<top10vpns>

Private Internet Access vs Hide.me

Head-to-head comparison based on real testing data — February 2026

Winner: Private Internet Access wins in 7 out of 7 categories

WinnerPrivate Internet Access logo
Private Internet Access
8.9/10
Great
$2.03/mo
3yr plan
VS
Hide.me logo
Hide.me
8.0/10
Good
$3.45/mo
2yr plan
// BREAKDOWN

Category-by-Category

CategoryPrivate Internet AccessHide.me
Speed8.8vs8.2
Privacy9.2vs8.7
Streaming8.5vs7.5
Security9.0vs8.6
Price$2.03/movs$3.45/mo
Servers35,000+vs2,600+
DevicesUnlimitedvs10
Private Internet Access7
Hide.me0
// PERFORMANCE

Speed Comparison

Private Internet Access8.8
Hide.me8.2

Private Internet Access has a -12% speed drop while Hide.me shows -14%. Private Internet Access takes this category with faster real-world performance. Speed data is based on independent benchmarks across multiple protocols and server locations.

SPEED Winner: Private Internet Access
// PRIVACY

Privacy Comparison

Private Internet Access9.2
Hide.me8.7

Private Internet Access is based in USA while Hide.me operates from Malaysia. Private Internet Access edges ahead in privacy with a stronger overall privacy profile. Scores are based on no-logs policies, audit history, jurisdiction, encryption standards, and leak protection.

PRIVACY Winner: Private Internet Access
// STREAMING

Streaming Comparison

Private Internet Access8.5
Hide.me7.5

Private Internet Access unblocks 4 streaming services while Hide.me unblocks 3. Private Internet Access wins this category with more reliable streaming access across platforms. Streaming compatibility is evaluated across multiple platforms and server locations.

STREAMING Winner: Private Internet Access
// SECURITY

Security Comparison

Private Internet Access9.0
Hide.me8.6

Both Private Internet Access and Hide.me offer AES-256 encryption and kill switch protection. Private Internet Access scores higher in security due to additional features and infrastructure hardening. Security scores are based on encryption, protocol implementation, DNS/IP leak protection, kill switch reliability, and server infrastructure.

SECURITY Winner: Private Internet Access
// SPECS

Full Specification Comparison

FeaturePrivate Internet AccessHide.me
ProtocolsWireGuard, OpenVPNWireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SoftEther
EncryptionAES-256AES-256
Kill SwitchYesYes
Split TunnelingYesYes
Multi-hopNoYes
Ad BlockerYesNo
JurisdictionUSAMalaysia
Simultaneous ConnectionsUnlimited10
Server Count35,000+2,600+
Country Count9191
Speed Drop-12%-14%
Lowest Price$2.03/mo$3.45/mo
Plan Length3yr plan2yr plan
Streaming ServicesNetflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon PrimeNetflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+