In this guide, I’ll explain about hide.me proxy and VPN services and also provide answers to frequently asked questions.
Before we dive in, let’s get to know what is a VPN all about.
What Is VPN & How It works?
In simple terms, VPN stands for Virtual Private Networks. When you connect to a VPN service, your connection will be encrypted and routed through a secure service that allows you to be safe online.
Look at the video explanation below on how a VPN works.
hide.me Proxy Vs VPN Service
VPNs & Proxies are not the same. In simple terms, a proxy service does not provide security as a VPN service does.
Check out the video below for comparison.
Should I Use A Proxy or VPN service?
If you are just looking to access blocked sites, you can use a proxy service. However, if security is what you need and to stay safe online, VPN is what you need.
hide.me Products
They offer three kinds of free products and they are as per below:
1. hide.me Proxy Browser
If you don’t want to install any app and just want to access blocked websites, you can use hide.me free proxy browser.
To do so, go to hide.me proxy browser page, enter the website address you want to access and click on Go.
2. hide.me Web Extensions
hide.me offers free web browser extensions for Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. This extension takes care of your privacy and prevents unwanted WebRTC leaks on your browser.
To use this, install a web extension for your browser. Once you’ve installed it, click on the (1) hide.me logo next to your address bar and (2) turn the slider to your right to enable it.
Note: hide.me Chrome/Firefox web extension is just a free proxy service and there is no paid version of it. Also, the extension does not provide security as the VPN service.
3. hide.me VPN (Recommended)
If you want your connection to be encrypted and hide your real IP address (anonymous browsing), a VPN service is what you will need to stay safe online.
Why hide.me VPN is superior?
Over the years I’ve used many providers and hide.me stands number 1 in my top VPN provider’s list.
This is because they offer;
- 99.99% Uptime
- Blazing Fast Speeds
- Guaranteed Privacy
More reasons why hide.me VPN is better than others.
Features of the Best VPNs | hide.me VPN |
---|---|
Geographically diverse VPN network | 2600+ servers in 90 locations |
Privacy Protection | Zero activity logs |
Multiple VPN protocols | IKEv2, OpenVPN, SoftEther, SSTP & WireGuard |
Strong encryption | AES-256 bit encryption with 8192 bit keys |
Unlimited data transfer limit | Unlimited data transfer with our Premium Plan |
Compatible with various operating systems | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Routers, Consoles and Smart TVs |
Multiple simultaneous logins | 10 simultaneous logins with the Premium Plan |
IP leak protection | Complete protection against any kind of leaks (DNS, IPv4, IPv6, WebRTC) |
Port forwarding | Dynamic Port Forwarding with our paid plans |
Unlimited server switching | Unlimited server switching; no extra charges |
Affordable pricing | Lifetime free VPN and 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee for our paid plans |
Customer support | 24/7 customer support |
What makes hide.me VPN stand out
hide.me VPN Features
They have designed a strong privacy-oriented policy with no activity logs saved on any of their servers. Below is what it says on their site.
They are the only VPN provider that has been audited by independent security analysts, like Leon Juranic, who have certified us to be completely log-free.
Depending on the Stealth Guard configuration, the app has a firewall to limit Internet connectivity for applications.
You can set which applications on your device to use the VPN connection. This is a great feature to split the VPN connection and you can learn more about it here.
Whenever your VPN connection drops, hide.me app would block your Internet connection so your real IP address is not leaked.
The connection will be restored once the VPN is reconnected automatically.
With the high-security features available, your IP would not be leaked to unwanted third-parties.
By default, the app protects against DNS leaks and uses hide.me’s own DNS servers.
hide.me app automatically pick the fastest location for you. If you want to connect to a specific server location, you can change it within the app.
If you have set your favourite server(s) location, the app offers one-click options to connect without the need of changing the connection manually.
hide.me app automatically launches on startup and can be set to connect automatically too. This way, you are always protected with peace of mind.
SmartGuard protects you online by blocking ads, trackers, and malicious websites that are trying to steal your information. SmartGuard uses DNS filtering and an extensive list of known malicious websites and ad/tracker domains to protect you online and provide a cleaner browsing experience.
hide.me Premium Vs Free Plans?
Premium (Paid) Plan | Free Plan | |
---|---|---|
Data traffic | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Available Locations | 89 Locations / 2400+ Servers | 8 Locations |
Number of devices | 10 Simultaneous connections | 1 Connection |
Dynamic Port Forwarding | Yes | No |
Fixed IP Address | Yes | No |
TV Streaming Support | Yes | No |
Keep Logs? | No | No |
Ads? | No | No |
Please note the free service is free forever but you will need to renew it every month using the app.
