Quick answer: hide.me is a privacy-focused VPN with an independently audited no-logs policy and advanced controls such as StealthGuard, MultiHop and dynamic port forwarding. The 2-year plan costs about $2.69 per month with bonus months, and a free plan lets you test it first.
Key takeaways
- Score: 8.2/10
- Audited no-logs policy
- StealthGuard locks apps to the VPN
- From about $2.69/mo on the 2-year plan
- Free plan available
Last updated: September 26, 2026. Our score: 8.2/10 (editorial rating). Prices are in USD unless stated otherwise and can change at any time.
hide.me at a Glance
| Our score | 8.2/10 |
|---|---|
| Price | From about $2.69/mo (2-year plan); free plan available |
| Servers | 2,600+ |
| Countries | 91 locations |
| Speed impact | Low to moderate (WireGuard) |
| Simultaneous connections | 10 |
| Logging policy | No-logs (independently audited) |
| Jurisdiction | Malaysia |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| Best for | Power users and privacy on a budget |
Our Verdict on hide.me
hide.me combines credible privacy credentials with some of the most flexible settings in the market. StealthGuard is especially useful for locking torrent clients or sensitive apps to the VPN.
Its streaming performance and network size lag behind the biggest names, but it is excellent value for its intended audience.
hide.me Pros and Cons
Pros
- Audited no-logs policy
- StealthGuard app-locking kill switch
- MultiHop and dynamic port forwarding
- Free plan available
- Many payment options, including crypto
Cons
- Streaming less consistent than top rivals
- Smaller network than the biggest brands
- Advanced settings can overwhelm beginners
hide.me Speed and Performance
hide.me supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 and SoftEther. WireGuard gives good speeds on nearby servers, while other protocols provide flexibility on restrictive networks.
hide.me Privacy and Security
hide.me is operated by eVenture Ltd in Malaysia, which has no mandatory data retention laws for VPNs. Its no-logs policy has been independently audited.
Features include StealthGuard, split tunneling, MultiHop, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, and dynamic port forwarding.
hide.me Streaming
hide.me can work with some streaming services, but results are inconsistent, especially for major platforms.
hide.me Torrenting and P2P
hide.me is good for torrenting, with P2P allowed, dynamic port forwarding and StealthGuard to lock your torrent client to the VPN.
hide.me Apps and Ease of Use
Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV, browsers and routers. There is a simple mode for beginners and advanced settings for power users.
hide.me Server Network
hide.me runs about 2,600 servers across 91 locations.
hide.me Pricing and Value
The 2-year plan costs about $69.99 with bonus months (about $2.69 per month). The 1-year plan is around $4.58 per month, and monthly is about $9.95. A free plan is available.
hide.me Customer Support
Support includes 24/7 live chat, email and a detailed knowledge base.
Who Should Buy hide.me
Power users, torrenters and privacy fans who want an audited provider.
Who Should Avoid hide.me
Streamers and complete beginners.
hide.me Alternatives
Proton VPN offers similar privacy with a larger network. PIA offers port forwarding and unlimited devices. Windscribe offers a free plan and unlimited devices.
hide.me vs Top-Rated VPNs: Quick Comparison
| VPN | Score | Price | Devices | Jurisdiction | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hide.me | 8.2/10 | From about $2.69/mo (2-year plan); free plan available | 10 | Malaysia | 30 days |
| NordVPN | 9.6/10 | From $3.49/mo (2-year plan) | 10 | Panama | 30 days |
| Proton VPN | 9.4/10 | From $2.99/mo (2-year Plus); free plan available | 10 (Plus) | Switzerland | 30 days (prorated) |
| Surfshark | 9.3/10 | From $2.49/mo (2-year plan) | Unlimited | Netherlands | 30 days |
This table compares hide.me with the three highest-rated services in our current reviews. Price is only one part of the picture: the refund window tells you how safely you can test a service, the device allowance tells you whether one plan will cover your household, and jurisdiction affects which privacy laws apply to the company. Use the comparison to shortlist two or three options, then read each full review before deciding.
hide.me Key Specs Explained
Jurisdiction (Malaysia): this is where the company is legally based, which determines the laws it must follow if authorities request data. A strong no-logs policy matters more than location alone, because a provider cannot hand over data it never collected.
Logging (No-logs (independently audited)): this describes what hide.me says it records. Independent audits, open-source code and real-world tests such as court cases or server seizures are the best evidence that a policy is followed in practice.
Connections (10): this is how many devices can use the VPN at the same time. Count your phones, laptops, tablets and TVs before choosing a plan.
Speed impact (Low to moderate (WireGuard)): every VPN slows your connection a little because traffic is encrypted and routed through another server. Modern protocols such as WireGuard keep the slowdown small on nearby servers, while long-distance and multi-hop connections cost more speed.
