HideMyAss VPN Review: Owned by Avast, 1,100+ Servers, No Multihop
Covers 210 countries but has a troubled privacy history and limited features.
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.
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Pros & Cons
HMA by the Numbers
| Parent company: | Avast |
| Jurisdiction: | United Kingdom |
| Locations: | 290+ Locations / 1,100+ 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 |
Plans, Products & Prices
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
HMA (Hide My Ass) Payment Methods
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.
Streaming TV & Movies With HMA
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:
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:
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 |
Performance & Speed
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% |
Privacy & Security
| Obfuscated Servers | ✗ |
| Tor/Onion Support | ✓ (manual setup) |
| Port Forwarding | ✗ |
| RAM-Only Servers | ✗ |
| Independent Audit | ✓ VerSprite Jun 2020 |
| Config File Export | ✗ |
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.
Leak Protection
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.
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.
What Features Does HMA Offer?
Protocols & Encryption
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.
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.
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.
Kill Switch / Split Tunneling
| Platform | Kill Switch | Split Tunneling |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Internet-level Always-on | ✓ App-based |
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.
Which Apps & Devices Are Supported?
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.
VPN Server Locations
HMA (Hide My Ass) has servers in 20 US states across 25 cities . Last updated: 29/03/2026
-
Massachusetts
(MA)
1 city
Boston
-
New York
(NY)
1 city
New York City
-
Pennsylvania
(PA)
1 city
Philadelphia
-
Illinois
(IL)
1 city
Chicago
-
Ohio
(OH)
1 city
Ohio
-
Minnesota
(MN)
1 city
Minneapolis
-
Missouri
(MO)
1 city
Kansas City
-
Florida
(FL)
2 cities
Miami, Tampa
-
Georgia
(GA)
1 city
Atlanta
-
North Carolina
(NC)
1 city
Charlotte
-
Virginia
(VA)
1 city
Ashburn
-
District of Columbia
(DC)
1 city
Washington
-
Texas
(TX)
3 cities
Dallas, Houston, McAllen
-
Arizona
(AZ)
1 city
Phoenix
-
Colorado
(CO)
1 city
Denver
-
Nevada
(NV)
1 city
Las Vegas
-
Oregon
(OR)
2 cities
Boardman, Portland
-
Washington
(WA)
1 city
Seattle
-
California
(CA)
2 cities
Los Angeles, Santa Clara
-
Hawaii
(HI)
1 city
Honolulu
US Server Locations
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.
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 1,100+ servers in 290+ locations. They’ve got servers located around the globe including in much of Europe, the United Kingdom, Germany, and elsewhere.
Customer Support
Email Support
HideMyAss VPN allows users to contact support through email. Note that HMA no longer provides a live chat function, so if instant support is important to you, this may not be the best VPN for your needs.
Knowledge Base
The website has a FAQs and knowledge base section for self-service troubleshooting.
Community & Forums
HMA maintains an online community where users can find answers and share experiences.
Who Isn’t HMA Right For?
Based on our testing and research:
5-Eyes jurisdiction (UK) – HMA is based in the United Kingdom, a 5-Eyes founding member and home to GCHQ. The UK has some of the most expansive government surveillance powers in the Western world, including the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (“Snoopers’ Charter”). For privacy-sensitive users, UK jurisdiction is among the most adverse available for a VPN provider.
Documented IP logging incident (2011) – HMA provided subscriber connection logs to the FBI in 2011, leading to the identification and arrest of a LulzSec member. At the time, HMA’s policy explicitly noted it retained IP logs. While HMA has since updated its logging practices, this is the most prominent verified example of a VPN provider helping law enforcement de-anonymize a user. It is on public record.
Consider instead: NordVPN, Proton VPN, or Mullvad
Owned by Gen Digital (Avast) – HMA is owned by Gen Digital, which also owns Avast – whose Jumpshot subsidiary was caught selling user browsing data to advertisers until 2020. Both HMA and Avast SecureLine VPN are products of the same parent company. Users uncomfortable with that ownership history should look elsewhere.
No independent audit – HMA has not published a third-party no-logs audit from a recognized security firm. Given the documented logging history, independent verification of current practices would be especially valuable – and it does not exist.
No split tunneling – HMA does not support split tunneling on any platform. For users who need selective routing – keeping local access while tunneling only specific traffic – this is a functional limitation.
HMA Competitors
| HMA (Hide My Ass) | ExpressVPN | VyprVPN | Astrill VPN | NordVPN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best rate | $4.39/mo | $3.49/mo | $3.00/mo | :astrill-price-2year:/mo | $3.09/mo |
| Monthly price | $11.99 | $12.99 | $10.00 | :astrill-price-month: | $12.99 |
| Servers | 1,100+ | 3,000+ | 700+ | 300+ | 8,400+ |
| Countries | 195 | 105 | 70 | 56 | 167 |
| Devices | 10 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 10 |
| Jurisdiction | 🇬🇧 UK ⓘ | 🇻🇬 BVI ⓘ | 🇨🇭 Switzerland ⓘ | 🇸🇨 Seychelles ⓘ | 🇵🇦 Panama ⓘ |
| Money-back | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | None | 30 days |
| Kill switch | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Split tunneling | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No-logs audited | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dedicated IP | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| RAM-only servers | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ad/tracker blocker | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Our rating | 5.8/10 | 8.6/10 | 7.0/10 | 6.8/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Review | Read review → | Read review → | Read review → | Read review → | Read review → |
Our Verdict
Based on our hands-on testing and data analysis, here is our overall assessment of HMA (Hide My Ass).
