IPVanish

Full IPVanish Review for UK Users

IPVanish takes a unique approach in the VPN industry by owning and operating its entire server infrastructure. While most VPN providers rent servers from third-party data centres, IPVanish maintains direct control over every server in its network. This eliminates potential security risks associated with third-party access and gives the company complete oversight of the hardware handling user traffic.

This self-owned infrastructure model is particularly appealing to security-conscious UK users who want assurance that no intermediary can access their data. Every server in IPVanish's network of over 2,400 servers across 90 countries is directly managed by the company's own engineers.

IPVanish now offers unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a practical choice for UK households with multiple devices. Whether you have phones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, or streaming devices, a single IPVanish subscription covers everything.

The VNET protocol is IPVanish's optimised implementation of WireGuard, designed to provide the best balance of speed and security. In UK speed tests, VNET delivers respectable performance, though it does not quite match the speeds achieved by NordVPN's NordLynx or ExpressVPN's Lightway.

IPVanish includes Threat Protection, which guards against malicious websites and phishing attempts. The Unlocator Smart DNS integration helps with streaming access on devices that do not support VPN apps natively.

One unique addition to IPVanish's offering is SugarSync cloud backup storage, included with every subscription. This provides encrypted cloud storage for backing up important files, adding extra value beyond standard VPN functionality.

IPVanish is headquartered in the United States, which is a concern for some privacy advocates given the country's membership in the Five Eyes alliance. However, the company maintains a zero-logs policy and has restructured its privacy practices following its acquisition by Ziff Davis.

Streaming performance is where IPVanish shows some weakness compared to top competitors. While it can access some UK streaming platforms, it is not as consistently reliable with BBC iPlayer and other major services as providers like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

Pricing starts at £2.49 per month on the annual plan, which represents reasonable value given the unlimited connections and self-owned infrastructure. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.