IPVanish vs TorGuard comparison in 2024

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.

TorGuard vs. IPVanish: specifications

TorGuard has over 3000+ servers in 48+ countries, with military-grade security features and a no-logs policy. However, its policy has not been audited by an independent third party. TorGuard uses WireGuard, which is an excellent VPN protocol for speed.

On the other hand, IPVanish maintains over 2200+ servers in 51+ countries. It also provides unlimited simultaneous connections, enabling users to use its VPN service on as many devices as they want. Additionally, its no-logs policy has been independently audited by a third party.

So, despite the two providers having very similar features, we can say that IPVanish is the winner in our TorGuard vs. IPVanish comparison.

IPVanish vs TorGuard: pricing

The pricing category results in a win for IPVanish, because the provider is more affordable overall. Let’s see more details. And if you want TorGuard to be fully functional, unfortunately, you’ll have to buy several add-ons.

IPVanish pricing

IPVanish offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. There are several plans you can purchase from this provider, including:

• $12.99/month for one month
• $3.33/month for one year
• $2.19/month for two years

Alternatively, you can grab an IPVanish coupon code on the two-year plan and receive a 83% discount. Every subscription comes with a free VIPRE antivirus.

You can purchase an IPVanish plan using a credit card, PayPal, Google Pay and Amazon Pay. However, the lack of anonymous payments is disappointing.

Torguard pricing

TorGuard has a 7-day free trial and a free version that you can use for 30 days. It offers several different plans:

TorGuard offers several add-ons:

• Dedicated Regular IP. For $7.99/month, users can purchase a dedicated IP in one of 31 countries.
• Dedicated Streaming IP. For $7.99/month, there’s also an option to get a streaming IP meant specifically for bypassing geo-blocks in a particular country. It covers 12 countries, including the US, the UK, Japan, Canada, etc.
• Dedicated Residential IP. For $13.99/month, these are special IP addresses whitelisted with major US streaming services and ISP services. The available options are Los Angeles, Dallas, Illinois, and Tampa.
• Additional Addons. Those interested can purchase Wi-Fi adapters, routers, and dedicated VPN instances.

You can purchase a TorGuard plan via credit card, PayPal, Stripe, and gift cards. Additionally, because the provider supports crypto, you can even purchase a plan anonymously.

Speed comparison

The next category we are going to compare the two providers in is speed. It’s crucial for the VPN to facilitate great performance to avoid lag and long loading times while using this software. This category is a tie because both providers use the WireGuard VPN protocol.

Additionally, despite TorGuard having more servers, IPVanish serves more countries. So, both providers do a pretty good job in the category and provide excellent speeds to their users.

TorGuard vs IPVanish: which is more secure?

While this category may seem like a tie at first glance, IPVanish is the winner here. But before we discuss why, let’s first see what both providers have in common:

• AES-256 encryption
• Kill switch
• IP and DNS leak protection

However, IPVanish takes the lead with its independently-audited no-logs policy.

Privacy

Both TorGuard and IPVanish are based in the United States, which is a member of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance. As such, both providers operate under certain data retention laws, meaning that some of your data may be shared with the government.

It would be impossible to do if the providers had RAM-only servers, but they don’t. At least IPVanish had its no-logs policy audited and verified, meaning you’re in safe hands with them.

Logging

It is vital to get a VPN that does not collect any logs and has been independently audited to ensure that no funny business is happening behind the scenes. In the case of TorGuard, the provider says it has a no-logs policy, but it has not been audited by an independent third party yet. So, its no-logs policy is not confirmed by anyone outside of the company.

On the other hand, IPVanish also has a no-logs policy that has been independently audited, despite it being located in the US. This means that the provider does not store any of your personal information.

Servers location

TorGuard maintains more than 3000+ servers in 48+ countries and has both virtual and physical servers. Meanwhile, IPVanish has over 2200+ servers in 51+ countries and maintains physical servers only.

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.

Additionally, even though TorGuard offers more servers, IPVanish is present in more countries, meaning it provides coverage for more users. Therefore, this category is another win for IPVanish.

Features comparison

Although the two providers might seem equal in this category, TorGuard is the winner because it offers more functionality than IPVanish. Let’s explore further to see why.

Smart DNS

Smart DNS is a vital feature that allows you to use a VPN on a device that doesn’t support it. Unfortunately, neither TorGuard nor IPVanish have a Smart DNS feature, so your VPN experience might be limited with both providers.

Ad & malware blocker

The ad and malware feature helps prevent suspicious and malicious websites and apps from accessing your devices, which is essential for your online security. TorGuard offers an ad and malware blocker with its VPN services. Ad Blocking DNS is available on Windows, macOS, and iOS, and it lets you disable adware via DNS filtering.

