IVPN

What IVPN does

IVPN Limited is a Gibraltar-incorporated, bootstrapped VPN provider founded in November 2009 by CEO Nick Pestell. The company sells direct-to-consumer VPN subscriptions through its own website (ivpn.net) and native applications for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, supporting WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IPSec IKEv2 protocols across 45 server locations in 32 countries. Core technical differentiation includes proprietary WireGuard privacy hardening (automated key and IP rotation), an OS-native firewall/kill switch, Multi-hop routing, V2Ray obfuscation, and quantum-resistant PSK connections, with all client applications open-sourced under GPLv3 since February 2020.

The business model is subscription-only with three tiers — Standard ($60/yr, 5 devices), Plus ($80/yr, 5 devices plus Mailx and modDNS), and Pro Suite ($100/yr, 10 devices plus Portmaster Pro). Anonymous sign-up is supported (no email required), and payment is accepted in cash, Monero, Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Lightning. IVPN operates without external funding, affiliate programs, or paid reviews, and has conducted eight consecutive annual independent security audits with Cure53. Beyond VPN, IVPN has expanded into adjacent privacy infrastructure via Mailx (email aliasing, beta since July 2025), modDNS (DNS filtering, beta since March 2026), and the December 2024 acquisition of Safing's Portmaster consumer firewall and SPN network.

IVPN serves privacy-conscious consumers and small teams globally (with Russia noted as a restricted geography), targeting users who prioritize verified no-logging policies, transparency, and resistance to ISP surveillance, public Wi-Fi threats, and censorship. Its customer base is dispersed long-tail with no enterprise anchors, and revenue is generated exclusively through paid annual subscriptions and the short-duration IVPN Light offering paid in Bitcoin Lightning sats.

Name

IVPN

Legal name

IVPN Limited

Website

https://ivpn.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IVPN is a bootstrapped, Gibraltar-based VPN provider founded in 2009 that sells privacy-focused subscription VPN services directly to consumers and small teams, with open-source apps, audited no-logs policies, and a growing ecosystem of adjacent privacy tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

VPN & Remote Access Gateways (HDADABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

DNS Security & Protective DNS (HDADABAF), VPN Gateways & Concentrators (IPsec/SSL) (HDAFAFAC)

Keywords

• Virtual private network
• Network privacy tools
• Encrypted DNS filtering
• Multi-hop VPN routing
• Tracker blocking service

Headquarters

HQ city

Gibraltar

HQ country

Gibraltar

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. VPN Subscription Services: IVPN generates revenue exclusively through paid VPN subscriptions. They offer three tiers: Standard, Plus, and Pro Suite. The business model is exclusively subscription-based with no other revenue streams. No email required for signup, and they accept cash, Monero, and Bitcoin.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IVPN sells direct-to-consumer VPN subscriptions using WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IPSec/IKEv2 protocols, delivered through open-source native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, with self-hosted servers in 45 locations across 32 countries. Subscriptions are sold in three annual tiers (Standard, Plus, Pro Suite) plus a short-term Bitcoin Lightning paid IVPN Light option, and the service is extended by proprietary privacy add-ons including the IVPN Firewall kill switch, AntiTracker DNS blocking, Multi-hop routing, V2Ray obfuscation, and ancillary services such as Mailx email aliasing, modDNS DNS filtering, and Portmaster firewall (acquired from Safing).

Product overview

IVPN is a privacy-focused VPN provider offering a unified core service available through three subscription tiers (Standard, Plus, and Pro Suite). The Standard and Pro Suite plans are the primary offerings: Standard provides core VPN with Multi-hop and a 5-device limit, while Pro Suite extends this to 10 devices and adds all additional services. IVPN's product portfolio is anchored by its native cross-platform applications (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android), all built as open-source software and subject to annual independent security audits by Cure53. Key privacy-enhancing features integrated into the apps include the IVPN Firewall/Kill Switch, AntiTracker (ad and tracker blocking with Hardcore Mode), Multi-hop VPN routing, and V2Ray obfuscation for censorship circumvention. The Plus and Pro Suite tiers unlock additional services: Mailx (email aliasing) and modDNS (audited DNS filtering with granular blocklist controls). IVPN also acquired Portmaster and the SPN network from Safing in 2024. IVPN Light provides a short-term, account-free VPN access option paid via Bitcoin Lightning. The service supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IPSec IKEv2 protocols, with servers across 45 locations in 32 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IVPN Firewall: Integrated kill switch solution that filters all network packets using OS-native APIs (WFP API on Windows, pf on macOS, iptables on Linux).
• AntiTracker
• WireGuard VPN
• modDNS
• Mailx
• IVPN Light
• V2Ray Obfuscation

