I never thought that HideMyAss offers such fantastic service and performance. When I first thought to test it, I assumed it to be an average VPN with mediocre performance. But, during the entire reviewing process, I learned I was wrong. If you are looking for a fast VPN, you should try HideMyAss. In this HideMyAss VPN review, I’ll reveal everything about it, which I discovered after days of testing. Are you ready? Let’s dive into it.
General Overview
HideMyAss started its services in 2005 but failed to attract a vast customer base despite providing exceptional service. Maybe users try something famous instantly. But, HideMyAss is impressive in all aspects. The service provider is among those HideMyAss VPN Review with extensive, severe networks. It comes with more than 1100 servers spread in 190+ countries. The numbers are enormous, and almost every country does have a HideMyAss server.
It means you won’t have any connection issues because you can find the server in whatever country you belong to. No connection issues mean that the HideMyAss VPN Review offers fast speed, and yes, they do so. HideMyAss is the one that provides quick and impressive speed without any lags. The VPN is also an excellent choice for streaming and unlimited torrenting. It offers unlimited bandwidth and data leak protection, so; you remain safe during P2P file sharing. When it comes to security, HideMyAss doesn’t fall behind either. For robust protection, it uses AES-256-bit encryption and OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec protocols. Moreover, the VPN comes with some great security features.
HideMyAss doesn’t work in China, which is a big drawback. It includes a kill switch, split tunnelling mode, IPv6 protection, and first-party DNS. All these features guarantee that your identity remains hidden with HideMyAss. Although the service provider bypasses censorship when it comes to censorship in China, it fails.
There are other negligible drawbacks too of HideMyAss. The HideMyAss VPN Review belongs to the UK jurisdiction, a partner of the global alliance group. Furthermore, it is an affordable VPN. Users always look for a cheap VPN service, and HideMyAss is one of them. It offers a 7-day free trial, which is a good sign if you first want to test it. Before we get into the detailed HideMyAss review, let’s discuss its pros and cons.
Pros & Cons of HideMyAss
After a general overview, I compiled the following points for HideMyAss’s pros and cons.
Pros:
- Allows up to five device connections
- Affordable
- It comes with a lightning connect feature
- Compatible with other devices and platforms
- Extensive server network
- Fast and reliable speeds
- IPv6 leak protection
- No data leaks
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unblocks US Netflix and other major streaming sites
Cons:
- It belongs to the UK, which is a part of the five-eye alliance group
- Not effective in China
- Limited security features
Now, let’s begin with a detailed review of HideMyAss.
Does It Offer Fast Speeds?
You can’t settle on slow speeds if looking for the best HideMyAss VPN Review. It is the first and foremost important thing to look for in a VPN. Luckily, HideMyAss offers fast and consistent speeds to the users. I performed a speed test to test it myself. The results of the trial were awe-inspiring and beyond my expectations. The VPN delivered excellent speeds on both local and international servers. Usually, VPNs are fast on local servers and inconsistent on international ones, but this isn’t the case with HideMyAss.
The speeds were fast and stable on the majority of the servers. It won’t be wrong to say that it competes with some of the fastest HideMyAss VPN Review in the industry in speed. Also, HideMyAss can make your gaming, streaming, and torrenting experience worth amazing. The best thing is that it comes with a lightning connecting feature. The primary purpose of this feature is to connect the user with the fastest servers. As a whole, HideMyAss is a fast VPN. You won’t find many issues while connecting. But the servers, which were a bit inconsistent, need to fix the problem.
Does It Allow Streaming?
Yes! With HideMyAss, you can stream geo-blocked content and websites. HideMyAss is a good option for streaming because of the vast server network and fast speeds. According to their website claims, HideMyAss unblocks Netflix and other major streaming sites. To test their claims, I tried the VPNs for streaming sites. I was glad to see that the VPN unblocks US Netflix. The speeds were above average and impressive and without any connection drops. The HideMyAss VPN Review has dedicated streaming servers, giving exceptional results when tested. Besides US Netflix, the VPN unlocks Netflix libraries in Germany and the UK.
There is a sidebar on their app where you can find a list of servers. I also tested HideMyAss for other streaming sites. It unblocked Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. But, the VPN fails to unlock Disney Plus despite having servers in the US. HideMyAss works well with most streaming sites. Thus, if you’re looking for one for streaming, try it.
Does HideMyAss Support Torrenting and P2P File Sharing?
With HideMyAss, you can enjoy unlimited torrenting. The VPN app has a list of optimized P2P servers. You can select one from it and start the process. As the speeds are fast, you won’t experience any speed issues while downloading torrent files. Moreover, the HideMyAss VPN Review protects against IPv6 leaks too. Your IP address remains protected throughout the process, and no one can identify you. To my satisfaction, I also conducted a torrent IP leak test.
I aimed to check if the VPN leaks my IP address while torrenting or not. There was no leak means you can torrent as much without any fear. The only thing which is a sign of worry is that the HideMyAss VPN Review belongs to the UK jurisdiction. It has its own rules and can compel the service providers to hand over users’ logs. So, ensure you don’t get involved in something illegal during P2P file sharing.
