HideMyAss Review

Our Verdict

HideMyAss (HMA) VPN Review

HideMyAss (HMA) is a secure and user-friendly VPN service with an extensive server network spanning 195 countries. It features intuitive applications, a seven-day free trial, and commendable speed performance, making it a viable choice for casual users. However, it falls short in several areas: it struggles to unblock most major streaming platforms, including Netflix, and lacks the advanced features, device compatibility, and robust customer support typically offered by leading VPN providers.

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Rankings and Ratings

• Overall Ranking: #16 out of 62 VPNs

Category Ratings:

• Streaming: 4.0/10
• Torrenting: 8.2/10
• Privacy & Logging: 8.0/10
• Speed: 9.5/10
• Server Locations: 9.5/10
• Bypassing Censorship: 3.5/10
• Security & Features: 9.1/10
• Ease of Use: 9.2/10
• Customer Support: 5.1/10
• Price & Value: 7.5/10

Pros:

• Extensive server network with the largest number of locations globally
• Compatible with BBC iPlayer and Disney+
• Excellent download speeds
• User-friendly, well-designed applications
• Seven-day free trial and a 30-day refund policy
• 20Gbps bandwidth servers across its network

Cons:

• Limited ability to unblock major streaming services such as Netflix, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime
• Outdated protocols for Mac and iOS
• No app for Firestick and lacks Smart DNS
• Based in the UK, subject to FVEY jurisdiction
• Subpar customer support
• Absence of a kill switch on iOS

Launched in 2009, HMA VPN is part of the Avast RSO suite of cybersecurity products. Despite previous controversies, HMA has established itself as a reliable service. Its standout feature is its extensive server network, which covers every country globally, offering IP addresses through a combination of physical and virtual servers.

HideMyAss Key Data

Data Cap	Unlimited
Download Speed	95Mbps
Logging Policy	No Identifying Data
Data Leaks	No
Jurisdiction	UK (Five-Eyes Member)
Servers	1080
IP Addresses	1080
Countries with Servers	195
US Netflix	No
Torrenting	Unlimited
Simultaneous Connections	10
Works In China	No
Support	Online Resources & Email Support
Cheapest Price	$2.99/mo over 3 years
Free Trial	7 Days (Payment Info Required)
Money-Back Guarantee	30-day Money-Back Guarantee
Official Website	Hidemyass.com

Privacy & Logging Policy

Enhanced Logging Policy Verified by Independent Audit

Privacy & Logging Policy Rating: 8.0/10

HideMyAss (HMA) has made significant strides in its logging policy, addressing past criticisms related to data retention. Since 2019, HMA has adopted a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that no activity or connection data that could identify users is collected. This policy has been independently audited and verified, confirming its adherence to privacy standards.

Ranked #21 out of 62 VPNs for Privacy & Logging Policy

Overview of Data Logged by HMA:

Data Type	Logged by HideMyAss
Account Information	Yes
Browsing Activity	No
Date of Last Connection	No
Device Information	No
DNS Queries	No
Individual Bandwidth Usage	Yes
Individual Connection Timestamps	Yes
ISP	No
Number of Simultaneous Connections	No
Originating IP Address	No
VPN Server IP	No
VPN Server Location	No

HideMyAss (HMA) updated its logging policy to a ‘no-logs’ framework in September 2019, ensuring that it does not retain any identifiable data that could potentially de-anonymize user activity.

This policy was independently audited and verified by the reputable cybersecurity consulting firm VerSprite in August 2020. VerSprite awarded HideMyAss a “low-risk user privacy impact rating”—the highest possible classification. Independent security audits offer tangible proof of a VPN’s practices, providing assurance beyond the VPN’s own claims.

HMA retains only minimal personal information, such as your email address and username, which is standard practice among VPN providers.

For enhanced privacy, it would be beneficial for HMA to introduce untraceable payment options, such as cash or cryptocurrency, and to consider implementing diskless RAM servers to further protect against data extraction.

