Ivacy VPN

Ivacy VPN Review - A Mid-Tier Provider with Room for Improvement Overall Score: 60/93.5 (C Tier) By Tom Spark, VPN Expert After extensively testing Ivacy VPN for the past month across multiple devices and use cases, I've found it to be a serviceable but unremarkable VPN that falls squarely in the middle of the pack. While it gets some fundamentals right, several key limitations hold it back from competing with top-tier providers. Comprehensive Overview Ivacy VPN is a Singapore-based provider operating since 2007. They maintain a network of 5700+ servers across 100+ locations, offering standard VPN features like military-grade encryption, kill switches, and split tunneling. While functional for basic privacy needs, the service lacks the polish and advanced capabilities found in leading competitors. Detailed Category Analysis Pricing & Value (7/10) Ivacy's pricing structure is competitive, especially for long-term plans: - 1 Month: $9.95 - 1 Year: $3.99/month - 5 Years: $1.19/month The 5-year plan offers excellent value, though I'm generally cautious about recommending such long commitments. Payment options include credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies. The 30-day money-back guarantee is solid, though I found the refund process required some back-and-forth with support. Features (9.5/15) Core features include: - WireGuard protocol support - Kill switch (tested functional on Windows/Mac) - Split tunneling - IPv6 leak protection - Smart DNS However, several notable omissions include: - No multi-hop connections - No port forwarding - Limited protocol options compared to competitors - No ad/malware blocking Speed & Performance (8/10) My speed tests showed respectable but not outstanding results: - Base connection: 500Mbps - Local servers (US): 350-400Mbps - International servers (EU): 200-250Mbps - Asia servers: 150-180Mbps WireGuard performance was notably better than OpenVPN, though still lagged behind leaders like ExpressVPN and NordVPN in my testing. Privacy & Trust (10.5/16) Positives: - No-logs policy (though not independently audited) - Singapore jurisdiction (privacy-friendly) - Standard AES-256 encryption Concerns: - Lack of transparency about ownership - No regular security audits - Missing 2FA authentication - Closed-source applications The privacy policy is straightforward but lacks the detailed transparency reports provided by top competitors. Customer Support (5/5) Support was surprisingly good: - 24/7 live chat with quick response times - Knowledgeable agents - Comprehensive knowledge base - Email support within 24 hours My test interactions were handled professionally, though technical depth varied between agents. Streaming Capabilities (7.5/15) Mixed results in streaming tests: - Netflix: Works with US/UK libraries, inconsistent elsewhere - BBC iPlayer: Functional but occasional buffering - Disney+: Limited success - Hulu: Blocked on most servers - Amazon Prime: Works with dedicated streaming servers Performance lags behind streaming-focused VPNs like ExpressVPN. GUI & User Experience (5/10) The app interface feels dated and clunky: - Unintuitive server selection - Limited customization options - Occasional connection stability issues - Basic settings menu - No dark mode option Technical Extras (0/2.75) Missing several advanced features: - No Tor over VPN - No multi-hop connections - No custom DNS options - Limited protocol customization Real-World Performance Daily usage revealed: - Stable connections for general browsing - Adequate for torrenting with dedicated P2P servers - Some buffering during peak hours - Occasional app crashes on Windows - Mobile apps more stable than desktop versions Security Analysis While core security features work well, several concerns emerge: - No perfect forward secrecy - Limited protocol options - No independent security audits - Basic leak protection Torrenting Capabilities P2P is supported on dedicated servers: - Good speeds for torrenting (tested 15-20MB/s) - Port forwarding would be welcome - Kill switch reliable during testing - No SOCKS5 proxy option Major Weaknesses 1. Lack of advanced security features 2. No multi-hop or Tor integration 3. Inconsistent streaming performance 4. Dated user interface 5. Limited protocol options 6. No independent audits 7. Missing 2FA Who Should Use Ivacy VPN? Ivacy is best suited for: - Budget-conscious users seeking basic privacy - Casual VPN users not requiring advanced features - Users primarily focused on general browsing and basic streaming - Those comfortable with longer subscription commitments Not recommended for: - Privacy-focused users requiring advanced security - Heavy streamers needing reliable access to multiple services - Users wanting cutting-edge features and regular updates - Those requiring maximum speeds Conclusion Ivacy VPN is a middle-of-the-road service that gets the basics right but fails to stand out in any particular area. While the pricing is attractive and core features work as advertised, the lack of advanced capabilities and polish make it hard to recommend over more established competitors like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. It's a serviceable choice for basic privacy needs, but users requiring more sophisticated features or consistent streaming performance should look elsewhere. The service could significantly improve its standing with: - Independent security audits - Modern interface redesign - Advanced security features - Expanded protocol options - Better streaming reliability For now, Ivacy remains firmly in the C-tier of VPN providers - functional but unremarkable in an increasingly competitive market.