I did get that claim wrong (and will update the post) but this is what they specifically say in their site.
No virtual servers
We operate VPN gateways in 41 countries on dedicated bare-metal servers. No shared VPS, no virtual locations. source
What is bare metal, and how are IVPN’s servers set up?
Every IVPN gateway is a bare-metal server: dedicated physical hardware rented from a datacenter partner, not a virtualised instance and not a virtual location. Servers use LUKS full-disk encryption, mandatory access controls, and firewalled IPMI. A small number of pilot gateways also run a RAM-only (diskless) architecture, extending it across the network is an ongoing project.> source (scroll to bottom of page ivpn> web)
This is important because one slight issue with other services are vpses. Some servers run on shared or cheaper resources, so you’ll be paying a premium (per month) for others services. But those providers “servers” are cheap and easy to setup. I may have been wrong on what I have said (but we all are at some point and I’m sorry.)/ I Still think their a pretty good alternative. Ivpn also rotates the wire guard keys per day which mullvad doesn’t yet and they are aware of you can read their post here Mullvad blog
Disclaimer: Don’t take my response; this post, or other replies seriously.
Everyone has their own feelings. The truth is we probably don’t code, understand, and can actually look at the technologies behind vpns. We are just users. That’s not a bad thing at all (but) here’s the truth.
Our opinions on privacy tools has changed. First proton was weird and mullvad good, now its mullvad is bad and proton is good. That’s not consistent and we just have to be honest because there’s many people with different beliefs and experiences privacy recommendations will never be consistent.
Let’s actually crack open both controversies. Protons was a company the other an individual. The result to the public the same now each company can’t be trusted. Vpns are a trust me bro industry and if you can’t trust them for whatever reason then just do not use those vpns.
The answer is simple hard to swallow and honestly straight forward. Stop using commercial VPN providers and start using proxies or tor. Vpns and their tunnels where originally developed for private server access not a general tool for app and internet browsing. They’re pretty good since the tunnel itself can be hidden or obscured. However the end result is a trust within a company.
So stop trusting people and opinions even mine.