Hide My IP VPN Review 2020

Last updated: January 19, 2023
William Sams
William Sams
Simple advice to users: there are better VPNs available offering much better features, at much lower prices. Learn why I'm saying this by checking out this detailed Hide My IP VPN review.
Jurisdiction United States
Price $2.91/month (Yearly Plan)
Servers 127 Servers in 21 Countries
Logs Unverified (Not Audited)
Encryption AES-256
Unblocks Netflix No
Torrenting Yes
Works in China No
Recommended  No
Website https://www.hide-my-ip.com/
Compatibility Windows, Android, Apple

Hide My IP is a US-based VPN provider that is a part of My Privacy Tools Inc, which has been in the privacy industry for over 10 years offering numerous solutions, including Anti-Spyware, Hard Drive Recovery, Cookie Remover, History Cleaner, and Firewall.

However, if you feel like Hide My IP’s claims about providing its users with absolute anonymity and safely online sound a little too good to be true, then you are at the right place. To begin with, the service does offer decent support for torrents and it fails to consistently unblock Netflix.

At the same time, it has a mediocre GUI, and most important, a grossly vague logging policy. iOS users gain access to China, but that is primarily due to an apparent glitch in the Chinese’ efforts to block the service, which is why I recommend going for a better option like PureVPN.

Rating Criteria

  1. Jurisdiction: Where is Hide My IP VPN Based?
  2. Security: Is Hide My IP VPN Safe?
  3. Leaks: Does Hide My IP VPN  Leak Data?
  4. Servers: How Many Servers Does Hide My IP VPN Have?
  5. Streaming: Can I Unblock Netflix US and Other VoDs?
  6. Speed: How Fast are Hide My IP VPN Servers?
  7. Compatibility: Can I Use Hide My IP VPN on All My Devices?
  8. Pricing: How Much Does Hide My IP VPN Cost Exactly?
  9. Trustworthiness: Trustpilot Ratings, Reddit & Customer Support

Jurisdiction: Where is Hide My IP VPN Based?

Hide My IP operates out of the United States. There are so many reasons why this would attract as a deterrent for so many users. The biggest reason would undoubtedly be the United States’ role as the de facto leader of the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances.

Additionally, there are federal and state laws that allow security agencies unrestricted access to any personal information held by a company on its users. There have been proven cases of NSA and CIA essentially partaking in mass surveillance, adding more reasons for users to steer clear of this service.

Security: Is Hide My IP VPN Safe?

No, I cannot recommend Hide My IP VPN as a safe option, due to its lack of security features. This is further compounded by the fact that this service operates out of the US and is unclear about its exact encryptions and protocols.

While it does occasionally unblock a number of important streaming services, it is a thoroughly unreliable option as far as security is concerned.

Contradictory logging policy

Hide My IP claims to store zero logs as well as a guarantee of not having any oversight of its users’ activities over their network. However, that claim is hard to believe considering the US federal data retention laws, specifically, the Stored Communications Act (SCA).

This law binds all US-based companies to have an activity log of all users using their services. Furthermore, there is precedent of companies being heavily fined for their inability to properly store logs and assisting law enforcement.

Hide My IP VPN Logging Policy

Considering all these factors, it becomes clear that either Hide My IP is lying about its actual logs policy. If not, they could be in open violation of US Constitutional law.

Unfortunately, its exact logging policy will only become evident once it is officially required to co-operate in a criminal investigation and has to provide logs on its users. Until such an instance, I would not trust Hide My IP’s own official policy.

Encryption & Protocols

Hide My IP is less than transparent about its exact encryption and protocols. However, after some research, the service uses the traditional OpenVPN protocol (UDP & TCP) for all its desktop and mobile clients.

The only exception is the iOS version, which uses an IPSec/L2TP protocol. Other than that, Hide My IP has both 128-bit and 256-bit encryption key while authentication that uses the 2048-bit hMA5 keys.

Virus Test

I wanted to see whether this tool has any hidden malicious viruses anywhere on its website or its downloadable clients. Using Virtus Total, I performed a complete test. You can see the results for its Windows app below:

Hide My IP VPN Virus Test

Leaks: Does Hide My IP VPN Leak Data?

I wanted to see how good is this service in keeping users’ DNS, IP, and WebRTC safe from being exposed. I analyzed the service through ipleaks.net by connecting to a US server, while using the service from Europe and had the following results:

Hide My IP VPN Leak Test 1

As the screenshot suggests, the service easily detected the server I was connected to, without revealing my actual IP address. This indicates that the VPN does not leak any personally identifiable information (PII), including your DNS as well.

Hide My IP VPN Leak Test 2

Servers: How Many Servers Does Hide My IP VPN Have?

Hide My IP has a total of 127 servers spread across 21 countries. While this number may not be enough to impress most users, the service offers server locations across all major locations with the most distinguishable two servers operating out of China.

Hide My IP VPN Servers

Support for Torrents

Yes, the service works perfectly with the major torrent clients. The P2P sharing feature of the client makes it even easier for users to identify which servers would be suitable to use and which ones they should avoid because of certain local regulations.

Does It Work in China?

In recent years, the Chinese government has stepped up its crackdown on foreign VPNs that provide access to China. Many famous and well-reputed VPN providers have fallen victim to this and left users short on options when it comes to accessing China.

