Windscribe vs Hide.me Comparison

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In the world of VPN services, Windscribe and Hide.me stand as noteworthy contenders. This article dissects the features, pros, and cons of Windscribe vs Hide.me to help you make an informed decision. Both are popular for their unique offerings, but choosing the best between them depends on specific user needs and preferences.

Overview

Dive into our in-depth comparison of Windscribe and Hide.me, two renowned VPN powerhouses. We’re putting their privacy, security features and speed under the microscope to help you make an informed decision. Get ready for an unbiased analysis, as we put to test their no-logging policies, encryption standards, and server speeds. No jargon, no fluff; just straight-to-the-point facts. Are you ready to discover which VPN truly safeguards your online privacy? Let’s get started.

Windscribe

Windscribe

Price: From $5.75/month

Trustpilot Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Refund Policy: Windscribe offers a 3-day money back guarantee.

Official website: www.windscribe.com

Windscribe is best for individuals and businesses who want to protect their online privacy and access geo-restricted content with a secure and reliable VPN service.

Learn more about Windscribe

Hide.me

Hide.me

Price: From $2.59/month

Trustpilot Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Refund Policy: Hide.me offers a 30-day money back guarantee.

Official website: www.hide.me

Hide.me is best for individuals who prioritize online privacy and security, and desire a high-speed, reliable VPN service for secure internet browsing.

Learn more about Hide.me

Windscribe stands tall with its feature-rich environment offering a secure and fast browsing experience. The R.O.B.E.R.T feature has been particularly impressive, blocking malware and ads effectively. It is a service characterized by innovation and reliability, justifying a top score of 5 stars! – Fernando P.

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Hide.me stands as a beacon of privacy in the digital realm, emphasizing user anonymity and security. Its steadfast approach to maintaining a no-logs policy, coupled with robust encryption, means I browse with peace of mind, knowing my data is secure. It promises and delivers a secure and smooth online experience, meriting a splendid 5-star rating. – Min-Ji

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Windscribe brings a fresh and modern approach to the VPN space, offering flexible configurations and a robust free tier. While it performs admirably, it would benefit from more consistent speeds across all servers. Nonetheless, a solid choice that warrants a 4-star rating. – Yuna Kim

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Hide.me offers a streamlined VPN service focusing on user privacy and security. While it maintains a solid no-logs policy, a more extensive selection of server locations would enhance its appeal. A secure and private choice meriting a 4-star review. – Brandon W.

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Pros & Cons

This chapter analyzes the benefits and drawbacks of these two Virtual Private Networks.

Winner is:

Windscribe offers unlimited device connections, robust ad blocking, and more server locations, making it a versatile choice. While Hide.me boasts strong security, its limited server locations and device connections fall short. Windscribe also has a more transparent privacy policy. However, both VPNs could improve their speeds. Despite some drawbacks, considering the overall features and values, Windscribe emerges as the clear winner in this comparison.

Windscribe

Windscribe

Pros:
  • Unblocks streaming services: Windscribe can unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.
  • Allows torrenting: Windscribe allows torrenting on most of its servers.
  • Has a free plan: Windscribe offers a free plan that includes 10GB of monthly data and access to 11 server locations.
  • Has a generous data allowance: The paid plans of Windscribe offer a generous data allowance, starting at 100GB per month.
  • Is highly configurable: Windscribe is highly configurable, allowing you to customize settings like the encryption protocol, the port, and the DNS servers.
  • Has a no-logs policy: Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy, which means that it does not store any data about your online activity.
  • Is user-friendly: Windscribe is easy to use and has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Cons:
  • Speeds can be slow: Windscribe's speeds can be slow, especially on long-distance connections.
  • Is based in Canada: Windscribe is based in Canada, which is a member of the Five Eyes alliance. This means that the Canadian government could potentially force Windscribe to hand over user data.
  • Has a small server network: Windscribe has a smaller server network than some other VPN providers. This can mean that you may have to connect to a server that is far away, which can slow down your connection.
Hide.me