You can compare HMA’s logging policy with those of other VPN services in the table below:

VPN Service	Privacy Rating	Logging Policy	Jurisdiction	Independently Verified
HideMyAss	8.0	No Logs	UK	✓
PIA VPN	9.7	No Logs	United States	✓
Surfshark	8.7	Connection Logs	British Virgin Islands (BVI)	✓
ExpressVPN	9.2	Connection Logs	British Virgin Islands (BVI)	✓
NordVPN	8.8	No Logs	Panama	✓

HMA’s Jurisdiction and Trustworthiness

HMA is Based in the United Kingdom

HideMyAss (HMA) is developed by Privax Ltd., which is currently owned by the Czech antivirus company Avast. Although Privax Ltd. is based in the UK, the ownership by a Czech firm does not alter its operational base.

Typically, the UK’s stringent data retention laws might raise concerns for VPN providers. However, HMA’s independently verified no-logs policy mitigates these concerns. Since HMA does not retain logs, there would be no data to disclose to UK authorities in the event of a court order or server seizure.

Enhanced Trustworthiness in Recent Years

Despite past incidents involving the disclosure of user connection logs to law enforcement, HMA has made significant strides in establishing itself as a reliable VPN service. These court orders occurred over a decade ago, under different ownership, and with a more intrusive logging policy.

With its current independently audited no-logs policy and a commendable track record in recent years, HMA can be recommended as a private and trustworthy VPN service.

Speed Performance

Fast Connection Speeds on Both Local and Distant Servers

Speed Rating: 9.5/10

HideMyAss (HMA) demonstrated consistently high speeds during our tests, positioning it among the top-performing VPN services. On local servers, our download speeds experienced only a minimal drop of 5%, from 100 Mbps to 95 Mbps. Internationally, HMA also performed admirably, with an 8% reduction in speed when connected to a distant UK server.

Ranked #11 out of 62 VPNs for Speed

To evaluate HMA’s speed performance, we tested various HMA servers worldwide, measuring download speeds, upload speeds, and ping.

Speed Test Summary:

• Same-City Connection: Download speeds decreased by only 5%
• International Connection: 8% speed reduction when connected to a remote server

HMA’s performance on same-city connections is exceptional, with only seven other VPN services surpassing its local download speeds.

High-Speed Performance Enhanced by 20Gbps Servers

HMA’s notable speed performance can be attributed to the introduction of 20Gbps servers in 2019, which has significantly narrowed the performance gap with the fastest VPNs available.

Expert Advice: For optimal local speeds, use the ‘Lightning Connect’ feature. This function automatically connects you to the fastest server based on distance and server load.

While HMA’s international speeds are commendable, they do not match the performance of its local connections. Our tests recorded an average download speed reduction of 20% when connecting to South Africa and 21% when connecting to Australia.

Although these results are impressive, they fall slightly short compared to the fastest VPNs on the market.

Comparison Chart:

As illustrated, HMA competes strongly with the fastest VPNs for short-distance connections but lags behind in international speed performance. Despite this, HMA’s speeds are more than sufficient for data-intensive activities such as 4K streaming, gaming, and torrenting.

Streaming Performance

Limited Access to Geo-Restricted Streaming Platforms

Streaming Rating: 4.0/10

HideMyAss (HMA) VPN is not an optimal choice for accessing geo-restricted streaming platforms. It successfully works with BBC iPlayer and, occasionally, Disney+, but it no longer unblocks US Netflix. Our tests also revealed that HMA could not access HBO Max, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video.

Ranked #30 out of 62 VPNs for Streaming

Streaming Test Results:

Streaming Platform	Works with HideMyAss
Amazon Prime Video	No
BBC iPlayer	Yes
Channel 4	Yes
Disney+	Yes
Hotstar India	No
Hulu	No
ITVX	Yes
Max	No
Netflix US	No

HMA VPN’s streaming capabilities are limited, with successful access only to BBC iPlayer and Disney+. While not entirely inadequate, HMA falls short compared to leading streaming VPNs. For instance, NordVPN reliably unblocks US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Disney+, and other platforms without buffering issues.

