Top VPN Comparisons

Choosing between VPN services can be overwhelming with so many options.

IPVanish and Atlas VPN consistently rank among our top performers.

Our hands-on testing reveals key strengths for each contender.

IPVanish delivers exceptional speed, making it one of the fastest we've evaluated.

It reliably accesses Netflix and supports unlimited simultaneous connections.

Robust encryption ensures solid security for users.

Atlas VPN counters with impressive speeds and unlimited bandwidth.

It excels at unblocking streaming platforms reliably.

Users benefit from connecting all their devices concurrently and accessing multihop servers for enhanced privacy.

We meticulously compare these providers across pricing, features, performance, and customer support responsiveness.

Detailed, easy-to-digest tables break down these comparisons.

Important Update: Atlas VPN announced its merger with NordVPN, effective April 24, 2024.

Existing users will migrate to NordVPN as Atlas VPN sunsets its service.

Details on this discontinuation are available directly from Atlas VPN.

Considering this development, exploring our recommended alternatives or reviewing NordVPN directly might be prudent.

Our analysis aims to simplify your final decision.

Comparing Subscription Models: IPVanish and Atlas VPN

Both IPVanish and Atlas VPN offer competitive monthly plans at $10.99, positioning themselves below the industry average of $12-13 per month. This pricing strategy makes them attractive options for users seeking flexibility without long-term commitments.

When examining annual subscriptions, the providers maintain similar value propositions. IPVanish charges $39.99 for the first year (equivalent to $3.33 monthly), representing a 69% discount from the monthly rate. Atlas VPN's comparable annual plan costs $39.42, translating to $3.29 monthly with a 70% discount.

For those seeking middle-ground options, IPVanish uniquely offers a quarterly subscription at $13.33 for three months ($4.44 monthly), discounted by 59% from the standard rate. This provides an excellent compromise between commitment length and cost savings.

Atlas VPN distinguishes itself with a three-year subscription option that delivers exceptional value at just $1.99 monthly ($71.49 total), reflecting an impressive 82% discount from the regular price.

Both services enhance their value proposition with 30-day money-back guarantees, though these are exclusively available with their longest subscription options—one year for IPVanish and three years for Atlas VPN.

For maximum savings, budget-conscious users should consider IPVanish's annual plan at $3.33 monthly or Atlas VPN's three-year package at $1.99 monthly, depending on their preferred commitment period.

When comparing VPN services, device compatibility is a crucial factor to consider. Both IPVanish and Atlas VPN provide applications for the most common platforms including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV devices.

Atlas VPN edges ahead slightly with its dedicated Android TV application, which IPVanish lacks. However, IPVanish compensates by offering manual configuration options for compatible wireless routers and Linux systems, complete with detailed setup instructions for users who prefer these platforms.

It's worth noting that Atlas VPN explicitly states it doesn't support either Linux or router configurations, which might be a disadvantage for more technically-inclined users who prefer these setups.

In terms of additional features, both services offer split tunneling functionality through their Android applications, allowing users to select which apps bypass the VPN connection. IPVanish has extended this feature to their Fire OS applications as well, providing more flexibility for streaming device users.

Atlas VPN distinguishes itself by including supplementary features at no extra cost, such as an integrated ad blocker and multihop servers (sometimes called double VPN). These security-enhancing options are absent from IPVanish's feature set, which focuses more on core VPN functionality without free extras.

When faced with geographic restrictions, accessing certain websites or services can be challenging. These limitations often stem from copyright and licensing issues, frequently seen in streaming platforms. In some cases, like in China, the restrictions are more severe, affecting a broad range of sites including news and social media.

VPNs can help bypass these restrictions by changing your IP address and masking your location. We tested both IPVanish and Atlas VPN on several popular streaming services. Our findings showed that Atlas VPN was more reliable overall.

While IPVanish struggled with some major streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer, both IPVanish and Atlas VPN were effective for Netflix, allowing secure access to multiple libraries, including those in the US and UK. It's important to note that the effectiveness of a VPN can vary, as streaming platforms continuously update their systems to block VPNs.

Unfortunately, neither IPVanish nor Atlas VPN can be used in China due to the country's stringent censorship measures. The Great Firewall of China uses various methods, including IP blocking, URL filtering, and DNS poisoning, to prevent the use of non-approved VPNs.

For users in China, some VPNs that offer traffic obfuscation, such as NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN, are more likely to work. However, even these services' websites are blocked in China, so it's crucial to download and install the VPN before entering the country.