Is hide.me Right for You?
hide.me is best for: power users and privacy on a budget. It is especially well suited to these use cases: privacy, torrenting, power users, free VPN. If that matches how you plan to use a VPN, hide.me deserves a place on your shortlist. If your priorities are different, for example you mainly want the cheapest price, the most devices or the best streaming performance, compare it with the alternatives above before you buy.
StealthGuard and MultiHop Explained
StealthGuard goes beyond a normal kill switch. You can choose specific apps, such as a torrent client or messaging app, that are only allowed to access the internet while the VPN is connected. If the VPN drops, those apps are cut off instantly.
MultiHop routes your traffic through two servers in different locations, which makes it harder to link your activity to your real IP. It is useful for sensitive tasks, though it reduces speed.
Dynamic port forwarding improves connectivity for P2P clients and self-hosted services.
Our hide.me Rating Explained
We score hide.me 8.2 out of 10, which on our scale means a good VPN that suits specific needs well. Our rating weighs privacy and security most heavily, followed by performance, features, ease of use and value for money over the full cost of ownership, not just the introductory price. A provider can lose points for unclear logging practices, a limited refund policy, a small network or a steep renewal jump, and it can gain points for independent audits, open-source code, generous device limits and fair renewal pricing.
In hide.me’s case, the score reflects these strengths: audited no-logs policy, StealthGuard app-locking kill switch and MultiHop and dynamic port forwarding. It is held back mainly by the following: streaming less consistent than top rivals, and smaller network than the biggest brands. If those drawbacks do not matter for how you use a VPN, hide.me may be an even better fit for you than the number suggests.
What to Check Before You Buy hide.me
Before paying, confirm four things at checkout. First, the total amount due today, because most long-term VPN plans are billed upfront rather than monthly; hide.me currently starts at from about $2.69/mo (2-year plan); free plan available. Second, the renewal price and date, which can be very different from the introductory rate. Third, the refund terms (30 days), including whether refunds are full or partial and whether app-store purchases follow different rules. Fourth, the device allowance (10), so you know whether one plan covers your whole household.
It also helps to decide in advance what you need most. If streaming is the priority, test your platforms early in the refund window. If privacy is the priority, read hide.me’s privacy policy and audit summaries. If you torrent, check whether hide.me offers the P2P features you rely on, such as port forwarding. A few minutes of checking now can save you from paying for the wrong service.
How to Cancel hide.me
To cancel, sign in to your hide.me account on the official website and open the subscription or billing area. Turn off automatic renewal to stop future charges; you normally keep access until the end of the period you already paid for. If you want a refund and you are still within the 30 days window, contact hide.me support by chat, ticket or email and include your account email or order number. Purchases made through the Apple App Store or Google Play usually follow the store’s own refund rules instead.
How to Set Up hide.me
- Visit the official hide.me website using the button on this page and choose a plan.
- Create your account and complete payment. Keep your confirmation email, because you will need it for any refund request under the 30 days policy.
- Download the hide.me app for your device from the official website or your device’s app store.
- Sign in, then turn on the kill switch (if available) before your first connection so your traffic never leaks if the VPN drops.
- Connect to a nearby server for everyday browsing, or choose a specific country when you need a local IP address.
- Check that your IP address has changed using any IP-check website, then install hide.me on your other devices.
How We Review VPNs
This hide.me review is research-based and was last verified on September 26, 2026. We checked hide.me’s current pricing and plan terms, its privacy policy, published independent audits and security reports, supported protocols and platforms, and recent independent coverage of its performance and ownership. Speed notes describe the protocols hide.me uses and how consistently it performs in widely published independent testing; they are not a single lab result, because real-world speed depends heavily on your own connection, device and distance from the server.
Before you commit, we recommend running your own quick test during the refund window: connect to a nearby server, run a speed test with and without the VPN, and try the specific streaming, gaming or work apps you use every day. That is the most reliable way to know whether hide.me suits your setup.
Every OnlyVPNGuide review looks at the same areas: privacy policy and audit history, company ownership and jurisdiction, security features such as kill switches and leak protection, protocol support, server coverage, streaming and P2P policies, app quality across platforms, support options, and the full cost of ownership including renewal prices and refund terms. We check provider documentation, published audits and independent reporting, and we update reviews when prices, features or ownership change. Scores are editorial and are never sold. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, which does not change the price you pay or how we rate a service.
hide.me FAQ
Is hide.me safe?
Yes, its no-logs policy has been independently audited.
Does hide.me have a free plan?
Yes.
How many devices does hide.me allow?
10.
Does hide.me support port forwarding?
Yes, dynamic port forwarding is available.
Is hide.me good for streaming?
Results are inconsistent.
Where is hide.me based?
Malaysia.
Final Verdict
hide.me is a strong choice for privacy-minded power users who want control at a fair price. Streaming is its weaker area.