As for security, both free and paid service provides the same level of protection.
How Do I Use hide.me VPN For Free?
You can download hide.me VPN client app from the link below and install it on your device.
Once you’ve installed, launch their app, login/choose Free plan and click on Enable VPN button to get connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Check If hide.me VPN Is Working?
Go to hide.me IP check page and if you’re seeing the green banner as per below, the VPN is working and you can now browse the Internet safely.
Can I Stream Geo-Restricted TV Channels From Abroad?
To access geo-restricted channels, you will need to connect to hide.me’s streaming server.
You can then click on the server location which supports the TV channels you want to access and choose Connect.
Is Registration Required To Use hide.me VPN App?
No registration is required. hide.me requires you to register only if you want to;
- Use their paid service
- Setup the VPN manually using in-built/third-party VPN client(s).
The only personal detail they collect is your email address.
How Many Devices Can I Use hide.me Using A Single account?
You can install hide.me on any number of devices but the connection would be limited based on the plan you’re on;
- FREE plan: Only one device.
- MOBILE plan: If you purchase it from Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS), you can only use it on one device.
- PREMIUM plan: If you purchase it from their website, you can connect to up to 10 different devices (including Mobile devices) simultaneously.
hide.me VPN servers locations
With the free plan, you have a choice of 8 server locations and they are;
- Finland
- Spain
- US
- UK
- France
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Switzerland
For their paid plan, you can connect to all the servers they have.
How Much Is hide me VPN?
You can check this on their pricing page. You can enjoy a greater discount if you subscribe to their longer term.
Will hide.me VPN Slow Down My Connection?
No! All of their servers are capable of handling a 1000Mbps connection but please note there are numerous factors that influence a VPN speed. For more information, please click here.
Does hide.me keep logs?
Whether you’re on paid or free plan, hide.me has zero-log policy and they don’t track/keep a log of their user’s activities. This is to ensure they protect your privacy.
I did ask them what if local authorities asked for their user’s data. They said since they are not keeping any logs, there is nothing for them to provide.
This is a plus point for me as I know many other VPN services do keep some sort of logs especially when I get a DMCA complaint about downloading torrents!
Does hide.me Allow P2P/Torrents?
hide.me isn’t blocking or throttling any type of traffic. All of their servers are torrent-friendly.
I have used hide.me to download torrents and it works really well but you will first need to follow their guide on how securely torrent over VPN.
How Can I Fix My IP?
For paid users, you can set the VPN app to provide you with the same IP address whenever you connect. To do so, follow the instructions in this article.
Does hide.me Offer Static/Dedicated IP service?
No, they don’t. This is because all of their users are behind shared IP addresses which furthers their anonymity since all of the traffic is mixed and there are no logs.
Does hide.me provides IP Rotation Service?
No, they don’t. Your device will be assigned a random IP address automatically and you may get the same server IP when you reconnect.
However, if the load is high on a server, you will be connected to the least busy server by their load balancer system.
Since everything is automated, there is no option for you to get a new IP address whenever you connect.
hide.me Supported VPN Protocols
- WireGuard®
- IKEv2
- SSTP
- OpenVPN
- SoftEther
How Do I Remove hide.me?
To remove hide.me app from your device, please go to their knowledgebase, choose your system and follow the instructions.
Where Is hide.me VPN Located?
hide.me VPN is a product of eVenture Ltd, a Malaysian-based IT Security Company. Their team comprises people who have worked with well-known IT Corporations.
They know-how companies and ISPs, under the law, are forced to monitor and keep a record of your online activities. Not to be bound by such circumstances, They choose Labuan, Malaysia to be the headquarter for hide.me VPN.
- There are no Third Parties Involved
- No alliance or association with “Five Eyes” Countries
- Keep absolutely no record of their users’ online activities
Conclusion
The Internet can be scary and Data theft is a growing phenomenon these days especially when you’re connected to a public network.
I am sure you don’t want people stealing your data especially if you have sensitive information on your device/computer.
With hide.me VPN, I am confident that I’m protected whilst being online and they have a great support team that you can rely on.
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Disclaimer: All the information gathered here is from our personal experience of using hide.me VPN and also from hide.me support. If there are any discrepancies, you should always refer to hide.me website.
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