Hide My IP is one of those VPNs, unable to properly unblock China since the crackdown began in 2015. However, for some bizarre reason, Hide My IP’s iOS app still functions properly.

This is probably because of the IPSec/L2TP protocol that the iOS version uses compared to other platforms. Curiously, this particular protocol has not yet been blocked by the Chinese authorities. Hence, expats are still able to access local Chinese contact on their iOS devices.

Streaming: Can I Unblock Netflix US and Other VoDs?

The service appears to provide a rather inconsistent set of results when it comes to unblocking Netflix. The dedicated client is erratic and fails and consistently unblocking the service. However, the Chrome and Firefox extensions are more dependable when unblocking the US library.

Similarly, the service can also unblock other streaming sites like Prime Video, Hulu, Hotstar, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. However, this inability to provide consistent results means that this would not be reliable service to use when it comes to unblocking content.

Hide My IP VPN Netflix Streaming Error

Speed: How Fast are Hide My IP VPN Servers?

Hide My IP appears to offer some very useful features to its users. However, I also wanted to see exactly how fast is the service exactly. Hence, using the standard speed test on a 100 Mbps connection, I connected to 5 random servers in the US, Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Server Download Upload Ping
US 42.9Mbps 39.7Mbps 236ms
Canada 37.5Mbps 32.5Mbps 299ms
France 39.2Mbps 27.8Mbps 322ms
Germany 35.7Mbps 31.4Mbps 379ms
Netherlands 36.4Mbps 28.9Mbps 339ms
Average 38.3Mbps 32.0Mbps 315ms

Compatibility: Can I Use Hide My IP VPN on All My Devices?

Hide My IP is impressively explanatory about all the devices that are supported on the service. While all major platforms such as Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS are supported, users will also find support for Ubuntu.

Similarly, the service also offers complete support for all major SMART TVs: And, in an offering that will undoubtedly please the gamers, some of the leading consoles are also supported, except the Xbox One.

Hide My IP VPN Compatibility

Pricing: How Much Does Hide My IP VPN Cost Exactly?

Users have the choice between three plans. The Premium Monthly, Premium Yearly and the Premium Quarterly plans. While the Premium monthly plan is definitely more expensive than the others, there is no significant difference between the quarterly and yearly plans:

  • Premium Monthly ($4.95 per month)
  • Premium Quarterly ($2.91 per month/ $8.79 total)
  • Premium Yearly ($2.93 per month/ $34.95 total)

Hide My IP VPN Pricing Information

Payment methods

Hide My IP also allows users to pay via the traditional VISA/Mastercard debit and credit cards as well as through Discover and American Express cards.

Users can also opt to pay through PayPal and Bitcoin. Support for Bitcoin means that users have an additional layer of digital security for their financial transactions.

Hide My IP VPN Payment Methods

Refund policy

If users do not feel completely satisfied with the service, they can apply for a full refund thanks to Hide My IP’s 30-day money-back guarantee, but make sure to read to refund policy beforehand!

Trustworthiness: Trustpilot Ratings, Reddit & Customer Support

The best way to judge how dependable a service really is, is to ask the people that have actually used the service. Hence, I headed over to Trustpilot, Reddit, and the service’s own customer support to see how trustworthy is the provider.

Trustpilot Review

While the service is available on Trustpilot, there is one solitary review. This would be an unfair way to judge the service, hence I would suggest not giving its Trustpilot rating and reviews much weight.

Hide My IP VPN Trustpilot Rating

Reddit Review

Users on Reddit were less than positive about using the service. This was primarily due to a number of users complaining about notices sent by the service.

Hide My IP VPN Reddit 1

The fact that the service served this notice was testament that Hide My IP actually logs user activity. Users were generally warned to stay away from the service and opt for better alternatives.

Hide My IP VPN Reddit 2

Customer Support

Hide My IP does appear to have a decently user-friendly element to its websites. On the website itself, users can easily connect to an official representative thanks to a 24/7 live chat support function. Similarly, there are features to help in terms of IP leak tests as well as a free proxy list.

Similarly, there is an FAQ section that can assist users with some generic queries. However, for more in-depth answers, users can easily email the service at (staff@hide-my-ip.com) The lack of a blog or news section was notable. Though that does not affect the performance of the service.

Hide My IP Alternatives

There are some nice features that some users will find useful. However, this service isn’t the full package by any stretch of the margin. The price structure is not as flexible as most importantly, the logging policy appears to be fraudulent.

Keeping that in mind, I would suggest users to look for other, more reliable options. In such a case, PureVPN would be the perfect option thanks to its extremely affordable rates, a strict-verified no logs policy, and numerous other equally important features.

Do I Recommend Hide My IP?

No, this would not be a service I would recommend to users concerned about their privacy. Hide My IP cannot reliably deliver the services that it proudly boasts of i.e. unblocking Netflix, no logs, fastest server speeds on the internet.

These issues are further intensified considering Hide My IP’s US origins, which would cast a significant shadow over its ability to properly protect users’ anonymity online. I would strongly adviser users to steer clear of this service and opt instead for a service like PureVPN or Surfshark!

Compatible with device: Windows, Android, Apple, , ,

One Response to Hide My IP VPN

  1. Anthony says:

    Free Trial really sucks! You have mentioned that it offers free trial but seriously it doesn’t even worth using.

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