Hide.me Review

To provide context for these results, refer to the bar chart below to compare Hide.me’s speeds with those of other high-performing VPNs, such as NordVPN and Surfshark:

However, in terms of overall speed performance, Hide.me is still slightly behind IPVanish and Hotspot Shield. Hide.me achieved a score of 9.8 in our speed tests, while IPVanish scored 9.8 and Hotspot Shield received a near-perfect rating of 10.0.

Low Latency (Ping)

Hide.me demonstrates very low ping times, with a recorded local latency of 9 ms, making it one of the lowest in our dataset. This makes Hide.me an excellent choice for lag-free gaming.

As expected, latency increases with greater distances from the server. To maintain the lowest possible ping times, it is advisable to use local server connections.

Server Locations

1,800 Physical VPN Servers in 55 Countries

Server Locations Rating: 9.1/10

Hide.me boasts an extensive server network with 1,800 physical servers across 55 countries. While this represents a substantial coverage, it is still smaller compared to the more extensive networks offered by PIA and ExpressVPN and remains heavily concentrated in Europe and the US. Hide.me Free, however, provides access to servers in 7 countries, which is relatively generous for a free VPN service.

Ranked #12 out of 62 VPNs for Server Locations

With Hide.me, you can connect to servers in the following regions:

Continent	Number of Countries
Europe	29
Asia	13
South America	3
North America	3
Africa	3
Oceania	2

As illustrated above, Hide.me offers a robust server network. The paid subscription plan provides access to 1,800 servers across 55 countries. Although this number has decreased from 2,000 since our initial testing, it remains a substantial network.

This extensive network allows users to obtain IP addresses from most regions worldwide, with a notable concentration in Europe and North America, where multiple city-level server options are available.

Specifically, Hide.me features city-level servers in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the US, and the UK.

Australia is also well-represented, with six city servers available, making Hide.me a strong option for obtaining an Australian IP address.

While servers are present in Asia, the Middle East, and South America, their coverage is less extensive compared to Western nations, with each of these regions having servers in only one city. This is an area where Hide.me could enhance its network in the future.

Physical Servers Only

Hide.me’s server network is somewhat limited compared to other VPNs, partly because it exclusively uses physical servers. Setting up and maintaining physical servers is more costly, which can impact the total number of servers available.

However, the use of physical servers means that the hardware is actually located in the listed country. This arrangement generally results in better speeds for users located near these servers and a more reliable ability to bypass geo-restrictions.

Hide.me Free Offers 7 Server Locations

Hide.me Free provides access to servers in 7 locations:

• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States

While this selection is limited, it is more generous compared to other free VPN services, which often offer only a few server locations, such as Atlas VPN Free and Proton VPN Free. For a broader range of free server locations, Windscribe Free offers access to 11 locations.

Bypassing Web Censorship

Hide.me’s Capability to Bypass Strict Censorship

Bypassing Censorship Rating: 9.0/10

Over the past 12 months, Hide.me’s premium version has successfully unblocked international websites from Shanghai 84% of the time. Its obfuscation and multi-hop tools have improved its ability to circumvent strict web censorship. However, it still does not match the reliability of competing VPN services like Astrill VPN. Unfortunately, the free version remains ineffective for this purpose.

Ranked #5 out of 62 VPNs for Bypassing Web Censorship

Our weekly tests of popular VPN services from a test server in Shanghai assess their effectiveness in unblocking restricted websites in China and other highly-censored regions.

Previously, Hide.me was effective only 9% of the time in China, which was insufficient for our recommendation. Recent tests show significant improvement, with Hide.me now bypassing censorship 84% of the time.

This represents a significant improvement and an above-average result, positioning Hide.me as the 4th most effective VPN for bypassing censorship. This achievement justifies its rating of 9.0 in this category.

We found Hide.me to be especially effective in China when utilizing its multi-hop tool. However, to optimize this functionality, users must configure a ‘Custom Location’ specifically designed to circumvent Chinese restrictions, as provided by the Hide.me team. Detailed instructions for this setup can be found in our VPN recommendations for China.

Hide.me employs an obfuscation technology known as TLS-Crypt to bypass censorship. This technology masks VPN traffic as regular web traffic, enhancing its effectiveness in bypassing censorship in other restrictive countries such as Russia, Turkey, and the UAE.

Additionally, the SoftEther protocol is available on Hide.me’s Windows app. This protocol is designed to penetrate censorship firewalls by using HTTPS to conceal VPN traffic.

Despite these advancements, other VPNs still offer superior performance in circumventing censorship. For instance, Astrill VPN consistently succeeds in unblocking websites in some of the world’s most censored regions.

