If you’re looking for a thorough Ivacy VPN review, you’ve come to the right place. We decided to review this VPN to see whether it’s still worth getting in 2023. After all, Ivacy VPN is a veteran of the VPN industry. It has been around for a long time and still managed to stay competitive in a highly saturated market. So, what makes it worth your attention?

You are viewing: A Full Ivacy VPN Review – Tested, Reviewed, and Compared for 2023

Ivacy VPN stands out for its excellent security measures. It employs top-tier encryption, leading tunneling protocols, and efficient leak protection. On top of that, the provider has responsive and knowledgeable customer support and offers a competitive price. But does it have any flaws? Find out in our Ivacy VPN review below.

What is Ivacy VPN?

Ivacy VPN is a premium virtual private network (VPN) service that provides users with a secure and anonymous way to browse the internet. It works by encrypting user traffic and changing the user’s IP address by routing the traffic through a VPN server. As a result, users can unblock content and overcome surveillance, censorship, and online threats.

This Singapore-based VPN provider was founded in 2007. By the year 2012, it had onboarded one million users worldwide. Ivacy VPN remains a popular service among VPN users for its excellent security features. This includes military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, and DNS leak protection. On top of that, this VPN offers excellent cross-platform compatibility and affordable pricing.

Ivacy VPN Review Pros and Cons

Ivacy’s user base has grown significantly throughout the course of its many years on the market. While some have found better alternatives, many users stayed loyal to the service. Ultimately, a VPN’s suitability is mostly dependent on your individual requirements. So be sure to consider the benefits and drawbacks before making a purchase.

How Much Does Ivacy VPN Cost?

In terms of cost, Ivacy VPN is among the most affordable VPNs available. The Ivacy VPN lifetime subscription costs $1.00 a month and includes a trustworthy password manager. Keep in mind that this subscription will last only five years. As Ivacy explains it, “lifetime” refers to the life cycle of software, which is around half a decade. Despite misleading marketing, it’s still a pretty good deal.

If you’re looking for something more transient, Ivacy VPN also has monthly and annual subscriptions. Although the pricing for these plans is not as impressive, they are still less expensive than those of industry giants like NordVPN.

But before you make a purchase, we recommend testing the service first. While the Ivacy free trial no longer exists, you can get a 7-day trial for $0.99. If you don’t cancel it in time, the subscription will automatically switch to an annual plan. Remember that there are no refunds for the trial period.

Another option is to get a money-back guarantee. For both annual subscriptions, you can request a refund within 30 days after the start of your membership. With a monthly plan, you can get a refund within seven days.

It’s worth noting that the refund option is only available once per account. Additionally, it is limited to specific payment methods. Paymentwall, BitPay, Perfect Money, Coin Payments (Cryptocurrency), and Bitcoin, for example, all have non-refundable payment options.

The process of claiming the refund is quite simple. You need to sign into your account, select the support option, and open a ticket. In order to terminate auto-recurring payments, you should follow the same process. But be sure to do it before the scheduled payment processing date.

Reviewing the Core Ivacy VPN Features

Over the years, Ivacy VPN has established itself as a reputable player in the market and gained a solid user base. What sets Ivacy apart and fosters this loyalty? There are two key factors: its expertise in privacy protection and competitive pricing.

Let’s see how Ivacy’s experience is reflected in the features it provides.

One Subscription for up to 10 Devices

While Ivacy VPN already comes at a bargain, it guarantees even further savings with 10 simultaneous connections. This feature allows you to use a VPN on multiple devices without getting a separate subscription for each of them. As a result, you’ll get unrestricted VPN access on your phone, computer, gaming console, and TV, ensuring your online safety at all times.

Simple To Use, Even for First-Time Users

If you’ve never used a VPN before or if you have limited experience with such tools, Ivacy VPN is a great service to start with. Its developers are aware of how challenging it may be for new users to set up a VPN. Thus, they focused on simplicity and user-friendliness when designing Ivacy.

You don’t need to know anything about tunneling protocols or even a kill switch. This VPN has all the configurations ready. To get started, simply select one of the four specific modes:

• Smart Connect mode allows you to quickly secure your traffic by automatically connecting to the fastest VPN server.
• Secure Downloading enables server-level virus and malware protection and automatically connects you to a VPN server.
• Streaming mode picks the best servers for specific platforms. You can choose from 110 platforms, including the most popular Netflix libraries and ChatGPT.
• Unblocking mode allows you to pick an IP address from a list of country-specific servers.

