HideMyAss is currently one of the bigger brand names that are available. Their popularity is owing to the internet anonymity that they are offering to their customers. The only negative aspect that we could find was that they are based in UK which means certain laws pertaining to privacy are applicable to them.

Pricing & Plans

Like most of the VPN that we have discussed, HideMyAss also has three different packages – for 1month, 6months and 1Year. They offer the same service on all of these packages with different prices and discount rates. Yes, it is on the pricier side but you are really getting the service that you are paying for. Amongst all of these packages, one for the whole year is better and if, in between, you happen to change your mind, then there is a 30-day money back guarantee.

Features

The company has over 590 servers in almost 70 different countries which translates to more than 73,000 IP addresses. The three most commonly used protocols – LLTP, Open VPN and L2TP, all are offered and you can make a switch easily between them.

Furthermore, they have developed a software for all of the leading operating systems and this is why they are able to offer at least 2 simultaneous connections.

Moreover, there are a few freebies too that they offer to their customers and we will talk about them a bit later.

Security & Privacy

The Website

It is true that the donkey logo thing in the beginning of the website is a bit much to be digested but other than that the website is pretty complete and the various services they offer, such as blogs, reviews and other posts, are a helpful addition.

Support

The customer support program is efficient although it is not present every day throughout the week. They will however, manage to answer all of your queries. 

The Process of Signing Up

Signing up as a first time user is a very simple process and it requires the user to provide only an email address and payment. After providing both of these things, the user is given links from where software download can begin.

The Windows VPN client

The downloading and installation of the Windows client is a simple procedure and is completed in a matter of moments. Once the software is downloaded, its ‘Dashboard’ will open up from where you can make the basic setting. You can see from the figure below that you are provided with a number of choices in the left menu.

1. Country Selection: make a selection of the country where you wish to be ‘based’. Use the list or the map as shown in the two pictures. 

• IP Address Settings: anything related to the IP address will be found here.
• Secure IP Bind: select the programs that you want to run when VPN service is on.
• Speed Guide: if you want speed checks to be performed for each of the servers go here and do it. this will help you select the server 

• Proxy Settings: Everything related to proxy settings is here.
• Billing & Packages: Everything related to your bills and different packages up for offer is here.

OpenVPN and PPTP comes built in with each of the package; however L2TP, has to be downloaded separately.

Performance (Speed, DNS and IP Test)

No VPN

Open VPN

PPTP VPN

Other Platforms

For Android users, there is an inbuilt accessibility. And Apple users can rest assured that there are support systems offered by the company for their products as well.

Android

The Android app uses OpenVPN as its primary protocol. Users with Google accounts can download the app from Play Store. However, those who are not registered with Google will have to do so first.

Free Services

Their free online proxy service is definitely worth mentioning as it changes the game completely. This basic service can really come in handy when performing certain web searches. You can even abandon their own proxy service if it is not great and you can go for any of the other proxies provided in the list.

1. An anonymous email address is allowed. This can stay valid from 10 days up to a year.
2. Check out the Proxy Extension, Panic Button and IP Checkeroptions below which are the different browser plug-ins for Chrome & Mozilla
3. Files up to 400Mb can be shared with this ‘Upload Files’ option.

Result

Positive Points

• You get a 30-day money-back guarantee with their service
• You also gain access to a little less than 600 servers in almost 70 countries

• Restrictions on bandwidth don’t exist

• Website is quite helpful
• They have a good VPN client
• Freebies make service better

Doubtful Features

• VPN protocol was not out of this world

Negative Points

• Some UK laws are applicable to their service

HideMyAss makes it obvious how much effort they have put in to build their reputation. For example, their Windows client is really really good. The mobile VPN apps might not be as good but they have shown constant improvement in their service. Their free services also make things very attractive for the users and they are also which attract the user to their service. 

