HideMyAss VPN Review: What We Discovered Using the VPN Designed by a 16 Year Old
Hacked by Lulzsec, a subsidiary of the Czech antivirus corporation Avast since 2016, tons of servers – What else do we know? Read the full Hide My Ass review.
Price: 2.99
Price Currency: $
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Utility
4.6
In our HMA VPN review, we will look at all the key features that you require in a VPN. This includes server locations, encryption protocols, connection speeds, and generally all the functionalities that you consider before choosing this particular VPN provider.
Let’s look at HideMyAss VPN and all it offers.
Contents
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Servers in 210+ Locations | Limited customer support options |
| Torrenting Allowed | No multihop or ad-blocking |
| Supports Netflix and Other Streaming Providers | |
| Supports Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers | |
| Supports split tunneling |
HideMyAss VPN Overview
| Parent company: | Avast |
| Jurisdiction: | United Kingdom |
| Locations: | 290+ Locations / 1100+ Servers |
| Simultaneous Connections | Up to 10 |
| Torrenting: | Yes |
| Netflix: | Yes |
| Encryption/protocols: | OpenVPN (PC and Android, both via UDP and TCP) and IPsec/IKEv2 (iOS/MacOS) |
| Support: | Email, Community, FAQ |
| Cost: | For 5 devices $4.99/mo and For 10 devices $7.99/mo (billed annually) |
| Official site: | www.hidemyass.com |
Streaming Movies and TV Shows With HideMyAss VPN
We tested how HideMyAss VPN deals with different streaming services. Netflix (and others!) are well-known for geo-restricting their content, but using HideMyAss VPN you can unblock Netflix and check out the US content (or any other version you might like) from anywhere around the world. Besides Netflix, HideMyAss VPN works with many other streaming services, like:
- BBC iPlayer
- Amazon Prime Video
- YouTube
Of course, there are other streaming providers on the agenda these days but HideMyAss VPN doesn’t reference them online so we are left to believe that they may not be a priority.
Some of the providers notably absent from the company’s website include:
- Disney+
- HBO Max
- Paramount+
- Hulu
Does this mean you should avoid HideMyAss VPN if they are your priority? No. However, it is something to be aware of as many streaming services find themselves in a constant game of cat and mouse with VPN providers. As such, not seeing a specific service on their website might mean that HideMyAss VPN doesn’t see it as a priority and wouldn’t put much effort into rectifying the issue if their VPN became blocked on a specific service. Use at your own risk.
You can also use HideMyAss VPN on your Wi-Fi router to get the full benefits of a VPN on all your devices. Whichever method you choose, HideMyAss VPN works with:
Thanks to HideMyAss VPN’s high speed and bandwidth (20 Gbps connection speeds), we did not experience any issues with buffering during streaming. Of course, these issues also depend on the speed of your internet connection and ISP.
Ease of Use
There’s one particularly easy thing − Setting it up. From registration to the first server connection took 24 minutes. There was one snag – the fact that the license didn’t activate immediately, which took most of the time. Their designers created a user interface with a minimal and intuitive environment making it easier to use.
Here’s a list of supported devices:
| Desktop | Windows | Mac | Linux | |
| Mobile | Android | iOS | ||
| Other | Router | SmartTV | Gaming consoles | Media player |
HideMyAss VPN Features
With so much competition in the VPN market right now it makes sense to take a look at the features that each VPN firm provides before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Kill Switch / Split Tunneling
Split tunneling and a kill switch are two other useful features to keep in mind when choosing a VPN provider. They both serve to function as a way of preventing your actual IP address from leaking. A kill switch automatically blocks your internet connection if the VPN drops for any reason meaning that there is no way that your address will be automatically leaked. Meanwhile, split tunneling allows you to choose which applications will use the VPN and which ones will not.
IP Shuffle
One feature that sets HideMyAss VPN apart from the competition is “IP Shuffle”. This function aims to confuse internet spies even further by randomly changing your IP address in the middle of a VPN session. This, of course, means that your VPN will disconnect for a few moments while your IP address is reallocated but overall, it is a rather cool feature that sets HMA apart from other providers.
Server Network
HideMyAss VPN has a wide network of servers, over 1,000 in fact and they are dotted around 210 locations across the globe. So whether you’re in the market for a streaming server to catch up on the latest shows and movies from anywhere in the world. Alternatively, if you want a VPN connection to another country for privacy or security reasons then HideMyAss VPN has got you covered.
Simultaneous Connections
Simultaneous connections are the service’s way of saying: “Don’t go to our competitors, we’ll host you everywhere”. Simultaneous connections let you use one subscription account with different devices. HMA offers plans with 5 or 10 simultaneous connections.
Plans and Pricing
HideMyAss offers different payment routes to choose from – The long run/high risk or the short one/high cost, plus something in between. You can pick a 36-month plan for a total of $107.64. You pay more in the long run with $11.99/month. Meanwhile, you can pay for 6 months upfront for $53.94. And those in the market for a year plan (12-month-plan) can snap one up for $59.88. It’s a risk divided by reward. If change your mind, use the 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Monthly: $11.99/m
- 6 Months: $8.99/m ($53.94)
- 12 Months: $4.99/m ($59.88)
- 24 Months: $3.99/m ($95.76)
- 36 Months: $2.99/m ($107.64)
HMA offers a 7-day free trial for users to try out before opting for a plan.
Payment Options
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN provider is whether they contain payment methods that are suitable for your needs. In the case of HideMyAss VPN, the company allows payments to be made via credit card and Paypal but not over Crypto, which might be something to factor in if anonymity is a big deal for you.