More advanced users can switch between different tunneling protocols in the settings tabs. Since all protocols have different use cases, you can pick one that best suits your needs.

Unlimited Bandwidth and Above-Average Speed

The premium membership grants you quick connections with unlimited bandwidth. This means that you don’t have to worry about how much content you consume, whether you’re streaming your favorite shows or simply browsing the web.

When it comes to speed, Ivacy VPN may not be as fast as heavyweights like NordVPN or Surfshark, but it confidently delivers above-average speeds. So you will still be able to enjoy Netflix binge sessions with minimal latency.

Of course, the speed greatly depends on your chosen server location. The closer you are to the server, the faster your connection will be. Fortunately, Ivacy VPN boasts an extensive infrastructure of over 5,700 servers. All of them are located strategically all over the globe. You can get secure IPs from over 61 countries and even connect to city-specific servers.

Pioneering Split Tunneling Feature

In the early days of VPNs, split tunneling did not exist. However, it’s a feature that no reputable provider can afford to overlook today. Not only does Ivacy VPN offer split tunneling, but it’s also the first VPN to implement it.

Split tunneling is a convenient way to control your VPN traffic. With this feature, you can selectively whitelist specific apps to be routed through a VPN server while allowing others to utilize the local internet connection.

The feature has many use cases. It’s a great method to lower bandwidth usage. It also helps to conceal VPN usage when necessary. For example, you can print documents on your local network printer while simultaneously streaming content from a geo-blocked Netflix library. You can also use it when you need to access social media sites when connected to a restrictive workplace network.

While useful, Ivacy’s split tunneling is not perfect. It works only on Windows and Android devices. It is also incompatible with the WireGuard tunneling protocol, which is the fastest and most secure tunneling protocol.

On top of that, the feature works by allowing you to select apps that will use the VPN traffic one by one. This minor usability issue may be time-consuming, especially if you have a lot of apps.

Port Forwarding

Port forwarding is a feature not commonly found among VPN providers. For an additional cost of $1 monthly, Ivacy VPN is one of the few providers that implements this feature. Other providers with port forwarding are Proton VPN, PrivacyVPN, and PureVPN.

Through port forwarding, computers connected to private networks can connect to other public or private computers via the Internet.

This feature is particularly useful for gamers who need to host game servers. It can also be used for faster file sharing or a remote desktop app.

Dedicated IPs

Even though Ivacy VPN offers a large pool of servers, all of them are shared. This means that you may encounter some abused IPs that were blocked by the particular platforms you use. To avoid this from happening, the provider offers a dedicated IP feature, which is a unique IP address that is assigned to your account and only you can use.

These IPs do not share bandwidth with other users, thus providing better performance. They are also less likely to be blocked or throttled by websites and services. With a dedicated IP address, you can easily whitelist your IP address for the websites and services that you need to access.

Since dedicated IPs are scarce and expensive, only a handful of providers offer this feature. This includes NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost.

For an extra $1.99 a month, Ivacy offers dedicated IPs located in these countries:

• United States
• Singapore
• Hong Kong
• Denmark
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Australia

Free Version

The best part about Ivacy is that this provider ensures everyone a secure connection to the internet. Even for those who can’t afford a subscription. The free version can be accessed when you download Ivacy from its website.

However, the Ivacy free version falls short of its premium counterpart in certain aspects. It offers a limited selection of server locations, allowing you to connect to servers in the Netherlands exclusively. Furthermore, it restricts the ability to choose streaming-optimized mode as well as advanced settings customization.

While using a free version is better than not using a VPN at all, especially when connecting to unsecured public Wi-Fi, we can’t recommend it over a paid subscription. During our tests, the connection was slow and unreliable. We had to wait over five minutes for connection — an issue we did not have to face with a premium account.

These providers come with fewer restrictions, more free servers, and better performance.

Is Ivacy VPN Safe?

The only flaw we found in its privacy and security methods is that the no-logging policy is not audited. Given that the company is headquartered in Singapore, a region that’s not typically regarded as a privacy-friendly country, Ivacy should consider taking proactive measures to prove its commitment to user data protection.

Encryption Standards

VPNs use encryption standards to secure data transmitted over the internet. Different encryption standards provide varying levels of security. The best one on the market is the AES 256-bit cipher. Just like many top-tier providers, such as NordVPN and Surfshark, Ivacy VPN employs this particular encryption.