Products and services

• IVPN VPN Service Privacy-focused VPN service offering WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IPSec/IKEv2 protocols with no-logging policy, open-source clients, annual Cure53 audits, and self-hosted servers in 45 locations across 32 countries.
• IVPN Light Short-term account-free VPN access paid with Bitcoin Lightning Network sats, with durations from 3 hours to 30 days and access to up to 5 single-hop locations or 1 entry-exit multi-hop combination.
• Mailx Audited open-source email aliasing and forwarding service built and operated by the IVPN team, available in closed beta to Plus and Pro Suite subscribers to protect user privacy and provide disposable email aliases.
• modDNS Standalone DNS filtering service blocking ads, trackers, and malicious domains at the DNS level, with configurable blocklists, custom Allowlist/Denylist rules, DNS Profiles, optional query logging, and DNS-over-HTTPS/TLS/QUIC support; entire codebase audited by Cure53 in 2025.
• Portmaster Consumer firewall application bundled with the Safing Privacy Network (SPN), operated by IVPN following the December 2024 acquisition, with focus on tighter integration across IVPN's privacy services portfolio.
• IVPN Firewall (Kill Switch) OS-native firewall integrated into IVPN apps that filters all traffic via Windows WFP API, macOS pf, and Linux iptables, providing boot-time kill switch, IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection independent of the VPN client.
• AntiTracker DNS-based ad, tracker, malware, and data-harvesting blocker integrated into IVPN apps with multiple blocklists (OISD, Steven Black, Hagezi, EasyList, AdGuard) and a Hardcore Mode that blocks all Google and Facebook domains.
• V2Ray Obfuscation Obfuscation technology integrated into IVPN apps that masks WireGuard (and optionally OpenVPN) connections as standard HTTPS or HTTP traffic using VMESS/QUIC with TLS+SRTP or VMESS/TCP with HTTP request headers, to bypass VPN detection and censorship.
• WireGuard (Fully Automated) Implementation WireGuard VPN protocol support with proprietary automation that generates keys inside the IVPN client and distributes them to VPN gateways within seconds, combined with 180-second key cleanup and 24-hour key and IP rotation for enhanced privacy.
• IVPN Apps (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android) Native cross-platform IVPN client applications for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, supporting WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IPSec/IKEv2 protocols and integrating the IVPN Firewall, AntiTracker, Multi-hop, and V2Ray obfuscation features.

Quantifiable outcome

• Verified no-logging policy through independent audit
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration21 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Safing ICS Technologies GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024IVPN acquired Safing, the operator of Portmaster (consumer firewall application) and the SPN network. IVPN will take over operation of Portmaster and SPN services with plans for better integration across services.
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)minorOthersIVPN has been an organizational member of EFF since May 2013. EFF is a non-profit group fighting to preserve privacy and individual freedom on the internet.
• WireGuard ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVPN first supported WireGuard in November 2018 before implementing the protocol in their service. They were the first VPN provider to offer fully automated WireGuard deployment and continue sponsoring development.
• BTCPay Server FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVPN became a Foundation supporter in 2022 and is a long-standing user and advocate of BTCPay Server, a self-hosted open-source cryptocurrency payment processor.
• Torservers.netminorOthersIVPN has been sponsoring a Tor server through torservers.net since June 2014. Torservers.net runs high-bandwidth Tor relays to make the Tor network faster and more reliable.
• The Tor ProjectminorOthersIVPN started sponsoring the Tor Project in November 2019. The Tor Project develops free software for advancing human rights and defending privacy online.
• Fight for the FutureminorOthersIVPN became a Rebel level sponsor in November 2019. Fight for the Future is a non-profit advocacy group working on copyright, online privacy, and censorship issues.
• Access NowminorOthersIVPN first donated to Access Now in November 2019. Access Now is a non-profit dedicated to fighting for an open and free Internet and organizes RightsCon.
• The Open Rights GroupminorOthersIVPN are corporate sponsors of the Open Rights Group since April 2016. ORG is the UK's only digital campaigning organization working to protect privacy and free speech online.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Proton VPN: Swiss-based Proton VPN shares IVPN's privacy-first positioning, open-source apps, independent audits, and subscription model. Operates as part of the broader Proton ecosystem (Mail, Drive, Calendar), paralleling IVPN's emerging privacy bundle.
• Mullvad VPN: Sweden-based Mullvad is the most direct comparable to IVPN: privacy-first, no-logs, anonymous account creation (numbered accounts), no affiliate marketing, and strong WireGuard focus. Targets the same technically literate, privacy-maximalist niche.
• Windscribe: Windscribe is a smaller privacy-focused VPN with a free tier, strong stance on no-logging, and built-in ad/tracker blocking (similar to AntiTracker). Operates as an independent, privately held company with comparable ethos.
• Private Internet Access (PIA): PIA is a privacy-focused consumer VPN known for open-source apps, no-logs policy, and WireGuard support. Now owned by Kape but historically positioned similarly to IVPN for power-user privacy segments.
• Mozilla VPN: Mozilla VPN leverages Mullvad's network infrastructure and bundles with Firefox's privacy brand. Targets a similar privacy-conscious consumer audience with WireGuard-only architecture.

Broad incumbents

• CyberGhost: CyberGhost is a major consumer VPN under Kape Technologies with large server footprint and streaming-optimized servers. Competes for the same subscription pool as IVPN but on price and feature breadth rather than privacy verification.
• TunnelBear: TunnelBear is a consumer-grade VPN owned by McAfee. While less privacy-maximalist than IVPN, it competes for casual consumer VPN subscribers and offers a friendlier UX for non-technical users.
• Surfshark: Surfshark offers consumer VPN plus bundled privacy products (Antivirus, Alert, Search). Its bundled suite strategy mirrors IVPN's Mailx/modDNS/Portmaster expansion but at a vastly larger scale and marketing budget.
• ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is a major consumer VPN owned by Kape Technologies. Overlaps with IVPN in protocol support (Lightway/WireGuard/OpenVPN) and cross-platform apps but competes on brand and ease-of-use rather than maximalist privacy.
• NordVPN: NordVPN is the largest consumer VPN by users and revenue. It competes for the same privacy-conscious customers but relies on heavy affiliate marketing and brand spend, contrasting sharply with IVPN's organic-growth model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ivpnnet
• GitHubgithub.com/ivpn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ivpn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IVPN