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Developer Tools · head to head

Helm vs IVPN

H

Helm

Developer Tools

The package manager for Kubernetes

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
I

IVPN

Cybersecurity

Privacy-focused VPN with anonymous account numbers instead of email signup

From
$6/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Helm has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Helm licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (helm/helm LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare; IVPN has no free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors with limited free plans.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helm and IVPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Helm and IVPN differ
AttributeHelmIVPN
Starting priceFree$6/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebwindows, mac, linux, ios, android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCybersecurity

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Helm

Nothing recorded that IVPN does not also cover.

Only in IVPN

  • Anonymous account numbers
  • Multi-hop connections
  • Independent audits
  • WireGuard and OpenVPN support
  • AntiTracker

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Helm

  • Kubernetes package manager and deployment toolnot IVPN

IVPN

  • Signing up for a VPN without providing an email addressnot Helm
  • Verifying a VPN's no-logs claims via independent auditsnot Helm
  • Layering multi-hop routing for higher-anonymity browsingnot Helm
  • Blocking trackers and ads via built-in AntiTrackernot Helm

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Helm

  • Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (helm/helm LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
  • Contributors must sign commits under the Developer Certificate of Origin to have them accepted, per helm.sh, a process requirement not all Kubernetes tools impose

IVPN

  • Has no free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors with limited free plans.
  • Standard plan's two-connection limit is lower than many rivals offering five or more devices.
  • Smaller server network than large mainstream VPN providers, which can limit streaming unblocking.
  • Pricing is higher than budget VPN competitors for comparable simultaneous-connection counts.

Pricing, plan by plan

Helm

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Helm review.

IVPN

$6/month
  • Standard$6/month
    • 2 simultaneous connections
    • $60/year billed annually
    • WireGuard and OpenVPN support
  • Pro$10/month
    • 7 simultaneous connections
    • Multi-hop connections
    • $100/year billed annually

Which should you pick?

Choose Helm if

  • You want to start without paying.
Helm review

Choose IVPN if

  • You need anonymous account numbers.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
  • You also want multi-hop connections.
IVPN review

Questions people ask

Is Helm or IVPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Helm starts at Free and IVPN at $6/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helm or IVPN?
Helm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Helm and $6/month for IVPN.
Does Helm or IVPN run on more platforms?
Helm runs on Web. IVPN runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
Can I use Helm for free?
Yes. Helm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. IVPN starts at $6/month.
What is Helm best used for?
Helm is most often used for kubernetes package manager and deployment tool. Of those, kubernetes package manager and deployment tool is not what IVPN is typically brought in for.
What can Helm do that IVPN cannot?
IVPN covers Anonymous account numbers, Multi-hop connections, Independent audits, WireGuard and OpenVPN support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Helm: How much does Helm cost?

Helm is free and open-source. It is a graduated project in the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) with no commercial pricing model.

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