Ivacy VPN Review

Ivacy VPN has a reputation for being one of the cheapest top-shelf VPN services. With the VPN industry prices going up and pricing plans shifting towards shorter-term deals, I’ve decided to find out whether this provider could be an alternative with the best bang-for-your-buck ratio.

To do so, I had to answer the following questions first: is Ivacy VPN safe to use? Can you stream Netflix with it? Does Ivacy VPN allow torrenting? And finally, does it offer enough features to be considered among the best VPN providers?

Hopefully, my Ivacy VPN review will answer these and other questions, helping you to decide if this service suits your needs.

Ivacy VPN Overview

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Is Ivacy VPN safe?

Not only is Ivacy VPN safe to use, but it also makes your whole online experience secure and private. To protect users and their anonymity, Ivacy offers a strong package of security features. In this section, I’ll discuss this suite in detail, including the encryption standard, tunneling protocols, the kill switch, leak protection, and more.

Encryption and tunneling protocols

Ivacy VPN uses bank-grade encryption, making your traffic completely unreadable for any third-parties who might be watching. Breaking AES-256 encryption would take billions of years, so even trying is pointless.

When it comes to tunneling protocols, Ivacy VPN uses:

• OpenVPN (TCP and UDP)
• IKEv2
• L2TP/IPSec

While most Ivacy users will be happy with either OpenVPN or IKEv2, some may find luck with the less secure but faster L2TP/IPSec option (certain activities or platforms won’t be accessible using the other two protocols). Unfortunately, L2TP/IPSec is the only option available on the Mac app of Ivacy. So if you’re using Ivacy on Mac, it may be a good idea to manually configure IKEv2.

All in all, Ivacy VPN is easily amongst the top providers in terms of encryption and tunneling protocols, as long as we speak about Windows.

Does Ivacy have a kill switch?

As you can see in the image above, Ivacy’s kill switch is called Internet Kill Switch (IKS) and can be toggled from the Settings menu. Disabled by default, the kill switch should be turned on to enable maximum protection in case of a VPN connection failure. Otherwise, you risk exposing your real IP address and location, which is probably one of the top reasons why you’ve decided to use a VPN in the first place.

Unfortunately, Ivacy VPN for Mac and iOS doesn’t have a kill switch. While Apple products are considered somewhat safer compared to Windows and Android, you’ll be putting your anonymity at risk without this critical feature. Therefore I can’t recommend Ivacy VPN for Mac and iOS if you’re planning to do anything sensitive.

During my Windows and Android tests, I haven’t experienced any issues with the Ivacy VPN kill switch. It worked every time, disabling my internet connection.

No IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks

I was happy to learn that Ivacy VPN has no leaks. This means that your identity is safe while you’re connected to one of its servers.

Upon testing, I checked for IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks, failing to find any. The image shows the same IP address that was assigned to me by my Ivacy client.

The three crucial security features that protect from leaks are the internet kill switch, secure DNS, and the IPv6 leak protection. However, the former is not available for macOS and iOS users, leaving their identities more vulnerable.

While some older reviews may claim that the Ivacy Chrome extension had leaking issues, the Chrome extension is indeed equipped with its advanced WebRTC protection feature.

Where is Ivacy VPN based?

Ivacy VPN is owned by PMG Pte. Ltd. registered in Singapore. While this country doesn’t belong to the Fourteen Eyes international surveillance group, it’s indeed their partner. As indicated by Edward Snowden’s leaked documents, the Five Eyes alliance cooperates with telecommunication companies and local governments when deploying fiber optic cables. Singapore, as one of the biggest tech hubs, collaborates in the process, which might mean turning a blind eye to violations of your privacy.

This shouldn’t be of concern to you if you’re not planning on doing anything truly sensitive and of interest to the government. Still, it’s a cause for concern. In any case, no third-party will be able to obtain any information about you if your VPN doesn’t have it. Let’s see if that’s the case with Ivacy.

Is Ivacy a no-logs VPN?