Comparing the User Experience: IPVanish and Atlas VPN Apps

When it comes to user interface and experience, both IPVanish and Atlas VPN offer streamlined setup processes with intuitive wizards guiding you through installation on desktop and mobile platforms.

IPVanish's desktop application presents a feature-rich interface that manages to balance comprehensive information with usability. Users benefit from detailed server statistics including ping response times and current server loads. A particularly useful feature is the ability to bookmark favorite servers for quick access in future sessions. Navigation is enhanced with a map visualization option alongside the standard server list view.

By contrast, Atlas VPN takes a minimalist approach with its desktop client. The cleaner, less busy interface may appeal to those who prefer simplicity over extensive data displays. One standout feature is Atlas VPN's dedicated streaming server tab, making it straightforward to find optimized connections for media consumption.

Both services organize their settings logically with vertical side menus, providing easy access to critical security features like kill switch functionality and protocol selection options.

The mobile experience for both VPNs is considerably streamlined compared to their desktop versions. Each provider offers quick-connect functionality and intuitive footer navigation. While functionally similar, Atlas VPN's mobile interface might have a slight edge for newcomers due to its clean, approachable design that reduces potential confusion.

For VPN beginners, Atlas VPN's less technical presentation could be more welcoming, while power users might appreciate the additional information and customization options available in IPVanish's interface.

When comparing server networks, IPVanish clearly takes the lead with its extensive infrastructure of over 2,000 servers distributed across approximately 50 countries worldwide. Atlas VPN offers a more modest network consisting of around 750 servers spanning 37 countries.

Both providers cover the essential global locations that most users seek, including servers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Japan. However, IPVanish extends its reach to several unique locations not covered by Atlas VPN, such as Argentina, Greece, and Turkey. Conversely, Atlas VPN maintains exclusive presence in Hong Kong, which IPVanish doesn't offer.

Performance testing reveals impressive speeds from both services, earning them places among today's fastest VPN providers. IPVanish demonstrated superior performance in our evaluations, reaching average speeds of 488 Mbps, making it second only to CyberGhost in our speed rankings. While Atlas VPN's average of 247 Mbps falls behind IPVanish, it still delivers more than adequate performance for demanding activities like high-definition streaming, torrenting, and online gaming without limitations.

It's worth noting that neither service imposes bandwidth restrictions, allowing for unlimited data usage regardless of your chosen provider.

VPN Feature Comparison

When comparing IPVanish and Atlas VPN, the range of protocols offered by each service is a key differentiator. IPVanish stands out with a broader selection, including OpenVPN and IPSec, in addition to WireGuard and IKEv2, which are available on both platforms. This variety allows users to pick the protocol that best fits their specific needs, such as choosing WireGuard for its high-speed performance, making it perfect for streaming and other data-heavy activities.

Both services ensure robust security with 256-bit AES encryption, providing an unbreakable shield for your internet traffic. However, Atlas VPN takes this a step further by using RSA-4096 keys, which are twice as long as the 2048-bit keys used by IPVanish, offering an even higher level of security.

For those facing restrictions, IPVanish offers a unique feature: obfuscation technology, specifically for the OpenVPN protocol. Known as Scramble, this setting disguises your VPN traffic as regular web traffic, helping you bypass blocks and access content freely.

Both IPVanish and Atlas VPN come equipped with a kill switch, a crucial feature that disconnects your internet if the VPN connection drops, ensuring your data remains private. The kill switch is available on Windows, Mac, and iOS for IPVanish, and on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS for Atlas VPN. Additionally, Atlas VPN includes an ad blocker as part of its subscription, enhancing your browsing experience without any extra cost.

When exploring the realm of virtual private networks, it's notable that both IPVanish and Atlas VPN operate from United States territory. This particular location raises eyebrows among privacy advocates due to the country's membership in the Five Eyes intelligence sharing agreement, which facilitates information exchange between member nations.

Despite this geographical consideration, the average user likely needn't be overly concerned about government surveillance targeting their online activities.

Examining their privacy policies reveals important distinctions. IPVanish stands out by maintaining a strict no-logs policy that extends beyond identifiable information to include connection data such as IP addresses and session timestamps. Atlas VPN, while also claiming a no-logs policy, does collect certain connection-related information including device specifications and application usage statistics like settings modifications.

Registration requirements remain minimal for both services, with only an email address necessary to create an account and access their applications. However, payment options differ significantly between the two providers. While IPVanish lacks anonymous payment methods, Atlas VPN accommodates privacy-conscious users by accepting cryptocurrency transactions through CoinPayments, supporting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple among other digital currencies.

