ExpressVPN vs hide.me

ExpressVPN is a premium consumer VPN known for fast speeds, a large global server network, and a very easy setup, with an audited no-logs policy. It is a mainstream, polished choice.

hide.me is a VPN service offering both a free plan and paid subscription tiers, positioned around a no-logs policy and features like split tunneling, multihop (routing traffic across multiple servers), and dedicated IP options. Its free plan allows one connection and access to a smaller set of locations with unlimited data, while paid plans unlock roughly 91 server locations and up to 10 simultaneous connections. Paid pricing runs from about $9.95/month on a 1-month plan down to roughly $2.69/month on a 26-month plan, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee and a stated no-price-hike policy after the first term. Apps are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS, plus browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox and support for some smart TVs and consoles.

• Fast and reliable
• Very easy to use
• Large server network
• Good for streaming

• Genuine free tier with unlimited data, unusual among VPN providers
• Long-term plans bring the price down to roughly $2.69/month
• Supports split tunneling and multihop, features not all budget VPNs offer
• Broad platform coverage including desktop, mobile, browser extensions, and some smart TVs/consoles

• No free tier
• Pricier than rivals
• Fewer power-user features

• Free tier is limited to one connection and seven locations
• Longer commitment plans (12-26 months) are required to reach the lowest per-month price
• Fewer server locations than the largest VPN providers