You may find yourself comparing Surfshark vs IPVanish when looking for a VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections. Of course, this is far from the only function available from these VPN providers.
Surfshark and IPVanish are both lightweight applications with excellent user interfaces that achieve admirable speeds. Both are also reasonably priced in comparison to other brands in the market.
However, the question is, which one should you consider over the other? Continue reading this VPN comparison to find out!
Surfshark vs IPVanish: Head to Head Comparison
Looking for a quick go-through to know which is better: Surfshark vs. IPVanish? Well, this comparison table will help you do so:
| Surfshark | IPVanish |
| Offers 3200+ servers in 65 countries | Offers 2000+ servers in 75+ locations |
| Consistently fast speeds | Speeds are above-average |
| Strong privacy and security | Security is impressive |
| Works with all major streaming services | Unblocks most streaming services |
| No-logging policy |
Surfshark vs IPVanish: Speed Test
Surfshark is now one of the fastest VPNs in the world, thanks to their upgrading to the WireGuard VPN protocol.
Whereas, all of IPVanish’s device apps are in the process of being upgraded to WireGuard. Until then, they continue to use the industry-standard OpenVPN protocol, which is slower than WireGuard.
| VPN Provider | Download Speeds | Upload Speeds | Pings |
| Surfshark | 87.32 | 76.89 | 111 |
| IPVanish | 80.11 | 71.36 | 156 |
You can see that Surfshark overall offers better speeds than IPVanish, thereby being considered a better option when it comes to speeds among Surfshark vs. IPVanish.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Which one has the best features?
Many individuals seek a VPN with a diverse set of capabilities for a variety of scenarios. Let’s take a look at how Surfshark and IPVanish perform in this area.
Split tunneling
Surfshark’s split tunneling feature is known as Whitelister that allows you to choose which apps should go through the VPN tunnel. As for IPVanish, split tunneling is only available on Android.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Stealth VPN
When you use a public wi-fi network, Surfshark’s stealth mode and function activates the VPN immediately.
However, when it comes to understanding what it actually is, then it’s basically a feature built around obfuscation technology that conceals your VPN traffic and portrays it as regular traffic.
As for IPVanish, it comes with an OpenVPN Scramble feature that hides users’ OpenVPN traffic.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Ad-blocker
Surfshark provides a variety of services. CleanWeb is a function that prevents advertisements, trackers, and malicious domains from ruining your day or worsening your situation. This feature of Surfshark works perfectly well on multiple sites. We confirmed it through our testing.
When it comes to IPVanish, the VPN doesn’t offer an ad-blocker at all, giving Surfshark an edge.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Exclusive features (WireGuard, search function, and more)
Surfshark VPN provides a few more advanced capabilities than IPVanish when it comes to advanced features. Surfshark One, Surfshark Search, and Surfshark Alert are a few examples.
IPVanish does not include any additional security features. However, the company now incorporates online backup options with its VPN service thanks to a deal with SugarSync.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Surfshark vs IPVanish: which VPN is more secure?
A good VPN should provide excellent internet privacy and security. This implies that the service should use secure VPN protocols and encryption, as well as a no-logs policy.
However, we tested Surfshark vs. IPVanish’s security features and here is all we found out:
Jurisdiction
The Netherlands is where Surfshark is based. While it is in Europe, which isn’t ideal, it isn’t in a 5 Eyes jurisdiction like the United States or the United Kingdom, which should be avoided.
Surfshark has no record of privacy or security issues, according to our analysis, and has a spotless track history since its establishment in 2018.
IPVanish is a member of the Five Eyes monitoring organization and is situated in the United States. Privacy firms situated in the US can be ordered (and have been) to store user data for US authorities.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Logging
When it comes to Surfshark vs IPVanish logging policies, Surfshark is a strict no-logs VPN provider that even has a warrant canary in place. A warrant canary is a transparency report that shows whether any government has requested or required data records.
IPVanish has previously been detected collecting data for US authorities, and there is no guarantee that they will not do so again. The IPVanish logging scandal was first exposed in 2018.
This was the point at which IPVanish complied with FBI orders to log user data and provide over the documents. All of this occurred while IPVanish claimed to be a VPN service with “zero logs.”
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Encryption Protocols
Both of these VPNs are compatible with a variety of connection protocols. OpenVPN and IKEv2 are the most popular, but depending on the provider you choose, there are a few additional possibilities as well.
IPVanish users can use protocols including L2TP, SSTP, and PPTP. However, we would advise against it because these are only useful in certain situations.
Surfshark, on the other hand, collaborates with Shadowsocks, a company well-known for its ability to bypass China’s firewall. It also supports WireGuard, a speedier, security-focused protocol that is projected to become the industry standard in the near future.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Surfshark vs. IPVanish: Streaming
The site of Surfshark is vocal about its unlocking skills, listing the 14 Netflix libraries it can access. We succeeded in unblocking YouTube TV and all of the Netflix servers we attempted.
IPVanish is more coy about this part of its service, although it still unblocks YouTube TV and Netflix.
The BBC’s streaming service, however, is the most difficult to access; of the two, only Surfshark was able to provide us with access.
