PaidTrial

3.2

Privacy

Features

User Score

HMA VPN

HMA VPN is now Avast's network: the 210-country map it sold for a decade became 65 countries of shared Gen Digital hardware in 2025, at Avast SecureLine's price with half the devices, and $107.64 renews at $431.64.

3.2

Privacy

Features

User Score

Privacy

Features

User Score

HMA VPN

All 106 locations are physical since the 2025 update
WireGuard and Mimic obfuscation in the Windows app
US Netflix opened in both post-update test sets
Torrenting allowed at about 80% of line speed

www.hidemyass.com

PaidTrial

All 106 locations are physical since the 2025 update
WireGuard and Mimic obfuscation in the Windows app
US Netflix opened in both post-update test sets
Torrenting allowed at about 80% of line speed

HMA VPN Review

Article by

David

David is the main writer and editorial lead at VPNSites. He designs the testing methodology, runs the speed and leak benchmarks, and writes most of the VPN reviews, comparisons and privacy guides on the site. With a background in network security and consumer tech journalism, he specialises in turning encryption standards, no-logs audits and streaming-unblock results into advice anyone can act on, and he updates published verdicts whenever a provider's speed, pricing or privacy policy changes.

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HMA VPN Pros:

All 106 locations are physical since the 2025 update
WireGuard and Mimic obfuscation in the Windows app
US Netflix opened in both post-update test sets
Torrenting allowed at about 80% of line speed
Blocks itself in India instead of logging for CERT-In
7-day trial, 30-day refund, repeatable after 6 months

HMA VPN Cons:

$107.64 for 36 months renews at $431.64
Map cut from 210+ countries to 65 in September 2025
No WireGuard on Mac, iOS or Android; no iOS kill switch
Trustpilot 1.4 from 2,764 reviews; support is a ticket form

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VPN Service FAQ

A VPN, or virtual private network, routes your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server run by the VPN provider. Websites see that server's IP address instead of yours, and your internet provider sees only encrypted data rather than the sites you visit. The result is a private connection on any network, including public Wi-Fi.

Yes, the leading VPNs reliably unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. Streaming platforms actively block known VPN IP addresses, so this comes down to how quickly a provider refreshes its server pool. Providers with dedicated streaming servers, such as the top three on our list, hold up best over time.

Surfshark, NordVPN and ExpressVPN lead our rankings for 2026. Surfshark wins on value with unlimited device connections, NordVPN offers the strongest all round mix of speed and security, and ExpressVPN is the easiest option for people who want it to simply work. The best choice depends on whether you prioritise price, streaming access or raw speed.

Yes, VPNs are legal in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and most of Europe. A small number of countries including China, Russia, Iran and the UAE restrict or ban unapproved VPN services. Using a VPN does not make illegal activity legal, so local law still applies to whatever you do online.

Most free VPNs are not safe. Running servers costs money, so free providers often fund themselves by logging browsing activity, injecting ads or selling bandwidth to third parties. Free tiers also cap data, throttle speed and rarely unblock streaming platforms. A paid VPN with a money back guarantee gives you the same trial period without the privacy trade off.

Every VPN costs you some speed because your traffic travels further and has to be encrypted, but on a good service the loss is small. Top providers running WireGuard or similar modern protocols typically lose between 5 and 15 percent on a nearby server. Connecting to a server on another continent has a far bigger impact than the VPN itself.

A VPN hides your real IP address from other people in the swarm and stops your internet provider from seeing what you download. For torrenting you want P2P friendly servers, a verified no logs policy, a kill switch and no bandwidth caps. Downloading copyrighted material remains illegal regardless of whether you use a VPN.

A no logs policy means the provider does not record which sites you visit, what you download or which IP addresses you connect from. The claim only carries weight when an independent firm has verified it. Look for providers audited by companies such as Deloitte or PwC, and for RAM only servers that wipe all data on every reboot.

No, a VPN is a strong privacy tool but not full anonymity. It hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic, yet you can still be identified through account logins, browser fingerprinting, cookies and tracking pixels. Pairing a VPN with a privacy focused browser and careful account habits gets you far closer to genuine anonymity.

Expect to pay roughly 2 to 5 dollars a month on a long term plan, or 10 to 13 dollars a month rolling monthly. Watch the renewal price rather than the headline rate, because most providers advertise a heavily discounted first term and then renew at close to full price. Multi year deals charge the full amount upfront.

Most VPN subscriptions cover between 5 and 10 devices at once, and a few, including Surfshark, allow unlimited simultaneous connections. If you need to cover a whole household, either pick an unlimited plan or install the VPN on your router, which protects every device on the network using a single connection slot.

Public Wi-Fi in cafes, hotels and airports is where a VPN earns its keep, because anyone on the same network can potentially intercept unencrypted traffic. Even occasional use is worth protecting, and the same subscription also stops your home internet provider from logging and selling your browsing history.