AES is the most secure and widely used encryption standard. It is used by governments, financial institutions, and cybersecurity experts to safeguard sensitive data. By employing a 256-bit key length for encryption and decryption, AES provides 14 rounds of encryption with 1.1 x 1077 different potential combinations. This makes it the most secure and virtually uncrackable protection for your data.

Protocol Support

Tunneling protocols are an important VPN component. They are responsible for encrypting the data that is transmitted over the VPN, making it difficult for third parties to intercept the data. Each of these protocols has its own advantages and use cases.

See more : A TurboVPN Review – Tested, Reviewed, and Compared for 2023

Ivacy VPN offers these protocols:

• WireGuard. It is one of the fastest and most secure tunneling protocols that has now become an industry standard. Our tests show that it serves to Ivacy’s advantage — it was the fastest of all the protocols we tested. Ivacy has only recently implemented it for Windows, Android, and iOS devices. Unfortunately, it’s not yet available to Mac and Linux users.
• OpenVPN (TCP and UDP). While slower than WireGuard, OpenVPN is known and appreciated for its security. It’s available for Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux devices, except for Mac.

Other Protocols

In the past, Ivacy VPN supported protocols such as SSTP, L2TP, and PPTP. However, a couple of years ago, Ivacy made them available only in the following locations:

• Australia — Sydney
• Germany
• Netherlands
• The UK — London
• S. — Illinois, Washington DC, New York, California, Texas, and Florida.

Logging Policy and Jurisdiction

When it comes to data logs, you can rest assured that your data is safe with Ivacy VPN. The provider has a transparent no-logging policy. If you want to read it before signing up, you’ll find it easy to understand and free from legal jargon.

The provider states that it does not collect or monitor sensitive data. This includes online browsing activities, connection logs, VPN IPs assigned, original IP addresses, browsing history, outgoing traffic, connection times, data you have accessed, and DNS queries generated. In other words, the provider does not collect information that could associate specific activities with specific users.

Nevertheless, to provide a smooth and operational service, the service collects some data, such as the user’s name, email, address, and payment method. This information is necessary to launch your account and stay in contact with the provider. Ivacy claims to delete all of this data if the user has been inactive for over 12 months.

Although Ivacy VPN is based in Singapore, a country that has some data monitoring laws, the provider says you don’t need to worry about authorities sifting through your personal data. According to Ivacy, it does not have any information to give.

But how trustworthy is this provider’s no-logs policy? Unfortunately, Ivacy VPN claims are not yet proven by an independent audit or a court case. The fact that the provider is situated in a country known to collaborate with the 5-Eyes Alliance, a coalition of governments sharing citizen data, is somewhat concerning.

However, as of now, there is no concrete evidence to cast doubt on Ivacy’s commitment to data privacy. There have been no significant data security incidents or any indications of major flaws in the company’s privacy protection guarantee.

Kill Switch

One thing is common to happen, no matter which provider you choose: your VPN may accidentally disconnect. If you’re simply browsing the web, that’s not a big deal. However, if you’re using it to unblock a geo-restricted platform, your real data may become visible and result in an account suspension. To prevent this from happening, most VPN providers offer a kill switch, and Ivacy is not an exception.

Kill switch is one of the most important security features a VPN should have. It works to prevent data leaks by automatically disconnecting a user’s internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps to prevent the user’s actual IP address from being exposed if the VPN is not working properly.

Ivacy only offers this feature for Windows and Android. However, many providers don’t offer a kill switch on iOS and MacOS platforms due to their specific system requirements. A much bigger concern is that the kill switch does not seem to be working with WireGuard, Ivacy VPN’s fastest and most secure tunneling protocol.

IPv6 Leak protection

Other than a kill switch, Ivacy is equipped with IPv6 leak protection. It prevents your device from leaking your IPv6 address when you are connected to a VPN.

During our tests, Ivacy leak protection was working effectively, as no leaks were detected. Just to be safe, we recommend always testing for them by using an IPv6 leak test website.

DNS Leak protection

The Ivacy VPN prevents your DNS queries from being leaked outside of the VPN tunnel. DNS queries are requests that your device makes to a DNS server in order to translate domain names into IP addresses.

When you access a website, your device makes a DNS query to find the IP address of the website’s server. With DNS protection, your DNS queries are not sent to your ISP’s DNS servers, preventing them from seeing which websites you’re visiting.

