HideMyAss VPN 2023 Review: Tested and Reviewed by Experts

 What Is HideMyAss Used for?

Before we get into the details, let’s start with the general overview of HMA features.

• It’s currently ranked as the 52nd VPN in the world.
• It’s super-easy to use, even for total beginners.
• The service will keep some logs of your activity.
• HMA has over 1100+ servers at 290+ locations in 190 countries. Out of these servers, 160 are specifically optimized for streaming.
• You can contact support via email or social media.
• It blocks Netflix USA and lets you enjoy your favorite shows at an incredible speed, 20Mbps.
• It also comes with a free HMA proxy, which hides the user’s IP and encrypts the internet connection
• Has 256-bit AES, OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec encryption, and protocols.
• It is loved by hardcore streaming lovers as there is no data capping done.

Key Features 

I’m very impressed with the number of servers and their locations. Currently, the HideMyAss IP list boasts over 1100 servers in 190 countries, giving me plenty of connection options.

Some servers are in Greenland, the Middle East, Africa, and even the small Pacific Islands. 

The second thing that got me all excited was the ease of use. I was able to start a stream minutes after creating an account.

Also, the platform is available in many different languages, making it very useful for users worldwide.

Some other noteworthy features include:

✅ A kill switch

✅ Split tunneling

✅ IP Shuffle

✅ Leak protection

✅ Military-grade encryption

✅ Automatic connection rules

✅ DDoS protection

✅ P2P optimized servers

Performance and Speed: How Fast Is HMA VPN? 

One of the things that impressed me the most about HMA is the internet connection speed.

For such affordable services, it offers pretty good speeds that can stand next to the industry’s best services.

My original connection speed was 110 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. 

HMA has a Lightning Connection feature automatically connects you to the nearest server.

The server closest to where I am is located in the UK (the UK VPN).

As a result, my download speed was 105 Mbps, and the upload was 8.5 Mbps. As you can see, the loss was almost non-existent. 

That was to be expected, but what got me fired up was a test on the closest US server.

Even though I was thousands of miles away, the internet connection speed was pretty impressive. My download was 101.99 Mbps, and the upload was 2.79 Mbps.

Those are some impressive numbers, given the vast distance between me and the servers.

However, the further away I connected, the lower the speeds I got.

For example, linking to an Asian server in Japan left me with a considerable ping, and my download speed dipped down to 24.69 Mbps, while the upload was only 1.47 Mbps. 

With that said most servers provided excellent speeds. So, I could do most of my work using a desktop PC without any problems. My only problem was with the server that was the furthest from my physical location.

Security: Is HideMyAss Safe?

What this VPN offers end-users on the security front seems highly promising. For instance, the VPN is pretty sure its security profile is so strong that hackers must take nearly 3 years to break it.

Well, claiming isn’t enough. One has to prove that all the claims are true, and I did carry out extensive tests to unveil the truth.

Let’s talk about the leak protection it offers. After I ran the DNS and WebRTC tests, I found that HMA has no DNS leaks. It was an impressive job.

The VPN also claims to offer in-build IPv4 and IPv6 leak protection, But I didn’t check it. However, I figured out that the VPN features a wide choice of secure internet protocols. They include UDP, TCP OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP/IPsec. The service didn’t break a single law.

The VPN could hide my location every time, and the IPsec protocol had impressive connection speeds, which is excellent.

How can I forget the kill switch? I tested its kill switch, which is offered only for Windows, Mac, and Android devices. I loved its Windows kill switch; it was flexible and allowed customization at every front. It gets activated automatically. If you’re using its Android app, you’re lucky, as you will also get a split tunneling feature.

If you don’t want your IP address revealed to anyone, HMA Pro VPN has an exciting feature, IP Shuffle. In no time, it will make you untraceable, as the IP address gets changed after every 10 minutes. The best part is that you can decide how frequently your IP address can change.

Considering all these things, I can easily conclude that HMA VPN offers good security. But it could be better. For instance, it’s missing advanced security protocols like WireGuard, the kill switch on the Android app is a little rigid, and I felt that it should offer DoubleVPN facility as hackers have become smart these days. One VPN may not be enough to stop them, but it’s worth trying.

Privacy and Logging Policy 

There’s always a question of safety, so many people want to know if HideMyAss is safe. Yes, it is.

I am saying this with such confidence because I figured out that it features no-log servers. Such servers don’t keep logs of crucial information like bank information, OTP, credit card details, etc.

But the company does keep some logs. It’s made clear in HMA’s privacy policy that information like user name, email ID, basic demographic, and corresponding details will be logged somewhere for seamless business processing.

However, it doesn’t do things like:

1. Keeping IP addresses used by HMA servers.
2. Saving websites accessed through the VPN.
3. Maintaining logs of the data sent through the service.

Besides the information mentioned above, HideMyAss keeps some information for 30 days. That includes:

1. Your VPN license ID.
2. Time and date of every connection.
3. How much data you transferred through the VPN.
4. Your original IP address without the last four digits.
5. IP addresses of the VPNs you used.

Everything is deleted after 30 days, so there’s no reason to be worried.

Compatibility

If you still want to know what is HideMyAss, it’s merely a fantastic VPN with impressive compatibility features.

It supports Windows, iOS, Mac, Android, and Linux devices. Setting it up on Mac or Windows won’t take long.

Recently, the VPN started offering support for PlayStation, Xbox, and Android TV. So, basically, you can protect all of the devices with one VPN. In general, you can keep 5 devices protected with the Basic plan.

