IPVanish vs ExpressVPN: A Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Trying to make up your mind between IPVanish and ExpressVPN? The two VPNs have plenty in common but also several key differences which we cover in this feature-by-feature comparison.

IPVanish was launched in 2012, and ExpressVPN in 2009, making them both established VPN services. In that time, the two VPN providers have established themselves as popular options, putting themselves in consideration among the best VPNs on the market. Both have generous global server networks, cross-platform apps, and no-logs policies. Yet only one has unlimited simultaneous connections and US-based phone support.

Our VPN comparison posts put popular VPN providers side-by-side.We evaluate everything IPVanish and ExpressVPN have to offer, breaking down the information to make it easy to digest. Our testing process involves measuring server speeds, checking for leaks, and even reading privacy policies, all to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. With any luck, this will save you some time and maybe even a bit of money.

At a glance: IPVanish vs ExpressVPN

Let’s compare IPVanish and ExpressVPN’s core features:

Server network and locations: IPVanish vs ExpressVPN

At a minimum, you want a VPN with servers in your country or a nearby one. The closer a VPN server is to your location, the less distance data has to travel and the faster your connection is likely to be. Fortunately, you should always have a VPN server close by with IPVanish and ExpressVPN, both of which have global server networks.

Of the two VPNs, IPVanish has the edge with servers in 110 countries in over 145 locations at the time of writing – that’s more than most VPNs. ExpressVPN doesn’t disappoint either with servers covering 105 countries. Both providers have servers in all of the obvious locations, be it the US, UK, Canada, or Germany. Only IPVanish has servers in Jordan, Nigeria, or Papua New Guinea, however.

Where IPVanish and ExpressVPN are similar is in their prioritization of server quality over quantity. Although some VPNs have networks exceeding 10,000 servers, IPVanish points out that bigger doesn’t always mean better, citing the importance of server capacity and infrastructure quality. 

This is evidenced by IPVanish’s recent announcement that it has rolled out RAM-only servers in 19 locations, reinforcing its commitment to privacy. Yet IPVanish remains transparent about its server count which stands at more than 3,100 servers. ExpressVPN no longer publishes just how many servers make up its network.

Connection speed: IPVanish vs ExpressVPN

Our speed tests made it clear that IPVanish and ExpressVPN are both among the fastest VPNs available today. Speed is an important factor to consider when choosing a VPN, particularly if you plan on using your VPN for streaming or multiplayer gaming. One reason free VPNs aren’t recommended is because they tend to throttle user bandwidth, resulting in lag-filled streaming and gaming sessions with high latency.

The good news is that IPVanish and ExpressVPN each offer unlimited bandwidth coupled with high-speed VPN protocols. The difference is that IPVanish makes use of the very popular WireGuard protocol whereas ExpressVPN has its proprietary protocol, Lightway. Their lightweight codebases allow for fast speeds and this was evident in testing.

When connecting to a server local to me, speeds measured 428 Mbps with IPVanish over WireGuard. Speeds were even faster over ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol at 508 Mbps. Having said that, ExpressVPN offers servers closer to my location so that will have some impact.

The story was similar when connecting to a server further away in New York. With IPVanish, I had speeds of 332 Mbps, but ExpressVPN came in at 350 Mbps. It’s only a small difference and I should point out that I’ve previously recorded speeds of nearly 500 Mbps when connected to IPVanish’s New York servers.

It’s not easy to separate the speeds offered by these fast VPNs. The speeds you see will ultimately depend on the quality of your internet connection. Other influencing factors include the VPN protocol used ,the distance to the VPN server, and the current server load.

Features: IPVanish vs ExpressVPN

IPVanish and ExpressVPN are more than just VPNs, providing a variety of features that bolster your online protection. ExpressVPN makes things a little more complicated with its features separated into three different subscription tiers. IPVanish only has two tiers for you to choose from, providing flexibility without overwhelming.

One thing these VPNs have in common is their threat managers, which block a variety of threats including ads, trackers, and malicious websites. Both IPVanish and ExpressVPN offer split tunneling, letting you choose which traffic can bypass the VPN connection – useful if you’re using a streaming app and want the fastest possible connection.

Yet these two VPN providers have a number of different features that might just help you reach a decision if you’re still undecided. One of ExpressVPN’s standout extras is ExpressVPN Keys, its own password manager. It’s the only one of the two to offer Dedicated IP addresses. Unless you opt for its more expensive Pro plan, this costs extra. 

ExpressVPN also has Identity Defender which bundles identity theft alerts, data removal, and ID theft insurance. Unfortunately, this is available to US users only.