Plans and Packages

• Monthly plan of $11.52
• 6 month plan of $50.66 where you are able to save up to 27%
• 12 month plan of $78.66 where you are able to save 43%

Vpn Protection Layers Protocols

Server Locations

The Positives

1. *HideMyAss offers unrestricted VPN access at an inexpensive cost. Also, be certain to check out the feature of “Secure IP binding”, which is something exclusive to the HideMyAss program which increases your security in P2P networks.
2. *Additionally to PPTP, they provide OpenVPN that is completely safe this means, all users can enter or unlock all websites in their exact geographic locations. As soon as you are connected to HideMyAss, you get a secure link which is established between your provider and also their VPN servers. Due to this reason, everything you do online is ‘encrypted’ and basically unidentified; every individual trying to break into your internet connection to take away any important information will never be able to enter your website because it is securely hidden.
3. *HMA IPs are being logged so, you can or might not rely on this if you are looking for the best security as well as you might not want to share files on the same or Bit Torrent networks on United States servers.
4. *HideMyAss provides multiple payment alternatives in the control panel. Users can also make payment through Credit Cards or PayPal as well as other methods like Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover and Debit Cards. You can also use Google Checkout and Alert pay to make all payments which makes process estremely easy for all.
5. *HMA setup is very easy to use. Starting off with HideMyAss is extremely quick as well s easy. All you need to do is to register and buy your plan via the internet. As soon as you have signed up on your website, you will be able to download the VPN client program from the members’ area and them fix or install it into your computer. The entire procedure is very fast and takes on some few minutes. As soon as you have installed the software, you can then set or adjust it to begin on system start up and you can link via HideMyAss on the spot.

6. Hide My Ass has a simple and very easy to navigate client area on its website. This means, you can see your account data in the online control panel. In this client area, you can see every single PPTP server, details for order and billing that HideMyAss provides as Premium account holders. You will be able to find links for download software in the control panel and also the available alternatives for Windows, XP/Vista, Mac OS and Linux. Additionally, they have download links for VPN client on iPhone/iPad and Android devices. This means, users get a very good level of flexibility to make use of VPN service from anywhere they deem fit.

6. You can be linked to the Help and Support section of HideMyAss in the control panel which is where you can talk to the team through live chat and emails. There is also an option to open a ticket or link it with a customer staff.

6. Has a quick and easy installation process.  As soon as you download the HideMyAss dialer from the control panel, you can install it and start using it instantly. In order to begin, all you require is to key in your username and password then, you will also need to choose the country of your preference. The HideMyAss VPN client is very impressive and has the best response rate. Because; you can quickly and easily select and modify the country of your VPN server, you can schedule your IP address modifications every 10 minutes, you can make use of a very secure IP bind that pushes exact apps to only link after VPN session and also you obtain Multi Support features which helps to change protocols very quickly.

6. HideMyAss has some of its VPN servers that are mapped out and very useful for visual authentication. This means, your physical location is also marked which helps you view the distance between all servers. However; you should note that, close servers need to be zoomed in to fully view. Also, you get the geographic recommendation of very close VPN servers to your exact location physically so that you can consider using those servers as you get the best connection with those. Mostly, the software will mechanically choose the server that is very close to your physical location to ensure you enjoy the best speed levels as well as the additional server group will also show the 10 closest VPN servers always measures in KM.

6. With the features HideMyAss IP settings come with, you are able to randomly alter your IP address at specific time intervals. The very minute you set a time in seconds or minutes, the HideMyAss software will give you a new IP address obtained from the HideMyAss IP pool of IPs. This means, you will always use a different and untraceable IP address online which means, no one can trace you.
7. HideMyAss has a very amazing client interface which is very simple and makes you link to servers in few seconds. This means, the software can be easily used by users new to the VPN world.

6. You are able to perform fast with HideMyAss because; you get to undergo various tests even before you choose the server you want and also the specific country you want. Switching countries can be easily done for free.

The Negatives

1. 1. HideMyAss has no trace route tools as well as no external IP shown on connections.
2. 2. User information after connection is not saved which means, security can be a problem.
3. 3. The speed of HideMyAss VPN is not as fast as you might want.
4. 4. The online client area is not very detailed but basic which makes it too easy to use and normal.

Conclusion