When using IPVanish or Atlas VPN, you are assigned a shared IP address, similar to most other VPN services. This means that when you connect to a server, your IP is the same as that of other users on that particular server. The primary benefit here is that your online actions become indistinguishable from those of other users, making it much harder for anyone to track your specific activity.

Unfortunately, neither IPVanish nor Atlas VPN offers the option to obtain a dedicated IP address. Dedicated IPs have their own set of advantages, such as a lower likelihood of being blacklisted by websites and services. Additionally, you would be less frequently prompted to complete CAPTCHAs while browsing.

Although the shared IP addresses used by these VPNs can sometimes be targeted in DDoS attacks, they still provide a significant layer of protection. Your actual IP address remains hidden, so any attack would target the VPN's IP address instead. In the event of an attack, you can simply switch to another server and continue your online activities without interruption.

When it comes to user-friendly apps, both IPVanish and Atlas VPN stand out, making them popular choices. If you ever need help, both services provide live chat and email support. However, for Atlas VPN, live chat is only accessible if you have a paid subscription. Notably, IPVanish is one of the few VPNs that also offers phone support, which is available every day of the week.

For those who prefer self-help, both IPVanish and Atlas VPN have comprehensive knowledge bases. These resources include setup guides with detailed steps and screenshots, making the process straightforward. While both providers have YouTube channels with video guides, neither has uploaded new content in the past year.

In terms of email response times, our tests showed significant differences. We sent the same three questions to both IPVanish and Atlas VPN to evaluate their speed and quality of service. Atlas VPN was impressively quick, responding in an average of 45 minutes. IPVanish, on the other hand, had more varied results: they replied to the first query in just 15 minutes, took over two hours for the second, and did not respond at all to the third.

IPVanish edges out the competition with exceptional speed performance

making it ideal for streaming, gaming, and torrenting demands.

Its extensive network boasts over 2,000 servers globally

significantly surpassing Atlas VPN's more limited 750-server infrastructure.

Both services support unlimited simultaneous device connections

offering flexibility for multi-device households or users.

Atlas VPN counters with impressive geo-restriction bypassing capabilities

particularly effective for accessing international streaming platforms.

The inclusion of multi-hop server routing enhances privacy protection

adding a valuable layer for security-conscious individuals.

Despite Atlas VPN providing strong value through these features

IPVanish delivers superior raw performance metrics.

Prospective users benefit from identical trial conditions

each provider offers a comprehensive 30-day refund guarantee.

This allows thorough testing of speeds and feature sets

before committing to either service long-term.

Performance-focused needs clearly favor IPVanish's infrastructure

while Atlas appeals for specialized unblocking and multi-hop security.

What is a Netflix VPN and How to Get One

A Netflix VPN is a specialized virtual private network service that enables viewers to bypass geographical restrictions and access Netflix libraries from different countries. Its primary use is to mask a user's real location by routing their internet connection through a server in another region, thereby unlocking a much wider selection of movies, shows, and content not available in their own location. Essentially, a Netflix VPN broadens the available streaming catalog by overcoming geo-blocks.

Why Choose SafeShell as Your Netflix VPN?

If you're looking to access region-restricted content on Netflix, you may want to consider the SafeShell VPN as your solution. This service is specifically designed to overcome the common hurdles that prevent other VPNs from reliably unblocking streaming platforms.

SafeShell VPN excels at providing Netflix unblocked access through its network of high-speed servers optimized for seamless streaming. Experience lightning-fast connections that eliminate buffering and enable smooth HD playback. Furthermore, its unique App Mode allows simultaneous access to content libraries from multiple regions, while the ability to connect up to five devices at once means everyone in your household can enjoy their favorite shows on any operating system, from smartphones to smart TVs.

Beyond effortless streaming, SafeShell VPN prioritizes your security with its proprietary ShellGuard protocol offering top-level encryption for private browsing. Combined with unlimited bandwidth and a flexible free trial plan, you can confidently explore the full range of global content and robust features before committing.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Watch Netflix with SafeShell VPN

To start enjoying Netflix content from different regions using SafeShell Netflix VPN , follow these steps. First, head over to the SafeShell VPN website and choose a subscription plan that suits your needs. After subscribing, proceed to download and install the SafeShell app on your device, whether it’s a Windows PC, macOS, iOS, or Android.

Once the app is installed, open it and log in with your credentials. SafeShell offers two modes, but for the best Netflix experience, select the APP mode. Next, browse the list of available servers and pick one located in the region whose Netflix library you wish to access, such as the US, UK, or Canada. Click "Connect" to establish the connection. Finally, launch the Netflix app or visit the Netflix website, log in with your Netflix account, and start streaming your favorite shows and movies from the selected region.