Does It Work in China?
Although HideMyAss has those features that can bypass censorship, it doesn’t work in China. The Great Firewall follows rigorous censorship, so it is not easy to miss it. Unlike many other VPNs, HideMyAss fails to do so. China has blocked the HideMyAss website in their region. The service provider offers unique sign-up URLs that help bypass censorship in China. But, they aren’t effective and give inconsistent results. Thus, if you want to enjoy internet freedom in China, HideMyAss is not the right option.
Does HideMyAss Allow to Play Online Games?
Yes! HideMyAss is compatible with major streaming devices and game consoles like PS4, Xbox, Amazon TV, and Apple TV. The HideMyAss VPN Review offers fast speeds and a vast server network. All these things are essential for a gaming VPN, and HideMyAss has them all. If you want to play online games with HideMyAss, install it on your router and then connect it to the device.
Encryption Standards and Protocols
HideMyAss is a private VPN that provides users with a top-notch level of encryption. The VPN uses military-grade AES-256 bit encryption to safeguard users’ data. Also, it comes with a first-party DNS server that guarantees more online security and protection. The VPN also supports various protocols, including:
- OpenVPN (UDP/TCP)
- IKEv2
- L2TP/IPSec
The OpenVPN protocol is, by default, active on all platforms except iOS. It is the most secure VPN encryption protocol. Also, it is free from vulnerabilities and provides an outstanding security level.
Security Features
HideMyAss offers limited security features, and thus, I can’t regard it as an intensely private HideMyAss VPN Review. It has only a kill switch and split tunnelling mode. When tested on various platforms, these features didn’t give extraordinary results except for Android. Furthermore, there is no ad-blocker to eliminate unwanted pop-up ads, malware, and tracker. To provide reliable security, the company should introduce more features.
DNS and IP Leak Test
HideMyAss claims that it protects against all types of data leaks. I run several tests to check their claims. The result of the test shocked me to a great extent. The test result shows that on Windows and Android platforms, there wasn’t any leak. But iOS was leaking the IP address. It doesn’t have both a kill switch and split tunnelling mode. The kill switch is unreliable, and the split tunnelling mode is absent. Also, macOS isn’t much secure with HideMyAss.
Only the Android platform is best to use HideMyAss. The kill switch and split tunnelling features work fine, and there was no leak during the test. Other than Android, Windows is a reliable platform, but split tunnelling is unreliable.
Logging Policy
HideMyAss headquarters is in the UK, which is a member of the global surveillance group. It follows strict internet and data retention laws. According to these laws, government agencies have a right to see the users’ internet logs. Although the UK isn’t a safe country from a privacy point of view, HideMyAss still follows a strict no-log policy. It doesn’t collect metadata, IP address, browsing history, or timestamp connection. The service provider forbids storing any information about users’ online activities.
Users’ identity remains private with HideMyAss because they don’t store anything. But, the company does reserve the date when you connect to the HideMyAss VPN Review. They do so to check their service, but the information is erased after 35 days. To prove its log policy, the company also undergoes a log audit. The cybersecurity firm VerSprite performed the audit. The audit result also verifies that it doesn’t keep any log.
Pricing Insight
HideMyAss is among the most affordable VPNs. It offers three subscription plans except for a monthly subscription plan.
All these prices are after discount. You can avail of this incredible discount offer and save a few bucks. So, hurry up.
Payment Methods
HideMyAss accepts payments through a variety of means. It collects amounts through 25 different payment methods. Could you have a look at their payment methods?
Free Trial and Refund Policy
The HideMyAss VPN Review offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. The service provider comes with a 7-day free trial. During this period, you won’t be charged; test the software for free. If you’re not convinced after the subscription, don’t worry because you can get a refund.
HideMyAss Customer Support
The service provider offers several ways to contact their support team. The most effective live chat option is available 24/7 to assist the users. They reply instantly to users’ queries regardless of the time. There are other online resources too available on HideMyAss’s website. All this stuff provides relevant and authentic information regarding setup and installation guides. Also, you can find a FAQ page and community forum to ask for solutions for your problems.
FAQs
How many servers does HideMyAss have?
HideMyAss has a vast server network. It comprises 1100 servers spread in more than 190 countries.
Is it compatible with major devices and platforms?
It is compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
How many simultaneous connections does it allow?
HideMyAss allows up to five connections.
Does it work in China?
No, it is ineffective in China.
Does it offer a free trial?
Yes, it offers a 7-day free trial.
Does it have an ad blocker?
No, it lacks an ad-blocker feature.
Rating
After reviewing HideMyAss, I’ll rate it 4.3/5. Although it is an impressive HideMyAss VPN Review, there are some severe drawbacks.
Do I Recommend HideMyAss?
Yes, I do recommend HideMyAss to others. It is an excellent choice to use. The speeds are competitive and allow streaming without any issue. Moreover, you can use it for gaming as well. When it comes to security, I didn’t find it much secure. It lacks advanced security features.
Moreover, the kill switch and split tunnelling mode are unreliable in some apps. Thus, it is the right choice for maintaining excellent speeds and accessing blocked content. But, when it comes to security, there are other better options.