Hide.me Review
Malaysian jurisdiction. 10 GB free. No-logs since 2012.
Hide.me has been operating under a no-logs policy since 2012 — before most mainstream VPNs made privacy a marketing priority. The Malaysian incorporation gives it a meaningful jurisdictional advantage: no 5 Eyes membership, no EU data retention mandates, no Investigatory Powers Act. Combined with the most generous free tier among privacy-focused VPNs, it's an underrated choice.
Our scores
Hide.me
Overall score — April 2026
Hide.me is the best combination of free tier and privacy jurisdiction we've tested. Malaysian incorporation keeps it outside US, UK, and EU legal frameworks. The 10 GB/month free tier with 5 server locations is the most generous free offering among privacy-focused VPNs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Malaysia jurisdiction — outside 5/9/14 Eyes and EU data retention directives
- 10 GB/month free tier with access to 5 server locations — no payment info required
- No-logs policy since 2012 — one of the longest uninterrupted records in the category
- Stealth Guard feature blocks internet if VPN drops — more configurable than standard kill switch
- SSTP protocol support — useful in corporate environments that block OpenVPN/WireGuard
Cons
- Smaller server network (2,300+) compared to NordVPN or CyberGhost
- Streaming reliability is inconsistent — Netflix US works but BBC iPlayer is hit-or-miss
- No-logs policy hasn't been independently audited (only internal assertion)
- Desktop apps are functional but less polished than tier-1 competitors
- Free tier 10 GB limit is low for heavy users
Speed
625 Mbps
Download
395 Mbps
Upload
12 ms
Latency
82%
Speed kept
625 Mbps average — 82% speed retention with WireGuard. Solid performance across European and US servers. Asian servers are slower, as expected from Malaysian infrastructure routing. The free tier is not speed-limited — the only restriction is the 10 GB/month data cap.
Tested: . 1 Gbps base connection.
Privacy & Security
Malaysian jurisdiction is the strongest among non-privacy-specialist VPNs in our database. No documented history of data requests or compliance incidents. The no-logs policy has not been independently audited, which is a gap compared to ProtonVPN or NordVPN. Port forwarding support — useful for advanced torrenting setups — is rare among privacy-forward VPNs.
Streaming
Netflix US, Germany, and Japan work reliably. BBC iPlayer success rate was 70% in testing — inconsistent. Disney+ worked in most tests. Not optimized for streaming in the way CyberGhost is, but adequate for casual use.
Pricing
$12.99/mo
Monthly
$4.99/mo
Annual plan
billed annually
At $4.99/month annual, pricing is mid-range. The free tier (10 GB/month, no payment info) is the most compelling entry point among privacy-focused VPNs. SSTP protocol support is a niche but real advantage in corporate or school network environments.
User Ratings
4.5/5
Trustpilot
6k reviews
4.2/5
Google Play
30k ratings
4.5/5
App Store
16k ratings
65%
Community
Reddit sentiment
Ratings sourced from Trustpilot, Google Play Store, and Apple App Store. Community score is derived from Reddit/r/VPN sentiment analysis. Scores are aggregated periodically and may not reflect real-time data.
Verdict
Hide.me is the right choice if Malaysian jurisdiction is important to you, or if you want to start with a free tier before committing. The lack of independent audit is the main gap vs. Mullvad or ProtonVPN. For privacy-first users who need port forwarding, it's the most affordable option.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hide.me safe to use?
Hide.me claims a no-logs policy but has not been independently audited. It uses WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, SoftEther protocols and includes a kill switch to protect your IP if the connection drops. Privacy score: 8.7/10.
How much does Hide.me cost per month?
Hide.me costs $12.99/month on a monthly plan and $4.99/month on an annual plan. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How many devices can I use with Hide.me?
Hide.me allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. It has native apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, plus Linux and router support.
Does Hide.me work with Netflix?
Yes. Hide.me reliably unblocks Netflix and other major streaming services. Streaming score: 7.4/10.
Hide.me vs. Alternatives
| Feature | Hide.me8.1/10 | NordVPN9.2/10 | ExpressVPN8.6/10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Score | 8.1 | 9.2 | 8.6 |
| Monthly Price | $4.99/mo | $3.39/mo | $8.32/mo |
| Servers | 2,300+ | 6,400+ | 3,000+ |
| Countries | 91 | 111 | 105 |
| Simultaneous Devices | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Speed (tested) | 625 Mbps (82%) | 730 Mbps (96%) | 755 Mbps (98%) |
| No-Logs Policy | |||
| Independently Audited | |||
| Kill Switch | |||
| Ad Blocker | |||
| Streaming | |||
| Torrenting / P2P | |||
| Port Forwarding | |||
| Obfuscation | |||
| Double VPN | |||
| RAM-Only Servers | |||
| Jurisdiction | Malaysia (outside 5/9/14 Eyes and EU data retention) | Panama (outside 5/9/14 Eyes) | British Virgin Islands |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
All data verified April 2026.