Device and OS Compatibility

Comprehensive Device Compatibility, Yet Lacks Smart DNS

Device Compatibility

Hide.me provides native applications for all major desktop and mobile platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Apple TV. The service supports simultaneous connections on up to 10 devices, which is notably higher than the industry average. For devices without dedicated VPN apps, Hide.me offers detailed instructions for manual setup on routers. However, it does not provide a Smart DNS service.

Applications

Hide.me offers native applications for the following platforms:

• Windows
• macOS
• iOS
• Android
• Linux

The service allows usage on up to 10 devices at once, exceeding the typical limit of five. Nonetheless, it does not match the unlimited simultaneous connections offered by providers such as Surfshark or Private Internet Access.

It is important to note that not all features are available across every application. Refer to the table below for a detailed breakdown of feature availability by app.

Platform	Configure DNS	Fullback Configuration	SoftEtherVPN	Split Tunnel	SSTP	Stealth Guard	VPN Tunnel Internet Protocol
Windows	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
macOS	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓
Android	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✓
iOS	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓

Games Consoles and Streaming Devices

For devices that do not support direct installation of VPN apps, Hide.me can be configured on your router, making it compatible with a range of additional devices, including:

• Amazon Fire TV
• Android TV
• Chromecast
• Nintendo
• PlayStation
• Roku
• Smart TV
• Xbox

While Hide.me offers an app for Apple TV, it does not include a Smart DNS feature. Smart DNS could simplify the process of streaming geo-blocked content on devices lacking VPN application support.

In contrast, VPN services such as ExpressVPN and Surfshark provide effective Smart DNS solutions.

Browser Extensions

Hide.me offers proxy browser extensions for the following browsers:

• Chrome
• Firefox

Browser Extensions

The browser extensions, available under the name “Hide.me Proxy,” function as encrypted proxies rather than full VPN services. They mask your real location and encrypt your web traffic within the browser but do not provide encryption for traffic outside the browser, as a full VPN would. Therefore, Hide.me recommends using these extensions in conjunction with the Hide.me VPN app for comprehensive protection.

Hide.me Proxy is available for free and includes servers in Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. Features include the options to enable SOCKS, disable WebRTC, and ‘Always Enable Proxy.’

These extensions offer a convenient and cost-free method to quickly change your IP address and guard against WebRTC leaks. However, if you are already using the Hide.me VPN, there is no additional benefit to using the proxy extensions.

Ease of Use

Enhanced Applications Across All Platforms

Ease of Use Rating: 7.5/10

Hide.me has significantly improved its application performance, addressing past issues of frequent crashes and bugs. The updated apps now provide a smooth and intuitive user experience. The interface is straightforward, and advanced settings are streamlined for ease of use. However, the Windows version retains a high level of customization but can be perceived as overly complex.

Rank: #31 out of 62 VPNs for Ease of Use

Having tested Hide.me over an extended period, we acknowledge the positive strides made in its user experience. Previously, random connection drops and application crashes negatively impacted its usability. Currently, such issues are resolved, and all applications operate seamlessly.

Each native app has been updated to ensure rapid loading times and consistent design principles across platforms.

Below is a detailed overview of our experience with Hide.me’s various applications:

Desktop & Laptop (Windows & macOS)

Hide.me’s applications for macOS and Windows have diverged significantly. The Windows version has recently been updated to include features such as customizable widgets and an interactive map for selecting VPN locations—enhancements that are not available in the macOS version.

The Windows app is notably more advanced, which might overwhelm new users with its extensive array of settings and features. It supports additional protocols, including SSTP, which may be superfluous for many users. Furthermore, the ability to customize protocol connections using custom ports or different adapter types adds a layer of complexity that some may find excessive.

Additionally, the Windows app offers a Fallback Configuration option, allowing users to select a backup protocol if their preferred one becomes unavailable. While this feature may appeal to tech-savvy users, it might seem redundant for those who do not require specific backup protocols.

In contrast, the macOS app presents a more streamlined and user-friendly experience. Despite being equipped with technical features, its overall design is less daunting, making it more accessible for users seeking a simpler interface.

Both the Windows and macOS apps allow users to switch between Hide.me servers effortlessly via the ‘Locations’ tab. Users can select streaming-optimized or multihop servers, add specific servers to a favorites list, or designate a server as their default connection. However, we would appreciate greater consistency between the app experiences.

Additionally, features such as Stealth Guard and split tunneling come with informative explanations, and each protocol is accompanied by a detailed description of its benefits. These elements contribute to making Hide.me more accessible to VPN newcomers.

For further improvement, incorporating server load information and integrating the server list directly on the home screen would enhance the ease of switching servers.

