hide.me VPN — status

hide.me is a virtual private network (VPN) service that positions itself as a privacy-focused provider with a strong emphasis on transparency and security. The company’s business model is a blend of freemium and subscription-based services, offering a robust free plan with unlimited data, which is a significant advantage over many competitors that impose strict data caps. This free tier serves as a long-term trial, allowing users to experience the service's speed and reliability before committing to a paid plan. The company's headquarters are in Malaysia, a jurisdiction with privacy-friendly laws that do not require data retention. This allows hide.me to enforce a strict no-logs policy, which has been independently audited and verified. A key part of its value proposition is its commitment to transparency. The company has a history of publishing transparency reports detailing the number of requests for user data they have received, all of which they have refused because they have no data to provide. For users, the service offers a number of advanced features that go beyond a basic VPN. These include MultiHop for routing traffic through multiple servers for an added layer of encryption and Stealth Guard, a feature that prevents specific applications from connecting to the internet unless the VPN is active. This is more granular than a traditional kill switch. The company's paid plans, while more expensive on a month-to-month basis, offer a larger server network and up to 10 simultaneous connections, which makes it a compelling option for those with multiple devices. It also supports a variety of modern protocols, including WireGuard and OpenVPN, and is optimized for streaming and gaming.