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PureVPN vs IPVanish

IPVanish is an established VPN that’s long been the preferred service of many VPN users. Despite that, online security experts unanimously agree that PureVPN (a service that’s newer and less popular) is better in almost every manner.

Overall Winner: PureVPN

Comparison

To start, here’s a table showing all the quirks and features of the two VPNs:

PureVPN IPVanish
Logging Policy No Logging No Logging
Jurisdiction Hong Kong United States (Five-Eyes Member)
Encryption AES-256 AES-256
Protocols OpenVPN UDP
OpenVPN TCP
IPSec/IKEv2
IPSec/L2TP
PPTP
SSTP
OpenVPN UDP
OpenVPN TCP
IPSec/IKEv2
IPSec/L2TP
SSTP
PPTP
Ad and malware blockers Yes No
Kill switch Yes Yes
Leak Tests No Leaks Found No Leaks Found
Speed Tests Fast Slow
Torrenting & P2P Yes (Optimized P2P Servers) Yes (On all servers)
Streaming Netflix
Amazon Prime
BBC iPlayer
Firestick
Roku (Via Router)
Kodi
Apple TV (Via Router)
Android TV
Netflix
Hulu
Firestick
Roku (Via Router)
Kodi
Apple TV (Via Router)
Android TV
Gaming Windows
Android
iOS
Xbox One (Via Router)
PS4 (Via Router)
Nintendo Switch (Via Router)
Windows
Android
iOS
Xbox One (Via Router)
PS4 (Via Router)
Nintendo Switch (Via Router)
Compatibility Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Chrome
Firefox
Tor
Selected Routers
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Chromebook
Tor
Selected Routers
Simultaneous Connections 10 Unlimited
Servers 6500+ 1400+
China Yes No
Split Tunneling Yes Yes (On Android Only)
Additional Features Secure Wi-Fi
Dedicated IP (Add-On Feature)
Port Forwarding (Add-On Feature)
DDoS Protection (Add-On Feature)
Scramble Feature
Prices $10.95/Month
$5.82/Month (1-Year)
$3.33/Month (2-Years)Special Offer: $0.99 for a 7-day trial plus 47% off for a 1-year subscription
$9.99/Month ($3.49 for the 1st Month)
$31.49 (for the 1st Year then $89.99/Year)
Our Rating 4.6 3.9
Website www.purevpn.com www.ipvanish.com

At first glance, the two services seem very much alike. However, upon closer inspection, their differences become more evident. Being a consumer, it’s essential that we thoroughly review both to see which one is truly worth subscribing to.

Overall Winner: PureVPN

Privacy & Security

PrivateVPN is based in Hong Kong where it is safe from any restrictive copyright and privacy laws. In comparison, IPVanish operates from the US, which is a leading member of the Five Eyes Alliance. Therefore, it cannot operate freely as it might get closed by the authorities.

Encryption Comparison

The two services utilize industry-standard military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. Besides that, it has been reported that they both employ an undisclosed hash authentication and key exchange.

VPN Protocols

IPVanish and PureVPN maintain support for OpenVPN (UDP & TCP), IPSec (LT2P & IKEv2), along with SSTP and PPTP. Sadly, neither service lets you toggle WireGuard, which is the newest and most secure VPN protocol that’s currently available.

Leak Protection

I checked each service for leaks using IPLeak.net. Below is a screenshot of the result of my test while being paired with IPVanish and its server in Tokyo:

IP Leak Test – IPVanish Tokyo

And now, here’s what happened after I moved to PureVPN’s corresponding server:

IP Leak Test – PureVPN Tokyo

Thankfully, both were able to successfully hide my real IP address. Because of that, I’d have to say that the two are viable options for anyone who’s looking to remain anonymous.

Server Security

PureVPN, as well as IPVanish, don’t have RAM-based servers, which aren’t capable of tracking, collecting, and storing your private information. On the bright side, both VPN providers have strict no-logging policies that keep them from disclosing the personal data of users.

In Conclusion

The two have identical specifications when it comes to security. Nevertheless, since PureVPN is based in a VPN-friendly territory, it’s the victor of this round of battle between PureVPN and IPVanish.

Winner: PureVPN

Speed Test

Below is a screenshot of a speed test I ran while connected to IPVanish’s Tokyo server:

Speed Test – IPVanish Tokyo

And this is how it changed after I transferred to PureVPN’s server in the same location:

Speed Test – PureVPN Tokyo

The difference between the two VPN services is incredible. While IPVanish made my internet almost unusable, PureVPN hardly impacted my base connection. Hence, it’s only right to declare the latter as the winner of this round of our PureVPN vs IPVanish battle.

Winner: PureVPN

Torrenting & P2P

Quite interestingly, the entire network of IPVanish is P2P enabled. The same can’t be said for its competitor, which only has select optimized servers. With that said, it was essential for me to know if each service could keep me safe during torrenting sessions to know if they’re recommendable to anyone who downloads torrents regularly.

Here’s the result of my torrenting leak test while paired to IPVanish’s server in Tokyo:

Torrenting Leak Test – IPVanish Tokyo

This is the result of my test after transferring to PureVPN’s same-location server:

Torrenting Leak Test – PureVPN Tokyo

As seen, both services could protect me when I torrented. Despite that, my winner for this round of our IPVanish vs PureVPN battle is PureVPN. I chose it because it has enough P2P server locations to meet anyone’s needs and is much faster than its competitor.

