Hide.me VPN or Its Free Proxy: What Should You Use?

Hide.me is a popular VPN that offers subscription-based services like any other VPN. However, the company also has a free proxy extension. If you are considering Hide.me, you might get confused about what to choose.

Well, we have reviewed them both to unwrap their positives & negatives and help you pick the best option as per your needs. So, read ahead.

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What Is Hide.me?

Hide.me, a subsidiary of EVenture Limited, has been a reliable player in the cybersecurity industry since 2011. It offers a range of tools, including VPN, proxy, DNS leak test, WebRTC leak test tool, password generator (trust me, you don’t want to reuse passwords), and IP locator.

Hide.me tools are doing a great job in their areas. But today, our focus will only be on the VPN and proxy of Hide.me. So, let’s get started.

All About Hide.me VPN

The Server Network

The first thing this Hide.me VPN review will discuss is the server network, as no VPN is worth your time and money if its server network isn’t strong. Gladly, Hide.me has a decent network of nearly 2,000 servers.

Spread over 75 locations, these servers are not in control of by 3rd parties. Hide.me is taking care of their maintenance and management. Hence, they are highly secure to use. What seemed most interesting about Hide.me servers is that they all feature cryptography keys to store sensitive information.

To know more about all its server locations, visit the Hide.me website and go to the ‘Our Server’ section. Here, you will see the entire list of servers in no time.

Hide.me VPN Features

It was mandatory for Hide.me VPN to offer praiseworthy features to compete with leaders like ExpressVPN and NordVPN. Even though it still has to work a lot to match the pace with these veterans, its features are pretty interesting.

• Multihop – Don’t want to leave a single trace of your online activity? Then don’t leave it. Use the Multihop feature of the Hide.me and enjoy a seamless IP switch.
• Stealth Guard – This unique feature improves security by allowing you to select certain apps or connections to enjoy VPN support. This way, it ensures that the present app enjoys the most protection.
• Dual stack configuration – Because of this, you’re allowed to enjoy IPv6 connectivity and use IPv4 or IPv6 as per the need of the hour.
• Self-managed and uncensored DNS servers – Unlike many other VPNs, Hide.me doesn’t use 3rd party DNS servers. Its DNS servers are self-owned and uncensored, which makes them highly useful from a security and data logging point of view.
• WireGuard – WireGuard is one of the latest VPN protocols to use. It comes with state-of-the-art cryptography and modern technology that makes it highly fast. It comes with ultra-modern hash functions like ChaCha20, BLAKE2s, SipHash24, HKDF, and Curve25519.

Hide.me Safety Features

One might wonder, ‘Is Hide.me safe?’ as it’s not an era where you can overlook cybersecurity. Well, it’s doing a great job on this front as well. Have a look at crucial security features.

• Protocols used – IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), SoftEther, SSTP, and WireGuard
• Encryption – AES-256 Bit
• Security features – Kill switch, first-party DNS, leak protection, support for TCP port 443, split tunneling, and SOCKS proxy.

We all know that AES-256 Bit encryption is the industry standard preferred by all. So you Don’t have to worry about data leaks while communicating.

Also, the variety of connection protocols one enjoys with Hide.me VPN is commendable. You even have SoftEther connection protocol as a choice, which is a good thing.

Kill Switch is offered as an in-built tool in almost all the apps. While it works wonderfully in Windows, macOS, and iOS apps, it’s not up to the mark in Android apps.

Worried about a data leak? Hide.me offers a wide range of leak test tools. You can check DNS leaks, IP leaks, and WebRTC leaks. Our team studied these tools and was amazed to find that each one performed well. We spotted zero DNS, IP, and WebRTC leaks.

As far as data logging is concerned, Hide.me declares that it uses zero-log servers. It won’t keep logs of crucial data like IP addresses, payment details, passwords, websites visited, downloads, etc. However, do not expect it to be a 100% logging-free VPN.

Hide.me keeps track of and records connection data for customer handling and troubleshooting. The logged information includes username, email address, data consumed per session, and internally allotted IP address. However, you have to fret as this connection data is stored only for a limited time.

There is one more fact to ponder about Hide.me, when we talk about its safety.

It has gone through 3rd party assessment and has a security certificate.

All in all, it’s easy to conclude that Hide.me may not be a 100% no-log VPN, but it’s safe to use and understand its responsibility toward customers’ data handling.

Hide.me Device Compatibility

This Hide.me review isn’t complete without checking the device compatibility. Gladly, Hide.me works on most of the leading devices. The VPN offers dedicated apps, browser extensions, and configurations for NAS. Let’s find out more about it.

You will get full-fledged and feature-rich apps for devices and platforms, like –

• Windows (Windows VPN)
• Android phone and tablet (Android VPN)
• iPhone & iPad (iPhone VPN)
• macOS (Mac VPN)
• Amazon FireTV
• Linux (Linux VPN)
• Blackberry
• Router 

The Windows app or VPN solution known as Bolt is the ultra-fast version of Hide.me’s original VPN. It has certain specific features that deal with Windows VPN capabilities. For instance, TCP is preferred for Windows, and Bolt ensures that UDP isn’t used at all so that ISP throttling isn’t an issue anymore.