Both providers are useful and appear on our top Netflix VPN list if you’re in the UK. However, only Surfshark, can provide you with complete access to everything without lags.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Torrenting and P2P
One of the best VPNs for torrenting is Surfshark. Its apps have leak protection and kill switches built in. Surfshark can also guarantee blazing fast speeds for P2P torrenting on all servers thanks to the WireGuard technology.
IPVanish offers strong protection against your IP address being leaked, however server speeds are slow. There are also some issues regarding IPVanish’s location in the United States, which has some of the strictest copyright regulations we’ve encountered.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Plans and pricing; Which one is more affordable?
| Prices and Plans | Surfshark | IPVanish |
| Periods | 1 month | 1 month |
| 6 months | 3 months | |
| 2 years | 1 year | |
| Special offers and discounts | 82% off on 2 years + 2 months plan | 65% off on 1-year plan |
| Lowest price per month | $2.30/month | $3.75/month |
| Highest price per month | $12.95/mo | $10.99/mo |
As for pricing, Surfshark is currently the cheapest VPN if you’re all set for a long term commitment, along with 2 months free. And since it is the best VPN we have to offer, we ensure that you would not be disappointed at any cost.
As for IPVanish, its long term plan costs slightly more than Surfshark. While it comes with a shorter period of commitment, its features and jurisdiction make us think twice about it.
All in all, Surfshark has undoubtedly a cheaper subscription plan along with a robust service.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Server locations
Surfshark is the obvious winner in terms of server count, with more than 3,200 shared IP servers compared to IPVanish’s 2,000+ servers. Surfshark also offers static IP servers in five countries: Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Singapore.
IPVanish has server footprints in more than 75+ locations. However, the server count remains less.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Apps, interface, and ease of use
| App Interface and Usability | Surfshark | IPVanish |
| Selection of servers | List-based | List and Map based |
| Mobile-friendly apps | Available | Available |
| Auto-setup wizard | iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and Mac | Windows, iOS, Android, Mac |
Here is all the information we received after testing Surfshark vs IPVanish device compatibility:
Desktop apps
Both companies have desktop apps that are simple to use. Surfshark has a button that links you to the fastest accessible server, as well as a list of servers you’ve previously used. Servers are neatly divided into three categories on the server selection screen: general-purpose, static IP, and MultiHop.
IPVanish’s desktop client is somewhat similar, except instead of requiring users to travel to the whole server list, it allows them to instantly select their desired location from the home page. You can view servers in either a list or a map format. A panel with information about your server, current protocol, and data usage is also available.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Mobile apps
Both providers’ apps have the same look and feel as their desktop clients – Surfshark keeps its minimalist aesthetic, while IPVanish keeps its data-heavy interface.
Neither lacks in terms of features. Both IPVanish and Surfshark offer a variety of protocols, as well as a kill switch (albeit IPVanish’s iOS app does not).
Surfshark’s apps, on the other hand, stand out for their simplicity. While you won’t get quite as much in-depth information, you will get some very useful features, such as a list of your recently used servers. If you regularly transfer from UK to US servers, you’ll have to physically search each time with IPVanish.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Browser extensions
Another thing that sets Surfshark apart is its outstanding browser extensions, available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. As for IPVanish, no browser extensions are offered.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Customer Support Comparison
IPVanish and Surfshark both provide a variety of support options, including email, live chat, a knowledge base, and FAQs. The knowledgebase is the best place to go for step-by-step instructions and articles on how to fix minor installation, connectivity, and payment issues.
We used both live chat alternatives and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the agents’ responses. The representatives were really responsive, answering our questions within minutes.
IPVanish, on the other hand, has an advantage over Surfshark in that it provides 24/7 phone assistance. Support agents can be reached via phone lines in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and Spain.
Final Result: IPVanish is the Winner!
Surfshark vs IPVanish: which one is worth the money?
We’ve finally reached the conclusion of our IPVanish vs Surfshark analysis. Although Surfshark is clearly the superior VPN in most categories, IPVanish is still a viable option. What matters in the end are your priorities and the specific features you’re looking for in a VPN.
IPVanish is a fast and trustworthy VPN service with strong security features, a true no-logs policy, and a friendly support team.
Surfshark, on the other hand, is the best option. There are no restrictions on how many connections you can make. It does, however, provide faster overall speeds, improved network coverage, and enhanced privacy protections.
With static IP servers and the capability to access a broader spectrum of region-locked services, it’s also more versatile.
FAQs
Is IPVanish cheaper than Surfshark?
No, IPVanish is not cheaper than Surfshark. Its best plan costs $3.75/mo, while Surfshark comes at a price of $2.30/mo with 2 months of service absolutely free.
Is Surfshark good for gaming?
Yes, Surfshark is not a bad choice for gaming. Your connection will be stabilized, and your ping rate will be consistent. However, if you play using a VPN server that is located far away from your location, you may experience lag.
Can you be tracked using IPVanish?
No, you cannot be tracked using IPVanish. The best thing is that if you enable IPVanish’s obfuscation technology, it will hide that you’re using a VPN and not even your ISP would be able to guess that you’re actually connected to a VPN server.