Hide.me

Pros:
  • Secure: Hide.me uses strong encryption and a no-logs policy to protect your privacy.
  • Fast: Hide.me has fast speeds, especially on its dedicated streaming servers.
  • P2P-friendly: Hide.me allows P2P traffic on all of its servers.
  • Easy to use: Hide.me has a user-friendly interface and is available on all major platforms.
  • Free plan: Hide.me offers a free plan with 10GB of data per month.
Cons:
  • Limited server network: Hide.me has a smaller server network than some other VPNs.
  • Data caps: The free plan has a data cap of 10GB per month.
  • Not all features are available in the free plan: Some features, such as split tunneling and multi-hop, are only available in the premium plan.

Key Features

This section compares the overall features of Windscribe vs Hide.me.

Windscribe HQ and country of jurisdiction is Canada, and Windscribe supports Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and also offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Additionally, it supports routers and TVs that can be configured to use OpenVPN.

Hide.me HQ and country of jurisdiction is Malaysia, and Hide.me supports Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Winner is:

Windscribe offers unlimited device connections, robust encryption and protocols, and an ad-blocking feature. Hide.me has strong encryption but limits free users to a single device and fewer server options. Both have no-logging policies, but Windscribe's transparency gives it an edge. Windscribe's additional features, unlimited devices, and value for money make it the clear winner in this comparison.

Windscribe

Windscribe

  • Unblocks streaming services: Windscribe can unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.
  • Allows torrenting: Windscribe allows torrenting on most of its servers.
  • Has a free plan: Windscribe offers a free plan that includes 10GB of monthly data and access to 11 server locations.
  • Has a generous data allowance: The paid plans of Windscribe offer a generous data allowance, starting at 100GB per month.
  • Is highly configurable: Windscribe is highly configurable, allowing you to customize settings like the encryption protocol, the port, and the DNS servers.
  • Has a no-logs policy: Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy, which means that it does not store any data about your online activity.
  • Is user-friendly: Windscribe is easy to use and has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
  • Offers ad and malware blocking: Windscribe blocks ads and malware on all of its servers, which can help to improve your browsing experience and protect your device threats.
  • Has a kill switch: A kill switch is a feature that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This can help to prevent your real IP address being exposed.
  • Allows split tunneling: Split tunneling is a feature that allows you to choose which apps or websites will use the VPN and which will use your regular internet connection. This can be useful for things like streaming or gaming, where you want to get the best possible performance.
Hide.me

Hide.me

  • Strong encryption: Hide.me uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data. This is the same encryption standard used by banks and governments.
  • No logs policy: Hide.me does not log your IP address, traffic data, or browsing history. This means that your online activity is completely anonymous.
  • Fast speeds: Hide.me has fast speeds, even on its long-distance servers. This makes it a good choice for streaming, gaming, and downloading.
  • P2P-friendly: Hide.me allows P2P traffic on all of its servers. This means that you can use it to torrent files without any problems.
  • Easy to use: Hide.me has a user-friendly interface and is available on all major platforms.
  • Free plan: Hide.me offers a free plan with 10GB of data per month. This is a great way to try out the service before you commit to a paid plan.

Security Features

This section looks at important security features of Windscribe and Hide.me such as encryption methods, protocols, split tunneling, kill switch, and more.

Winner is:

Windscribe and Hide.me both offer solid VPN security. Both support IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols with AES-256 encryption, have ad-blocking features, and prevent IP/DNS leaks. Hide.me promises no-logging, but Windscribe's policy is more comprehensive. Both offer split-tunneling and a kill switch. However, Windscribe outshines Hide.me with advanced features like Onion over VPN, obfuscated servers, and Double VPN. Plus, Windscribe's private DNS adds another layer of security. Overall, Windscribe takes the crown for superior security features.

