Quick summary: hide.me VPN has a long track record, a strict no-logs policy, and one of the most generous free plans on the market. Premium plans offer more than 2,600 servers in 91 countries, strong encryption, and verified privacy protection at a reasonable price.
What is hide.me VPN?
hide.me VPN is a virtual private network service from eVenture Ltd., a company based in Malaysia and active since 2011. Malaysia is not part of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or 14 Eyes alliances and does not have a mandatory data retention law — which makes it a favorable jurisdiction from a privacy perspective.
The company has built its reputation mainly on two pillars: a free plan with unlimited data and repeated independent audits of its no-logs policy. The latest audit was carried out by Securitum in June 2024, and at the end of 2025 hide.me again received the VPN Trust Seal from the VPN Trust Initiative consortium.
Pricing and Plans
hide.me offers a free plan and three premium subscriptions. The free plan does not require a credit card — you only need to download the app and you can start using it.
| Plan | Price / month | Devices | Refund guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 | — |
| Monthly | $9.95 | 10 | 30 days |
| Yearly | $4.57 | 10 | 30 days |
| 26 months | $2.69 | 10 | 30 days |
The yearly plan is 53% cheaper than the monthly subscription, while the 26-month plan is 73% cheaper. You can pay by card, PayPal, or cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin.
Tip: You can find all current hide.me discounts and coupons in the deals section.
Features and Parameters
hide.me covers all the standards of a modern VPN and adds several features you will not find with every competitor. Let’s look at what you get for your money.
Server Network
The premium plan unlocks access to more than 2,600 servers in 91 countries. The servers are owned directly by hide.me — no rented third-party machines. Next to every location, you can see ping, distance, and an icon marking servers with 10Gbps connectivity. This is useful for streaming and torrenting.
The free plan limits access to 8 locations (Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and allows only one device to connect at a time.
Security and Protocols
hide.me supports more protocols than most competitors: OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec, SSTP, and SoftEther. Encryption uses AES-256, the standard also used by banks. All servers run on RAM disks (RAM-only), so data is automatically wiped after every reboot — no permanent records remain on hard drives.
Kill Switch and Leak Protection
The Windows kill switch offers advanced configuration, including running custom scripts when activated — for example, automatically triggering an alert or launching another app. On macOS and mobile, a basic version is available. DNS leak protection worked reliably on all platforms during testing.
Split Tunneling and Stealth Guard
Split tunneling lets you define exactly which apps use the VPN and which do not. Stealth Guard goes one step further: it can prevent selected programs from launching at all unless the VPN is active. This is practical for torrent clients or work tools.
Bolt (Windows)
Bolt is hide.me’s proprietary technology available only in the Windows app. It routes traffic through a TCP proxy, which achieved speeds of up to 950 Mbps with OpenVPN in TechRadar tests — a result that belongs among the best in the industry. Bolt is not available on other platforms.
Streaming and P2P
The premium plan unblocked Netflix US, UK, and Japan, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and Max (HBO). Dedicated streaming servers, which hide.me operates in 20+ countries, usually deliver more reliable results. Torrenting is allowed on all servers and port forwarding is available for faster downloads.
Compatibility
Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. The premium plan allows up to 10 simultaneous device connections. Browser extensions for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox work as proxies without full encryption — enough for basic privacy, but they do not replace a full VPN client.
Pros
- Free plan with unlimited data and no credit card required
- Independent no-logs policy audit (Securitum, 2024) and VPN Trust Seal (2025)
- RAM-only servers — no permanent records
- Malaysian jurisdiction outside 5/9/14 Eyes
- Advanced kill switch with custom scripts on Windows
- Stealth Guard feature — protection against launching apps without VPN
- Torrenting allowed on all servers, including port forwarding
- Cryptocurrency payments for better anonymity
- 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans
- Transparent annual reports since 2012
Cons
- Bolt technology (highest speeds) is available only on Windows
- 91 countries is fewer than top competitors such as ExpressVPN or CyberGhost (100+)
- Occasional connection drops when switching servers, reported by some macOS users
- The desktop app looks somewhat outdated
- The free plan is slower and does not support streaming or torrenting
- Browser extensions work only as proxies, not as full VPNs
- It does not work reliably in China (the Great Firewall)
My Experience
When testing hide.me, I especially appreciated the installation process — everything from download to the first connection took less than three minutes. The Windows app does look a little old-fashioned, but the interface is logically organized and easy to navigate.
Speed on premium servers with the WireGuard protocol was smooth — regular browsing, video calls, and 4K streaming worked without issues. On distant servers (Asia, Oceania), I saw higher ping, which is normal with VPNs. Bolt on Windows really works, and the speed advantage is especially noticeable when downloading large files.
The kill switch passed my manual disconnect test without problems. I successfully configured split tunneling so that my work browser used the VPN while other apps connected directly. I recommend Stealth Guard to anyone who uses a torrent client — it simply protects you from starting downloads without an active VPN.
I tested the free plan as the first entry point — it is enough for basic private browsing, but do not expect streaming or torrenting. For more serious use, I clearly recommend upgrading to the premium plan, where the difference is noticeable.
