Ivacy is a Singapore-based VPN, and according to its website, it’s an “award-winning best VPN” that offers almost all the features you could need for almost nothing. Is that true, or is it just a marketing ploy? As usual, it’s a bit of both.
For example, the site’s server page claims to offer more than 1,000 servers in more than 100 locations in over 50 countries.
The table below the headline lists only 766 servers at the time of writing, so we’re not entirely sure of the numbers, but there’s definitely a lot of choice.
Various apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS are available for download, as are Chrome, Edge, and Firefox plugins, as well as instructions for manually setting up the service on routers, Kodi, Linux, consoles, and other devices.
Ivacy is torrent-friendly, features malware blocking, no logging, the service supports up to 5 simultaneous connections, and a kill switch to protect privacy when a connection is dropped.
1 Minute Overview
Ivacy’s short-term plan is a good deal at $9.95 per month, but if you opt for a long-term plan, you’ll get a taste of the provider’s reputation – the five-year plan costs just $1 per month, which is practically unbeatable.
The privacy policy is transparent and trustworthy, but we’d like to see those claims backed up by an external audit. In addition to the no-logging policy, Ivacy offers a kill switch, IPv6 leak protection and DDoS protection.
While Ivacy is not super-fast, nor does it offer the best reliability, the speeds should be sufficient for most users. We’ve seen speeds between 75-170 Mbps in the UK and around 70-80 Mbps in the US.
Ivacy is good enough for streaming, and after an issue with Netflix Australia, we managed to unlock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. Combine that with full P2P torrent support and you have a great VPN for accessing rich content.
The desktop app has a server filtering tool that helps you choose the right server for the right purpose – such as accessing UK Netflix – which is very useful. However, Mac users are at a disadvantage compared to Windows users, because macOS lacks a kill switch, shared tunnels, and various protocol options.
The situation is similar for Android and iOS products. Android apps are almost as powerful and functional as Windows clients. However, the iPhone app is poor. However, it is worth mentioning that you can choose from both protocols.
Users can use a 24-hour live chat, which is very useful in practice. You can also browse a well-stocked knowledge base of support articles.
Overall, Ivacy offers good value for money and doesn’t sacrifice too much in the process. However, it can’t compete with higher-end services that actually don’t cost much.
Features
- Server switching
- Destination selection
- P2P server
- Simultaneous login
- Data transfer
- Shared tunneling
- Anonymous browsing
- Public Wi-Fi security
- 256-bit data encryption
- Identity theft protection
- Internet kill switch
- DNS
- No logging policy
- IPv6 leak protection
- Multiple protocols
Speed Test
To ensure the accuracy of this test, I ran some simple speed tests on speedtest.net to determine Ivacy’s actual speed. Here are the results.
| Server Location | Ping | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
New York |
115ms |
45.86 Mbps |
43.92 Mbps |
|
Amsterdam |
43ms |
53.04 Mbps |
25.39 Mbps |
|
Hong Kong |
261ms |
0Mbps |
0Mbps |
|
London |
50ms |
53.24 Mbps |
33.36 Mbps |
As always, these speed tests should be done with caution, as they depend on many different variables and can vary from person to person. However, we have tested over 70 VPNs on this site, so there is a baseline to compare them all to.
Overall, the speeds for Evasi are in the mid-range.
While I was disappointed that their Asian servers were completely unusable, Ivacy’s 53.0 Mbps for an EU server is comparable to the competition.
Servers and Server Locations
When comparing VPN providers, it makes sense to pay attention to the number of servers the company offers and the location of those servers. Generally, the closer to the server, the better the performance. So, if there are many servers in many different locations, it means you are more likely to have a better experience no matter where you are.
Ivacy only offers 459 servers, which is a bit below the minimum threshold of 500 servers that I would expect. In fact, many VPN services are already over 700 or even 1,000 servers, and I may have to raise the bar soon. Currently, NordVPN tops the list with over 3,400 servers, followed by Private Internet Access with 3,275 servers. TorGuard recently expanded its offering to 3,000 servers, making it one of the top three performing services I’ve tested.
