Ivacy VPN review
Our Verdict
In terms of value, Ivacy is one of the all-time-value VPN services on the market today, depending on the bundle you lot buy. However, whilst it comes with decent features, the lack of an audit ways yous'll have to take any privacy claims on trust, and the money-back guarantee isn't quite as 'no quibble' as its rivals.
For
- Tons of features
- Good customer support
- Inexpensive long-term plans
- Great at unblocking geo-specific content
Against
- Best value program is for a lengthy five years
- No security/privacy audit
Tom'southward Guide Verdict
In terms of value, Ivacy is ane of the best-value VPN services on the market place today, depending on the bundle y'all buy. However, whilst it comes with decent features, the lack of an inspect means you lot'll accept to have any privacy claims on trust, and the money-back guarantee isn't quite as 'no quibble' as its rivals.
Pros
- +
Tons of features
- +
Good customer support
- +
Inexpensive long-term plans
- +
Keen at unblocking geo-specific content
Cons
- -
All-time value plan is for a lengthy 5 years
- -
No security/privacy inspect
Singapore-based Ivacy is a very cost-constructive VPN provider, just is it the best VPN on the market? As with many things in life you get what you pay for, and VPNs are no different. Whilst Ivacy has one of the cheapest subscription plans out there, that doesn't automatically make information technology the best choice.
There are too certain points that potential buyers should be aware of, such as the discrepancy between how many servers it claims to take compared to how many it lists, and the fact that it hasn't had its privacy and security practices externally audited. Merely the most important matter to consider when it comes to choosing a VPN depends on how you plan to use it.
In our review, we'll appraise the features that make Ivacy stand out against the competition, and summarize its functionality to help you decide whether this is the correct VPN for you.
- Click to caput direct through to the Ivacy website
Ivacy one-minute review
Ivacy's brusque-term plans are decent value at $9.95 a month, but commit for longer and you'll sympathise the provider'southward reputation for value – a v-yr plan weighs in at simply $1 a month, which is practically unbeatable.
Its privacy policy is transparent and instils confidence, only we'd appreciate an external audit to back up these claims. Alongside a no-logs policy, Ivacy provides a kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, and DDoS protection.
While it's non quite as superfast or as reliable as the very best, Ivacy's speeds should be more than enough for most users. In the UK we saw speeds between 75-170Mbps, and in the U.s.a. we saw speeds of effectually seventy-80Mbps.
Ivacy's pretty expert for streaming, and after a small hiccup with Netflix Commonwealth of australia, it completed a clean sweep of unblocking Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer. Combine that with total P2P torrenting support, and you've got yourself a fine VPN for accessing a huge amount of content.
The desktop apps take a server filtering tool that helps you cull the correct server for the right purpose – for example, accessing Netflix UK – and this is very useful. However, Mac users are left in the lurch compared to Windows users, and the macOS app lacks a kill switch, separate tunneling, and any sort of protocol options.
Information technology'due south a like story for the Android and iOS offerings. The Android app is almost as powerful equally the Windows client, and has a good feature set. The iPhone app, yet, is thin. It'southward worth noting that both will permit you choose your protocol, though.
Subscribers volition have access to 24/7 live chat, which is useful in practise. You'll also be able to browse a well-stocked knowledge base of operations for support articles.
Overall, Ivacy offers keen value and doesn't sacrifice also much in the procedure. All the same, it just can't quite match upward with more premium services that in do don't cost a whole lot more.
- Sign up at present on the Ivacy website
Ivacy on paper
Number of servers: iii,500+
Number of countries: 100+
Platforms supported: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, Chrome, Firefox, Border Fire Stick, Android TV
Simultaneous connections: Five
Split up tunneling: Yes (Windows)
Kill switch: Yes
Supported protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, PPTP, IPSec
Country of registration: Singapore
Support: Articles, electronic mail, alive conversation
Ivacy price: how much is it and is there a Ivacy free trial?
Considering its about expensive subscription model costs $nine.95 per month, Ivacy is a pretty inexpensive VPN. What's more, if yous were to opt for Ivacy's five-year subscription plan, then you'd be getting one of the best value-for-money VPNs on the market. Billed as a one-off payment of $60, this equates to merely $1 per month.
Ivacy'southward ane-yr programme, on the other manus, is billed as a one-off payment of $42, equal to $3.50 per month. Moreover, a dedicated IP comes at an additional $ane.99 per calendar month, and port forwarding can be bought for an extra $1 per calendar month.
Ivacy also offers a money-back guarantee on all its subscriptions, seven days if you've chosen the one-calendar month subscription and xxx days for the annual and five-year plans. At that place are a few other strings fastened to the money-dorsum guarantee, including your payment method, so it'southward worth checking the refund policy if this is a concern.
Speaking of payment methods, there are plenty of options when it comes to ownership an Ivacy subscription. This includes standard credit cards, PayPal, BitPay, Coingate, and PerfectMoney.
- Head through to the Ivacy website now
How individual is Ivacy and does information technology keep logs?
Ivacy has a very transparent privacy policy with details of the information that it does and doesn't record. At the very superlative of the page, Ivacy summarises these details nicely past stating.
'We strictly practice not log or monitor online browsing activities, connection logs, VPN IPs assigned, original IP addresses, browsing history, outgoing traffic, connectedness times, data you have accessed and/or DNS queries generated by your end. We have no information that could associate specific activities to specific users.'
