IPVanish vs Mullvad (2026): Unlimited Devices vs Anonymous Accounts and a Flat Price

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IPVanish vs Mullvad compares a mainstream household VPN with a privacy specialist. IPVanish, owned by Ziff Davis and based in the US, has two audits in our table, by Leviathan and Schellman, allows unlimited devices and owns its whole server network, Top10VPN notes. VPNOverview lists $57.22 for the first 24 months, renewing at $89.99 a year, and VPNAlert reports a SOCKS5 proxy on 25+ servers in 14 countries. Mullvad, run by Amagicom AB in Sweden, has more than 10 audits in our table, issues account numbers instead of asking for an email, accepts cash, charges a flat price of about $65 a year and allows five devices. Police who visited its office with a warrant left with nothing. Our guide to Mullvad Cost covers a flat €5 a month, every payment method and the refund rules.

This guide compares them on privacy, devices, price, torrenting and fit.

IPVanish vs Mullvad on Privacy

Mullvad has more than 10 audits by Cure53 and Assured AB, a no-email sign-up and a raid that found nothing. IPVanish has two audits. Our Mullvad review covers its approach.

Devices

IPVanish sets no limit. Mullvad allows five, with no add-on to raise it.

Price

Mullvad charges a flat rate, about $65 a year, with no discounts and no renewal jump. IPVanish lists $57.22 for its first 24 months and renews at $89.99. Over several years, Mullvad’s flat price wins.

Torrenting

Both offer SOCKS5; Mullvad’s works only while you are connected. Mullvad removed port forwarding in 2023, and IPVanish does not market it. Our port forwarding guide lists providers that still offer it.

Streaming

Mullvad does not market streaming support. VPNOverview reached major services with IPVanish in 2026.

Is IPVanish vs Mullvad a Close Call?

Rarely. Privacy purists pick Mullvad; families that stream pick IPVanish.

Quick Rule

Anonymity and a flat price: Mullvad. Many devices and streaming: IPVanish.

Payments

Mullvad accepts cash by post and cryptocurrency as well as cards, so your name need not be linked to the account. IPVanish takes cards and other standard methods.

Refunds

Mullvad refunds within 14 days of payment, our table records. IPVanish offers 30 days and a seven-day trial on yearly plans.

Keeping It Updated

Mullvad’s move away from OpenVPN means older router configs may need replacing with WireGuard. Check after each update.

Who Each Suits

Journalists, activists and privacy purists suit Mullvad. Families with many phones, TVs and laptops suit IPVanish.

Jurisdiction

Sweden is a Fourteen Eyes member and the US a Five Eyes member. Mullvad’s raid record and audits matter more than either base, as our Five Eyes guide explains.

Several Devices at Home

Mullvad’s five devices suit one person or a couple. A router counts as one device, which helps a household stretch that limit.

Support

Mullvad handles support by email; check IPVanish’s channels during the refund window.

Free Options

Neither offers a free plan. IPVanish lists a seven-day trial on yearly plans; Mullvad’s flat monthly price keeps a short test cheap.

Kill Switch

Mullvad’s apps include a kill switch and a lockdown mode that blocks traffic when disconnected. IPVanish’s apps include a kill switch too; test either after installing.

Quick Check

After installing, confirm the address changed on our VPN test page and run a DNS leak test.

Router Use

A router running WireGuard counts as one device on Mullvad, which helps a household stay within five. IPVanish needs no such workaround.

Speed

Top10VPN recorded about 93 Mbps on a 100 Mbps line with IPVanish on nearby servers. Test Mullvad on a nearby WireGuard server to compare.

Protocols

Mullvad dropped OpenVPN on 15 January 2026 and runs WireGuard, our tables record. IPVanish offers WireGuard alongside other protocols.

IPVanish’s Network

IPVanish runs 3,200 to 3,400 servers in 108 to 113 countries, depending on the source, all owned rather than rented. VPNpro counts 568 RAM-only servers across 19 locations. Our VPN servers guide explains why ownership matters.

IPVanish Streaming Results

VPNOverview reached Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer with IPVanish in 2026, while VPNpro called its streaming access inconsistent. Test the services you use within the refund window.

IPVanish on TVs

IPVanish was among the first VPNs on Amazon’s Vega OS in November 2025, and it has an Apple TV app. Our Vega OS VPN guide covers the new Fire TV system.

Ziff Davis

IPVanish belongs to Ziff Davis, which also owns StrongVPN, Encrypt.me, PCMag and CNET, our ownership table records. Read PCMag and CNET coverage of IPVanish with that in mind. Our guide to Mullvad on Android covers DAITA, multihop and quantum-resistant tunnels on your phone.

Checking Either

After installing, run our DNS leak guide, confirm the address on our VPN test page and test the kill switch by switching Wi-Fi off and on.

Public Wi-Fi

Both encrypt traffic on café and hotel networks. Turn the kill switch on first. Our public Wi-Fi guide explains the risks.

Who Should Pick Which

Pick Mullvad for anonymity, audits and a flat price. Pick IPVanish for unlimited devices, streaming and TV apps. Our PIA vs Mullvad page compares Mullvad with another US rival.

How We Research

This page draws on VPNOverview’s, Top10VPN’s and VPNpro’s 2026 IPVanish reviews, our Mullvad review and our audit, price and ownership tables. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 8 October 2026. The main source we relied on is Mullvad’s site. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.

IPVanish vs Mullvad FAQ

The Verdict

IPVanish vs Mullvad: Mullvad for privacy purists; IPVanish for families with many devices.