Mobile (iPhone & Android)

Hide.me’s mobile applications mirror the desktop versions with a consistent interface and menu, maintaining ease of use and similar features and customization options. However, Stealth Guard is not available on mobile.

Customer Support

Rating: 8.1/10

Hide.me offers robust customer support with a range of resources to assist users. The website features comprehensive guides and instructions, an active community forum, and a 24/7 live chat option for prompt and effective assistance. We commend Hide.me for not utilizing a chatbot and for allowing support ticket submissions directly within the app. However, the practice of directing users to website links rather than providing direct assistance can be a drawback.

Ranked #15 out of 62 VPNs for Customer Support

Hide.me provides support through the following channels:

Both mobile apps offer dark and light mode options, and the iOS app supports Siri shortcuts—an uncommon feature among VPN services.

Customer Support	Available in Hide.me
24/7 Email Support	No
24/7 Live Chat Support	Yes
Chatbot	No
Email	Yes
Email Support via Online Form	Yes
Online Resources	Yes
Tutorial Videos	Yes

Hide.me offers a robust customer support system, including useful setup videos, a comprehensive knowledge base, a community forum, and 24/7 live chat support. Notably, this level of support is also extended to Hide.me Free users.

We appreciate the ability to submit support tickets directly from within the Hide.me app, a convenience that many VPNs do not offer and typically require users to visit the website.

Hide.me’s live chat feature is prominently displayed on the website’s home page, and there is no chatbot involved. Additionally, initiating a conversation does not require a Hide.me subscription.

While many VPN providers may obscure their live chat support or provide generic responses, Hide.me stands out for its transparency and accessibility.

During our interactions, live chat responses were generally prompt and helpful, usually within seconds. However, we observed that support agents, consistently named ‘Ian,’ sometimes provided blunt or terse responses and relied on sending links rather than offering detailed assistance.

Price & Value

Rating: 8.2/10

Hide.me offers a competitive pricing structure, with its most affordable plan priced at $2.69 per month. This rate is significantly lower than top-tier services such as ExpressVPN and Astrill VPN, though it may not provide superior value compared to alternatives like PIA or Surfshark. However, Hide.me’s single-month plan is among the most economical options available. While there is no free trial, Hide.me provides a 30-day refund policy and also offers a 100% free version.

Ranked #7 out of 62 VPNs for Price & Value

Current Pricing Plans:

• 26 Months: $2.69 per month, billed as $69.95 every 26 months
• 12 Months: $4.57 per month, billed as $54.95 every 12 months
• Monthly: $9.95 per month, billed monthly

Hide.me’s most affordable subscription plan, priced at $2.69 per month for 26 months, represents a reasonable deal for a feature-rich VPN, and it’s a reduction from the previous $4.99 per month rate. Despite this, there are other VPN services available at a lower cost.

For shorter-term subscriptions, Hide.me offers a one-year plan at $5.85 per month (billed as $69.95 annually) and a single-month plan at $9.95. The one-month offer is notably competitive, as many VPNs charge over $10.00 for a monthly subscription.

For comparison, even some of the best budget VPNs, such as Private Internet Access and Surfshark, charge $11.99 and $12.95, respectively. Therefore, Hide.me is a viable option for those seeking a short-term VPN solution.

Payment Methods

Hide.me accepts the following payment methods:

• American Express
• Bitcoin
• Mastercard
• Monero
• PayPal
• SOFORT
• Visa

Additionally, Hide.me provides a range of cryptocurrency payment options, catering to privacy-conscious users.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Hide.me offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, a standard practice among VPN providers. While this period aligns with industry norms, some services, such as CyberGhost, offer extended refund windows of up to 45 days.

There is no free trial available. However, the 30-day refund policy allows you to test the premium service, with the requirement to pay upfront and request a refund within the specified period if desired.

Hide.me Free: One of the Best Free VPNs

Hide.me’s free version is among the top free VPN options available. It is secure, does not log or sell user data, and includes the same security features as the premium version.

Despite its advantages, Hide.me Free has significant limitations. It provides access to servers in only eight countries, allows a single simultaneous connection, and imposes a monthly data cap of 10GB. Additionally, it does not support unblocking streaming sites.

Performance in the free version is notably slow, with internet speeds dropping by 99%, often reaching only around 1Mbps. This substantial reduction in speed can significantly impact your browsing experience.

For users needing more robust performance and features, Hide.me Pro is recommended to fully leverage the benefits of a VPN.

Expert Advice: If you exceed the 10GB monthly data limit on Hide.me Free, you can continue using the VPN without data restrictions but will be limited to a single server.