ProtonVPN vs hide.me (2026)
We test both VPNs across speed, privacy, streaming, and pricing so you can pick the right one without guessing.
Best Free
ProtonVPN
★★★★4.5/5
The best VPN for privacy — with a genuine free tier
Free / $3.99/mo
Get ProtonVPNPrivacy Pick
hide.me
★★★★4.2/5
Strong privacy, audited no-logs, and a capable free tier
Free / $4.99/mo
Get hide.meFeature
ProtonVPN
hide.me
Servers
6,500+
2,000+
Countries
112
75
Simultaneous Devices
10
10
Protocol
WireGuard / OpenVPN
WireGuard / OpenVPN / IKEv2
Logs Policy
No logs (audited, open-source)
No logs (audited)
Money-Back Guarantee
30-day
30-day
Our Verdict
Both ProtonVPN and hide.me are strong choices, but they suit different users. ProtonVPN is better rated overall (4.5/5) and is our top recommendation if you want privacy. hide.me wins on privacy and is priced at Free / $4.99/mo. Check our full reviews below for the detailed breakdown.
ProtonVPN vs hide.me: Common Questions
Which is cheaper, ProtonVPN or hide.me?▼
ProtonVPN is the cheaper option. ProtonVPN is priced at Free / $3.99/mo while hide.me is priced at Free / $4.99/mo. Prices shown are for the best long-term plan.
Which has more servers, ProtonVPN or hide.me?▼
ProtonVPN has the larger server network. ProtonVPN has 6,500+ servers and hide.me has 2,000+ servers.
Which is better for streaming, ProtonVPN or hide.me?▼
Neither ProtonVPN nor hide.me is our top recommendation for streaming. Consider NordVPN or ExpressVPN if streaming is your main use case.
What is the main difference between ProtonVPN and hide.me?▼
ProtonVPN positions itself as "the best vpn for privacy — with a genuine free tier". hide.me takes a different focus: "strong privacy, audited no-logs, and a capable free tier". The right choice depends on which of these priorities matters most to you.