Windscribe

Windscribe

  • Strong encryption: Windscribe uses the AES-256 cipher with SHA512 authentication and a 4096-bit RSA key. This is the same encryption that is used by banks and governments.
  • No logs policy: Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy, which means that it does not store any data about your online activity. This includes your IP address, browsing history, and traffic data.
  • Kill switch: Windscribe has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This can help to prevent your real IP address being exposed.
  • Double VPN: Windscribe's Double VPN feature routes your traffic through two VPN servers, which can help to improve your security and privacy.
  • Obfuscation: Windscribe's obfuscation feature hides the fact that you are using a VPN, which can help to bypass censorship and firewalls.
  • Split tunneling: Windscribe's split tunneling feature allows you to choose which apps or websites will use the VPN and which will use your regular internet connection. This can be useful for things like streaming or gaming, where you want to get the best possible performance.
  • AES-256 cipher: This is a strong encryption cipher that is used by banks and governments. It uses a 256-bit key to encrypt your traffic, which is very difficult to crack.
  • SHA512 authentication: This is a secure hash function that is used to verify the integrity of your traffic. It ensures that your traffic has not been tampered with while it was in transit.
  • 4096-bit RSA key: This is a large key that is used to establish a secure connection between your device and the VPN server. It helps to prevent hackers eavesdropping on your traffic.
Hide.me

Hide.me

  • 256-bit AES encryption: Hide.me uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data. This is the same encryption standard used by banks and governments.
  • No logs policy: Hide.me does not log your IP address, traffic data, or browsing history. This means that your online activity is completely anonymous.
  • Kill switch: The kill switch is a feature that blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. This helps to prevent your real IP address being exposed.
  • IP leak protection: IP leak protection helps to prevent your real IP address leaking, even if there is a problem with the VPN connection.
  • RAM-only servers: Hide.me's servers use RAM only, which means that your data is not stored on any physical hard drives. This makes it more difficult for anyone to access your data, even if they were to seize the servers.
  • Obfuscation: Obfuscation is a technique that hides the fact that you are using a VPN. This can be useful in countries where VPNs are blocked or restricted.
  • Double VPN: Double VPN is a feature that routes your traffic through two VPN servers. This can help to improve your privacy and security.
  • Split tunneling: Split tunneling is a feature that allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN connection and which ones use your regular internet connection.
  • SmartGuard: SmartGuard is an ad blocker that is built into the Hide.me VPN client. This can help to protect you malware and tracking.
  • 256-bit AES encryption: Hide.me uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data. This is the same encryption standard used by banks and governments.
  • WireGuard: WireGuard is a new VPN protocol that is known for its speed and security. Hide.me is one of the few VPN providers that offer WireGuard.
  • OpenVPN: OpenVPN is a tried-and-true VPN protocol that is known for its security. Hide.me supports OpenVPN over UDP and TCP.
  • IKEv2/IPSec: IKEv2/IPSec is a newer VPN protocol that is known for its speed and compatibility. Hide.me supports IKEv2/IPSec over UDP and TCP.

Privacy Features

This section looks at the privacy features of Hide.me vs Windscribe in terms of country of jurisdiction (five-eyes surveillance) no-logging policy, independent auditing, and more.

Winner is:

Windscribe and Hide.me both offer robust privacy features. Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy, is independently audited, supports private browsing and crypto payments, and is based in Canada, a Five Eyes country. Hide.me also maintains a no-logs policy, offers private browsing, accepts crypto payments, but it's based in Malaysia, outside the Five Eyes alliance. While both are excellent choices, Windscribe's independent auditing adds an extra layer of trust, making it the winner in this comparison.