ISP throttling isn’t an issue anymore when you use Bolt, as it operates over TLS 1.3 connections. Being a TCP-based VPN makes it suitable for dealing with hardware offloading.

Both the mobile apps for Android and iOS are too easy to set up. They feature a user-friendly interface and will make any novice work like a pro. Both apps are packed with IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, and WireGuard security protocols. The VPN connection is established instantly as soon as a Wi-Fi or mobile network connection is established. If you have a sound understanding, you can easily set up a customized DNS server as well.

It has done a great job by offering a router app as it keeps you free from setting up apps on all the different devices and platforms. Every device that will be connected to the router will receive filtered and secured traffic.

If you’re a little technologically sound, you can easily configure a VPN on Synology and QNAP. This is a lengthy process, but it will help you for sure.

Hide.me Speed

The next focus of this Hide.me VPN is the speed. It’s best for local connection. We even get to experience 100 mps download speed with a local connection on its US servers. Even though its ping time is not as great as some of the best VPNs in the world, it will suffice the purpose. When it comes to long-distance connection, it’s doing a moderate job.

You can easily stream HD videos with this VPN. However, I won’t commit anything to its speed when you stream in 4K.

Online gaming is something that we won’t recommend with this VPN as latency is high. You can’t participate in online gaming competitions with this one. For that, you will require some other VPNs that offer blazing speed and less latency.

Hide.me Streaming & Torrenting

Streaming and torrenting, the most common uses for a VPN, are made incredibly convenient with Hide.me. It’s important to note that Hide.me fully supports both streaming and torrenting. With its optimized servers for popular platforms like Netflix, DAZN, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, RAI, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Now, you can effortlessly unblock and enjoy your favorite content.

For avid Netflix fans, Hide.me is a dream come true. We were able to unblock an impressive six Netflix libraries, offering a vast array of content. However, it’s important to note that its streaming capabilities for Amazon Prime and ESPN are more limited, as only specific servers are compatible.

Regarding torrenting, you would be relieved to know that it’s a P2P-friendly VPN. While you use it for torrent downloads, you ought to enjoy high speed, impressive security, and high-end privacy with Hide.me.

Almost all the servers are optimized for P2P activities. To improve its torrenting capabilities, it has recently added a SOCKS proxy that gets along well with the P2P connections. All in all, it’s a great way to experience secured and speedy streaming and torrenting facilities.

Hide.me Customer Support

No matter how effortless a VPN claims to be, customer support is something that we will need. Gladly, Hide.me provides highly responsive customer support to fix all the hassles.

There is live chat support for both premium and free plan users. It does work all the time, but getting exact and appropriate information isn’t always easy. You have to be very precise about a query to get relevant answers.

If you’re not getting satisfactory results from the live chat, you can try email and ticket-based support as well. I would say that its email response is far quicker than its ticket-based support.

Getting started with VPN is not a cakewalk for beginners. Hence, video tutorials are required. Hide.me understand this requirement and offer detailed video tutorials for each app and device. These tutorials are as per your app. So you will have no hassles finding a suitable tutorial.

Hide.me Pricing & Payment

Now, let’s talk about the most important aspect: the cost. Recently, Hide.me updated its price list and has reduced the prices a bit. As per the new price list, you can avail of its 1-month subscription at $9.95/month, 12-month subscription at $6.66/month, and 3-year subscription at $3.84/month.

Certainly, its three-year subscription is the best deal to have, as you get to enjoy viable and impressive security features at an affordable cost. However, this isn’t the best deal you could ever get on a VPN. There are many top affordable VPNs out there.

When it comes to payment, you have enough choices. You can easily pay via credit card, debit card, PayPal, Visa card, online transfer, and Mastercard.

It also accepts cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Dash, Dogecoin, Litecoin, and Verge (VPN for crypto trading). Hide Me has taken its user privacy to a new level using these modes of payment, as it’s not easy to track the payments done by Bitcoin.

You can make payments quickly and without tension, as its subscriptions comprise a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How to Use Hide.Me VPN?

It is straightforward to start using Hide.Me VPN. You need to follow these 4 steps:

1. Make the payment for your preferred subscription. This option is to be followed if you are going ahead with a premium plan.
2. Install the Hide.me VPN app from their site, depending upon the device you are willing to use it on.
3. Select the protocol suitable for your device. For example, IKEv2 is suggested for Blackberry users, while OpenVPN is suggested for Android users. However, Android users can also try this VPN provider’s official app from the Google Play Store.
4. Follow the instructions provided for your device and proceed.

Note: As instructions for installing Hide Me for each device differ a bit, it is better to follow this guide as per your device.

HideMe Proxy – How Good It Is?

