Hide.me VPN review: A reliable free VPN for beginners

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Hide.me's exceptional escaped work is arsenic legit arsenic advertised with nary strings attached
• The afloat mentation has singular server connections and utile app optimization settings, and it works good with streaming platforms, too, including Netflix
• It's lacking successful immoderate sectors, notably the server web isn't arsenic big, and it requires precocious manual configuration connected Linux

After much than a decennary successful operation, Hide.me inactive remains a reliable escaped VPN for galore users worldwide. There are morganatic reasons wherefore galore similar it. Personally, I tin vouch that the app is harmless to use, adjacent successful its escaped version, which has earned our prime arsenic the best escaped VPN for beginners.

Also: How to prime a VPN and wherefore you request to beryllium cautious with escaped ones

But what tin you expect from the premium broadside Hide.me VPN? Not fireworks. Yes, the connections are staggeringly fast, but overall, it's not yet determination with the best VPNs. There are pitfalls to see earlier going each in. From firsthand acquisition with the app, I'll stock the bully and the bad, and besides bespeak connected immoderate noteworthy issues astir the provider.

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It's a large escaped service, and upgrades don't outgo overmuch either

The escaped app offers perks specified arsenic unlimited information bandwidth (not restricted to 10GB similar most) and unafraid servers successful 8 countries. It's cleanable and ad-free, truthful you won't beryllium bothered by third-party contented displays portion utilizing the app. Account instauration isn't indispensable arsenic a escaped user, but you're restricted to 1 instrumentality transportation astatine a time.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

As a freemium service, astir of the precocious features are down a paywall. I had to usage the paid program to acquisition faster show and, of course, to entree much server locations. A one-month subscription costs $9.95, and the extended 12- and 27-month plans are $55 ($2.59/month) and $69 ($4.57/month), respectively. Premium plans let you up to 10 simultaneous instrumentality connections, which is astir the aforesaid fig arsenic NordVPN.

I don't bargain into the thought that Hide.me is cheap, but alternatively reasonably priced based connected the manufacture rates. Value VPNs similar Surfshark and Private Internet Access connection users much successful presumption of server network, information features, and multi-user support, astatine a little cost. So, there's inactive much that the supplier tin bash to warrant the cost.  

I similar that Hide.me renews astatine the aforesaid prices, whereas galore services hike rates aft the archetypal purchase. You tin wage with options specified arsenic PayPal, Google Pay, recognition cards, and adjacent cryptocurrency. Apple Pay, unfortunately, isn't supported. Every Hide.me VPN program comes with a 30-day 'no questions asked' refund policy, which means you tin get your wealth successful afloat if you alteration your mind.

Also: The champion escaped VPNs we've tested

Save for the tiny server network, the VPN tin beryllium utilized for streaming

Hide.me's server sum isn't arsenic expansive arsenic different VPN services successful the aforesaid terms range. It has astir 2,600 servers successful 57 countries and astir 91 locations/cities. Many of these are successful North America and Europe, with less locations successful different regions. Comparatively, VPNs similar HMA boast servers successful much than 190 countries, portion NordVPN and Proton VPN are successful implicit 120 countries, thereby appealing much to users looking for unafraid IP addresses for planetary browsing.

I was capable to usage Hide.me VPN with planetary streaming, contempt the underwhelming server distribution. I tested the optimized US and UK streaming servers, and they worked with Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and 7Plus Australia. These dedicated servers are lone usable with a paid plan, but, surprisingly, I noted that adjacent escaped servers tin unblock sites similar Hulu, Disney+ (although lag was evident), and a fig of escaped streaming services, including Tubi and Pluto TV. 

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

When I switched to the regular servers (with a premium subscription), I could inactive entree galore of these services but for BBC iPlayer. I got a connection that either I'm extracurricular of the UK oregon utilizing a VPN, an denotation that the app wasn't decently masking my details connected this platform. 

So portion I had immoderate occurrence with streaming, the outcomes sometimes vary, depending besides connected who's testing. I'd urge trying the app yourself and spot if it's giving you the close results. Many streaming sites aren't affable to VPNs, and adjacent bully ones may, from clip to time, look challenges.

Also: Best VPNs for streaming

Speeds are amazingly fast, though, for immoderate reason, not good adjusted for gaming

User comments connected Reddit made maine skeptical astir whether the Hide.me escaped mentation could present connections supra 2Mbps. But those doubts were unfounded, due to the fact that the download speeds surpassed 10Mbps, though upload speeds didn't spell beyond 3Mbps. Free servers successful the US and UK were mostly OK, but connections to Germany were excessively slow, taking up to 10 seconds to load websites. The escaped app tin beryllium conveniently utilized with casual browsing connected sites similar Facebook, Instagram, oregon YouTube, though instabilities whitethorn adversely impact livestreaming.

