Windscribe vs. IPVanish: Which VPN is the Winner?

The main difference between Windscribe and IPVanish is that Windscribe offers a generous free plan with up to 15 GB free data per month and access to servers in 9 countries, while IPVanish only offers paid plans to their users.

IPVanish does offer a 30-day money back guarantee - but keep in mind, this only applies to yearly plans.

Always remember to read the terms, especially when dealing with IPVanish

And if you forget to cancel your account before it renews, you will not receive a refund. So make sure to stay on top of your billing or you could find yourself trapped with another year (or more) of payment.

Seems like a pretty harsh refund policy...

With Windscribe, a refund can be made within 7 days of payment or before you've used 10GB of VPN bandwidth, whichever comes first, no matter which type of plan you have signed up for, including monthly.

In this article, we will take you through the key points of comparison between both VPNs, including Pricing, Features/Privacy Tools, User Experience, Speed & Reviews. With this information, you'll be well-equipped to choose the VPN that best fits your needs.

But before we get started, it bears reminding that in 2016, it was discovered that IPVanish had provided user data to law enforcement despite claiming to have a strict no-logs policy. The company has since changed ownership a few times and has reaffirmed its commitment to a true no-logs policy, claiming that no logging systems were found during the acquisition. The new management insists that they now prioritize privacy and have not, and will not, log user data.

Windscribe is a true no-log VPN. You can even check out our detailed transparency report here - it shows how many DMCA and Law Enforcement data requests we have received (a lot): exactly zero requests were complied with due to lack of relevant data.

Windscribe vs. IPVanish: Feature Comparison Chart

No free plan? No bueno 😦

Windscribe vs. IPVanish: A Comprehensive Comparison

Let’s take a look at the key differentiators between Windscribe and IPVanish, starting with pricing.

Pricing

Windscribe is known for its flexible pricing options. It offers a free plan with up to 10 GB of data per month if you verify your email (plus 5 GB extra if you post on X). For users looking for more, Windscribe’s paid options include a Pro plan with unlimited data and access to servers in over 69 countries. What sets Windscribe apart is its “Build a Plan” feature, which allows users to customize their subscription with unlimited data for as little as $3 USD per month, paid PER MONTH, no contracts, cancel any time. This flexibility makes Windscribe an excellent choice for users who want to pay only for the features and locations they need.

Try Windscribe for Free

IPVanish, by contrast, does not offer a free plan, but it provides a standard monthly or annual subscription with unlimited data and access to its entire server network. While IPVanish’s plans are straightforward, they tend to be more expensive than Windscribe’s customizable options, especially for users who only need a few locations. And to get the best pricing, you need to commit to a 2-year plan. Plus, no refunds are offered after the first 30 days and monthly plans are ineligible for refunds.

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Verdict: In terms of pricing, Windscribe’s flexibility with the "Build a Plan" feature gives it an edge, allowing users to tailor their costs.

Privacy Tools

When it comes to privacy, both Windscribe and IPVanish offer strong features, but Windscribe provides a more robust and customizable suite of tools.

Windscribe stands out with its R.O.B.E.R.T. feature, which allows users to block ads, trackers, malware, and even specific content categories like social media or adult content. It also has a standalone feature-rich browser extension, packed with extra privacy and anti-fingerprinting security features, including:

Location Warp: spoofs your GPS to make it appear as if you’re browsing from a different country.
Cookie Monster: automatically deletes 1st or 3rd party cookies when you close the tab
WebRTC Slayer: prevents your IP address from leaking when using your browser that employ WebRTC
Language and Time Warp: spoof your browser time and language to match the location you are connected to in the VPN extension
Split Personality: randomly rotate your user agent so you always appear to be using a different browser

Additionally, Windscribe supports a variety of VPN protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, and offers a no-logs policy that has been independently audited, ensuring that user data is not stored or tracked.