But, if you go with its Family plan, you can protect 10 devices at a time. Of course, setting up an HMA VPN on the router will set you free from the need to install it on spate devices. In one go, you can protect all the connected devise.

Getting a business plan will provide you with support for multiple devices.

That includes FlashRouters you can use to connect any device to the internet safely. Everything is protected with an OpenVPN 256-bit encryption and PPTP and L2TP/IPSec. All in all, HMA VPN is enough to keep your major devices safe and sound in a world of cyber vulnerabilities.

HMA VPN v/s HMA Proxy

HMA VPN is not the only security tool that the company offers. You have a proxy as well. HideMyAss proxy is a great way to keep your IP address a secret. It’s only a web-based solution. You don’t need to download a separate app or browser extension for it. This was something that irked me. If I need to use it, I must visit the website every time. Even though it’s an easy-to-use tool, opening HMA website for every usage was a little annoying.

Let’s talk about its performance, which is more important now. Its usage is no rocket science. All you need to do is go to the HMA website, enter the website URL you want to access with the help of HideMyAss IP proxy, select a server from many Hide My Ass proxy servers, and provide your set-up preferences.

Once all these things are offered, you must agree to the Terms and Conditions and proceed. In no time, you will be able to access the restricted website if you get lucky. Yes, I am using the term ‘Luck’ because this tool isn’t responsible for the website’s proper functioning. It can’t fix its operational flaws, and the Hide My Ass proxy has declared it already.

It also cleared that using a proxy can possibly reveal your personal information to the website, which is something no one wants.

During my HMA VPN v/s HMA proxy testing, I found some interesting facts I want to share.

• Hide My Ass free proxy isn’t as security concerned as HMA VPN. The only security feature you get with an HMA proxy is URL encryption. There is no kill switch, leak protection, or split tunneling.
• HideMyAss free proxy servers are limited as compared to HMA VPN. With an HMA proxy, you can use only limited servers in countries like the US, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. HMA VPN has globally distributed servers.
• Device compatibility of the Hide My Ass IP proxy is also restricted. As mentioned above, there is no app support. It’s a web solution. So, at max, you can use it on tabs, laptops, and mobile phones. You can secure your Android TV, router, Xbox, and other data-driven devices, which is possible with HMA VPN. With a proxy, you only have one-tab accessibility. With HMA VPN, you can secure internet access via 5 or more devices simultaneously.
• HMA proxy isn’t good for streaming, torrenting, or online games, as it can’t unblock streaming apps and other platforms. The best aid it can provide is access to geo-restricted websites. That’s it. HMA VPN unfolds a whole world of possibilities in front of you. You can do whatever you want to do.

To summarize this section, HideMyAss free proxy is good enough only if you want to keep your IP address a secret. You can’t expect more from it. But HMA VPN is here to assist you with every requirement. Look at the table below for detailed information on HMA VPN v/s HMA Proxy testing and review. And, if you want to know which proxy is actually best, read this article.

Pricing and Plans: How Do I Buy HMA VPN? 

HideMyAss software offers three different plans with the same features.

Just like other VPNs, HideMyAss offers better rates for bigger plans. You will get the best value for the money with a 36-month plan, while the one-month plan costs the most. 

One of the first things I found great about HMA is that it’s very cheap when compared to many other VPNs.

The one-month plan costs $4.99, but you get a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it’s a good idea to try it first. I did that and thought it was more than fair for the asking price.

If you decide to get a 12-month plan, the average monthly price is $2.99, while a 3-year or 36-month plan costs $4.29 a month.

Of course, the more significant plans have to be paid for immediately, but I think it’s a pretty good deal if you use VPNs all the time.

HideMyAss comes with a 7-day trial, so you can try it for free if you don’t want to spend any money.

If you decide it’s for you, HMA supports Mastercard, PayPal, Visa, American Express, and UnionPay.

Is HMA VPN Good for Torrenting? 

Everyone likes downloading torrents, and this VPN provider has good torrenting capabilities. I was able to use P2P traffic on high-speed servers I found in the HMA app.

However, since the company keeps some logs, maybe you shouldn’t do that. The long arm of the law could see you, and there are better alternatives for torrenting.

Does HMA VPN Work with Netflix? 

Despite what other users say, I could access US Netflix with VPN. However, I couldn’t reach Hulu or Amazon Video. It seems that they have a list of IPs used by HMA. So, as you can guess, the hide my ass free proxy list is blocked.

The good news is that every Netflix I tried to log into worked without getting flagged. 

Customer Support 

Even though I had no issues, I tried contacting customer support to test it out. I was able to do so by submitting a request ticket on the official website and through live chat support.

I received a response within minutes, and the support team was beneficial.

The company also offers guides on online privacy, cybersecurity, and even a user forum.

Final Verdict: Is HideMyAss a Good VPN? 

When all things are considered, HideMyAss is a great VPN. It offers a user-friendly interface, fast speeds, plenty of connection locations, secure datum transfer, and Netflix support. 

Here are the pros and cons that I found out:

It’s a sleek service that allows you to hide your internet activity from the government, and it does so at reasonable prices. I highly recommend this VPN to everyone looking for a safe connection.

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• ExpressVPN vs IPVanish 2023 Review: Which Is Better?
• NordVPN vs Private Internet Access (PIA) 2023: Are They Safe to Use?

Philipp Stein

26 years, Content Manager and SEO Copywriter

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Philip is a promising young author with a passion for language. He recently completed his Master’s degree in Digital Marketing in Berlin and is particularly knowledgeable about Internet security. Phil also enjoys creating videos and photos for marketing purposes.