Disclosure: VPNFin is reader-supported. If you buy a VPN through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects our ratings — here’s our full disclosure.
People look for an IPVanish alternative for a handful of reasons. Its plans renew at $89.99 a year, it is based in the US, it has two audits in our table, VPNpro found its streaming inconsistent, and it has no official Linux app. Its unlimited device limit and SOCKS5 proxy are real strengths, so the best switch keeps what you value and fixes what you do not.
Each pick below draws on our audit, device, refund and renewal tables.
Why People Leave IPVanish
Renewal is the most common reason: $89.99 a year after a cheap first term, VPNOverview lists, against $57.22 for the first two years. Some want a base outside the US, a Five Eyes member, or more audits than its two, by Leviathan and Schellman.
Others hit platform gaps, such as no Linux app, split tunnelling that disables auto-connect on iPhone, or inconsistent streaming. Our IPVanish troubleshooting guide may fix those before you switch.
To Keep Unlimited Devices: Surfshark
Surfshark also sets no device limit, renews at about $79 a year and has two Deloitte audits, our tables record, which matches IPVanish’s audit count at a lower renewal. It has apps for Linux and Vega OS sticks, and a 30-day refund for testing them.
Surfshark and NordVPN share an owner, Nord Security. Our Surfshark vs IPVanish page compares them directly.
To Keep SOCKS5 and Add Port Forwarding: PIA
PIA keeps unlimited devices and SOCKS5 and adds port forwarding, and its no-logs claim has three Deloitte audits and court records behind it, our tables record. Like IPVanish it is US-based; Kape owns it.
PIA ships a Linux app with advanced controls, findcheapvpns notes, which fixes IPVanish’s lack of a Linux app. Our PIA vs IPVanish page compares their torrent tools.
For More Audits and a Free Plan: Proton VPN
Proton VPN has five Securitum audits in our table, a free plan with no data cap, a Linux app and port forwarding on paid plans. Its free plan lets you test it before paying anything, on one device. Plus renews at about $83.88 a year and covers 10 devices.
It is based in Switzerland, outside the Five Eyes, and publishes its apps’ source code. Secure Core routes traffic through servers in privacy-friendly countries first. Its Stealth protocol helps on networks that block VPNs. Our Proton VPN vs IPVanish page compares them.
For the Strongest Privacy Record: Mullvad
Mullvad has more than 10 audits in our table, issues account numbers instead of emails and accepts cash. It costs a flat €5 a month for five devices, with no renewal jump. It has a Linux app and a SOCKS5 proxy for connected users.
Five devices is the trade-off against IPVanish’s unlimited limit, though a router counts as one and can cover a household. Mullvad dropped OpenVPN in 2026, so the router needs WireGuard. Mullvad does not market streaming support. Our IPVanish vs Mullvad page compares them.
For the Most Audits: NordVPN
NordVPN has six audits in our table and a Linux app, and allows 10 devices. Its renewal, $139.08 a year on Basic, is higher than IPVanish’s, so it suits leaving for evidence rather than price. NordVPN was among the first VPNs on Vega OS Fire TV sticks, alongside IPVanish.
Our NordVPN vs IPVanish page compares them.
What You Give Up by Leaving
Only Surfshark and PIA match IPVanish’s unlimited devices among these picks; Proton, NordVPN and Mullvad cap at 10 or five. Count your phones, laptops, TVs and consoles before choosing, since a household passes 10 quickly. PIA and Mullvad offer SOCKS5 proxies, Surfshark does not, and NordVPN’s SOCKS5 status is disputed between sources in our tables.
IPVanish owns its servers and was among the first on Vega OS Fire TV sticks. Surfshark, NordVPN and Proton have Vega OS apps too, our tables record, so TV households have options.
Price Over Time
IPVanish renews at $89.99 a year. Among the picks, Surfshark at about $79 and Proton Plus at about $83.88 renew slightly lower, Mullvad’s €5 a month comes to about $65, and NordVPN at $139.08 costs more, our tables record.
If price is the only reason you are leaving, PureVPN at $47.95 and CyberGhost at $56.94 renew lowest, though with 10 and seven devices. Our renewal price guide compares the market.
Switching to an IPVanish Alternative Without a Gap
Turn off IPVanish’s auto-renew but keep using it until the new VPN works on every device, including TVs and any router. Most picks give 30 days for a refund; Mullvad gives 14 on card payments, and Proton’s free plan lets you try it with no payment at all.
If you are within IPVanish’s own 30-day window on a yearly plan, cancel and ask support for the refund. Our IPVanish refund guide covers the steps.
How We Research
This page draws on VPNOverview’s and VPNpro’s IPVanish reviews, findcheapvpns’ Steam Deck comparison and our audit, device, refund, renewal 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 VPNOverview’s IPVanish review. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
IPVanish Alternative FAQ
Surfshark to keep unlimited devices, PIA to keep SOCKS5.
Mullvad, NordVPN and Proton VPN.
PureVPN at $47.95, or Mullvad at about $65 a year.
Surfshark, PIA, Proton VPN, Mullvad and NordVPN.
Proton VPN (Switzerland) and Mullvad (Sweden).
The Verdict
The right IPVanish alternative depends on the reason: Surfshark or PIA to keep unlimited devices, Proton VPN or Mullvad for privacy, NordVPN for audits.