Ivacy VPN is serious about keeping no logs. This is what I found in Ivacy’s Privacy Policy:

We strictly do not log or monitor, online browsing activities, connection logs, VPN IPs assigned, original IP addresses, browsing history, outgoing traffic, connection times, data you have accessed and/or DNS queries generated by your end. We have no information that could associate specific activities for specific users.

You can see that Ivacy keeps no usage and no connection logs. However, your name, email address, and payment method you used to purchase a plan are collected.

In short, your identity and physical location can never be linked to any VPN traffic – even if the authorities were to demand logs. And since Ivacy VPN supports anonymous payment options, using a throwaway email enables you to go full incognito.

Other technical features

Ivacy was among the first VPN services to offer the Split Tunneling feature. With split tunneling, you can decide what traffic to send through your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or a protected VPN tunnel.

Another great feature, especially for gamers, is DDoS attack protection. DDoS attacks can disrupt your internet connection and be a real nuisance, so knowing that you’re safe from them puts your mind at ease. Not only that, but Ivacy also supports console platforms like Xbox and PlayStation. For these, you’ll find manual configuration instructions on the site.

Finally, I want to mention Secure Downloading, which is a real-time threat detection technology. Using it, the Ivacy client will scan the data that’s being downloaded and remove any suspicious malware before it can infect your device.

While all three features mentioned above are excellent, I do miss something extra, like Tor over VPN or multi-hop. These could provide an additional protective layer of protection for anyone who needs it.

Speed: just how fast is Ivacy?

Our speed tests show Ivacy to be relatively fast. The speeds are good enough for seamless streaming on video platforms as well. With this provider, two things are certain – it’s never the fastest but always among the fastest VPNs.

So, let’s see the numbers. I did the test from Europe, connecting to Ivacy VPN servers in the UK, the US, and Australia. Here are the results:

Please keep in mind that while Ivacy may have shown relatively fast speeds for us (if we don’t mind the upload inconsistencies), your experience may prove otherwise due to another location and ISP.

With 5700+ servers in 69+ countries, this provider offers decent global coverage. Yet, it cannot always compare with the competitors that boast three times more servers and a twice as long country list.

Does Ivacy VPN support my device?

It probably does – Ivacy VPN has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Fire TV along with Edge, Chrome, and Firefox browser extensions. Also, there are detailed guides on the website for configuring Ivacy on other supported platforms, such as smart TVs, game consoles, or routers. You’re allowed to use 10 different devices simultaneously with one Ivacy account.

After using the service for a while, I can say that Ivacy VPN is ideal both for beginners and intermediate VPN users. Only those with years of experience might want an app with more freedom and more options for customization.

Ivacy VPN desktop apps: Windows, Linux, and macOS

The difference between the Windows and macOS versions of the Ivacy client is the number of options and features, which make the latter app less secure. Mac users will find the protocol selection, the kill switch, multiport, and split tunneling absent from the Settings menu. If that wasn’t enough, the protocol for macOS is the less secure L2TP.

Interestingly, you can run Ivacy without logging in. The app will only ask you to log in when you try to connect to a server.

Connecting to an automatic or optimal server is just a click away on the Smart Connect screen. All you need to do is click the Power button.

If you’d prefer a specific server, click the drop-down menu for more locations.

The Linux app is user-friendly, so even less tech-savvy users should have no problem with it. You can also configure Ivacy VPN manually on your Linux Mint, Debian, or Ubuntu. However, the latter supports the outdated PPTP protocol only.

Ivacy VPN mobile apps: Android and iOS

Both mobile apps of Ivacy resemble their desktop counterparts that are as easy to use and have a nearly identical package of features.

The most significant difference between the Android and iOS app is security – the iOS version doesn’t have a kill switch. As for the tunneling protocols, Ivacy for iOS offers to choose between the IKEv2 and IPSec tunneling protocols. In the meantime, Android users will have OpenVPN at their service.

