About Hide.me
Hide.me is a VPN service based in Malaysia that has been quietly building a reputation for solid privacy practices since 2012. Malaysia has no mandatory data retention laws, making it a favorable jurisdiction for a VPN provider. Hide.me has leveraged this advantage alongside a genuinely transparent approach to privacy — its no-logs policy has been independently audited and verified by security analysts at DefenseCode.
The service offers a competitive free plan with 10GB of monthly data and access to servers in 8 locations. Unlike many free VPNs, Hide.me does not show ads, sell user data, or throttle speeds on its free tier. The free plan also includes the same encryption protocols and security features as the paid version, making it a trustworthy option for occasional secure browsing needs.
Hide.me's premium plan unlocks access to over 2,400 servers across 89 locations in 48 countries. The service supports an impressive array of protocols including WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SoftEther, and SSTP, giving users maximum flexibility for different use cases. The Bolt feature, exclusive to Hide.me, optimizes transport layer performance to reduce latency and improve speed without compromising encryption strength.
For privacy-conscious users, Hide.me offers multi-hop connections, split tunneling, and Stealth Guard — a feature that only allows internet access when the VPN is connected. The service supports up to 10 simultaneous connections on paid plans. While Hide.me may not have the marketing presence of larger VPN brands, its combination of Malaysian jurisdiction, audited privacy practices, a generous free tier, and broad protocol support makes it a strong choice for users who prioritize verified privacy over brand recognition. Its apps are clean and functional across all major platforms.
Key Features
Pros
- Independently audited no-logs policy
- Generous free plan with 10GB/month
- Malaysian jurisdiction with no data retention laws
- Wide protocol support including SoftEther
- Bolt feature for optimized performance
- No ads or tracking on free plan
Cons
- Smaller brand with less recognition
- Server network smaller than top competitors
- Free plan limited to 8 locations
- Streaming unblocking is inconsistent
- Customer support can be slow
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hide.me VPN safe?
Yes, Hide.me is a safe VPN with a no-logs policy independently audited by DefenseCode. It uses modern encryption standards, supports multiple secure protocols, and is based in Malaysia which has no mandatory data retention laws. The company has never been involved in any known data breaches or privacy incidents.
Is Hide.me free?
Yes, Hide.me offers a free plan with 10GB of monthly data and access to servers in 8 locations. The free plan includes the same encryption and security features as the premium plan, with no ads, no tracking, and no speed throttling.
What is the Bolt feature?
Bolt is a Hide.me exclusive feature that optimizes the transport layer to reduce latency and improve connection speeds. It works alongside the VPN encryption to deliver faster performance without weakening security. Bolt is particularly noticeable for gaming and real-time applications.
Does Hide.me keep logs?
No, Hide.me operates a verified no-logs policy. An independent audit by DefenseCode confirmed that Hide.me does not store any identifiable user data, browsing logs, connection timestamps, or IP addresses. The audit results are publicly available.
What protocols does Hide.me support?
Hide.me supports WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2/IPsec, SoftEther, and SSTP. This wide range of protocol options gives users the flexibility to optimize for speed, security, or compatibility depending on their needs and network environment.
How many devices can I use with Hide.me?
Hide.me premium supports up to 10 simultaneous connections per account. The free plan allows 1 connection at a time. 10 devices is generally more than enough for individual users and small households.
Can Hide.me unblock Netflix?
Hide.me can sometimes unblock Netflix and other streaming services, but it is not the most reliable option for streaming. If streaming is your primary use case, you may want to consider VPNs that specialize in content unblocking.
What is Stealth Guard?
Stealth Guard is a security feature that restricts internet access to only work when the VPN is connected. It acts as an enhanced kill switch, ensuring that no data can leak through your regular connection even during brief VPN reconnection periods.
Why is Malaysia a good jurisdiction for a VPN?
Malaysia has no mandatory data retention laws, meaning the government does not require ISPs or VPN providers to store user data. Malaysia is also not a member of any major intelligence-sharing alliances like the Five Eyes, making it a privacy-friendly location for a VPN service.
Security & Privacy
Supported Protocols
Supported Platforms
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User Reviews
Community Ratings
Based on 2 user reviews
Nathan Osei
No logs policy verified by audits. 10 device connections is on par with competitors. Good speeds with IKEv2 and WireGuard. Split tunneling works flawlessly. Recommended.
Zara Ahmed
Hide.me is a strong privacy-focused VPN based in Malaysia. Free plan allows 10GB/month with access to 5 locations. Stealth Guard kill switch is one of the most reliable.