DNS protection can also help to prevent DNS hijacking attacks, which happen when a hacker redirects your DNS queries to a malicious website.

DDoS Protection

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks happen when a hacker attempts to disrupt your normal traffic by overwhelming it with a flood of Internet traffic. These disrupting attacks can be mitigated with Ivacy VPN DDoS Protection.

It works by hiding your IP address from potential attackers. When you connect to a VPN, your traffic is routed through a VPN server. This means that your actual IP address is hidden from websites and other entities that you connect to.

Ivacy VPN Compatibility

Thanks to 10 simultaneous connections and great cross-device compatibility, you can use Ivacy VPN on all of your devices. Let’s take a closer look at the Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS apps, as well as compatibility with other devices.

Windows

The best feature that Ivacy VPN has to offer is in its Windows app. You’ll find split tunneling, port forwarding, and a kill switch in this app. When it comes to tunneling protocols, you can make use of OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2.

Design-wise, the dashboard of the app is simplistic enough to use but not as pleasant. It lacks a modern feel to it, however, learning how to set it up and navigate is quite easy.

Mac OS

The Mac app, as we also often see from some other providers, is lacking when compared to its Windows counterpart.

While the Mac app does offer support for IKEv2 and IPSEC tunneling protocols, it lacks WireGuard, which is known as the leading protocol. Moreover, Mac users may find the feature set limited, as the application does not provide essentials like a kill switch and split tunneling.

In terms of dashboard design, the Mac version closely resembles its Windows counterpart. Overall, the most prominent distinction between the two lies in their feature offerings.

Android

The Android application is quite similar to Windows. It features the most relevant protocols, such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2, with some solid features at hand, such as split tunneling.

iOS

Certain functions included in the Mac app are absent in iOS. It’s interesting that users have more options for protocols. IPsec, OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 are examples of this.

Linux

The Linux app does not come with a GUI, so you will need to navigate it through a command-line interface.

The app allows the selection of only two protocols: OpenVPN and PPTP. Unsurprisingly, some of the relevant features are missing, too, such as a kill switch.

Browser Extensions and Other Devices

Ivacy is available to use directly in the browser. Whether you’re a fan of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, you can get extensions for these browsers in their dedicated web stores.

Ivacy VPN is also compatible with such platforms as Kodi, Amazon Fire Stick, and Android TV. If you’re a gamer, Ivacy VPN will work with your Xbox, PS3, and PS4 consoles.

Ivacy VPN vs. Top VPN Competitors

There are dozens of VPNs on the market. The vast industry has an option for every need. So providers need to offer something unique to stand out in a highly saturated market. What gives Ivacy the edge? Let’s compare it to some other big players in the VPN world:

Each of these providers possesses its unique strengths and advantages, including dependable no-logging policies, simultaneous connections, and an extensive set of features, which are essentially expected in the industry.

However, Ivacy VPN distinguishes itself as one of the most budget-friendly options available. It also offers top-notch security and good streaming capabilities.

On the other hand, Ivacy VPN has limited features for some platforms. For example, the macOS app doesn’t offer a kill switch. It also comes with a no-logs policy that independent parties have not audited. This serious drawback poses some doubt about the privacy Ivacy VPN provides.

What is Ivacy VPN Good For?

Ivacy VPN can be used for many purposes, yet its biggest strengths are streaming gaming, and safe browsing.

Streaming

Dedicated Ivacy users know that this VPN is great for streaming. It offers 5,700 servers in 61 countries. This large network allows access to various streaming services across the globe. Thus, you may use this VPN to binge-watch foreign libraries or catch up on your favorite content while abroad.

For your comfort, Ivacy lets you choose from 110 platforms and automatically tailors the best settings for each. While there’s no SmartDNS that would allow you to set it up on your smart TV, Ivacy provides a router applet that allows you to tunnel VPN connections for all devices on the network.

While Ivacy VPN is not the best streaming VPN, it still offers decent unblocking capabilities. Even if it comes with specialized servers for each platform, some buffering and latency, depending on your chosen location, are to be expected. You’re unlikely to experience that with VPNs such as ExpressVPN or Surfshark.

Gaming

Ivacy VPN is a good choice for gamers. With above-average speeds and a wide server network, it allows a latency-free gaming experience. The VPN is especially useful if you need to prevent your ISP from throttling your internet speed.

The provider is compatible with many gaming platforms. During our tests, we had no issue using it with Steam.

