IPVanish vs TorGuard comparison in 2021

Sometimes it can be difficult to make a choice between two different VPN providers. This could happen because, at first glance, the two services are very similar. Such is the case with TorGuard vs IPVanish. Both hail from the US, are well known in the VPN industry, and are solid choices in certain categories.

That’s why it’s important to have a closer look and break down the distinguishing features of these two providers. Which is why I’ll look into:

• Speed and servers
• Security and privacy features
• Device compatibility
• Usability when streaming, torrenting, or in China
• Customer support

After that, I’ll be able to make an informed decision on which service is better for each use-case and who is the winner of this comparison.

Highlights

Torguard vs IPVanish video review

Speed and performance

Let’s start off with a glance at the speeds of these providers. I’ll be looking at the results from our own speed testing tool, which produces the most accurate results.

Unsurprisingly, IPVanish is left in the dust while TorGuard darts away with the help of WireGuard. IPVanish does support a large number of tunneling protocols, but none of them can compare to the speed and performance of WireGuard. Until they implement it, this situation is unlikely to improve.

IPVanish vs TorGuard: 14-Day Speed Average

Servers

TorGuard has 3000+ servers in 50+ countries, while IPVanish has 1500+ in 75+ countries.

One thing that IPVanish can boast about is their full ownership of their server network. This is pretty impressive considering how many they actually own. Plus, they don’t have any virtual servers. And although both VPNs allow P2P traffic on all of their servers, neither one has RAM-only servers, which would improve their privacy immensely.

Plans and pricing comparison

IPVanish price and plans

The pricing for IPVanish is rather peculiar. The first month or year is fairly cheap, but after that, the price spikes significantly. So if you wanted to get a monthly subscription, you’d pay 9.99 for the first one, and then $9.99 for every month thereafter.

The annual price adds up to $34.99 for the first year, and then $99.99 for the consecutive years. There are also additional costs if you want the SugarSync feature ($3.84/month on a monthly or $2.92/month on a yearly subscription).

Torguard price and plans

TorGuard is more straightforward, with a variety of monthly and annual plans, which start at $9.99/month for one month, $6.66/month for three months, $4.99/month for six months or a year, and finally $4.17/month for a two-year plan.

TorGuard also grants you only a 7-day money-back guarantee, while IPVanish gives you 30 days. But there is a catch with the latter – you can’t refund the monthly subscription plan. In addition, neither service has a free version of their app.

Security test Torguard vs IPVanish

In terms of security, both VPN services have a few things in common: AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN and IKEv2 tunneling protocols, an internet kill switch, no IP or DNS leak issues, and some extra features like split tunneling and a SOCKS5 proxy.

The main advantage of TorGuard is their utilization of WireGuard. In addition to having a small codebase and being easy to maintain and secure, WireGuard is responsible for some of the most insane VPN connection speeds in general. This is a great perk to have while other providers are slow to adapt.

Other features of TorGuard include StealthVPN against DPI (Deep Packet Inspection), an ad and malware blocker, split tunneling (Android only), and Shadowsocks.

While IPVanish does not have WireGuard in their arsenal yet, they do have L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, and PPTP tunneling protocols, which do add some extra versatility to the software. Also, when using OpenVPN, you have the option to enable traffic obfuscation for extra security. Additionally, they have split tunneling for Android and Fire OS, and a SOCKS5 proxy.

One feature that you don’t really expect when getting a VPN is secure file storage and sync. IPVanish provides that with their new SugarSync feature, which is available as an optional extra.

Privacy comparison

In the privacy sphere, these two providers are far from the gold standard. For starters, both are based in the US, a member of the Five Eyes alliance. They do have no-logging policies, which is expected of any good VPN. TorGuard has the added benefit of anonymous payments in the form of cryptocurrencies, but that’s not a strong enough bargaining chip to rake in the win in this category.

Compatibility with devices

Next, you’re probably asking yourself if any of these VPNs is compatible with your devices. You’ll be happy to know that both providers have apps for mainstream devices (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS), as well as Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick. Additionally, they can be installed directly onto your router to secure your entire network.

IPVanish gains a slight lead in this category by also having an app for Android TV and Chrome OS. And although they do not have browser extensions like TorGuard, they allow you to connect more devices with a single subscription.

Streaming Netflix

When it comes to media streaming, the duo is almost on par with each other. However, IPVanish comes out on top because their performance is consistently good and requires less server switching to unblock content. Meanwhile, TorGuard has additional streaming bundles, which is not fair to the customer when most VPNs unblock Netflix and other streaming platforms without additional costs.
Related article:
TorGuard for Kodi

Torrenting and P2P

Another area of unity for these VPNs is torrenting. Both are solid choices as they provide a SOCKS5 proxy, no limitations on P2P traffic, and split tunneling (at least on Android).

The main difference, however, is the fact that TorGuard also has port forwarding available. This is a big deal when it comes to torrenting. Combine that with the speed of this VPN and you’re bound to have a good time.
Related article:
IPVanish for torrenting

China

TorGuard is a fine VPN choice in China thanks to their Stealth VPN feature. If that doesn’t work, you have an alternative in the form of Shadowsocks. They also have servers located in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, which should provide good connection quality in Asia.

IPVanish only has StealthVPN in the form of obfuscated OpenVPN traffic, and for most users it’s not enough. As such, you’d be better off with TorGuard or a different provider in China.

Customer support

Customer support should be around 24/7 to indulge in your questions and solve occasional issues. IPVanish is the clear winner in that regard. In addition to live chat, email, and a knowledgebase, the boldest customers are given the option to call by phone. US, UK, Mexican, Spanish, Brazilian, German, and Australian phone numbers are available.

TorGuard has communications by live chat and email, but the former isn’t available around the clock. Various guides are available to unearth information and troubleshoot issues yourself.

TorGuard vs IPVanish: comparison by category

TorGuard vs IPVanish: bottom line

It was a close fight, but in the end, IPVanish came out on top. Even though it’s not one of the fastest VPNs yet, this could easily be remedied by implementing WireGuard, just like TorGuard did.

The duo is very similar when it comes to security and privacy. They offer a good amount of features to choose from, but being based in the US does leave its mark.

Further examination shows where these VPNs truly shine. For IPVanish, that would be streaming and compatibility with various devices you may want to stream on. And for TorGuard, that’s torrenting and getting around restrictive regimes.

What ultimately decided the winner was customer support. IPVanish provides help 24/7 and even lets you get assistance by phone. This is a must when your issues are time-sensitive.

After this overview of these VPNs and their strengths and weaknesses, you can make an informed decision and purchase the right VPN for you.

Was this comparison helpful? Let me know and leave a comment!

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FAQ

Can you trust IPVanish?

IPVanish is based in the US and does not have any anonymous payment options. Depending on your use case you might be safer with a VPN that has a more privacy-respecting jurisdiction or at least some anonymous payment options.

Can IPVanish be hacked?

All VPNs could be hacked if a hacker finds a vulnerability. However, that is very unlikely to happen and in most cases, you are still safer with a VPN on.

Is TorGuard a good VPN?

TorGuard has the WireGuard tunneling protocol, making it one of the faster VPNs currently available. It also has a lot of features that make it secure for torrenting.

Is TorGuard VPN free?

No, TorGuard is not free and does not offer a free trial. Instead, you get a 7-day money-back guarantee.