Hide.me Vpn Review: A Reliable Free Vpn For Beginners

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

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

After much than a decade successful operation, Hide.me still remains a reliable free VPN for galore users worldwide. There are morganatic reasons why galore for illustration it. Personally, I tin vouch that nan app is safe to use, moreover successful its free version, which has earned our prime arsenic nan best free VPN for beginners.

Also: How to prime a VPN and why you request to beryllium cautious pinch free ones

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

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It's a awesome free service, and upgrades don't costs overmuch either

The free app offers perks specified arsenic unlimited information bandwidth (not restricted to 10GB for illustration most) and unafraid servers successful 8 countries. It's cleanable and ad-free, truthful you won't beryllium bothered by third-party contented displays while utilizing nan app. Account creation isn't basal arsenic a free user, but you're restricted to 1 instrumentality relationship astatine a time.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

As a freemium service, astir of nan precocious features are down a paywall. I had to usage nan paid scheme to acquisition faster capacity and, of course, to entree much server locations. A one-month subscription costs $9.95, and nan 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 nan aforesaid number arsenic NordVPN.

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

I for illustration that Hide.me renews astatine nan aforesaid prices, whereas galore services hike rates aft nan first purchase. You tin salary pinch options specified arsenic PayPal, Google Pay, in installments cards, and moreover cryptocurrency. Apple Pay, unfortunately, isn't supported. Every Hide.me VPN scheme comes pinch a 30-day 'no questions asked' refund policy, which intends you tin get your money successful afloat if you alteration your mind.

Also: The champion free VPNs we've tested

Save for nan mini server network, nan VPN tin beryllium utilized for streaming

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

I was capable to usage Hide.me VPN pinch world streaming, contempt nan underwhelming server distribution. I tested nan optimized US and UK streaming servers, and they worked pinch Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and 7Plus Australia. These dedicated servers are only usable pinch a paid plan, but, surprisingly, I noted that moreover free servers tin unblock sites for illustration Hulu, Disney+ (although lag was evident), and a number of free streaming services, including Tubi and Pluto TV. 

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

When I switched to nan regular servers (with a premium subscription), I could still entree galore of these services isolated from for BBC iPlayer. I sewage a connection that either I'm extracurricular of nan UK aliases utilizing a VPN, an denotation that nan app wasn't decently masking my specifications connected this platform. 

So while I had immoderate occurrence pinch streaming, nan outcomes sometimes vary, depending besides connected who's testing. I'd urge trying nan app yourself and spot if it's giving you nan correct results. Many streaming sites aren't friends to VPNs, and moreover 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 nan Hide.me free type could present connections supra 2Mbps. But those doubts were unfounded, because nan download speeds surpassed 10Mbps, though upload speeds didn't spell beyond 3Mbps. Free servers successful nan US and UK were mostly OK, but connections to Germany were excessively slow, taking up to 10 seconds to load websites. The free app tin beryllium conveniently utilized pinch casual browsing connected sites for illustration Facebook, Instagram, aliases YouTube, though instabilities whitethorn adversely impact livestreaming.

Things are a batch quicker pinch nan 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 nan VPN. Many of Hide.me servers tin grip up to 10Gbps connections, truthful nan app won't headdress information if you're connected a high-speed web of, say, 1Gbps aliases more. This is really nan prime server locations fared successful position of velocity nonaccomplishment and latency increase.

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

Also: The fastest VPNs

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

With each nan praise connected speed, I still wouldn't urge Hide.me for online and unreality gaming. Server connections were marred pinch precocious latency, and location 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 personification privateness and information protection 

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

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

I didn't get immoderate reddish flags that my information was compromised erstwhile I utilized nan app. I checked postulation packets utilizing nan Wireshark researcher tool, and confirmed that nan AES 256-bit encryption is arsenic robust arsenic pinch nan likes of ExpressVPN. I besides conducted leak tests connected some nan free and premium apps, and neither my IP reside nor DNS accusation showed. I admit nan app's precocious settings for illustration IPv6 leak protection and Private DNS to thief support your accusation secure. 

Some of nan settings sound confusing, for illustration StealthGuard and SmartGuard. The second blocks ads, trackers, and malware. Many VPNs coming connection this characteristic arsenic an summation to make browsing online safer by minimizing intrusive information postulation and scam links. StealthGuard, connected nan different hand, blocks net entree connected your instrumentality if nan VPN relationship drops suddenly, which tin expose your IP address.

If you often usage peer-to-peer BitTorrent clients, you will find things for illustration VPN-binding, larboard forwarding, and divided tunneling rather useful 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 nan ownership and didn't find immoderate controversies linked to eVenture Ltd, nan institution down it. The work is besides based successful Malaysia, which is simply a amended location for privacy, arsenic it doesn't require companies to cod and shop 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 nan VPN connected these platforms, Linux and router setups are not arsenic straightforward. The guides provided connected nan website aren't easy to follow, either for a emblematic beginner. So, if you're chiefly willing successful protecting these devices, you'd beryllium amended disconnected pinch different provider.

Also: Best VPNs for Linux

I emotion that Hide.me is loaded pinch galore features and useful arsenic immoderate value VPN does. However, they could do a batch amended connected nan design. The default interface appears old-fashioned and little motivating -- locating nan settings felt for illustration a chore. It isn't arsenic intuitive as, for example, CyberGhost. You will find immoderate similarities pinch nan latter, for illustration an car server action feature, well-labelled streaming servers, and an action to favourite nan champion performing servers. Hide.me moreover offers a point-and-connect representation interface, but it looks very basic.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

I switched to nan acheronian theme, and it worked amended for maine connected PC. Overall, nan mobile acquisition wasn't immoderate different from a laptop, though I noted that termination move and divided tunneling features aren't offered connected iOS. If you look immoderate difficulties pinch nan app, Hide.me's support 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 nan app (using nan free app aliases money-back guarantee) and knowing whether it excels successful nan area wherever you intend 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 nan deficiency of support for immoderate platforms, mean it can't beryllium useful for everyone.