- IPVanish unveiled its first RAM-only servers in 19 cities across 9 countries, with plans to expand to all 148 locations by 2027
- RAM-only servers improve privacy by wiping all data on reboot, while also boosting durability and making updates faster
- This rollout puts IPVanish in line with rivals that already use RAM-only servers, although not all top VPN providers embrace this method
IPVanish just made another move toward strengthening its privacy game: it launched RAM-only servers, marking a major shift in how its network operates.
Unlike traditional VPN servers that rely on hard drives (HDDs), RAM-only servers are automatically wiped on reboot or shutdown. This means your data is never stored for long.
The company joins some of the best VPN[1] providers by going diskless and targeting improved privacy. While the release only impacts servers in 19 cities across 9 countries at the time of writing, IPVanish[2] plans to swap all of its servers to RAM-only within the next two years.
How do RAM-only VPN servers work?
There’s a major difference between traditional VPN servers[3] and ones that run on Random Access Memory (RAM).
Most VPN servers run on HDDs. IPVanish reassures[4] that those servers remain secure thanks to full-disk encryption and its no-logs policy[5], but they come with some downsides, which switching to RAM can help address.
With RAM-only servers, all data is stored in volatile memory that wipes clean on every reboot. This means there’s no lingering information left behind, even if a server is seized, and updates can be deployed more quickly because there are no physical drives to reimage. The result is stronger privacy by design.
That said, while the fact that servers get wiped on every reboot is good news, IPVanish appears to already be doing a good job of not storing your private data. A recent audit confirmed[6] that the company never stores user data, which minimizes the risk of leaks.
“This initiative complements our ongoing commitment to robust privacy standards, including third-party no-log audits, regular transparency reports, account anonymization, and minimal data collection at signup,” said IPVanish Chief Commercial Officer, Subbu Sthanu.
Beyond privacy, with no moving parts, RAM-only servers are often more durable and easier to maintain or upgrade, too.
Which IPVanish’s servers are RAM-only?
IPVanish started the rollout of its RAM-only servers, launching them in 19 locations to start with. Right now, these privacy-focused servers are available in Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States.
IPVanish has a server tracker[7] that will be kept updated as more servers get added.
You can connect to these servers if you’re using IPVanish’s latest iOS or macOS apps. However, users running Windows or Android will need to wait, as those options are being added before the end of 2025. IPVanish for the Apple TV and the Fire TV will get the upgrade in early 2026.
Ultimately, IPVanish plans to transition all of its server network (of 148 locations across the globe) to RAM-only by 2027. This could help it compete against some of the most secure VPN[8] providers.
Other RAM-only servers VPNs
We’ve reviewed every single leading VPN service out there (and some that aren’t quite up to par), and we’ve seen some of our favorites make the switch to RAM-only servers over the years.
Notable mentions here include ExpressVPN[9] with its TrustedServer technology[10], which runs entirely on RAM, as well as NordVPN[11] and Private Internet Access (PIA)[12]. There are clear merits to the tech, which, for many of these providers, serves as an extra layer of safety on top of already stringent security measures.
However, not all of the top-rated VPNs lean into RAM-only servers.
ProtonVPN[13], which is also highly rated by our reviewers for privacy and security, chooses not to use RAM-only servers. Proton explains[14] that even RAM storage can be targeted by threat actors if the server is turned on, and full-disk encryption achieves the same kind of protection.
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References
- ^ best VPN (www.techradar.com)
- ^ IPVanish (www.techradar.com)
- ^ VPN servers (www.techradar.com)
- ^ IPVanish reassures (affiliate.ipvanish.com)
- ^ no-logs policy (www.techradar.com)
- ^ recent audit confirmed (www.techradar.com)
- ^ server tracker (go.redirectingat.com)
- ^ most secure VPN (www.techradar.com)
- ^ ExpressVPN (www.techradar.com)
- ^ TrustedServer technology (www.techradar.com)
- ^ NordVPN (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Private Internet Access (PIA) (www.techradar.com)
- ^ ProtonVPN (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Proton explains (go.redirectingat.com)