We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
Advertising Disclosure

vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Surfshark vs hide.me VPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.3/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 9.0/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Anneke van Aswegen
    Anneke van Aswegen

    Managing Editor

    Want to know the difference between hide.me VPN and Surfshark? They both proved to be great choices in my tests, making it a tough choice in a lot of areas. Here are the things you need to keep in mind before you pick one.

    First, the similarities. Both VPNs work well with most streaming services. While testing from my US hotel room, I could watch local platforms like Netflix, HBO Max and Go, and Disney+ securely in HD. I never experienced any slowdowns.

    They gave me equally good speeds too, though Surfshark was a little more reliable on long distance servers.

    This is probably thanks to the fact that both services also have a vast network of servers. hide.me has 2,400 servers in 89 countries, while Surfshark covers 100 countries with 3,200 server locations.

    Lastly, these VPNs have excellent security, including 256-bit encryption, MultiHop servers, and a kill switch.

    However, after hours of testing, Surfshark came out on top as a good all-around VPN at an affordable price.

    Our Score

    Features 9.3/10
    Pricing 8.7/10
    Ease of Use 9.4/10
    Reliability & Support 9.8/10
    Features 9.0/10
    Pricing 9.6/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 9.6/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.3/10

    With VPNs, you tend to get what you pay for. So when I saw Surfshark’s low prices, I was skeptical about its rave reviews. To see if it could actually live up to these claims, I tested every aspect of Surfshark, including its speeds, security features, streaming abilities, network reliability, and device compatibility. I also took a closer look at Surfshark’s privacy policy to verify its v...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    L
    Lucas Pinto Ricardo
    10.0/10
    Fast, reliable and unlimited

    This VPN is fast and reliable. It has a lot of servers in different countries and can be used in an un... limited amount of devices (it supports Linux, which is something very important for me). The software and app get updated regularly: note that I experienced some bugs with the auto-connect feature on Android that have been solved since then. With this competitive pricing, I would definitely recommend it. IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not including the customer support in this review, because I never had to use it. If I use it in the future, I will update this review with my experience. I recommend you to see other reviews that include it if it is important for you.More

    Latest negative user review
    T
    Tim S.
    2.0/10
    Don't waste your money on dedicated IP

    While the generic Surfshark servers work well, the dedicated IP is worse than useless. With it, I get ... constant captchas and some websites refuse to connect at all. All is fine once I reconnect to a generic or even free VPN. Support is friendly but hopelessly incompetent at getting the problem fixed. So the dedicated IP works exactly opposite as what is advertised, all while vacuuming money out of your wallet. Stay away.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 9.0/10

    Offering a popular free version and cheap premium plans, hide.me claims to be one of the best value VPNs in the world. But will the free version keep you safe online, and how do its paid plans stack up to other premium VPNs? To find out, I performed extensive tests on every feature that hide.me offers. I explored speeds, streaming capabilities, and safety with the free and paid versions. In ad...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    A
    Anonymous Reviewer
    10.0/10
    Best VPN for free

    It works perfectly fine, the speeds are good, and there are a lot of different locations. I have had ... no problems with this VPN, and I like that it has a 10GB data limit monthly (more than most competitors). I tried every other free VPN, but all of them are slow and aren't as fast as this one. In my opinion, download this VPN and you will be happy.More

    Latest negative user review
    P
    Penki
    2.0/10
    Not working with my Asus RT-AX88U

    Will not work with Asus routers - Hide.me Service has no Interest in compatibility with Routers. I ha... d to change the Provider from Hide.me to NordVPN and its all OK now. I had a Bad Time and now the sun shines on the VPN Sky - thanks NordVPN.More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.89/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    Starting price $2.69/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Surfshark is better because it offers more for less. Although both VPNs have great security features, fast speeds, and a large server network, Surfshark works with almost all streaming services. When I tested it from the US, it gave me fast speeds for streaming in HD with no lag.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    hide.me VPN is better because it has specific P2P servers and supports torrent activities. Surfshark also allows torrenting, but its automatic P2P servers can be temperamental. Both VPNs have great security, no logs policies, and kill switches to keep you safe while you torrent. But hide.me VPN’s high performing torrent servers give it the edge in this category.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Surfshark is better because it app works seamlessly on both desktop and browser extension. It also has simple guides so you can set it up on your home router. Although both vendors have intuitive apps for Windows, with options for split tunneling, auto connect, and kill switches in the settings area, hide.me VPN’s app takes a little longer to navigate, making Surfshark the winner in this category.

    Best VPN for Android

    hide.me VPN is better because it has impressive features on its Android app, such as 'intelligent reconnect'. Unlike Surfshark, if your kill switch kicks in, hide.me VPN doesn’t wait until you manually reconnect. The app rejoins the network as soon as your connection is fully secure. Although both VPNs have good Android apps with an easy interface, hide.me VPN’s advanced features give it the win.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Surfshark is better because it is a lot easier to install on Mac than hide.me VPN, which has some additional steps in the process (such as selecting the client from “Mission Control”, rather than it automatically appearing). Although I had no major problems with hide.me VPN’s Mac app, Surfshark takes the win in this category thanks to its ease of use.

    Best VPN for iOS

    Surfshark is better because of its dedicated security and ad block functions for iOS. Both VPNs have easy-to-use iOS apps with no-log policies, fast speeds, and widespread server locations. However, Surfshark’s Cleanweb feature means you get additional protection against malware and trackers on your iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices.

    Best VPN for USA

    Surfshark is better because of its reliable US servers that work with most streaming platforms. hide.me VPN also has many servers in the US and offers great download speeds. However, it struggles with slow upload speeds and high ping.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    Surfshark gives subscribers an excellent server network, good speeds, and robust security features for a fraction of the price of other VPNs. It has excellent device compatibility, and you can easily connect it to your router to use it with games consoles and smart TVs.

    hide.meVPN is also a good choice, with secure protocols, outstanding speeds, and it works well with many streaming platforms. However, its server network is much smaller, which is one of the reasons why Surfshark beat it in my testing.

    If you want the fastest speeds for streaming though, I recommend ExpressVPN instead. Its server network is bigger and more reliable than both Surfshark and hide.me. Plus, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free. It's backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can claim a refund if you don't like it.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with Surfshark
    Go with hide.me VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is Surfshark better than hide.me VPN?

    Yes, Surfshark is better overall than hide.me VPN. It has 3200 servers in 100 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.89 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between Surfshark and hide.me VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then Surfshark may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is Surfshark faster than hide.me VPN?

    Yes, Surfshark is faster than hide.me VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do Surfshark or hide.me VPN offer any deals?

    Both Surfshark and hide.me VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    As a Managing Editor at vpnMentor, Anneke van Aswegen helps readers quickly master VPNs. She aims to solve problems, whether accessing streaming platforms or protecting your data, without needing a computer tech.