Ivacy’s numbers are small, but its servers are well distributed. The company offers 100 server locations, beating out NordVPN with 59 countries and TunnelBear with 22. PureVPN offers 180 locations in 140 countries, but Hide My Ass leads the category with an unbeatable 286 locations in 220 countries.
Ivacy also has some very strategic servers. While most VPN providers ignore the entire African continent, Ivacy has 6 locations. South and Central America is another region that many VPN providers skip, but not Ivacy. The company also offers servers in regions where internet censorship is repressive, such as China, Russia, and Turkey.
However, the number of servers can be a bit misleading. Some VPN companies make extensive use of virtual server sites. These are physical servers configured to behave as if they have multiple servers in different locations. This presents a problem for anyone concerned about the exact path of data. You may be annoyed that if you choose a server in the tax haven of Iceland, your data will actually be routed through a virtual server in Shanghai.
Pricing Plans
| 1 Month | 12 Months | 2 Years |
|---|---|---|
|
$9.95 |
$42 |
$57.60 |
If you want to use Ivacy as your VPN provider, it pays to sign up for a long-term plan.
If you pay monthly, Ivacy is a relatively expensive VPN option at $9.95 per month.
However, if you are able to pay $60 upfront for a 5-year plan, then Ivacy’s monthly price drops by a whopping 76% to just $1 per month.
1 per month is an exceptional price for such a powerful VPN service. If value for money is what matters, then Ivacy is a great choice.
Ivacy does not offer a free trial, but it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. In fact, this guarantee is undisputed valid and is not subject to any restrictions or data usage limitations.
We have found that requesting a refund via Ivacy’s 24/7 live chat is quick and painless.
However, this 30-day guarantee is not available for monthly packages. Monthly subscribers only have 7 days to request a refund. More reasons to opt for a longer subscription.
Streaming Service
On the left side of the menu, you will find a separate section called Streaming. There you will see a list of streaming services that you can safely unblock.
Netflix
IvacyVPN works well with Netflix. It easily bypasses VPN blocks set up by streaming services, allowing you to access geographically restricted content within minutes.
Hulu
Simply choose your region to connect to Hulu. Ivacy VPN optimizes your connection speed and makes your downtime a real pleasure.
Amazon Prime Video
With Ivacy VPN, you can access your entire Amazon Prime video library and watch original shows without delay.
BBC iPlayer
To watch this service through the Ivacy VPN app, you need a UK IP address. So, select “BBC iPlayer” and connect to the appropriate server.
HBO
To simplify the connection process, select HBO, click the “Quick Connect” button and Ivacy VPN will choose the best location and protocol with the appropriate settings.
IvacyVPN for Gaming
Check out the benefits of using Ivacy VPN for online gaming:
- If you are in Europe and the game server is in North America, your ping may be quite high since bundles are delayed in the middle of the journey. With a decent gaming VPN, you may change your IP address to one in the United States to reduce reaction time.
- In certain situations, games are exclusively available to users from specific areas or regions. A good gaming VPN will allow you to circumvent geographical limitations and enjoy your favorite entertainment.
- Various closed beta testing for gamers are typically held in certain regions, and you cannot access them without altering your IP address.
- Steam prices are determined individually for different countries and regions, and the difference is in the tens of dollars. Why overpay when you can get the greatest pricing and download games with Ivacy VPN?
- Rivals may plan DDOS assaults to undermine a strong gamer in specific situations. Packages are misplaced, the game freezes, and winning is impossible. Ivacy VPN establishes an encrypted and secure link between you and the server, so you won’t have to worry about assaults.
IvacyVPN for Mobile Trial
It is crucial to note right away that there is no free version of Ivacy VPN. This does not appear to be a terrible thing, as free versions come with limits anyhow. This also emphasizes the need of making traffic as transparent as possible for premium users. Ivacy VPN iOS and Android versions, on the other hand, provide free 7-day trials.
On other devices, you may choose between a 3-day or 7-day trial, however this is not publicly marketed. Even that is not free, and you must contact Ivacy to learn more
User Experience
Ivacy has an intuitive set of clients for the support platform. Downloading and installing the VPN is a breeze. If you have any problems, you can find detailed installation instructions on the Ivacy website.