Besides the VPN, you can also enjoy a powerful proxy facility with Hide.me. Hide.me proxy is a web-based tool that you can use to access blocked or geo-restricted websites. There are dedicated browser extensions for Chrome (VPN Chrome) and Firefox browsers (VPN Firefox) as well.

The Chrome extension is very simple and compatible with the latest Windows versions and is very simple. Its Firefox browser extension is a free-to-use tool that requires no signup and login. Over a single click, it will start working.

How to Use Hide.me Proxy

Using Hide.me proxy is simple. If you’re using its web-based tool, you only have to visit the website, enter the URL of the blocked or geo-restricted website you want to access, select the proxy location, and give the security preferences. That’s it. The tool will help you access the locked URL in no time.

If you’re using the browser extensions, there is not much of a hassle either. Just get the extensions from the respective store, complete the installation, and it will start concealing your actual IP address and provide you safe access.

Extensions will give you online privacy for each website you visit.

Hide.me How to Turn on SOCKS Proxy

To turn on the SOCKS proxy, you must use the browser extensions. It won’t work in the web-based tool. Once you have the extension installed and fully functional, you need to go to the Settings sections of the browser extension.

You can easily see the SOCKS proxy option in the Settings section. Just slide the bar mentioned in front of it. It will enable the SOCKS proxy, and you can easily use it.

How to Delete Hide.me Proxy

If you don’t want to use the Hide.me proxy any longer, you can easily get rid of it. Just go to the ‘Control Panel’ section of your laptop/PC. In the Program section, select ‘Uninstall a program. There will be a list of all the installed programs. Click on the ‘Hide.me’ option and select ‘uninstall’. This will erase the browser extension from your device.

How to Set up Hide.me Proxy in Settings

Before you start using the Hide.me proxy, you must prepare your device to be proxy-ready. Here is how you can make it happen.

• Go to Settings > Proxy.
• If you’ve access to the SOCKS scripts, which you can find here, you can enter them in the Script Set-up Address section. It will lead to automatic proxy set-up.
• On the contrary, if you want to set up a Hide.me proxy manually, click on the ‘Use a proxy server’ section.
• Enter the port & IP address details. Save these settings, and the Hide.me proxy is ready to use.

Hide.me VPN v/s Proxy – A Crisp Comparison

It’s confusing when one product offers two products. Hide.me provides both a proxy and a VPN. As proxy capabilities are very similar to VPNs, one can have difficulty deciding which one is worthy of attention and effort. Let’s have a quick comparison of the Hide.me VPN v/s proxy.

• Efficiency

Hide.me proxy has limited server coverage. Its servers are offered only in 3 locations: Germany, Canada (Canada VPN), and the Netherlands. Hide.me VPN has extensive server coverage. Over 2,000 servers in over 75 places are offered to you if you use its VPN.

• Safety

The best security features you can enjoy with Hide.me proxy are enabling and disabling encryption, cookies, objects, and scripts. It’s very limited compared to the security features you enjoy with its VPN. You have a kill switch, split tunneling, multiple connection protocols, leak protections, and tons of other ways to keep your data and connection secured.

• Scope

Hide.me proxy is only good for IP address spoofing and accessing geo-restricted websites. You can’t stream or download torrents with its help. Hide.me VPN comes with endless capabilities. From accessing restricted websites to enjoying security torrenting, you have tons of things to do with this VPN.

• Pricing

Hide.me proxy is an absolutely free way to secure the IP address. But Hide.me VPN offers a free and paid version.

• Compatibility

When it comes to device compatibility, Hide.me VPN does a great job as compared to its proxy peer, which works only on Chrome and Firefox.

Hide.me – The People’s Verdict

The Best Part

Someone on Reddit found Hide.me great for torrenting as its downing speed is great, and it does encryption too.

Also, people on Twitter love this VPN for sure.

The Good Part

As per a Reddit user, the VPN is very safe when you are using its paid/premium version.

The Bad Part

Donmahglas discovered that Hide.me VPN is not the best pick for Netflix Japan.

The Worst

A Reddit user with the handle name Gediman thinks that uninstalling Hide.Me could have severe adverse outcomes.

HideMe VPN or Proxy? The Final Verdict

After hours-long testing and usage, our team figured out that Hide.me is a safe VPN to use for streaming, torrenting, geo-restriction dealing, and tons of other stuff. It needs to work on its server network, but its security features are impressive.

Considering the price, its speed and device compatibility are incredible. We wish its customer support could be a little more polished. But, it suffices in its purpose. It can unblock stubborn geo-restricted platforms like Netflix and Amazon.

The app developers must work on the app’s performance as both its mobile apps crash out of the blue. Go for it if you’re not a heavy internet user and are extensively involved in streaming and torrenting, as you don’t get unlimited bandwidth. It’s worth a try.

What we loved the most

• Can unblock 6 Netflix libraries without a glitch
• Falls in privacy-friendly jurisdiction
• Fixes the traditional Windows VPN issues

What could be better

• Its kill switch
• App performance
• Customer support
• Server network

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