Windscribe

Windscribe

  • No logs policy: Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy, which means that it does not store any data about your online activity. This includes your IP address, browsing history, and traffic data.
  • Kill switch: Windscribe has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This can help to prevent your real IP address being exposed.
  • Double VPN: Windscribe's Double VPN feature routes your traffic through two VPN servers, which can help to improve your security and privacy.
  • Obfuscation: Windscribe's obfuscation feature hides the fact that you are using a VPN, which can help to bypass censorship and firewalls.
  • Split tunneling: Windscribe's split tunneling feature allows you to choose which apps or websites will use the VPN and which will use your regular internet connection. This can be useful for things like streaming or gaming, where you want to get the best possible performance.
  • No connection logs: Windscribe does not store any data about your VPN connections, including your IP address, browsing history, or traffic data.
  • No session logs: Windscribe does not store any data about your VPN sessions, including the time and duration of your connection.
  • No DNS logs: Windscribe does not store any data about your DNS queries, which are the requests your device makes to resolve domain names into IP addresses.
  • No payment logs: Windscribe does not store any data about your payment information, such as your credit card number or PayPal account.
Hide.me

Hide.me

  • No logs policy: Hide.me does not log your IP address, traffic data, or browsing history. This means that your online activity is completely anonymous.
  • RAM-only servers: Hide.me's servers use RAM only, which means that your data is not stored on any physical hard drives. This makes it more difficult for anyone to access your data, even if they were to seize the servers.
  • Kill switch: The kill switch is a feature that blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. This helps to prevent your real IP address being exposed.
  • IP leak protection: IP leak protection helps to prevent your real IP address leaking, even if there is a problem with the VPN connection.
  • Obfuscation: Obfuscation is a technique that hides the fact that you are using a VPN. This can be useful in countries where VPNs are blocked or restricted.
  • Double VPN: Double VPN is a feature that routes your traffic through two VPN servers. This can help to improve your privacy and security.
  • Split tunneling: Split tunneling is a feature that allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN connection and which ones use your regular internet connection.
  • SmartGuard: SmartGuard is an ad blocker that is built into the Hide.me VPN client. This can help to protect you malware and tracking.
  • No IP address logs: Hide.me does not log your IP address, which is the address that is used to identify your device on the internet. This means that Hide.me cannot see what websites you visit or what files you download.
  • No traffic data logs: Hide.me does not log any information about your internet traffic, such as the websites you visit, the files you download, or the amount of data you use. This means that Hide.me cannot track your online activity.
  • No browsing history logs: Hide.me does not log your browsing history, which is a record of the websites you have visited. This means that Hide.me cannot see what websites you have visited in the past.
  • No DNS logs: Hide.me does not log your DNS queries, which are the requests that your device makes to translate domain names into IP addresses. This means that Hide.me cannot see what websites you are trying to visit.
  • No payment logs: Hide.me does not store any information about your payment method, such as your credit card number or PayPal account. This means that Hide.me cannot track your financial transactions.

Speed Features

This section explores the speed features of Windscribe and Hide.me when it comes to server technology for download/upload speeds for streaming and torrenting.

Winner is:

Windscribe and Hide.me both offer decent speeds, but Windscribe edges out Hide.me in third-party speed tests. Windscribe has faster download and upload speeds, and its servers generally perform more consistently. Both VPNs can handle streaming sites and torrenting, but Windscribe's superior speeds make these activities more seamless. Hide.me is not far behind, but it often shows more variability in its server speeds. Therefore, based on these considerations, Windscribe is the overall winner when it comes to speed.