Winner: PureVPN

Streaming

Reports state that IPVanish isn’t the best VPN for people that frequently stream entertainment content. That’s because it can bypass the geoblocks of a few streaming platforms.

Many say that PureVPN is an excellent choice when it comes to streaming. It consistently works around the geo-restrictions of just about any streaming service. Using it, you’ll get to access the unavailable foreign libraries of everything from Amazon Prime Video to BBC iPlayer.

Netflix

I used Netflix to see if IPVanish and PureVPN could meet my streaming needs. To test each service, I attempted to watch Spotlight, which is a title that’s only available in the US. Here’s how IPVanish fared:

Netflix US – IPVanish

Now, this is how PureVPN performed:

Netflix US – PureVPN

To my surprise, both VPN providers allowed me to access Netflix USA’s library and watch my movie of choice. Even so, the winner of this category of our IPVanish vs PureVPN match is PureVPN because it’s faster, has more servers, and can leap across more geoblocks.

Winner: PureVPN

Gaming

PureVPN was the only VPN service to deliver me an excellent gaming experience. While connected to it, zero problems with lagging, frame drops, and loading times ever came about while I was playing Call of Duty Mobile on my smartphone.

My connection was slowed down by IPVanish to such a degree that I couldn’t play. In fact, it was almost impossible to get into a match at all.

Winner: PureVPN

Compatibility

Below is a table showing what each VPN provider is compatible with:

PureVPN IPVanish
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Chrome
Firefox
Tor
Selected Routers
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Chromebook
Tor
Selected routers

 

With PureVPN, you’ll have the option to use browser extensions. For that reason, it’s the winner of this crucial round of our IPVanish vs PureVPN match.

Winner: PureVPN

Simultaneous Connections

You can use a maximum of 10 devices simultaneously under a single PureVPN account.

In the industry, this amount is higher than average. However, you should know that a handful of other services have better offerings. A prime example of this is IPVanish, which allows you to pair an unlimited number of gadgets simultaneously with one subscription.

Winner: IPVanish

Servers

IPVanish operates more than 1400 servers across the globe. In comparison, PureVPN has a network that consists of a whopping 6500+ in every major city around the world.

Winner: PureVPN

China

The Chinese market is difficult to tap into because few VPNs can bypass the Great Firewall. In fact, between the two, only PureVPN can get the job done successfully and in a reliable manner. Because of that, it’s the winner of this category.

Winner: PureVPN

Interface & Usability

IPVanish’s apps will likely give you a headache at first. The reason why is because they’ve got very complicated interfaces that are hard to navigate. On the bright side, once mastered, all of the service’s native applications show their full potential and become great.

interface-ipvanish

IPVanish Interface

Although PureVPN’s apps look awesome, they lack refinement. Besides being clunky, they also are rather difficult to get around. Needless to say, they’re still quite better than anything that’s offered by IPVansih. As such, PureVPN takes the win for this important category.

PureVPN-Interface

PureVPN Interface

Winner: PureVPN

Additional Features

There’s a security feature offered by IPVanish called Scramble. When used, it allows you to route your web traffic through two servers, making it more difficult for anyone to detect that you’re making use of a VPN service.

PureVPN boasts something known as Secure Wi-Fi. It’s basically a security feature that keeps you protected when you connect to a random hotspot. On top of that, the service lets you add extra security via DDoS protection and port forwarding as well as establish a personalized IP address for a minimal fee.

Since it has more unique features, the winner for this round is PureVPN.

Winner: PureVPN

Customer Support

Below is a table showing all that both services offer in regards to customer support:

PureVPN IPVanish
Live Chat Yes Yes
Email Support Yes Yes
Phone Support No Yes
Ticket Support Yes Yes
Video Tutorials No No
Online Knowledge Base Yes Yes
Average Response Time 1 Hour 20 Minutes

It’s clear that IPVanish has superior customer support. Besides having phone support, it also has a faster average response time. That means you’ll get to resolve any issues you might encounter in no time. If anything, this is great for those who aren’t tech-savvy.

Winner: IPVanish

Prices

Refer to the table below to know how much each VPN charges:

PureVPN IPVanish
Subscription Lengths $10.95/Month $3.49 for the 1st month then $9.99/Month
1 Year ($5.82/Month) $31.49 for the 1st year then $89.99/Year
2 Years ($3.33/Month)
Highest Price Per Month $10.95 $9.99
Lowest Price Per Month $3.33 $2.62
One Year Price $69.95 $31.49 for the 1st year then $89.99/Year
Money-Back Guarantee 31 Days 7 Days
Special Offer $0.99 for a 7-day trial plus 47% off for a 1-year subscription n/a

IPVanish, PureVPN, and a handful of other VPN services have below-average prices. Because of that, they’re viable options for anyone who’s on a tight budget.

With that said, I believe the best choice when it comes to value is PureVPN. Why? Its yearly prices are better in the long run and it boasts a 31-day money-back guarantee policy.

Winner: PureVPN

Verdict

Is PureVPN better than IPVanish?

Yes. PureVPN is better than IPVanish in a plethora of ways. First, it has better security, native apps, and speed capabilities. Also, the service has a larger server network and can bypass China’s Great Firewall. Lastly, it’s priced more competitively than IPVanish.

Overall Winner: PureVPN

By: Kris Soliongco
Kris has two passions in life: writing and tech. He’s been building computers since he was eight years old and is knowledgeable about online security. The first time he was exposed to VPNs was in 2016. Since then, he’s used a plethora of services and has gained much experience. Follow him on Facebook.