diff --git a/src/content/en/pages/knowledgebase/billing/ivpn-subscription-tiers-explained-plan-differences-billing-and-service-management.md b/src/content/en/pages/knowledgebase/billing/ivpn-subscription-tiers-explained-plan-differences-billing-and-service-management.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..a42839285 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/content/en/pages/knowledgebase/billing/ivpn-subscription-tiers-explained-plan-differences-billing-and-service-management.md @@ -0,0 +1,69 @@ +--- +title: IVPN Subscription Tiers Explained / Plan Differences, Billing, and Service Management - IVPN Help +h1: IVPN Subscription Tiers Explained / Plan Differences, Billing, and Service Management +url: /knowledgebase/billing/ivpn-subscription-tiers-explained-plan-differences-billing-and-service-management/ +sections: + - billing +sectionTitle: Billing +layout: help-details +weight: 10 +--- +# IVPN Subscription Tiers Explained / Plan Differences, Billing, and Service Management +IVPN subscriptions are available in three tiers: Standard, Plus, and Pro Suite. + +Standard includes the VPN service with Multi-hop, AntiTracker, and up to five devices. Plus features everything in Standard and adds [Mailx](https://www.mailx.net) and [modDNS](https://www.moddns.net/). Pro Suite includes everything in Plus and adds [Portmaster Pro](https://safing.io/pricing/), with VPN device limit increased to 10. A full comparison is available on the [Services Overview](/services) page. + +If you had an existing IVPN Standard or Pro plan before May 2026: Standard now includes Multi-hop and a five-device limit, up from two. Pro is now the Pro Suite with access to [additional services](/services) and a ten-device limit, up from seven. Pricing is unchanged and no action is required on your part. Details of these changes are covered in the [announcement blog post](INSERT_LINK). + + +1. ### How do I get access to Additional Services after purchase? + Log into the Account Area on the ivpn.net website, locate the "Additional Services" area near the bottom of the page, and click the "Set up" button to enable a service. A new browser tab will open to add credentials to the account for the service. + +1. ### When I click "Set up" for Mailx or modDNS, do I get a separate credential I also need to save? + Yes. Services have no knowledge of any other service, so separate credentials are required. IVPN accounts require no email address, but both Mailx and modDNS require a valid email address. You have the option to use passkeys or passwords for these services, and 2-factor authentication is available. + +1. ### Can I upgrade mid-subscription? Is the price difference prorated? + Yes, and yes. Cash and Apple/Google in-app payments are not available for upgrades. + +1. ### When will my account renew after upgrading? + The original IVPN account expiry date is unchanged after upgrade. + +1. ### How do I downgrade? Can I do it at any time? + Contact support to initiate an IVPN account downgrade. You will be presented with a choice to receive either a prorated refund, or a time extension on the existing expiry date, based on the time remaining and the new product selected. + + For cash and Apple/Google in-app payments, only the time extension option is available. + + If you have used a variety of payment methods over the history of the IVPN account, the most recent payment method governs the available options to handle the downgrade reimbursement. + +1. ### If I downgrade, will I have to set up the VPN again? + A downgrade from the IVPN Pro Suite to either Plus or Standard resets all IVPN App sessions, and the app will require a login on all devices. A downgrade from IVPN Plus to Standard has no impact on the IVPN App's sessions, so no logging back in is required. + + Manually generated and added WireGuard keys remain intact in all scenarios, so no action is required with manual connections where the IVPN App is not involved, like routers. + +1. ### What happens to my Additional Services and devices when I downgrade? + Access to extra services will be immediately removed after the downgrade is complete. You will be asked to confirm your downgrade choice before the process is performed. + + Export data from Mailx and modDNS before confirming the downgrade request to prevent data loss. + + The Mailx and modDNS accounts will no longer be associated with your IVPN account and will be purged from our systems. Once removed, access cannot be restored. + + Portmaster Pro will revert to Portmaster Free. + +1. ### What happens to my Additional Services if my IVPN account expires? + Limited access will be available for 14 days to give time to restore access with a payment. + + Mailx will continue to forward mail, and modDNS will continue to resolve queries during the limited access period. No changes to either service will be accepted, like creating new mail aliases or modifying custom DNS entries. + + After the limited access period for the Mailx and modDNS services, only the export option will be available. Accounts inactive for 180 days after the limited access period will be automatically deleted. + + Portmaster Pro reverts to Portmaster Free when the account expires. SPN access and detailed bandwidth history are not available on the Free tier. + +1. ### If I lose the Mailx or modDNS credentials, what happens to my aliases and DNS config? How do I recover the accounts? + The Mailx aliases and modDNS profiles will remain active as long as the IVPN account is active. + + Account recovery using your IVPN Account ID is not possible due to the privacy-first design of [Unlinked Access](/unlinked-access). Contact support to reset access to Mailx and modDNS, which will enable you to create fresh accounts for these services. + + After reset, previous Mailx and modDNS accounts will not receive expiry date synchronization updates from the active IVPN account, and will be purged from our systems. + + We recommend that you store your Mailx and modDNS access details in a secure place to avoid this scenario. You can also set up multiple login methods (i.e. a passkey alongside email and password) as a failsafe. You might also prefer to regularly export data from your accounts to mitigate the recovery time from this scenario. + diff --git a/src/content/en/pages/knowledgebase/privacy/how-do-ivpns-privacy-services-work-together.md b/src/content/en/pages/knowledgebase/privacy/how-do-ivpns-privacy-services-work-together.