HideMyAss VPN Privacy and Security
HMA has solid AES-256 encryption. AES, which stands for Advanced Encryption Standard is used by NASA, cybersecurity firms, and the US government. That’s pretty much the highest classification level, so if the government is confident that nobody will break into the nation’s greatest secret, so should you. Encryption is vital for a VPN.
And so are protocols.
Protocols define how algorithms are being used. Each of these machine manuals has a slightly different level of speed and security. HMA supports three protocols – OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP. OpenVPN, with algorithms like 3DES, AES 256, RC5, and SHA256.
Logging policies are another important part of a VPN. You can tell the difference between a good and bad service just by knowing what it logs. Out of 51 VPNs, 20 log information about internet activity. Unfortunately, HideMyAss is one of those − they log your ID, timestamp, data amount, and IP Address.
A VPN service must be secure and anonymous. It should be leakproof, free of malware, and not collect any personal information.
HMA’s terms of service state “illegal activities are considered as a violation”, and although we believe you should never do anything illegal, the data logging does make us think twice before recommending this service.
Technical Details
These days everyone is glued to their smartphone, gaming console, or other electronic device. As such, it is super important to pick a VPN that will allow you to use it on the devices that you need it most. HideMyAss VPN (HMA VPN) is pretty good on this front and includes Windows, Mac, Linux, and routers.
They’ve also got an Android app (for phone and Android TV users) and a VPN app that will certainly keep iOS users happy. Meanwhile, the company also offers a free proxy extension for Chrome. These come with easy-to-install guides available on their website.
Speed Test
We decided to put HideMyAss VPN to the test. We used Speedtest.net to check out the download and upload speeds in Mbps (along with the latency) in several HMA server locations to find out which is the fastest server.
A high number of servers speeds up clients’ networks. Just to be sure, we gave it a test. Testing was tough for this one as we couldn’t try out every one of their servers. Yet we did randomly choose 3 of them − New York, London, and Macau. Here are the results:
| Ping | Upload | Download | |
| U.S | 461.29% | -31.27% | -5.07% |
| U.K | 209.68% | -10% | -8.44% |
| China | 1116.13% | -25.28% | -62.66% |
Server Locations
We have to agree on one thing. This UK company is mammoth. It has been a subsidiary of the Czech antivirus corporation Avast since 2016. And their fusion seems to pay off. The result is in front of us − A widely spread server network, including 1100+ servers in 290+ locations. They’ve got servers located around the globe including in much of Europe, the United Kingdom, Germany, and elsewhere.
DNS Leaks
DNS leaks are common but unwanted. Over 22/53 VPN services leak your DNS including HMA. Testing with four web tools indicates leakage, which is unfortunate.
Customer Support
HideMyAss VPN allows users to access customer support through email or by using the online community or FAQs/knowledge base section of the website. Unfortunately, HMA support no longer provides a live chat support function. So, if this is vital then it may not be the best VPN for you.
Methodology
We personally try out each VPN for our reviews. We evaluate speed, security features, ability to unblock streaming services, support for torrenting, customer support, and many other factors. We also look at the VPN company’s jurisdiction, history, past security incidents, privacy policy, and audit reports to ensure that you get a complete picture of the service. Learn more about how we test VPNs on our methodology page.
Wrapping Up
In all, HideMyAss VPN is a solid choice if you’re looking for a reliable VPN option that is reasonably priced and will do what you need it to do. While there are some shortcomings (such as a limited range of customer support options), HideMyAss VPN has a wide range of server options in many locations around the world. They also have privacy features such as the IP Shuffle function, the kill switch, and split tunneling.
FAQs
How Does HideMyAss VPN Compare With ExpressVPN?
Both HideMyAss VPN and ExpressVPN offer a wide range of services. Both companies have a range of servers in a wide variety of locations and offer decent customer support options. HideMyAss VPN offers slightly cheaper pricing options but ultimately which one of these providers you choose will depend on your individual needs and requirements.
How Does HideMyAss VPN Stack Up Against CyberGhost VPN?
These two VPNs are quite similar in many ways and both offer a decent download speed and hide your real IP when surfing online. Both providers offer a range of packages. The major difference between the two is that CyberGhost VPN also offers the Wireguard protocol (which aims to hide your original IP address without compromising on speed) whereas HMA VPN does not.
Is HideMyAss VPN Better Than NordVPN?
NordVPN and HideMyAss VPN are both well-known VPN providers with many years of experience between them. HMA’s apps are easy to use, as are NordVPN’s and both providers have a no-logs policy and a good degree of user privacy online. Their basic packages are priced similarly and both also offer longer-term deals. However, it should be noted that HMA offers a larger number of servers.
Does HideMyAss VPN keep logs?
HideMyAss (HMA) is a no-log VPN service. HMA does not retain any records of user activity including browsing history, data transfers, and accessed IP addresses. The service maintains a transparent no-logging policy that clearly outlines the data it does and does not collect from users.
Is the HMA VPN free version Safe?
HideMyAss VPN is considered safe due to its no-logs policy, military-grade encryption, and good security features. The service has a reputable no-logs policy that has been independently audited. HideMyAss VPN also offers a seven-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it easy to try out.
However, HideMyAss VPN is located in the United Kingdom, which is a member of the Five Eyes alliance. This means that the company could be legally obligated to hand over data if requested.
Is HMA a VPN or a proxy?
HMA offers a free proxy service that enables users to access blocked content and browse anonymously. The proxy service allows users to hide their IP and encrypt their connection, enhancing online privacy. However, HMA VPN is even better for internet freedom and ensuring user security and privacy online.
HMA’s VPN app not only encrypts users’ data for total privacy but also provides the option to hide IP addresses by choosing a server from a list of over 190 countries. The VPN app includes a proxy feature that protects information on public Wi-Fi, enables anonymous browsing, and prevents identity theft and data snooping.