On the other hand, while IPVanish provides an antivirus, it does not have an ad blocker.

Split tunneling

TorGuard provides a split tunneling feature on iOS only, enabling you to choose which apps will use the VPN and which won’t. On the other hand, IPVanish has split tunneling only on Android and FireOS. As such, both services could work towards providing this useful tool for other clients as well.

Specialized servers

Only TorGuard comes with specialty servers. Namely, these are:

• Dedicated IP. For those who have purchased dedicated IPs in certain countries.
• Stealth. These use Shadowsocks to bypass firewalls.
• ObsTCP. Obfuscates VPN traffic, letting you use the VPN in internet-restrictive countries like China, Iran, and such.
• Port 443. Provides extra security as traffic transmitted through this port is encrypted.

Other features

Other notable features of TorGuard are Scripts, OpenVPN Proxy, SOCKS5 proxy, and port forwarding. Meanwhile, with IPVanish, you can enable traffic obfuscation when using OpenVPN, which masks your VPN traffic. And it comes with a SOCKS5 proxy, too.

Netflix and streaming comparison

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.

Still, if you want to unblock numerous streaming platforms without a hassle, you’ll be better off with the best VPNs for streaming.

Device compatibility

Next, you’re probably asking yourself if any of these VPNs are compatible with your devices. You’ll be happy to know that both providers have apps for mainstream devices (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS). 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, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Chrome OS. And although they do not have browser extensions like TorGuard, they allow you to connect significantly more devices with a single subscription.

Desktop applications

You get applications for Windows and macOS with both services. While TorGuard keeps a simplistic design, IPVanish aims for sleeker look. Furthermore, it comes with an interactive server map, making picking a server quite easy.

TorGuard’s clients take some time to get used to and can be quite confusing at times if you’re not an advanced user. There are loads of settings to tinker with, but everything is a bit too clunky. The biggest difference between Windows and macOS apps is that the later has a visually appealing Modern theme set as default. But once you enter the settings screen, you’re greeted with the haphazard layout once again.

As for IPVanish, the provider keeps its desktop applications pretty uniform. The only significant difference we noticed is the lack of split tunneling on macOS.

Mobile applications

Regarding mobile apps, both TorGuard and IPVanish offer dedicated apps for Android and iOS users. But only IPVanish’s clients come with a server map. Furthermore, there are noticeable differences depending on which OS you use.

TorGuard’s applications use the macOS interface, just adapted to mobile. For Android, while there is split tunneling, LAN bypass, and dedicated IPs, you can’t tweak them like you can on desktop. Furthermore, the iOS client simply lacks any worthwhile features at all. The only thing you can basically do is tweak the Ad Blocking DNS tool.

IPVanish takes better care of their mobile users by trying to implement the same features available on desktop clients. Only the iOS app is a bit lacking, in this case, as there is no split tunneling (which isn’t surprising) and no Scramble OpenVPN traffic option.

Torrenting

Torrenting is another online activity that many VPN users perform. So, you need to get either a VPN that supports torrenting or one that has specialized P2P servers. As a result, TorGuard is the winner.

TorGuard does not have specialized P2P servers. However, it does allow torrenting on all servers and provides a free SOCKS5 proxy. Another big difference 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.

While IPVanish is a solid choice for torrenting, it can’t outperform a VPN created for this specific online activity.

China

At first glance, this might seem like another tie. However, TorGuard is the winner of this category.

This is because TorGuard can bypass China’s DPI with its StealthVPN feature. Additionally, it provides Shadowsocks, which is a feature that can bypass China’s firewalls. Moreover, TorGuard has servers in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, providing good connection quality.

Meanwhile, IPVanish only has StealthVPN in the form of traffic obfuscation, which is only available when using OpenVPN. This is often insufficient for most users to browse the web in China using a VPN securely. So, TorGuard has a slight upper hand here.

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 – which is better?

It was a close fight, but in the end, IPVanish came out on top. For starters, both are considered some of the fastest VPNs with the WireGuard protocol enabled. The duo is very similar when it comes to security and privacy as well. 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.

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You may also like to read:
IPVanish vs NordVPN
IPVanish vs PIA
Torguard vs NordVPN
Torguard vs PIA

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FAQ

Is IPVanish better than TorGuard?

Yes, although only by a margin. Namely, both providers come close across many categories, but IPVanish managed to get ahead due to its more affordable prices, better streaming capabilities, and excellent 24/7 customer support via multiple channels.

Which is faster – IPVanish or TorGuard?

As both providers use the same VPN protocols, they both provide excellent speeds. And, given that TorGuard maintains more servers while IPVanish covers more countries, the providers are overall equal in this category.