Hide.me and Private Internet Access (PIA) handle transparency and new users in very different ways. Hide.me has a free tier with real value, alongside competitively priced paid plans. PIA built its reputation on a…
Malaysia-based VPN supporting WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP and SoftEther. Suits technical users who value protocol choice over reliable streaming.
Private Internet Access is a US-based VPN that had no user logs to hand over in three court cases. Deloitte audited it in 2025. Suits budget power users.
Hide.me and Private Internet Access (PIA) handle transparency and new users in very different ways. Hide.me has a free tier with real value, alongside competitively priced paid plans. PIA built its reputation on a no-logs policy that has been tested in court and on fine-grained technical control.
Only Hide.me has a free tier, with 10GB of data a month and access to 5 server locations. PIA has no free tier, but its paid plans are excellent value. On legal transparency PIA is well ahead. Its no-logs policy has been tested in court more than once, while Hide.me follows standard privacy practices.
PIA lets you set encryption levels, protocols and connection settings in detail. Hide.me concentrates on a choice of protocols and stealth options. PIA runs over 35,000 servers. Hide.me's network is smaller, though both give adequate coverage.
Both services are getting better at streaming, but neither puts as much weight on geo-unblocking as the premium competitors do. Hide.me's apps are easier to use. PIA offers more technical depth, which takes some expertise to use well.
The value on offer differs a lot. PIA rests on proven transparency and technical strength. Hide.me lets you try before you buy.
| Feature | Hide.me | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
Ad & Tracker Blocking | ||
Anonymous Payment Methods | ||
Connection Protocols | ||
Custom VPN Protocols | ||
Customer Support Availability | ||
Dedicated IP Option | ||
Encryption Standard | ||
Independent Audits | ||
IPv6 Leak Protection | ||
Kill Switch | ||
Multi-Hop | ||
No-logs Policy | ||
Open Source Apps | ||
RAM-only Servers | ||
Simultaneous Connections | ||
Split Tunneling | ||
Streaming Support | ||
Support Channels | ||
Torrenting Support |
Your budget and technical skill decide this, along with how much transparency you need. Choose Hide.me if you want to try before you buy with its generous free tier. It suits people who want easy apps and prefer flexible pricing to technical complexity. Choose PIA if you are technically inclined and want as much customization as possible. It also suits you if you value transparency that has been tested in court and would rather have proven legal resilience than a free option. For technical users who put proven transparency first, PIA gives better legal protection. If you are on a budget and still exploring, Hide.me is easier to get started with.
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