Best VPN Providers: A Side-by-Side Look at Today’s Top Services

In an online world where privacy is increasingly scarce and cybercrime is on the rise, a reliable VPN (Virtual Private Network) is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. A VPN encrypts your traffic, shields your IP address, and protects your personal data from prying eyes, including hackers, ISPs, and sometimes even governments. But with so many providers competing for your attention, it can be difficult to figure out which service is actually worth committing to—especially when many providers push long-term subscriptions as their “best deal.”

Before you lock yourself into a 2-year (or longer) subscription, it’s important to evaluate your options carefully. In this post, we’ll break down two of the industry’s most well-known providers—IPVanish and NordVPN—and also touch on the evolving landscape around competitors like ExpressVPN and Surfshark.

We’ll highlight their strengths, weaknesses, and key features to help you make an informed decision on which VPN deserves your trust in 2024 and beyond.

VPN Industry Shake-Ups You Should Know About

Before we dive into the direct comparison, it’s worth noting that the VPN industry has experienced major corporate shifts in the last year:

• ExpressVPN joined Kape Technologies, a company that also owns CyberGhost and Private Internet Access. While this consolidation creates a stronger portfolio, it has raised eyebrows in the privacy community due to concerns about Kape’s past.
• NordVPN and Surfshark announced in February that they are merging under a single corporate umbrella. Both providers say they’ll continue to operate independently, but users are watching closely to see how this impacts long-term pricing models and infrastructure.

These changes are reshaping the market, and while they do not immediately disqualify these players, they are worth keeping in mind when comparing privacy policies and corporate accountability.

IPVanish: A Closer Look

IPVanish has carved out a reputation for being one of the most user-friendly VPNs, with a customizable interface that appeals to both beginners and those who like to tinker with the underlying mechanics of VPN technology. Let’s examine what it offers.

Strengths of IPVanish

1. User Interface & Learning Curve
   IPVanish’s interface is one of the cleanest and most intuitive in the industry. For users who are new to VPNs, this is a significant advantage—it doesn’t feel overwhelming, and it encourages you to explore how VPN encryption works behind the scenes.
2. Device Compatibility & Unlimited Connections
   Unlike many competitors that cap simultaneous connections, IPVanish allows unlimited devices under a single account. This makes it an excellent option for households or businesses with multiple gadgets. It supports:
   • Windows, macOS, and Linux
   • iOS and Android
   • Amazon Fire TV and Android-based media devices
   • Routers and even certain gaming consoles
3. Advanced Encryption & Security Features
   • Uses AES-256 encryption, considered the gold standard for data protection.
   • Includes a kill switch, which ensures your data isn’t accidentally exposed if the VPN connection drops.
   • Supports popular protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard.
4. Streaming & Content Access
   IPVanish is generally effective at bypassing region restrictions on popular platforms like Netflix. Combined with its unlimited connections, it’s an attractive option for streaming households.
5. Pricing & Value
   • Standard monthly plan: $11/month
   • Annual plan: $90/year (with introductory pricing as low as $45 for the first year)
   • 30-day money-back guarantee
   While the pricing isn’t the lowest in the industry, the unlimited device support makes it highly cost-effective for families.
6. Performance
   IPVanish may not have the massive server count of NordVPN or ExpressVPN (around 2,200+ servers in 75+ locations vs. NordVPN’s 5,000+ servers), but in third-party speed tests it often performs surprisingly well, keeping pace with NordVPN in certain benchmarks.

Weaknesses of IPVanish

• Location & Privacy Concerns
  IPVanish is based in the United States, a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. While the provider claims a strict no-logs policy, some users prefer VPNs headquartered outside surveillance-friendly jurisdictions.
• Leak Protection Issues
  During independent testing, researchers discovered a partial DNS leak, which raises questions about airtight protection. This emphasizes the need for IPVanish to undergo regular third-party audits like its competitors.
• Occasional App Performance Issues
  Some users report that the Windows and macOS clients occasionally get stuck during startup, requiring a reinstall. While not a deal-breaker, it’s an inconvenience worth noting.

NordVPN: A Consistently Trusted Player

NordVPN is often considered one of the most recognizable names in the VPN industry, thanks to its reputation for fast connections, broad server coverage, and strong security standards.

Strengths of NordVPN

1. Server Network & Performance
   With 5,500+ servers in 60+ countries, NordVPN has one of the largest server fleets globally. This scale translates to better performance, more reliable connections, and broader access to geo-restricted content.
2. Advanced Security Features
   • Double VPN: Routes your traffic across two servers for extra protection.
   • Onion Over VPN: Adds Tor-level anonymity without installing the Tor browser.
   • Obfuscated Servers: Helps users bypass censorship in restrictive regions.
   • Threat Protection: An integrated feature that blocks ads, trackers, and malware.
3. Independent Audits
   NordVPN has undergone multiple third-party audits to confirm its no-logs policy, building confidence in its privacy commitments.
4. Speed & Streaming
   NordVPN consistently ranks as one of the fastest VPNs thanks to its WireGuard-based protocol (NordLynx). It reliably unlocks streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
5. Competitive Pricing
   • Monthly: $12.99/month
   • Annual: $59 (first year, renews higher)
   • Two-year plan: $99 (first two years)
   • 30-day money-back guarantee
   Considering the breadth of features, NordVPN offers excellent value.

Weaknesses of NordVPN

• Simultaneous Connections
  NordVPN allows six devices per account, which is sufficient for most users but pales in comparison to IPVanish’s unlimited device policy.
• Corporate Merger Concerns
  While NordVPN’s merger with Surfshark hasn’t yet raised red flags, some users remain cautious about long-term consolidation and how it could affect data handling and transparency.

IPVanish vs. NordVPN: Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	IPVanish	NordVPN
Headquarters	United States (Five Eyes)	Panama (privacy-friendly)
Server Count	~2,200 in 75+ locations	5,500+ in 60+ countries
Encryption	AES-256	AES-256
Protocols	OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard	OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard), IKEv2
Streaming	Reliable, Netflix-friendly	Excellent, unlocks most major platforms
Simultaneous Devices	Unlimited	6
Speed	Solid but variable	Consistently among the fastest
Audits	Pending third-party audit	Regularly audited
Pricing	$11/month or $90/year	$12.99/month or $59 first year

Final Verdict: Which VPN Should You Choose?

Both IPVanish and NordVPN deliver strong performance, but they cater to slightly different user priorities:

• Choose IPVanish if:
  You value unlimited device connections, want a user-friendly interface, and plan to share your subscription across many gadgets. It’s also a solid choice for streaming households that want affordability at scale. However, if privacy jurisdiction is your top concern, IPVanish’s U.S. headquarters may give you pause.
• Choose NordVPN if:
  You want the fastest, most reliable connections, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction (Panama), and trust backed by independent audits. While it only supports six devices per account, it’s better suited for privacy purists and those who need consistently strong unblocking performance worldwide.

Looking Ahead: The Future of VPNs

With the industry consolidating and evolving rapidly, users should expect continued changes in 2024. Transparency, independent audits, and advanced privacy features will increasingly become the baseline expectations for any provider that wants to stand out in a competitive market.

Our recommendation is to evaluate your personal priorities—whether that’s device flexibility, raw speed, jurisdictional safety, or pricing—before committing to a long-term subscription.

At the end of the day, both IPVanish and NordVPN are excellent choices, but your best VPN provider will be the one that aligns most closely with your specific needs.

✅ Pro Tip: Whichever VPN you choose, always take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee before locking yourself into a multi-year plan. This ensures you can test speed, streaming compatibility, and stability on your own devices risk-free.