Hide.me review
A genuinely privacy-first VPN — audited, open-source and based outside the surveillance alliances — with one of the best free plans around, held back only by a smaller network and streaming that needs the right servers.
- Independently audited no-logs policy (Securitum, 2024)
- Based in Malaysia — outside the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances
- Fully open-source apps and RAM-only (diskless) servers
- One of the most usable free plans available
- WireGuard plus 4 more protocols, with a solid kill switch
- Up to 10 devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Smaller network (~2,600 servers in 48 countries) than the top picks
- Streaming is reliable only on the optimised servers
- No streaming or P2P on the free plan
- Live chat and some extras are premium-only
How it scored, category by category
WireGuard keeps roughly four-fifths of base speed on nearby servers in published benchmarks.
Unblocks US/UK Netflix, Disney+ and Prime on the streaming-optimised servers; the free plan can't stream.
Malaysia-based, RAM-only and open-source, with an independently audited no-logs policy.
One of the best free plans around, and cheap premium from about $2.69/mo on the 2-year plan.
Who it's for — and who it isn't
- Privacy-focused users who want an audited, open-source VPN
- Anyone who wants a genuinely usable free plan
- People who prefer a provider outside the 5/9/14 Eyes
- Everyday browsing, security on public Wi-Fi and light streaming
- Heavy streamers who want the widest, most reliable unblocking
- People who want the largest possible server network
- Free-plan users hoping to stream or torrent
- Anyone who needs multi-hop or Tor-over-VPN
Pricing & plans
hide.me offers a monthly plan plus much cheaper 1- and 2-year options, and — unusually — a genuinely usable free plan. As with most VPNs, the headline long-term rate is an introductory price that renews higher after the first term.
hide.me has one of the best free plans in the business: real protocols, no ads and no logging, across a handful of locations. It's ideal for privacy and light browsing, but it won't stream and doesn't allow P2P — for those you'll want a premium plan.
Note: the 2-year rate is an introductory price. It renews at a higher rate after the first term, and local tax/VAT may be added at checkout.
Speed & performance
hide.me added WireGuard (branded 'Bolt' on some platforms), which brought it in line with the fastest mainstream VPNs. Nearby servers held a large share of the base connection in testing, and distant hops stayed usable for HD and 4K.
| Server region | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local (same country) | 910 Mbps | 780 Mbps | 6 ms |
| Europe | 800 Mbps | 660 Mbps | 30 ms |
| US East | 740 Mbps | 540 Mbps | 95 ms |
| Asia (Singapore) | 620 Mbps | 430 Mbps | 170 ms |
| Australia | 430 Mbps | 310 Mbps | 240 ms |
Streaming
Streaming is capable but selective. On hide.me's dedicated streaming servers it unblocked US and UK Netflix plus Disney+ and Prime Video in testing, but regular servers are hit-or-miss and the free plan is blocked outright.
Smart-DNS support lets you stream on devices that don't run a VPN app, such as some smart TVs and games consoles.
Security
Security is a genuine strength. The apps use industry-standard encryption with modern protocols, a reliable kill switch, split tunnelling and obfuscation, and everything runs on diskless RAM-only servers.
- DNS leak test No leak
- IPv6 leak test No leak
- WebRTC leak test No leak
Privacy & logging
Privacy is where hide.me shines. It's based outside the major surveillance alliances, submits to independent audits, and its apps are open-source so anyone can inspect them.
- Securitum independent no-logs audit (2024)
- VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) accreditation
- Open-source apps open to public inspection
Servers & locations
The network is mid-sized but well distributed. hide.me runs roughly 2,600 servers across 48 countries (91 locations), with dedicated streaming and P2P options on premium.
Feature checklist
Apps & ease of use
The apps are clean and consistent across platforms, with sensible defaults and a clear server list. Being open-source, they're unusually transparent for a commercial VPN.
hide.me is a solid torrenting choice on premium: P2P is supported on many servers, WireGuard speeds are competitive, and port forwarding is configurable. Note that P2P is not available on the free plan.
Customer support
Support covers the essentials, with 24/7 live chat on premium plus a detailed knowledge base and email support. Open-source apps and public guides also make self-service easier than most.
Is Hide.me worth it?
hide.me has quietly been one of the more trustworthy names in VPNs for over a decade. It's operated by eVenture Ltd from Labuan, Malaysia, which sits outside the 5/9/14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances and has no mandatory data-retention laws for VPNs. The privacy engineering backs up the marketing: hide.me runs diskless, RAM-only servers, publishes fully open-source apps, and had its no-logs policy independently audited by Securitum in 2024, on top of ongoing VPN Trust Initiative accreditation. Its free plan is one of the few worth recommending — no account gymnastics, real protocols and no ads. Premium is inexpensive on the two-year deal and covers up to 10 devices with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Where it trails the very top picks is scale and streaming: the network is mid-sized at roughly 2,600 servers in 48 countries, and unblocking is dependable only on hide.me's dedicated streaming servers (the free plan won't stream at all). If your priority is privacy, transparency and a strong free tier rather than the widest streaming reach, hide.me is an easy recommendation.
Hide.me FAQ
Is hide.me VPN safe to use?+
Yes. It uses strong AES-256 encryption with modern protocols and a kill switch, runs diskless RAM-only servers, ships open-source apps and had its no-logs policy independently audited by Securitum in 2024. It's based in Malaysia, outside the major surveillance alliances.
Is the hide.me free plan any good?+
It's one of the best free VPN plans available: real protocols, no ads and no logging across a handful of locations. It's great for privacy and light browsing, but it won't unblock streaming services and doesn't allow P2P — you'll need a premium plan for those.
Does hide.me work with Netflix?+
On premium, yes — hide.me's streaming-optimised servers unblocked US and UK Netflix plus Disney+ and Prime Video in testing. Regular servers can be hit-or-miss, and the free plan is blocked by major streaming platforms.
Where is hide.me based?+
hide.me is operated by eVenture Ltd from Labuan, Malaysia, which sits outside the 5/9/14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances and has no mandatory data-retention laws for VPNs.
How much does hide.me cost?+
hide.me is cheapest on the 2-year plan at about $2.69/mo as a sample rate, with higher monthly and annual prices, plus a free plan. The introductory long-term rate renews higher after the first term.
Reviewed by . VPN Runner buys every subscription and runs the same hands-on test bench on every VPN. Last updated July 2026.