tracker-blocking capabilities. At the bottom, you can quickly select the desired port and VPN protocol of your choice, but most people will leave this alone.
The app may have gone overboard on style, however. Three buttons—to summon the VPN controls, account page, and settings—blend almost entirely into the background. We do like that the app includes a map. From the semi-hidden settings, you can control the split-tunneling feature, which worked well in testing but is still marked as being in Beta. You can also access deep WireGuard configuration controls, as well as toggle whether or not to allow LAN traffic.
By default, the app connects to what it thinks is the fastest server. Click under Connect To and you select a specific server or the Random Server option, which does what you expect. We like that IVPN uses color-coded dots to show the load on a particular server and the estimated latency.
The app defaults to single-hop connections, but clicking the Multi-Hop tab brings up a world of new options. From here, you can select any two VPN servers through which your web traffic will travel. Most VPNs that support multi-hop connections lock you into set paths. You can also roll the dice and select the Random Server option for your traffic's entrance and exit points.
(Credit: IVPN)A VPN should not leak your IP address or DNS information, which is why we test each service using the DNS Leak Test tool. This confirmed that our IP address was hidden and that our DNS information was secure. We tested only one server—other servers may not be configured correctly. Note that the DNS Leak Test tool we use for testing all VPNs is sponsored by IVPN.
In testing, we were able to stream Netflix content while connected to a US-based IVPN server. That could change, however, as VPNs and Netflix are locked in an endless arms race. A VPN that works with Netflix today might not work tomorrow, and vice versa.
IVPN Speed and Performance
Using a VPN usually means your upload and download speeds will drop, while your latency goes up. To get a sense of this impact, we run a series of Ookla speed tests with the VPN on and off. We then find the percent change between those two sets.
(Editors' Note: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company.)
IVPN performed extremely well in our latest round of testing, doing better than the median across all the VPN services we've tested and improving since the last time we tested it. We found that IVPN slowed download and upload speed test results by only 5.2% and 13.1%, respectively. Its latency results were average, likely owing to its comparatively smaller collection of servers, but still an improvement. Our testing shows it increased latency by 42.6%.
In previous years, we tested all VPN products back-to-back to pick the fastest VPN. This year, we've opted for a rolling model that will deliver fresher data faster. This change was also necessitated by the COVID-19 restrictions that limit our access to the PCMag Labs. The latest results are below.
Remember, these numbers are just a snapshot for comparison and not a total evaluation of any VPN's performance. In other words, your results will almost certainly differ from ours. We also don't believe speed should be your primary concern when purchasing a VPN.
Hands On With IVPN for Mac
We last tested the macOS VPN app for IVPN in 2022 on a MacBook Air (2020) running Big Sur 11.2.2. The app is not in the App Store, so we downloaded it from IVPN’s website. Unlike the iOS version, the macOS has a dark mode for those who want to save their eyesight.
The app’s home screen features a column of toggles that allow you to connect to a server and turn on the Firewall (Kill Switch) feature or the AntiTracker feature, which blocks ads, malicious websites, and third-party trackers. When you tap the toggle to connect to your VPN server of choice, a Pause button appears beside the green toggle button, allowing you to stop and restart your connection quickly.
(Credit: IVPN)To ensure the VPN doesn’t leak DNS information, we tested it using DNSLeakTest.com, which we should note again is sponsored by IVPN. We performed an extended test while connected to a server in Amsterdam, and the server did not leak our IP address or DNS information.
While connected to the Netherlands server, we loaded a YouTube video and it played instantly. Twitch.tv also loaded very quickly and the live stream played perfectly at its source resolution. We didn’t experience any video or audio lag or buffering on either site while connected to the VPN server.
Hands On With IVPN for iPhone
IVPN’s privacy-focused VPN app for iPhone is useful and easy to navigate. For this test, we used an iPhone XS running iOS 16.5.1.
Appearance-wise, IVPN’s iOS app is not as colorful or attractive as apps from competitors such as TunnelBear VPN or Proton VPN. The UI features a drab gray-and-white map. You choose VPN server locations from a drop-down list beneath the ever-present connection button at the bottom of the interface.