IPVanish has a number of unique features of its own however. This includes Double Hop servers. Also known as Double VPN or MultiHop. Available to all users, regardless of subscription level, this routes internet traffic through two IPVanish servers, providing an extra layer of encryption.
Included with IPVanish Advanced subscriptions is 1 TB of Livedrive cloud storage. With it, you’ll not only be able to save important files, but securely sync and share them across devices. Another key feature is IPVanish’s Secure Browser service that blocks browser-based threats and prevents digital fingerprinting so you can browse anonymously. You can access this in-app, via the web app, or via a Chrome, Firefox, or Edge browser extension.

Streaming and unblocking: IPVanish vs ExpressVPN

Both services support streaming and torrenting on all their servers, and thanks to their fast speeds, performance issues are rare. You won’t often have to contend with lag or buffering even when streaming content in 4K resolution. Of course, it helps if you connect to servers closer to your physical location for the fastest possible connection.

One common problem for VPNs, particularly free VPNs, is managing restrictions. Many VPN services are unable to connect to popular streaming platforms, as these platforms often block known VPN IP addresses.
Fortunately, IPVanish and ExpressVPN are two of the best VPNs for streaming security, supporting high-speed connections to even the most difficult-to-access streaming services. I successfully accessed multiple Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, and more. Better still, my streaming experience was very smooth

A VPN can also prove useful for accessing the internet freely in countries with strict internet censorship. Both IPVanish and ExpressVPN provide obfuscation. With IPVanish, you need only activate the Scramble option while connected to the OpenVPN protocol. ExpressVPN’s implementation of the OpenVPN protocol sees all traffic obfuscated by default.

Security and privacy: IPVanish vs ExpressVPN

A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is supposed to encrypt your internet traffic and mask your IP address. Sadly, some VPNs don’t even do this properly. That’s not the case for IPVanish or ExpressVPN however, with both employing 256-bit AES, a military-grade encryption protocol. 

If you connect to WireGuard using IPVanish, your data instead receives ChaCha20 encryption, an effectively uncrackable encryption cipher that’s also available as an option with Lightway.

The security of IPVanish and ExpressVPN doesn’t end here, however. Another essential feature is the kill switch. Should your VPN connection drop, the kill switch steps in and cuts your internet traffic. This prevents data leaks, which is especially important on public Wi-Fi networks that can be hotspots for hackers and snoopers. To test each VPN’s kill switch, I forced each app to crash. My internet traffic was successfully blocked in the process.

Some VPNs don’t route your DNS requests via the VPN tunnel, resulting in your ISP seeing your browsing activity. That’s far from ideal from a service that’s supposed to afford you some privacy. The good news is that I connected to IPVanish and ExpressVPN servers and found that there were absolutely no DNS or IPv6 leaks.

With both VPNs offering ad blocking, I also thought it would be useful to see how they compare. Using an online ad block test, I found IPVanish’s Threat Protection successfully blocked 84% of ads sent its way. ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager did even better, stopping 86%. Either way, both VPNs performed better than Surfshark’s CleanWeb and NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro.

All of this is important, but it means little if your VPN is logging and selling your data such as your browsing activity. Yet IPVanish and ExpressVPN are two quality paid services that operate no-logs policies, both of which have been independently audited. Better still, both of their most recent audits were completed in 2025.

It’s also worth mentioning that ExpressVPN uses TrustedServer technology for increased data security and privacy protection. Servers are RAM-only with data wiped on every reboot. IPVanish has also introduced RAM-only servers and aims to have an entirely RAM-only server network by 2027.

Compatibility and configuration: IPVanish vs ExpressVPN

You’ll have no trouble securing your devices with IPVanish or ExpressVPN, both of which are compatible with most major operating systems. The two VPN providers offer native apps for desktop (Windows and Mac) and mobile (Android and iOS). Streaming devices aren’t forgotten either with apps offered for Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV.

Only ExpressVPN provides a full GUI app for Linux, making it that little bit more beginner-friendly. However, IPVanish is accessible via Linux’s command-line interface so as long as you’re familiar with that, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Another difference between ExpressVPN and IPVanish is that only ExpressVPN offers browser extensions. Available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, browser extensions are convenient if you only need to secure your browser traffic and not that of any apps.

IPVanish stands out for allowing unlimited simultaneous connections compared to the 10-14 device limit of ExpressVPN. If you do want to get around ExpressVPN’s connection limit, it provides custom router firmware. This makes it quicker and easier to secure your router and all connected devices which then only count as one connection.

It’s also possible to set up IPVanish with your router. Like ExpressVPN, it provides excellent setup guides to make this easy. Alternatively, you can buy routers that are pre-configured with the software of IPVanish or ExpressVPN, saving you from having to manually set things up.