However, multiport and split tunneling features are absent from the iOS version, and some users will surely miss them. The only thing that’s unavailable in Ivacy for Android is Manual Dialing. It allows entering your desired server’s hostname and connect to no other but it. This feature is handy for users with dedicated IPs and in cases of auto-connection failure.

Ivacy VPN for web browsers: Edge, Chrome, and Firefox

Ivacy VPN has browser extensions for Edge, Chrome, and Firefox. They can be downloaded from Microsoft, Chrome Web Store, and Firefox browser Add-on sites. The creators themselves stress the extension’s ability to quickly provide access to Netflix and many other streaming options by clicking Purposes > Streaming.

When it comes to customization, the Ivacy extension only offers to turn WebRTC leak protection on or off. What I missed was some sort of ad and malware blocker to catch up with the top competitors.

Other platforms and Ivacy VPN

Ivacy VPN has an app for Android TV, but its free proxy version will get you nowhere – you’ll need a full VPN to access streaming platforms. The same goes for the Fire Stick and Fire TV app. Luckily, Ivacy VPN has a Kodi add-on that works on most devices.

You can also set up Ivacy VPN on many devices, including Xbox, PlayStation, Roku, Raspberry Pi, and routers.

Speaking of routers, their dedicated setup page gave a 404 error, and separate articles were at least three years old, with the DD-WRT tutorial being the sole exception. After talking to customer support, it turned out that Ivacy VPN supports more routers than advertised on the website, including Tomato and pfSense. However, for some reason, they still lack setup guides.

Does Ivacy work with Netflix?

You can use Ivacy VPN for Netflix US (but no other libraries). For those looking how to watch Netflix US with Ivacy VPN, here’s a quick guide: choose and connect to a dedicated server by opening the Menu on the left and going to the Streaming tab. If you’re using a browser extension, click Purposes and Start streaming.

The dedicated Netflix US streaming server proved to be fast. This is what the Netflix speed test (fast.com) showed:

60 Mbps is more than enough for seamless 4K streaming. I was quite satisfied with Ivacy on this front, but not about the fact that on their website, they advertise unblocking “7 major Netflix regions” (we weren’t quite as lucky).

How good is Ivacy VPN with other streaming services?

If you’re a fan of BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, or other streaming center TV shows and movies, Ivacy VPN will be a reliable partner in your online entertainment. There are dedicated streaming servers for each service, so everything ran smoothly during my tests.

You can easily unblock geo-restricted content and watch movies or TV series from foreign libraries. It also helps that Ivacy has decent speeds, so video quality remains high with no interrupts or hiccups.

Ivacy VPN also has a dedicated add-on for Kodi. You’ll find detailed setup guides on their website on how to install Kodi on different devices and how to install Ivacy VPN on Kodi.

Does IvacyVPN support torrenting?

Ivacy VPN supports torrenting and is indeed a good choice for it, offering optimized P2P servers in all 69+ countries. This provider is secure enough, with built-in virus and malware protection, provided you use a client with a kill switch. Also, Ivacy VPN collects no usage or connection logs, meaning there’s nothing to hand over to law enforcement.

The speeds are also excellent – it’s not by mistake that Ivacy VPN is among the fastest VPN services.

Some subscribers might miss a free SOCKS5 proxy. Still, Ivacy’s split tunneling feature is a worthy alternative, allowing you to protect only your P2P traffic. What’s more, it also helps you save bandwidth when needed.

Does Ivacy VPN work in China?

Yes, Ivacy VPN works in China and other countries with restricted internet access. You can use it to browse censored and geo-restricted pages, stream videos, play online games, and whatever else you want to do on the internet.

Keep in mind though that using Ivacy VPN in China requires manual configuration. But don’t worry, the configuration steps are quite straightforward for all clients. You can always contact their 24/7 support team to help you out with the process.

Support: live chat, email, and knowledge base

If you visit the Support Center page on the website or choose the Help menu in the Ivacy VPN app, you’ll find:

• 24/7 live chat
• 24/7 support ticket system
• Quick-Start setup guides
• A good knowledge base
• An extensive FAQ section
  

You can access the 24/7 live chat window through the official website if you click the hovering Chat button or Chat now window header in the bottom right corner of your screen.