User Reviews
On Trustpilot, hide.me has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on more than 1,000 reviews. The mobile apps are rated 4.5 out of 5 on both the App Store and Google Play — which is above competitors such as Surfshark, ExpressVPN, or NordVPN.
Users praise the simple setup, reliability of core features, and fast customer support when handling refunds. Common complaints mention occasional connection drops on macOS, the slower free plan, and the lack of automatic reconnection after a disconnect.
Positive review (Trustpilot, November 2025): “I have been using hide.me for more than two years. Customer support always responds promptly and refunded my PayPal payment the same day. The app is intuitive and the settings are clear.”
Negative review (Trustpilot, February 2025): “The VPN keeps disconnecting on both of my MacBook Pro devices. Changes in permission settings did not help — the issue has persisted since autumn 2024.”
Alternatives
NordVPN
NordVPN beats hide.me mainly in the size of its server network — more than 9,000 servers in 130+ countries compared with 2,600 in 91 countries. Speeds in distant locations are more consistent and streaming works more reliably even with less common Netflix libraries. The yearly plan starts at $4.99/month, which is comparable with hide.me, but the overall performance is higher. For more demanding users, I recommend NordVPN over hide.me.
Surfshark
Surfshark is the price champion — long-term plans start at $1.99/month, significantly less than hide.me at $2.69/month for the 26-month plan. Surfshark also allows unlimited simultaneous connections, which is useful for households with many devices. Where Surfshark loses is the lack of a free plan with unlimited data. If your main priority is price, Surfshark has the edge.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a premium choice with one of the best apps in terms of design and functionality, servers in 100+ countries, and excellent speeds. The yearly plan costs around $6.67/month — significantly more than hide.me. For the extra cost, you get more consistent performance, better streaming, and a clearer user experience. For professionals or travelers where performance matters, I recommend ExpressVPN.
CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost has one of the largest server networks (100+ countries, 125 locations) and specialized servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming — something hide.me only partly matches. Long-term plans are even more affordable than hide.me. If you need proven compatibility with specific streaming platforms, CyberGhost is the more reliable choice.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is an ideal alternative for users who put privacy first. Its Swiss headquarters, open-source code, and free plan (slower than hide.me, but without a data limit) make it a strong competitor. However, Proton VPN does not offer torrenting on the free plan and dedicated streaming is weaker. If you prefer European jurisdiction and open-source transparency, Proton VPN is a better choice than hide.me.
Tip: You can find all compared VPNs in our article on the best VPN services.
Support and Contact
hide.me does not provide 24/7 live chat — the main channels are a ticket system and a community forum. According to reviews, email ticket responses usually arrive within a few hours. The website includes an extensive knowledge base, FAQ, and setup guides for all platforms.
The absence of live chat is a visible weakness compared with NordVPN or Surfshark, especially if you need help with an urgent technical issue. For common questions and setup, however, the documentation is enough.
Summary and Rating
I rate hide.me VPN 7.5/10.
It is an honest and secure VPN with verified audits, RAM-only servers, and one of the best free plans on the market. If you are looking for a VPN primarily for online privacy, safe browsing on public Wi-Fi networks, or torrenting, hide.me meets expectations reliably and at a reasonable price.
I recommend hide.me if: you want to start free without a credit card, need advanced kill switch settings on Windows, or appreciate Stealth Guard for launching apps only with an active VPN.
I do not recommend hide.me if: you are primarily a streamer and want the widest possible platform library, need 24/7 live chat support, or want a cheaper long-term plan — Surfshark is more advantageous there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hide.me VPN safe?
Yes. hide.me uses AES-256 encryption, RAM-only servers, and a no-logs policy verified by an independent Securitum audit (2024). The company is based in Malaysia, which is not part of any intelligence alliance (5/9/14 Eyes) and has no mandatory data retention law.
Does hide.me really have an unlimited free plan?
Yes, the free plan has no data limit or time limit. The limitations are different: access only to 8 server locations, one device at a time, and lower speed. Streaming and torrenting are not supported on the free plan.
Does hide.me work with Netflix?
With premium plans and dedicated streaming servers, hide.me can unblock Netflix US, UK, Japan, and Canada. The free plan does not support streaming. Results with Paramount+ and Peacock are unreliable — here I recommend NordVPN or CyberGhost.
How many devices can I connect?
The premium plan allows up to 10 simultaneous device connections. The free plan is limited to 1 device.
How does the 30-day money-back guarantee work?
The guarantee applies to all paid plans on the first purchase. Just contact support within 30 days of subscription activation and request a refund. According to user reviews, refunds are processed promptly, usually within one business day.
Is hide.me good for torrenting?
Yes. Torrenting is allowed on all premium plan servers and hide.me supports port forwarding for faster downloads. The free plan does not support torrenting.
What is Bolt and which devices support it?
Bolt is hide.me’s proprietary technology that routes traffic through a TCP proxy for higher speeds. It is available only in the Windows app. Bolt is not available on macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS.