Frequently Asked Questions
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 no-logs policy, though it has not been verified by an independent third-party audit. 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 70 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.
Covers 210 countries but has a troubled privacy history and limited features.
Our rating scale
| Rating Rubric | |
|---|---|
| 9 - 10 | Exceptional - best in class, no significant weaknesses |
| 8 - 8.9 | Excellent - highly recommended with minor trade-offs |
| 7 - 7.9 | Good - solid choice for most users |
| 6 - 6.9 | Adequate - works but has notable limitations |
| 5 - 5.9 | Below average - consider alternatives |
| Below 5 | Not recommended |
Update history
This page was revised 31 times between June 2021 and April 2026.
Reorganized Customer Support section to clearly note the absence of live chat, with dedicated subsections for email support, knowledge base, and community resources.
Server count, device limits, and money-back guarantee now pull from verified provider data.
Added Mimic obfuscation and WireGuard protocol comparison, 2011 LulzSec law enforcement cooperation history, IP Shuffle auto-rotation feature, and per-app Smart Kill Switch details.
Added company background section covering HMA (Hide My Ass)'s 21-year history since 2005.
Updated server network overview covering 3,400 servers across 65 countries, with interactive coverage map and nearest-server highlighting.
Added table of contents with section-by-section navigation for faster access to specific topics.
Redesigned quick-reference spec table showing 10 simultaneous connections, 3,400 servers, 65 countries, AES-256-GCM encryption, and 30-day money-back guarantee.
Added source citations and verification dates to all factual claims in the HMA (Hide My Ass) review.
Added policy change monitoring showing recent updates to HMA (Hide My Ass)'s privacy policy with paragraph-level diffs.
Added transparency tracker noting the absence of a warrant canary, with context on what that means for users.
Expanded privacy section with UK jurisdiction analysis, VerSprite-audited no-logs policy (1 independent audit), and court-tested track record.
Improved pros and cons with more specific language grounded in test data and verified claims.
Reordered sections to match how readers evaluate a VPN: streaming first, then speed, privacy, features, and pricing.
Added curated "Not Right For" section with severity-coded concerns.
Removed outdated editorial commentary and unverifiable claims from the HMA (Hide My Ass) review.
Added payment methods section for HMA (Hide My Ass) covering accepted cards, digital wallets, and cryptocurrency options.
Added platform compatibility breakdown for HMA (Hide My Ass) with kill switch support details per operating system.
Rewrote protocol comparison covering OpenVPN, WireGuard, Mimic with per-platform availability and security ratings.
Added ownership transparency section identifying Gen Digital as parent company, with links to Avast SecureLine as sibling brands.
Reorganized review content into clearer sections, moving misplaced blocks and removing layout inconsistencies.
Replaced static overview tables with live data-driven spec cards for HMA (Hide My Ass), ensuring pricing and server counts stay current.
Added review structure including pros/cons table, overview specs table, streaming compatibility details, device support information, and multiple feature sections with call-to-action buttons.
Added image caption, pros/cons table, overview specifications table, and streaming section with device compatibility information.
Removed outdated donkey meme caption and rewrote introduction paragraph for improved clarity and professionalism.
Removed 3 empty heading tags, fixed "yo" typo to "you", corrected "100o" to "1080+", and trimmed redundant introductory paragraphs.
Removed empty heading, condensed and clarified introduction section, corrected "yo" to "you" and "100o" to "1080+", tightened wording throughout opening passages.
Removed broken/incomplete sentence at end of Server Network section and restructured multiple sections for improved readability and flow.
Removed incomplete section on kill switch/split tunneling, corrected spelling error ("yo" to "you"), and trimmed redundant introductory paragraphs.
Removed incomplete sentences and truncated content from the security section, cleaned up formatting of tables and headings.
Added introductory section with image caption, pros/cons table, overview table, and initial feature sections to establish article structure.
Removed rambling introductory narrative about Caribbean travel and cybersecurity philosophy, replaced with direct synopsis table and streamlined security analysis.
Who Owns HMA (Hide My Ass)?
Gen Digital Inc.
Also owns Norton VPN, Avast SecureLine VPN, AVG Secure VPN, HMA (HideMyAss).
Run our independent leak test while connected to your VPN and see the results for yourself. We check for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks in under 30 seconds. Every test adds to our public dataset.
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How we test VPNs
Our testing process involves purchasing each VPN with our own money and installing it on Windows, macOS, and mobile devices. We run a three-stage leak test (IP, DNS, and WebRTC) multiple times across different servers to check for data exposure.
We also test streaming access, kill switch reliability, and split tunneling functionality. All testing is conducted without notifying the provider. Specifications and pricing are verified directly from the provider's website.
Our full testing methodology is published at vpntesting.com/methodology.