Generally, I found the responses to be fast. However, a few times, I had to wait several minutes in the queue to get connected and then some to get an actual response. Even though the chat connects you to a real person, you may occasionally get automated replies or links to related pages, such as the Privacy Policy. But on the whole, I was satisfied with Ivacy’s live chat support experience.

While Ivacy has a good knowledge base and an extensive FAQ, there still are some glaring issues, such as the lack of router setup guides, which is one of the more popular things that new clients search for.

How much does Ivacy VPN cost?

Without a doubt, Ivacy VPN offers some of the best prices on the market right now. When writing this Ivacy VPN review update, I found the following pricing plans with 10 simultaneous connections available:

• 1 month – $9.95/month
• 1 year – $3.99/month
• 2 years – $1.99/month

However, there’s another semi-hidden 5-year plan for $1.00/month which pops up randomly while browsing the Ivacy VPN website.

Ivacy VPN has no free version, but there’s a 1-day free trial available. You can also choose 7-days for $0.99 after this period the plan costs 3.99/month.

Ivacy has a 30-day money-back guarantee (7 days for the 1-month plan if you haven’t breached any terms, used more than 7 GB, or ran more than 30 sessions). Still, you should read the Refund Policy very carefully, though. I want to stress that refund is not possible if you pay using BitPay or Paymentwall.

Speaking of payment methods, Ivacy VPN offers plenty: credit card, PayPal, BitPay, AliPay, Perfect Money, Paymentwall, and loads of cryptocurrencies. Those are just some of the options available. It’s also great to see this VPN providing anonymous payment options, which adds yet another layer of security.

You can also select optional add-ons, such as Port Forwarding for $1.00/month and a Dedicated IP for $1.99/month.

Ivacy VPN video review

When you shouldn’t buy Ivacy VPN

There are only two scenarios when you shouldn’t buy Ivacy VPN. One – you’re a Mac user. Two – you have an iPhone.

The reasoning behind this is the absence of a protocol other than L2TP on Mac and the lack of a kill switch for both Apple products. While you can still find providers that offer no such protection for iOS, leaving macOS users without a kill switch and IKEv2 is unacceptable.

If I were hard-pressed for another reason to stay away from Ivacy VPN, that would be the lack of available Netflix libraries. I probably wouldn’t be writing this if they didn’t boast about unblocking seven different libraries on their website, something that didn’t turn out to be true, at least without a dedicated IP.

Despite these cons, Ivacy VPN certainly has good security and privacy features, including split tunneling, leak protection, and a no-logs policy. It also generally has fast speeds, unblocks geo-restricted websites, and allows torrenting. If you encounter any issues, you can always turn to the 24/7 live chat support for help.

Because of the generous pricing, a bouquet of features, and ease of use, Ivacy VPN is an excellent choice for beginners and intermediate VPN users.

Ivacy VPN FAQ

Is Ivacy VPN free?

Ivacy VPN has a monthly subscription cost, and it doesn’t have a free version. However, you can try it for free for one day.

Does Ivacy VPN offer a free trial?

Ivacy VPN offers a 1-day free trial. It comes with all the benefits of the premium version, so you get a real sense of what it would be if you were a paying user. Alternatively, you can also get one week trial for $0.99 if you need more time to test the service out.

How does Ivacy VPN Work?

Ivacy offers a VPN service. It routes your internet connection through their network of servers. This masks your online activities from your ISP, making your activities private. This also makes your digital footprint look like coming from a different country, rather than your own, unblocking geo-restrictions that might be imposed on your region.

How big is the Ivacy VPN server list?

Ivacy VPN has a network of 5700+ servers in 69+ countries. It’s a moderate server fleet that shouldn’t suffer from a huge load. The size doesn’t look inflated, so, likely, their server locations aren’t virtual but physical.