Proton VPN vs hide.me (2026)
Head-to-head on price, speed, privacy posture and features - based on our independent reviews of both providers.
Score comparison
| Proton VPN | hide.me | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 9.3 | 8.2 | Proton VPN |
| Speed & reliability | 9.1 | 8.4 | Proton VPN |
| Privacy & trust | 9.8 | 8.6 | Proton VPN |
| Features & coverage | 9.4 | 8.6 | Proton VPN |
| Value for money | 9.2 | 8.6 | Proton VPN |
| Ease of use | 8.8 | 8.4 | Proton VPN |
Side by side
| Proton VPN | hide.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $3.59/mo | $2.59/mo |
| Service types | Consumer VPN, Free VPN | Consumer VPN, Free VPN |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland outside 5/9/14 Eyes | Malaysia outside 5/9/14 Eyes |
| Logging policy | No-logs, independently audited | No-logs, independently audited |
| Independent audits | Securitum (2025) Securitum (2024) | Securitum (2024) |
| Network | 12K servers | 2.6K servers |
| Country coverage | 117 | 96 |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Support | tickets, email, knowledge-base | chat, email, knowledge-base · 24/7 |
| Pay with crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
Which should you pick?
Choose Proton VPN if this fits: best vpn for privacy, and the best free tier anywhere. Proton VPN is the strongest overall package for anyone who cares why they are buying a VPN: open-source audited apps, Swiss jurisdiction, and a free tier with no data cap and no catch.
Choose hide.me if this fits: best free tier that does not ask for your email. hide.me is an underrated all-rounder: audited, Malaysian-based, generous with protocols and features, and its free tier asks for nothing at all, not even an email address.
Overall, our scores favor Proton VPN (9.3 vs 8.2) - but the right choice depends on which trade-offs matter to you. Read the full Proton VPN review and hide.me review.