Another limitation of HMA for streaming is its device compatibility. It lacks an app for Fire TV and does not offer Smart DNS support for Apple TV and gaming consoles. However, there is an app available for Android TV, and HMA can be installed on certain routers, though this process may be complex.

Consistent Access to BBC iPlayer

HMA’s dedicated UK streaming server, ‘Donkey Town’, consistently unblocks BBC iPlayer. This server is available in the default server list and is marked with a ‘play’ symbol for easy identification.

Using HideMyAss (HMA), we were able to stream both on-demand and live content from BBC iPlayer in HD without experiencing buffering or quality drops. HMA’s performance in this regard is commendable; however, adding more dedicated UK streaming servers would help alleviate congestion and minimize potential disruptions from server overloads or downtime.

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Ineffective with Netflix

Despite past successes, HMA has not been able to access US Netflix for over a year. Our attempts across all of HMA’s dedicated streaming servers on multiple devices have consistently failed to unblock US Netflix. Consequently, we have adjusted HMA’s streaming rating to 4.0 to reflect its diminished performance.

HMA also offers dedicated streaming servers for the UK and Germany, but we were unable to unblock Netflix in these regions as well. In fact, HMA does not provide access to Netflix from any location.

For reliable access to Netflix, we recommend using a top-performing VPN such as ExpressVPN, which consistently unblocks 18 different Netflix libraries.

Challenges with Unblocking Disney+

HideMyAss (HMA) can access Disney+, but it often requires multiple attempts to find a functioning server. During our recent streaming tests, we had to cycle through several HMA servers before successfully connecting to Disney+.

For more reliable access to Disney+, we recommend using one of our top-rated Disney+ VPNs. In our evaluations, Surfshark demonstrated superior performance, successfully unblocking Disney+ on every server in its network.

Inability to Access Hulu and HBO Max

HideMyAss (HMA) VPN does not bypass geo-blocks on Hulu or HBO Max. This limitation has persisted for over three years of streaming tests with HMA VPN.

For reliable access to these platforms, we recommend using a VPN such as NordVPN, which has consistently proven effective in unblocking both Hulu and HBO Max without any issues.

Price & Value

Competitive Long-Term Pricing but Overpriced Short-Term Plans

Price & Value Rating: 7.5/10

HideMyAss (HMA) offers a competitive rate of $2.99 per month on its three-year plan, which is lower than most competitors. The service includes a seven-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, its short-term plans are relatively expensive for the service quality and the array of options is somewhat overwhelming.

Ranked #12 out of 62 VPNs for Price & Value

Pricing Plans for Five Simultaneous Connections:

• Monthly: $11.99 per month, billed monthly
• 12 Months: $4.99 per month, billed $59.88 annually (58% savings)
• 3 Years: $2.99 per month, billed $107.64 every three years (75% savings)

The annual plan at $4.99 per month offers good value, while the three-year plan provides the best rate, reducing the monthly cost by 75% to $2.99. Although long-term subscriptions are reasonably priced, HMA’s short-term plans are notably high and not prominently displayed, making them hard to locate.

For those needing more simultaneous connections, HMA offers an option for ten devices. The cost for the 12-month plan increases to $7.99 per month, and the three-year plan is $5.99 per month.

HMA VPN Free Trial

HMA provides a seven-day free trial, allowing you to evaluate the VPN without an immediate purchase. Payment details are required upon registration, but charges only apply after the trial period ends. The free trial grants full access to all server locations and unlimited bandwidth across all platforms. Ensure you cancel before the trial expires to avoid being charged the annual subscription fee of $83.88.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

HMA also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, with no questions asked. Even if you use significant data within this period, you remain eligible for a full refund. Auto-renewal is enabled by default but can be turned off in the member area of the website.