Apps and usability: IPVanish vs ExpressVPN

The apps of IPVanish and ExpressVPN are quite different. Yet one thing they have in common is they’re beginner-friendly. They proved highly responsive in testing with no bugs or crashes to report.

The quick connect button is more prominent in ExpressVPN’s design, sitting front and center of the home view. Its simple, small-window design is great if you’re looking for a plug-and-play option, but makes finding your way around (such as accessing your settings) a little clunky. For example, clicking the hamburger menu to access settings or VPN locations opens an entirely separate window. It’s unconventional but still straightforward enough.

In addition to a convenient quick-connect feature, IPVanish offers a map view as an alternative way to select a server. Featuring a larger app window than ExpressVPN, it offers more information such as your current IP address and VPN protocol. The sidebar menu means it’s easy to find specific features and access your settings in a single click.

When it comes to server selection, IPVanish’s app wins out. The trouble with ExpressVPN’s desktop app is that you have to click on a country to see the cities covered and there’s no information regarding server load. With IPVanish, all server locations are listed by default with their server load alongside them. Both VPNs offer a search bar to save scrolling, and there’s the option to shortlist servers so you can find them faster in future.

The two VPNs’ settings pages are similarly straightforward with radio buttons for selecting your preferred protocol and check boxes for features such as the kill switch or threat blockers. The VPN protocols and features are well explained too in both cases.

As for the mobile apps, they’re similarly simple in design. Although ExpressVPN packs more in, not everything is entirely useful – not everyone will want to see how much time they’ve been protected by the VPN connection, for example. Each VPN app’s footer menu makes it easy to find extra features. With ExpressVPN, this includes its Advanced Protection and even a speed test. With IPVanish, you’ll find a link checker as well as a QR code checker.

Customer support: IPVanish vs ExpressVPN

One of the main advantages of choosing a quality paid VPN provider over a free VPN service is the presence of customer support. IPVanish and ExpressVPN both offer 24/7 support via live chat and email. Having got in touch with the support of both VPNs, I can confirm they’re both quick to respond and that they provide high-quality answers to questions.

Where IPVanish sets itself apart, however, is the fact that it also offers phone support. US-based, it’s available during standard business hours from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CT.

Another option available to you is the two VPNs’ respective support centers. There you’ll find step-by-step setup guides with annotated screenshots, as well as troubleshooting articles. It’s also worth knowing that both VPNs have YouTube channels where you can find video setup guides, explainers, news about new features, and more.

Pricing: IPVanish vs ExpressVPN

You can subscribe to IPVanish or ExpressVPN for one month, a year, or two years. The longer the subscription, the more you’ll save. Conversely, short-term subscriptions cost more per month but give you more flexibility should you wish to switch providers at short notice.

IPVanish provides just two subscription tiers for you to choose from: Essential and Advanced, while ExpressVPN has a three-tier system: Basic, Advanced, and Pro.

One month of IPVanish will cost you $12.99/month (Essential) or $14.99/month (Advanced). ExpressVPN costs anything from $12.99 to $19.99/month.

A one-year subscription offers a compromise in that it’s not too long a commitment, yet still comes with a discount. This sees IPVanish plans drop to $3.33 or $4.49/month. All of ExpressVPN’s one-year plans are more expensive, ranging from $4.99/month to $8.99/month.

For the biggest discounts, you’ll want a two-year subscription. With IPVanish, this costs $2.19 or $3.29/month. Again, ExpressVPN is the pricier of the two, starting from $3.49/month and going up to $7.49/month.

What’s clear is that IPVanish costs far less than ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN’s base plan, though affordable, is very limited in that it doesn’t include Advanced Protection (ad, tracker, and malicious site blocking). It’s also limited to just 10 simultaneous connections.

Still, you’re free to make up your own mind because both VPN providers offer 30-day money-back guarantees.

IPVanish vs ExpressVPN: Which wins?

There’s not a lot to separate IPVanish and ExpressVPN, which are two of the best VPNs available today. Both have generous server networks, comparable connection speeds, and strong security features. They also have no-logs policies that have been independently audited, as well as excellent, user-friendly apps.

ExpressVPN stands out as the only one of the two to include a password manager as well as a GUI app for Linux. However, IPVanish has plenty of extras of its own, including Secure Browser and Cloud Storage service. Furthermore, it has an unlimited simultaneous connection allowance and US-based phone support.

When you consider what IPVanish offers and that IPVanish costs significantly less than ExpressVPN, it’s IPVanish that wins this comparison. Want to try it out? IPVanish offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try all of its features risk-free.