Privacy Protection

If your main goal is to stay safe while browsing, Ivacy is likely to meet your needs. This VPN has great security features and ensures privacy protection. So, you can use it worry-free, even on public networks.

The VPN is packed with the most advanced AES encryption as well as a variety of secure protocols, such as WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. This ensures that your traffic can’t be intercepted by malicious actors.

Furthermore, Ivacy has a no-logging policy. Even though it’s not audited yet, the policy states that the provider does not collect or monitor sensitive data, such as browsing history or outgoing traffic.

Is it better or worse for privacy protection than other VPNs? The truth is that Ivacy VPN has some solid security features. However, leading VPN providers like NordVPN or ExpressVPN come with an audited infrastructure.

This means that their no-logs policy is trustworthy. However, the same can’t be said about Ivacy VPN. Thus, we can’t be certain about its privacy practices.

Ivacy VPN Server Locations

Ivacy VPN boasts one of the largest networks in the VPN market. Its users benefit from as many as 5,700 servers in over 100 locations. A network this wide allows you to get faster speeds, reliable connections, and access to global content.

Let’s take a look at the Ivacy server list:

Is Ivacy VPN Good? A Look at Ivacy VPN Reviews

Apart from running our own tests on Ivacy VPN, we decided to take a look at other users’ experiences.

According to reviews, the biggest strength of the service is customer support. They are quick to answer questions and solve problems.

Apart from issues with some updates, the majority of users are happy with Ivacy’s performance and security features.

When it comes to use cases, users often mention streaming. We can only agree that Ivacy is excellent at unblocking services such as Netflix.

Although some users mentioned that speed was insufficient for them, our tests show that Ivacy has a better-than-average speed. It is very suitable for browsing. However, there’s noticeable latency and buffering when streaming series.

Overall, Ivacy VPN is a strong rival in the VPN market. Users value its prompt customer support, efficient performance, and great security features.

Given its low price, this provider has strong qualities, such as great streaming unblocking capabilities. While its speeds can’t keep up with the leaders of the market, they’re still decent.

How to Use Ivacy VPN – A Quick Guide

The process of getting started with Ivacy VPN is quite simple. Let me walk you through it.

Step 1: Start by visiting the Ivacy VPN website and purchasing a subscription.

Step 2: Open your Ivacy’s email click on the Create Password button and set up your account.

Step 3: Download the app and install

Step 4: Enter your credentials to log in

Step 5: Connect to your preferred server and enjoy Ivacy VPN

How We Tested Ivacy VPN

Customer reviews don’t always objectively represent what it’s like to use a specific VPN. Thus, we thoroughly tested Ivacy VPN to see whether it actually delivered on its promises.

Our team of researchers performed manual tests on performance, speed, and security features. We tried out various use cases, such as gaming, streaming, and unblocking geo-restricted platforms. We also compared VPNs together to gauge their unique value proposition.

Additionally, our team investigated pricing, free trials, and whether the money-back guarantee was reliable. We also message customer service on numerous occasions to see how responsive and helpful they are. On top of that, we read through the documentation and no-logging policy to see how transparent the provider is.

An important step in our research is to gauge user experience with the service. We looked at user reviews for major usability flaws, issues regarding payments and refunds, performance problems, and other relevant information.

We distilled all of the information we gathered into this review. Our goal is to provide easy-to-read and accurate information that shines light on a genuine experience with the service.

Our Other VPN Guides

If you’re interested in learning more about VPNs, check out these articles our team has prepared:

• How to Set Up and Use a VPN
• 14 Best VPN Apps Compared for 2023
• Best VPN for Android
• The Best VPN for Netflix
• The Best VPN for Business
• The Best VPN for Gambling
• The Best VPN for iPhone

Concluding Our Ivacy VPN Review – Is Ivacy VPN Worth it in 2023?

Ivacy VPN has been on the market since the days when there was hardly any competition. This pioneering VPN service has been in service for years and has amassed a loyal user base.

While there are dozens of services that compete against Ivacy, this VPN has managed to stay on the radar. It’s all thanks to its excellent security features, such as reliable encryption, top-tier tunneling protocols, and leak protection. The VPN is also versatile, but its strength lies in streaming.

With above-average average speeds and great cross-platform compatibility, Ivacy VPN ensures great usability. Another benefit is the responsive customer support, which is trained to help with a wide variety of user queries. Yet, the biggest benefit is the price. Ivacy is among the cheapest VPNs on the market. While the service is not perfect, it’s well worth the price.