Windscribe

Windscribe

  • Large server network: Windscribe has a large server network, with servers in over 63 countries and 110 cities. This means that you should be able to find a server that is close to your location, which can help to improve your speeds.
  • Multiple protocols: Windscribe supports multiple protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, and Shadowsocks. This gives you flexibility in choosing the protocol that best suits your needs.
  • Configurable settings: Windscribe allows you to configure a variety of settings, such as the encryption protocol, the port, and the DNS servers. This allows you to customize your VPN connection to your liking.
  • No-logs policy: Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy, which means that it does not store any data about your VPN activity. This helps to protect your privacy and security.
  • Kill switch: Windscribe has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps to prevent your real IP address being exposed.
  • Double VPN: Windscribe's Double VPN feature routes your traffic through two VPN servers, which can help to improve your security and privacy.
  • Split tunneling: Windscribe's split tunneling feature allows you to choose which apps or websites will use the VPN and which will use your regular internet connection. This can be useful for things like streaming or gaming, where you want to get the best possible performance.
  • WireGuard: Windscribe uses the WireGuard protocol, which is a newer and more efficient protocol than OpenVPN. This can help to improve your speeds.
  • Automatic protocol selection: Windscribe automatically selects the best protocol for your connection, which can also help to improve your speeds.
  • Closest server: Windscribe recommends connecting to the closest server to your location, which can also help to improve your speeds.
  • Limit bandwidth: You can limit the bandwidth that is used by the VPN, which can help to improve the speeds of your other connections.
  • Disable kill switch: The kill switch is a feature that disconnects your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. Disabling this feature can help to improve your speeds.
Hide.me

Hide.me

  • 2100+ servers: Hide.me has a large network of servers in 81 countries. This means that you should be able to find a server that is close to you and provides good speeds.
  • Dedicated streaming servers: Hide.me has dedicated streaming servers for popular streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. This means that you can unblock these services and watch your favorite shows and movies even if they are geo-blocked in your country.
  • P2P-friendly servers: Hide.me has P2P-friendly servers that are optimized for file sharing. This means that you can torrent files without any problems.
  • Obfuscated servers: Hide.me has obfuscated servers that are designed to hide the fact that you are using a VPN. This can be useful in countries where VPNs are blocked or restricted.
  • Double VPN servers: Hide.me has double VPN servers that route your traffic through two VPN servers. This can help to improve your privacy and security.
  • Split tunneling: Hide.me supports split tunneling, which allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN connection and which ones use your regular internet connection. This can be useful if you want to use a VPN for some of your online activity but not for others.
  • 2100+ servers: Hide.me has a large network of servers, which means that you should be able to find a server that is close to you and provides good speeds.
  • 10 Gbps servers: Hide.me's servers are all equipped with 10 Gbps connections, which means that they can handle a lot of traffic without slowing down.
  • WireGuard protocol: Hide.me supports the WireGuard protocol, which is a new VPN protocol that is known for its speed and security.
  • Automatic server selection: Hide.me's automatic server selection feature will choose the fastest server for you based on your location and the website you are trying to visit.
  • Speed test tool: Hide.me has a speed test tool that you can use to test the speed of the VPN connection before you connect.

Streaming & Torrenting Features

This section compares the streaming and torrenting features and capabilities provided by Windscribe versus Hide.me.

Popular Streaming Services
  • Netflix
  • Amazon Prime
  • Disney+
  • HBO Max
  • Paramount+
  • Hulu
  • Apple TV
  • Starz
  • ESPN+
  • Peacock
  • Canal Plus
  • Discovery Plus

Winner is:

Windscribe and Hide.me both offer reliable VPN services. Windscribe excels in unblocking major streaming services, including Netflix and BBC iPlayer, and supports unlimited device connections. It also offers unlimited torrenting. Hide.me, however, has some issues unblocking Netflix but supports torrenting on most servers. In terms of privacy and security, both maintain strict no-logs policies. Both offer free versions, but Windscribe's comes with more benefits. In conclusion, for unblocking streaming services and torrenting, Windscribe is the clear winner.