While the interface is always nice and user-friendly, on macOS or iOS you may notice that certain features are missing – namely, no kill switch or split tunnel.
The quick connection feature works similarly to the automatic connection. Also, you can select an automatic protocol or choose your own – you can connect to any available country and even find the protocol that best suits your needs, whether it’s torrenting, streaming, unblocking, or something else entirely.
Ivacy has recently launched a new iOS client with features like one-click VPN connections, destination selection, and built-in customer support.
Ivacy VPN Protocol
Internet protocols determine how packets are sent over the network and determine the security and speed of VPN services. Some protocols sacrifice security for speed and vice versa. I like that Ivacy VPN allows users to easily switch between protocols depending on whether they prefer speed or security.
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is sometimes considered the gold standard for VPN software. Why? Because it offers a great combination of speed, security, and performance. It’s open source and supported by a community that is constantly improving the code to prevent regulators from tampering with VPN services. OpenVPN is an option for Ivacy VPN, but you’ll need to install it manually.
L2TP/IPSec
Layer 2 tunneling protocol works with IPsec to create a highly secure VPN client. While L2TP itself creates the tunnel, IPSec takes care of the encryption and channel security. It also ensures that the integrity of the data is not compromised.
IKEv2
Internet Key Exchange version 2 is a widely used VPN protocol that automatically reconnects to your VPN after the Internet connection is lost, which is especially handy when you want to switch between Wi-Fi and mobile hotspots, which often happens when you use your phone.
TCP
The Transmission Control Protocol consists of seven layers and is responsible for transmitting data and splitting it into smaller packets to make sure they arrive at the right place. It can be combined with UDP to ensure that data is returned in the correct order.
No IP or DNS leaks
In my review of Ivacy VPN, I tested all the popular services for IP and DNS leaks. However, none of them found any leaks. So, you don’t have to worry about Ivacy spying on your data.
Privacy and Security
Ivacy VPN is one of the best virtual private network providers when it comes to privacy and security, and it has 256-bit AES encryption technology that is by far unmatched. Thanks to this platform, I can still surf safely when I use public Wi-Fi. I also don’t have to worry about confidential information leaking out, as Ivacy VPN enforces a very strict zero-logging policy. No data is collected at all. In my experience, Ivacy VPN also implements masking of the original IP address and spoofing of fake IP addresses.
To establish a secure VPN connection, I had to click the round power button on the graphical user interface of the desktop client version of Ivacy VPN. To change the location of the server, I have to click on the Select Location button above the round power button. When I do this, all available server locations are displayed in a drop-down menu. Ivacy VPN offers a variety of VPN tunneling protocols to choose from, including UDP, L2TP, TCP, and even IKEV.
NAT Firewall
If your computer and router already have a firewall, you may be wondering why you need a VPN…. Well, mobile devices don’t usually have firewalls, and an extra layer of security is always a good thing – especially for VPNs, which can process and release incoming traffic before the router or computer’s firewall intercepts it, rendering it ineffective
NAT firewall blocks unwanted incoming traffic and prevents malicious attacks from hackers who use automated tools to scan the Internet for unprotected devices to intercept unwanted incoming traffic.
If you opt for the NAT Firewall add-on, you can also get port forwarding capabilities. This allows you to continue using local network devices like printers and hard drives without being caught by the firewall – you simply assign a port to each device and add it to the forwarding list, allowing you to bypass the firewall.
Split Tunneling
We saved Ivacy’s best feature for last: split tunnels. This allows you to configure your VPN so that some programs use the tunneled connection and others don’t. We’ve talked a lot about how difficult this feature is to achieve in the VPN world, and we’re seeing more and more of it.
Bypass Censorship
At the time of writing, Ivacy is no longer available in China as the Chinese government is persecuting VPN providers.
As far as we know – other countries with high censorship, such as Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran, do not have such problems.
The reason is simple – China has more techniques working in this field than other countries.
Phones and Tablets
Most people don’t sit in front of a computer all day. Instead of laptops and desktops, we access the internet through smartphones, tablets, and other devices. Unfortunately, many VPNs offer clients and apps that lose important functionality when we move from desktop to mobile. Ivacy has bucked this trend.