Things are a batch quicker with the paid Hide.me version. The download speeds connected US and UK servers were betwixt 125Mbps and 95Mbps, averaging a 74% velocity retention complaint from 150Mbps net connections without the VPN. Many of Hide.me servers tin grip up to 10Gbps connections, truthful the app won't headdress information if you're connected a high-speed web of, say, 1Gbps oregon more. This is however the prime server locations fared successful presumption of velocity nonaccomplishment and latency increase.

Windows users tin boost speeds by toggling the Bolt "Fast Proxy" mounting on. It prioritizes TCP postulation implicit UDP, the second not being truthful reliable connected Windows arsenic with different operating systems. If you're wondering whether it tin marque a difference, the reply is yes, due to the fact that proxy routing is often faster. I noticed somewhat amended improvements successful performance, though I can't accidental with certainty if it was due to the fact that of the Bolt feature.

Also: The fastest VPNs

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

With each the praise connected speed, I inactive wouldn't urge Hide.me for online and unreality gaming. Server connections were marred with precocious latency, and determination was besides a inclination for upload speeds to driblet significantly. For seamless gameplay, you request each of these to beryllium stable, too conscionable having accelerated download speeds.

Excellent occupation connected idiosyncratic privateness and information protection 

The Hide.me VPN app offers galore protocol settings. There are six options, including the SoftEther and WireGuard protocols, known to person a bully equilibrium of velocity and security. This versatility makes it highly adaptable; for example, IKEv2/IPSec works amended connected phones, and SoftEther tin entree websites that artifact VPN traffic. There are besides OpenVPN and SSTP protocols, though leaving the mounting connected "Automatic" allows the app to prime the champion protocol based connected your net show and browsing activity.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

I didn't get immoderate reddish flags that my information was compromised erstwhile I utilized the app. I checked postulation packets utilizing the Wireshark analyzer tool, and confirmed that the AES 256-bit encryption is arsenic robust arsenic with the likes of ExpressVPN. I besides conducted leak tests connected some the escaped and premium apps, and neither my IP code nor DNS accusation showed. I admit the app's precocious settings similar IPv6 leak extortion and Private DNS to assistance support your accusation secure. 

Some of the settings dependable confusing, similar StealthGuard and SmartGuard. The second blocks ads, trackers, and malware. Many VPNs contiguous connection this diagnostic arsenic an summation to marque browsing online safer by minimizing intrusive information postulation and scam links. StealthGuard, connected the different hand, blocks net entree connected your instrumentality if the VPN transportation drops suddenly, which tin exposure your IP address.

If you often usage peer-to-peer BitTorrent clients, you volition find things similar VPN-binding, larboard forwarding, and divided tunneling rather utile for improving your record download experience. The app besides offers a customizable multihop setup wherever you tin take introduction and exit server nodes and reroute torrent postulation done 2 countries for amended privacy.

Hide.me VPN keeps its operations transparent and doesn't inquire for overmuch information from users. Its no-logs argumentation is regularly audited (most precocious by Securitum), making it arsenic trustworthy arsenic immoderate different VPN we recommend. I looked into the ownership and didn't find immoderate controversies linked to eVenture Ltd, the institution down it. The work is besides based successful Malaysia, which is simply a amended determination for privacy, arsenic it doesn't necessitate companies to cod and store their customers' information.

Hide.me compatible devices

Hide.me has autochthonal apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV, arsenic good arsenic browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. While it's elemental to instal the VPN connected these platforms, Linux and router setups are not arsenic straightforward. The guides provided connected the website aren't casual to follow, either for a emblematic beginner. So, if you're chiefly funny successful protecting these devices, you'd beryllium amended disconnected with different provider.

Also: Best VPNs for Linux

I emotion that Hide.me is loaded with galore features and works arsenic immoderate prime VPN does. However, they could bash a batch amended connected the design. The default interface appears old-fashioned and little motivating -- locating the settings felt similar a chore. It isn't arsenic intuitive as, for example, CyberGhost. You volition find immoderate similarities with the latter, similar an car server enactment feature, well-labelled streaming servers, and an enactment to favourite the champion performing servers. Hide.me adjacent offers a point-and-connect representation interface, but it looks precise basic.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

I switched to the acheronian theme, and it worked amended for maine connected PC. Overall, the mobile acquisition wasn't immoderate antithetic from a laptop, though I noted that termination power and divided tunneling features aren't offered connected iOS. If you look immoderate difficulties with the app, Hide.me's enactment is disposable 24/7, and they're ever consenting to assistance via unrecorded chat.

ZDNET's buying advice

It's mostly a thumbs up for Hide.me VPN. But first, we'd counsel getting a consciousness for the app (using the escaped app oregon money-back guarantee) and knowing whether it excels successful the country wherever you mean to usage it. Overall, we recovered it trustworthy and reliably fast, including for streaming and secure torrenting. But cardinal drawbacks, specified arsenic constricted server dispersed and the deficiency of enactment for immoderate platforms, mean it can't beryllium utile for everyone.