IPVanish also offers strong security and support for multiple protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2, but it lacks more advanced features like browser extension and customizable blockers. IPVanish claims to have a no-logs policy, but it has faced scrutiny in the past for sharing user data with authorities, an incident that damaged its reputation. However, since then, IPVanish has been under new ownership and has reaffirmed its commitment to user privacy.

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Verdict: While both services offer solid encryption and privacy protocols, Windscribe’s advanced privacy tools like R.O.B.E.R.T. and anti-fingerprinting Browser Extension give it a clear advantage over IPVanish, especially for users who prioritize customizable privacy options.

User Experience

Both Windscribe and IPVanish have user-friendly interfaces, but they cater to slightly different audiences.

Windscribe is designed for both beginners and advanced users. Its app is clean and intuitive, making it easy to connect to servers or enable features like the firewall or split tunneling. For advanced users, Windscribe offers plenty of customization options, including the ability to configure Network Whitelisting and use Command Line Interface (CLI) for deeper control over the VPN. Windscribe also integrates well with its browser extensions, offering seamless ad-blocking and privacy features directly from your browser.

IPVanish, on the other hand, focuses on simplicity and accessibility. Its interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, but it doesn’t offer the same level of customization that Windscribe does. While IPVanish is simple to use, it may feel limited for advanced users who want more control over their VPN settings.

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Verdict: In terms of user experience, Windscribe offers more flexibility and customization, while IPVanish appeals to users looking for simplicity and ease of use.

Speed

Windscribe has servers in over 69 countries, and it supports the WireGuard protocol, which is known for delivering faster speeds compared to older protocols like OpenVPN. Windscribe’s speeds are generally consistent, and users report good performance for streaming and gaming.

IPVanish operates a slightly larger server network with servers in over 75 locations worldwide. It also supports WireGuard, which helps improve speed and performance, especially for streaming and downloading large files. IPVanish generally performs well across its network, but some users report that speeds can be inconsistent depending on the server location.

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Verdict: While both services perform well with WireGuard, Windscribe’s consistency and ability to maintain solid speeds across its network give it a slight edge over IPVanish, which may experience occasional slowdowns.

Reviews

Windscribe generally receives positive reviews for its flexibility, advanced features, and transparency. Users appreciate the custom blocking tool R.O.B.E.R.T., customizable pricing, and strong commitment to privacy. Windscribe’s free plan also receives high marks, as it provides a generous amount of data and server access compared to other free VPNs. Some users mention that while speeds can vary, especially with advanced features like Double Hop, the overall experience is reliable and feature-rich.

IPVanish also has a solid reputation, especially for its speed and simple user interface. However, some users still bring up concerns about its past logging practices, even though IPVanish now operates under a strict no-logs policy. Its cloud storage bundle with SugarSync is seen as a valuable addition, but it’s not a feature that appeals to most users. Plus, many users have expressed issues and challenges when trying to get a refund or cancel their subscription:

Much frustration. Very anger.

You may also see some super positive reviews of IPVanish in the following publications: PCMag, Mashable, ExtremeTech and TechBargains. This is your reminder to take these with a grain of salt as all of these publications are owned by Ziff Davis, who is also the owner of… you guessed it! IPVanish.

Windscribe does not pay for reviews or affiliate marketing. If you see a review of our service, you can rest assured that it is genuine and based on the reviewer’s own experience with the product.

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Verdict: While both VPNs are well-regarded, Windscribe’s reputation for privacy and transparency tends to earn slightly better reviews than IPVanish, which is still working to rebuild trust after its past logging issues.

Conclusion

Windscribe excels in customization, privacy tools, and pricing flexibility, making it a great choice for users who want advanced features and tailored plans.

IPVanish, with its simple interface, is ideal for users who value ease of use and real-time customer support.

While both VPNs perform well, Windscribe’s advanced privacy tools and transparency give it the edge for users who prioritize control and flexibility and a company that it’s loud and proud of their ethics, philosophy and commitment to privacy.

Don’t just trust us - The Markup’s privacy analysis gave Windscribe top marks.

👉 Read why PC Mag gave Windscribe its Editor’s Choice award (and we didn’t even have to pay for it!)