Payment & Refund Options

HMA accepts the following payment methods:

• Alipay
• American Express
• Bank Wire / Direct Transfer
• Giropay
• Mastercard
• PayPal
• Visa

While this range of payment methods is adequate, the absence of cryptocurrency options is notable. Cryptocurrency payments would enhance privacy and offer more flexibility, especially in regions where traditional methods are restricted, such as Russia. We recommend HMA consider adopting payment methods like Bitcoin or cash for improved privacy and accessibility.

Server Locations

Extensive Global Coverage but Limited Server Count

Server Locations Rating: 9.5/10

HideMyAss (HMA) stands out as the leading VPN provider in terms of server locations, offering servers in 195 countries worldwide. It provides coverage in every inhabitable country, though its total server count is relatively modest at 1,080. This limited number of servers can occasionally result in congestion and reduced speeds.

Ranked #9 out of 62 VPNs for Server Locations

• 195 Countries
• 290 Cities
• 1,080 IP Addresses

HMA offers comprehensive global coverage with servers in every region, ensuring broad geographic reach.

Continent	Number of Countries
Europe	45
Asia	48
South America	19
North America	17
Africa	52
Oceania	14

HideMyAss (HMA) excels in offering VPN server locations, with servers available in 195 countries and 23 territories. This extensive coverage is unique to HMA, as no other VPN service we’ve tested provides servers in every country.

Despite its broad geographical reach, HMA’s network is comprised of only 1,080 servers, which is considerably fewer than leading competitors like PIA, which boasts 18,651 servers. This lower server count can result in potential congestion and slower connection speeds.

Unlike other VPN services that often concentrate their server networks in specific regions, such as the US and Western Europe, HMA ensures representation across every region. For instance, while 68% of NordVPN’s servers are situated in North America and Europe, only 32% of HMA’s servers are in these areas.

HMA’s coverage extends impressively to regions in Africa and the Middle East, surpassing many other VPN services in these areas.

However, HMA’s city-level server options are predominantly found in North America and Europe:

• Australia: 2
• Canada: 3
• France: 2
• Germany: 2
• Russia: 2
• Spain: 2
• UK: 2
• US: 65

City-level servers help reduce congestion and improve speeds. HMA’s 65 US locations are particularly beneficial for bypassing US sports blackouts.

While HMA’s city-level servers are concentrated in traditional locations, adding city-level servers in Asia, Africa, and South America would further enhance its network’s effectiveness.

The table below provides a comparison of HMA VPN’s server network with other VPN services:

VPN Service	No. Of Servers	No. Of Countries	Average No. Of Servers Per Country
PIA	18,651	91	205
CyberGhost	12,000	100	107
NordVPN	6,328	111	57
IPVanish	2,200	53	42
ExpressVPN	3,000	106	28
HMA	1080	195	6

HMA VPN utilizes a combination of physical and virtual server locations. This approach allows HideMyAss to offer servers in a wide range of countries.

Unlike physical servers, virtual or “virtualized” servers provide an IP address in one country while the actual server is located elsewhere. For example, when connected to a Kenyan HMA server, the physical server is located in an Avast data center in Hallandale, Florida, as illustrated in the screenshot below.

Virtual locations enable HMA VPN to provide IP addresses for geographic regions where establishing physical VPN servers is challenging, such as in China.

However, this method can sometimes result in slower internet speeds. This issue arises when connecting to a VPN server that appears to be close to your location but is, in reality, situated far away.

Torrenting

HMA VPN: An Excellent Choice for Torrenting

Torrenting Rating: 8.2/10

HMA VPN is well-suited for torrenting due to its high average bitrate of 9.6 MiB/s and P2P-optimized servers. Additionally, its strict no-logs policy and proprietary DNS servers help ensure that your torrenting activities remain anonymous and cannot be traced back to you.

Ranked #17 out of 62 VPNs for torrenting.