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..4fe934ecc --- /dev/null +++ b/src/content/en/pages/knowledgebase/privacy/how-do-ivpns-privacy-services-work-together.md @@ -0,0 +1,60 @@ +--- +title: How do IVPN's privacy services work together? - IVPN Help +h1: How do IVPN's privacy services work together? +url: /knowledgebase/privacy/how-do-ivpns-privacy-services-work-together/ +sections: + - privacy +sectionTitle: Privacy +layout: help-details +weight: 10 +--- +# How do IVPN's privacy services work together? +In this article you can find details about account unlinkability, compatibility between the VPN / Portmaster / modDNS, and platform availability. + +1. ### You claim accounts are not linked across services > how is that possible? + Our developers have created a privacy-preserving, cross-application authorization system called Unlinked Access. Authorization is proven cryptographically only by what you are entitled to access, not by who you are. + + A general overview of the Unlinked Access system is available [here](/unlinked-access). + +1. ### What's the difference between IVPN's built-in AntiTracker and modDNS > do I need both? + The AntiTracker list selected in the IVPN App governs DNS access for the entire system. The AntiTracker's block lists cannot be customized to block additional domains or allow exceptions. No logging is available by design. + + modDNS uses profiles to govern DNS blocking, and it is possible to use multiple profiles on one system, or one profile across multiple systems. Granular control is available with modDNS when it is added to web browsers and at the system level. Use a different modDNS profile for the operating system, and each web browser, and it becomes easier to micro-manage access to and monitoring of online resources. + + modDNS includes the same block lists as the AntiTracker and more, but also offers expanded usability by allowing users to combine active lists and customize behavior by adding custom domains to allow and block. + + modDNS includes the option to log queries (disabled by default), which is useful to investigate what an operating system, or online application, like a video game, chat client, or web browser, is doing. Log retention can be set in the profile's Settings area, and logs can be cleared at any time. + + Your threat model and privacy requirements will likely govern which blocking option is best. For a quick setup and deployment on a new device, the AntiTracker is a good choice. For devices with custom requirements, a modDNS profile might be better suited. + +1. ### Can I use modDNS alongside the VPN? Can I use Portmaster alongside the VPN? How? + Yes, and yes. + + Recent Portmaster and IVPN App releases have incorporated higher levels of compatibility with respect to DNS handling, and traffic routing. + + Set modDNS as the Custom DNS option in the IVPN App (see instructions on modDNS setup page), or as the Secure DNS option in Portmaster, then select one application to manage DNS for the system. + +1. ### Do modDNS and Mailx work independently from the VPN, or do I need to be connected? + The services are independent, and no VPN connection is required. Mix and match services on your devices as required. Using all services on the same system is possible. + +1. ### Can I subscribe to modDNS or Mailx only, without an IVPN subscription? + Not at this time, though independent subscriptions might be available in the future. + +1. ### What is Safing? What is the relationship between IVPN and Safing (Portmaster's developer)? + IVPN [acquired](/blog/ivpn-acquires-safing-portmaster-spn-network/) Safing ICS Technologies GmbH in 2024. Nicholas Pestell, IVPN's founder, owns 100% of both IVPN LTD and Safing ICS Technologies GmbH. + + IVPN's team handles all aspects of developing and supporting Portmaster. + +1. ### What does Portmaster Pro add that Free version does not? + Portmaster Pro offers detailed bandwidth tracking and history, beyond the 10-minute window offered in the free version. Access to the Safing Privacy Network (SPN) is also available. + + The SPN is an onion-like network that uses nested encryption where the goal is to use a different connection for each online request, and route traffic to the SPN node closest to the server hosting the online resource. This keeps traffic encrypted for as long as possible before it is placed on the Internet. + + It increases privacy because each connection can use a different path along the SPN to reach the Internet, and a website could see multiple IP addresses for each visit with no way to recognize that these IP addresses belong to requests from one user. More details are available on the Safing Portmaster [website](https://safing.io/spn/). + +1. ### Does the SPN (Safing Privacy Network) replace or complement the VPN? + Both services have specific use-cases, and can complement each other for different threat models. A VPN connection offers access to one or two VPN servers (i.e. Multi-hop), and tends to offer better performance. The SPN is designed for maximum privacy; the default path offers three hops, with the option to increase this to five. + +1. ### Why is Portmaster only available on Windows and Linux? What does a Pro subscriber get if they can't or won't use it? + Windows and Linux are the first supported platforms for Portmaster. Additional platform support is under consideration, with no confirmed timeline. Users subscribed to the Pro Suite who do not use Portmaster on a supported platform still benefit from all other included services and a 10-device limit for the VPN service. Contact support to discuss plan options if Portmaster does not apply to your use case. +