Guides
A VPN is only as useful as your understanding of it. Our guides explain how VPNs work and how to get the most from yours: choosing the right protocol, setting up apps on every device, fixing streaming or speed problems, and understanding what a VPN can — and can't — protect.
We keep the guides practical and jargon-light, with clear steps and honest caveats. Topics range from beginner basics (what a VPN does, how to pick one) to specific how-tos (unblocking streaming libraries, using a VPN on a router or smart TV, staying safe on public Wi-Fi, and what "no-logs" really means).
Whether you've just installed your first VPN or want to fine-tune an advanced setup, these guides will help. Below you'll find our VPN how-tos and explainers.
What Does a VPN Actually Hide?
A VPN does not make you invisible. We lay out exactly what it hides (your traffic and IP from your ISP and websites) and what it does not (logins, cookies, fingerprinting, malware), with a simple mental model.
How to Cancel a VPN Subscription and Avoid Auto-Renewal
VPN subscriptions renew quietly, often at a higher rate. We show where billing actually lives (often the app store, not the app), how to stop auto-renewal, handle trials, claim refunds, and delete your account cleanly.
Best VPN for Streaming Summer Sports in 2026: Wimbledon, UFC 329, Tour de France
July 2026's biggest live sport — Wimbledon finals, UFC 329, the Tour de France and more — and an honest guide to streaming it securely with a VPN, plus why IPVanish suits a multi-device household.
How to Set Up a VPN on a Router
A router VPN protects every device in your home, including TVs and consoles that cannot run an app. We cover compatible routers, firmware, WireGuard vs OpenVPN, speed loss, and troubleshooting when it will not connect.
How to Use a VPN Safely on Public Wi-Fi
Airport, hotel and cafe Wi-Fi are the networks a VPN was built for. Here are the practical steps: setup before you travel, verifying network names, the kill switch and auto-connect, plus safe banking and work email on the road.
How to Test If Your VPN Is Working
A VPN that says connected can still leak your IP, DNS, or traffic. Run these free checks in minutes: IP change, DNS and WebRTC leaks, kill switch, IPv6, speed, and streaming. Know you are protected, do not assume it.
How to Choose a VPN Without Falling for Marketing Claims
Every VPN claims to be fastest and most private. We replace claims with checks: independent no-logs audits, jurisdiction, modern protocols, real speed tests, apps, renewal price, and refund policy. Seven steps to the right VPN.
VPNs and AI Privacy: Should You Use a VPN With ChatGPT, Gemini, or AI Apps?
A VPN hides your connection and location from AI services, but not your account or the contents of your prompts. We explain exactly what a VPN does and does not do for AI privacy, and the settings that matter more.
VPNs for Travel: Public Wi-Fi, Streaming, Banking, and App Access Abroad
A VPN is built for travel: hotel and airport Wi-Fi, streaming your home library, banking safely, and keeping apps working abroad. Here are the four jobs a travel VPN does well and the realistic limits of each.
Essential Apps for Your New Fire TV Stick (Stream Safely in 2026)
New Firestick from Prime Day? Here is the quick setup, the essential apps worth installing, and how to stream safely from day one — starting with a VPN so every app you add stays private.
Got a Fire TV Stick on Prime Day? Why You Need a VPN (and How to Set It Up)
Fire TV devices hit record-low prices on Prime Day. A VPN stops ISP throttling, keeps your streaming private, and installs in minutes — and IPVanish has a native Fire TV app with unlimited devices. Here is the full setup.
Bought New Tech on Prime Day? Set Up a VPN First (2026 Guide)
New laptops, phones and gadgets are top Prime Day buys — and each one is exposed the moment it connects. Here is why a VPN should be the first thing you set up, and how an unlimited-device plan protects your whole Prime Day haul at once.