As mentioned above, Ivacy for Android retains the functionality and features of the desktop client, and iOS isn’t far behind (it’s just missing the kill switch). Ultimately, this means you can keep your Internet browsing and use on the go private and secure on up to 10 devices. Plug in everyone’s family smartphones and you may still have enough room for desktops, laptops, and even gaming consoles.
Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge
While it appears that native browser extensions are available for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, things get a little more opaque from here.
For Apple products, if you go to the Ivacy Support Center, there are two separate icons with the Apple logo, one labeled “IOS,” presumably for phones and tablets, and another with the same Apple logo labeled only “Mac,” presumably for installing Ivacy on Macbooks and iMacs.
Customer Support
Ivacy VPN has good 24/7 live chat support. I contacted them a few times and was immediately put in touch with an agent. Most of my questions were answered quickly, but when I had a serious connection issue, it took a couple of hours to get it resolved. On the other hand, it might have been faster if I had agreed to let them use my computer via TeamViewer.
You can also submit a ticket – they monitor those tickets 24/7 as well. If you don’t want someone to help you, Ivacy VPN offers customer support with step-by-step instructions, FAQs, video tutorials, and a Singapore address for good old face-to-face chat.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free trial (1 day)
- Dedicated DNS server
- Port forwarding (extra charge)
- Support for Netflix and Hulu
- Support for Kodi, Android TV, browsers and routers
- Dedicated IP (for an additional charge)
Cons
- Low speeds in many places
- Support for all platforms, but Android apps don’t work
- Connection errors on Windows
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ivacy VPN good?
Yes, it is. It offers excellent security and privacy, unlocks US Netflix, offers 24/7 live chat, and is also very affordable.
Does Ivacy VPN work in China?
Yes. There is a dedicated Ivacy Prime client in China that works on Windows, Mac, and Android. However, this is not the best option as the speed is not the best.
How much does Ivacy VPN cost?
Prices start at just $1.00/month. You get a 30-day money-back guarantee and you can pay anonymously.
Is Ivacy VPN secure?
Ivacy VPN can really be called secure. It has military-grade encryption, anti-leakage, and a no-logging policy. However, the Mac and iOS clients lack the lethal power.
Does Ivacy work with Netflix?
Yes, you can use Ivacy with Netflix. There is a streaming section with a number of servers that can unblock Netflix content and geo-block other services. You can use the app to unblock Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
Can I unblock if I use a VPN?
Yes, unfortunately some VPNs can be tracked. This is known as DNS leakage. Some VPN providers also work with the government to log user connections. As mentioned in our Ivacy VPN review, this app is perfect if you want to be completely anonymous on the internet. The company has a strict no-logging policy, the source IP is always masked, and it even works with streaming platforms that can’t handle VPN software.
Does Ivacy VPN work in China?
Since the Great Firewall of China blocks access to many VPN sites and VPN server connections, it’s often difficult to find a VPN that works anyway. Fortunately for Ivacy customers, this is a focus of the company, which can provide access to Chinese users through a personalized server.
It does require some configuration and possibly guidance from the support team. While VPNs are available in China, the website itself may be blocked, limiting access to support. Therefore, make sure you know how to set up your VPN for use in China before you travel there. The tutorial can be easily downloaded in PDF format, although the Windows version looks outdated as it uses an older version of the application.
Conclusion
Overall, Ivacy is a competent service. Some servers are not physically located in the specified location, which may bother some users, while others may not mind. Ivacy’s price is good at $40 per year, speeds are about average, the additional security checks in the download service are nice, and split tunneling is a handy feature if you want to watch Netflix on Firefox but tunnel the rest of your Internet traffic through a VPN.
But as longtime readers know, I’m not a fan of enterprise management, which tends to stay in the shadows. In some cases, this may be necessary, such as if you’re running VPNs from China and Russia, even though you actually live in those risky countries. that may be the case here.
Still, many VPN services make their identities public, which is always better in my opinion, as private VPNs are a business that relies on user trust.