Windscribe

Windscribe

  • Unblocks streaming services: Windscribe can unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. This is because Windscribe has servers in many different countries, so you can connect to a server in a country where the streaming service is available.
  • Supports multiple protocols: Windscribe supports multiple protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, and Shadowsocks. This gives you flexibility in choosing the protocol that best suits your streaming needs.
  • Configurable settings: Windscribe allows you to configure a variety of settings, such as the encryption protocol, the port, and the DNS servers. This allows you to customize your VPN connection to your liking.
  • No-logs policy: Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy, which means that it does not store any data about your VPN activity. This helps to protect your privacy and security.
  • Kill switch: Windscribe has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps to prevent your real IP address being exposed.
  • Allows torrenting on most servers: Windscribe allows torrenting on most of its servers. However, there are a few servers that are not allowed to be used for torrenting. These servers are marked as "No P2P" in the app.
  • No bandwidth caps: Windscribe does not have any bandwidth caps for torrenting. This means that you can download as much as you want without worrying about hitting a limit.
  • Strong encryption: Windscribe uses strong encryption to protect your torrent traffic. This helps to prevent your ISP or other third parties seeing what you are downloading.
  • No logs policy: Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy, which means that it does not store any data about your torrent activity. This helps to protect your privacy.
  • Kill switch: Windscribe has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps to prevent your real IP address being exposed.
Hide.me

Hide.me

  • Dedicated streaming servers: Hide.me has dedicated streaming servers for popular streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. This means that you can unblock these services and watch your favorite shows and movies even if they are geo-blocked in your country.
  • Fast speeds: Hide.me has fast speeds, which is important for streaming. You should be able to watch videos in HD without any buffering.
  • No bandwidth limits: Hide.me has no bandwidth limits, so you can stream as much as you want.
  • Easy to use: Hide.me is easy to use, even if you are not a tech-savvy person. You can simply connect to a streaming server and start watching your favorite shows and movies.
  • P2P-friendly servers: Hide.me has P2P-friendly servers that are optimized for file sharing. This means that you can torrent files without any problems.
  • No bandwidth limits: Hide.me has no bandwidth limits, so you can torrent as much as you want.
  • Strong encryption: Hide.me uses strong encryption to protect your data while you are torrenting. This helps to keep your torrenting activity private.
  • No logs policy: Hide.me does not log your torrenting activity. This means that your ISP or anyone else cannot see what files you are downloading or uploading.
  • Kill switch: Hide.me has a kill switch that blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. This helps to prevent your real IP address being exposed.

Support Features

This section looks at what kind of customer support you can expect from Hide.me versus Windscribe.

Winner is:

Windscribe and Hide.me both offer reliable customer support. Windscribe provides a live chat, email support, and extensive online resources, including a blog and FAQ section. Hide.me also offers email support, an FAQ section, and 24/7 live chat. However, Windscribe’s support is more comprehensive, responsive, and helpful, according to user reviews. Therefore, Windscribe is the winner in terms of providing the best customer support. This feature is vital in a VPN service as it ensures prompt resolution of user issues and concerns.

Windscribe

Windscribe

  • Live chat: Windscribe offers live chat support, which is available 24/7. This is the quickest way to get help a Windscribe representative.
  • Email support: Windscribe also offers email support, which is available during business hours. This is a good option if you need to provide more detailed information about your issue.
  • Knowledge base: Windscribe has a comprehensive knowledge base that covers a wide range of topics. This is a good place to start if you are having a problem and you want to try to troubleshoot it yourself.
  • Social media: Windscribe is also active on social media, such as Twitter and Reddit. This can be a good way to get help other Windscribe users or to get the attention of a Windscribe representative.
Hide.me

Hide.me

  • 24/7 live chat: Hide.me offers 24/7 live chat support. This means that you can get help a real person at any time of the day or night.
  • Knowledge base: Hide.me has a comprehensive knowledge base that covers a wide range of topics. This can be a helpful resource if you are having trouble with the VPN or if you have a general question about VPNs.
  • Email support: Hide.me also offers email support. This is a good option if you have a more complex issue that you need help with.
  • Social media support: Hide.me is also active on social media. You can contact them on Twitter or Facebook if you have a question or need help.

Check out how Windscribe and Hide.me stack up against other popular VPN services on the market.