Ivacy's other security features include 256-bit encryption, an internet impale-switch, IPv6 Leak Protection, DNS encryption, and DDoS protection.
Equally good as this might all sound, it's unfortunate that Ivacy is yet to put itself through public security and privacy audit. So whilst it'south all well and good that Ivacy claims to practice such privacy methods, there's no bear witness to back it up. Such audits are becoming commonplace in the VPN market, so hopefully this will change over time.
How fast is Ivacy?
Unfortunately, we ran into some technical difficulties when completing our UK speed tests, only nosotros won't hold this against Ivacy considering we're not sure why this happened.
All the same, the results we did manage to get ranged from 75 to 170Mbps, which is a wider gap than what we're used to, though that could be due to our testing problems. With whatever decent VPN we'd expect speeds betwixt 100 to 200Mbps, then our results propose that Ivacy can merely reach mid-range speeds.
Following this, nosotros ran tests in the US using an ultra-fast 600Mbps connection and cantankerous-checked the results. Whilst nosotros had no effect collecting the data and download speeds were consistent, the speeds came in only under average at 70–80Mbps.
This ways that whilst Ivacy is capable of powering many tasks, information technology'southward trailing far behind its competitors, such as Speedify (which peaked at 315Mbps+ in recent testing), NordVPN (380Mbps+), and Hotspot Shield (415Mbps), which might make ameliorate choices if y'all're looking for a fast VPN.
How good is Ivacy for streaming and torrenting?
Unlocking content from streaming providers such every bit Netflix and Amazon Prime is a key reason why many people purchase a VPN. Just is Ivacy the best Netflix VPN out at that place?
When we tested Ivacy for streaming geo-specific content in Australia, Netflix detected the VPN and blocked the content. However, on the 2d exam, this fourth dimension connecting to a different Australian server, the content played without any difficulty. Moreover, both BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime number worked on the first attempt. It's too worth mentioning that when we tried to watch the same content, this time using ExpressVPN to connect to an Australian server, we had no issues.
When it comes to using Ivacy equally a torrenting VPN, this provider is P2P-friendly and prevents bandwidth throttling. Also, with the port-forwarding characteristic that'south available equally an add-on, users can increase the download speed of large files. Other than this, there aren't any features that make Ivacy really stand out every bit a torrenting VPN.
How good are Ivacy's desktop apps?
For Mac, the Ivacy desktop app is pretty basic, and different its Windows counterpart, doesn't have a kill switch or an option for dissever tunneling—nor can you lot choose your connection blazon. This is pretty poor for a premium VPN service, but Windows users have a lot more than functionality.
For example, on the Windows version, you'll observe settings that enable you to switch protocol (OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, L2TP, or IKEv2), actuate split tunneling, a impale switch, and multiport settings to assistance bypass VPN blocks.
In instance you're unfamiliar with all the protocols, hither'southward a quick breakdown. OpenVPN is an open-source protocol, pregnant developers tin access its lawmaking. It's become one of the nigh popular protocols due to its employ of (practically unbreakable) AES-256 scrap key encryption with 2048-scrap RSA hallmark and a 160-bit SHA1 hash algorithm.
OpenVPN UDP is faster than OpenVPN TCP, just can be less reliable, whereas TCP is more secure—but because of its tougher encryption, can exist slower. L2TP (Layer ii Tunneling Protocol), on the other manus, provides less security and slower speeds. Finally, IKEv2 (Cyberspace Key Exchange version 2) is both fast and secure merely doesn't piece of work on all platforms, and has the potential to exist blocked by firewalls.
Moving on from the protocol breakdown, both desktop apps do share a toolbar to help you lot cull the all-time servers for specific tasks. For case, the Streaming tab will help you admission specific content providers (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, etc.).
Then in that location are other tabs such equally Unblocking to assistance you access geo-specific sites, and Secure Download, which patently 'scans for any viruses or malware in the data being downloaded and removes it at server level.' The website states that this 'scans and removes such viruses and malicious files before they even make their style to your devices.'
It's also worth noting that Ivacy claims to have more than 2,000 servers in over 100 locations around the globe. Withal, at fourth dimension of writing, the list of servers straight below that claim adds upwardly to but 763.
How good are Ivacy's mobile apps?
If you plan on using Ivacy as a mobile VPN, then information technology's worth knowing that information technology's a similar story between iOS and Android versions of the app. Where the Android VPN boasts almost every bit much functionality equally the Windows version, the iPhone VPN is equally restricted as the Mac version. That said, the iOS version does at to the lowest degree let yous switch between IKEV and IPSec protocols.
What customer back up does Ivacy offering?
If you lot notice yourself needing help and/or advice on how to utilise Ivacy, or if you lot're having technical difficulties, 24/7 support is available via live chat on the company website, email, and tickets. We sent two queries via the live webchat and got a helpful response inside minutes.
Ivacy'due south website also boasts a support middle, which includes quick showtime guides for all compatible platforms, video tutorials (which directs yous to its rather underwhelming YouTube channel), and an FAQ section. So if you lot're having any difficulty, Ivacy is well equipped to help you lot.
Ivacy: Final verdict
In terms of price, Ivacy is 1 of the front-runners in the VPN space, and if the master reason you're ownership a VPN is to unlock the full potential of streaming services such as Netflix, you're unlikely to exist disappointed.
However, if privacy and security is a top concern then y'all may want to consider another provider such as ExpressVPN, which has been audited by independent experts, including PwC and Cure53.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/ivacy-vpn-review
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