(Credit: IVPN)IVPN offers several helpful features, including a Kill Switch, multi-hop connections, auto-reconnect, customizable DNS configuration, and anti-tracking capabilities. You can even use the app to block traffic from Google and Facebook. Speaking of anti-tracking, IVPN does a lot to give you the impression that the company cares about your privacy. When opening the app for the first time, a pop-up window explains the company’s data collection policies. The app’s privacy policy is also very clear and easy to read. PCMag recommends always reading privacy policies for every app you download.
We visited DNSLeakTest.com and performed a test to determine whether IVPN was leaking our real IP address or DNS requests. We didn’t detect leaks during the test, but we only tested one server in Montreal.
To test the IVPN app’s connection speed and reliability, we watched a video explanation about Wicca using the YouTube app. We did not experience any interruptions or noticeable video distortion while connected to an IVPN server in Zurich. We also watched a Twitch live stream of a broadcaster playing Final Fantasy XVI while connected to the same server. The video part of the stream took longer to load than the audio, but once the two parts synched up, we did not experience any stuttering or buffering issues.
Hands On With IVPN for Android
Like its iOS app, IVPN's Android app makes up for its drab appearance by offering helpful features. For this test, we used a Samsung Galaxy A71 5G running Android 13.
(credit: IVPN)As mentioned, IVPN’s app is not the most striking, with its gray-and-white world map and a dull but sensible drop-down list of VPN server locations. The upside is that the app offers features you’ll want to use, including split tunneling, a Kill Switch, and a toggle to turn on and off the Mock Location setting, which matches your device’s GPS location to your VPN server location. Multi-hop connections are also available, and you can specify a custom DNS server when connecting to a VPN server.
We visited DNSLeakTest.com and ran an extended test while connected to a server located in Madrid. We wanted to see if IVPN was leaking our real IP address or DNS requests. During this test, we didn’t detect leaks while connected to the Spain-based server.
To determine the usability of the VPN app for video streaming and viewing, we connected to IVPN’s server in Toronto, Canada and opened the YouTube app. We watched a video about a desert fungus scientists say is spreading to humans. Though the video’s subject matter was pretty concerning, the VPN connection appeared to be strong, stable, and fast enough to play the video without stutters or other interruptions.
While connected to that same server in Canada, we navigated to Twitch.tv and watched a streamer play Final Fantasy XVI. The video and audio synched immediately, and the connection remained stable throughout the testing period.
Hands On With IVPN for Chrome OS
We downloaded the IVPN Android app onto a Dell Chrome 3100 with an Intel Celeron Processor when we last tested the VPN on Chrome OS in 2022. Logging into it is a snap, thanks to the previously mentioned passwordless system, which only requires a randomly generated account ID number. The Android app on Chrome OS has an intuitive interface featuring a map that shows the location of the VPN server of your choice, buttons to establish either a multi-hop or single-hop connection, and a toggle to connect to the server.
IVPN for Chrome OS has plenty of extras for subscribers. In the settings menu, you can use features such as split tunneling, a local network bypass toggle, an always-on VPN, a Kill Switch, and something called Mock Location, which matches your device’s GPS location to the VPN location.
IVPN Holds Its Own
IVPN's excellent approach to multi-hop VPN connections, flexible pricing, and privacy-first account system make it stand out in a crowded field. While it lacks a free subscription or a heavily discounted long-term subscription, IVPN already has nearly all the features you could want for less than the average price. Its server footprint and global coverage aren't impressive, but the service still racked up remarkably good speed test scores even with this small network. We also appreciate a recent redesign to make the app look and feel more modern.
All of that alone would be enough to earn our endorsement, but the company goes beyond technical merits. It embraces transparency, releasing the results of a third-party audit and presenting as much information as possible about how customer information is handled and how the company works to protect its users' privacy. It's one of the strongest VPNs we've reviewed, and an Editors' Choice winner, joining Mullvad VPN, NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark VPN, and TunnelBear VPN among our top VPNs.
