NordVPN vs HMA VPN 2024

Agnieszka Stec

Cybersecurity Researcher

NordVPN and HMA VPN (formerly Hide My Ass) are both well-known services with strong reputations behind them, but that’s where the similarities end. HMA VPN is a simple VPN with basic options and a controversial past, while NordVPN is a well-established service offering a wide range of features suitable for users on all levels.

To help you decide which is better for you, we compared the two services across various factors, including speed, streaming capabilities, ease of use, privacy, and security. We also put them through their paces for a variety of use cases, including torrenting and gaming.

While both VPNs performed well, ultimately, NordVPN came out on top. Its security features, streaming support, and robust privacy policy give it an advantage over HMA VPN.

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Streaming — NordVPN Works With More Platforms

NordVPN is a superior choice for streaming as it consistently works with the most popular platforms. On the other hand, we found that HMA VPN only works with a handful of platforms.

We tested NordVPN with numerous popular platforms, and it consistently delivered reliable HD streaming. Its impressive speeds allowed us to watch Disney+ without any buffering. Out of the two, we found that it was the best option for streaming in HD (or better!) from anywhere.

We could stream The Incredibles in lag-free HD

NordVPN stands out with its SmartPlay feature. It's integrated into the VPN's standard apps and combines the features of a VPN and smart DNS. NordVPN also has a separate smart DNS service, which you can use with devices that don't support native VPN apps, like older smart TVs and gaming consoles. With just a few steps, you can stream in HD on all your devices from anywhere.

HMA VPN doesn’t support many popular services despite offering streaming-optimized servers in Germany, the UK, and the US. In our tests with Netflix, we were only able to watch Netflix Originals. We couldn’t stream Disney+ or Hulu at all. However, when it works, it works well, and we watched Amazon Prime Video in HD with no issues.

With HMA VPN we could watch The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh in HD

Winner

NordVPN is our top pick for streaming, as it can securely access a range of popular streaming platforms in HD from anywhere. HMA VPN struggled with platforms like Netflix, but when it worked, it worked well.

Server Network — NordVPN Wins With Colocated Servers

Both VPNs have extensive server networks across the globe. HMA VPN has servers in twice as many locations as NordVPN but not as many servers overall as its competitor.

However, HMA VPN servers are mostly virtual, which means they can be located anywhere. This can be beneficial for countries with tricky VPN laws like India but in general, physical servers are preferred due to better stability. Since you don’t know where the virtual server actually is (because HMA doesn’t tell you), it’s hard to predict how big of a speed drop or latency spike you'll get.

In comparison, the majority of NordVPN’s server network is physical. While it operates some virtual servers, it maintains a list of where these servers are actually located, which is generally relatively close to the country they are for.

On top of this, NordVPN utilizes colocated (self-owned) servers, and it’s working to expand this setup across its entire network. This approach improves privacy by avoiding the use of third-party rental servers.

Unlike HMA VPN, NordVPN also provides dedicated IP addresses, available for an extra monthly fee in locations such as the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and France. In contrast to regular, public IPs, dedicated IPs are unique to you. They contribute to greater privacy and a lower risk of the IP being blocked by some services.

Winner

Although HMA VPN beats NordVPN when it comes to the number of server locations, NordVPN has a slight edge with its colocated servers and dedicated IPs.

Speed — HMA VPN Is Slightly Faster

Our US-based speed tester evaluated the speed of both VPNs by testing servers both nearby and far away, including in the US, the UK, and Japan. For the tests, we used the NordLynx protocol with NordVPN and the WireGuard protocol with HMA VPN, as these are their fastest options. We started with an average download speed of 230 Mbps.

The ping on a nearby US server was also really good

Of the two, HMA VPN performed better in our tests, but it’s worth noting that both VPNs are very fast. As a general guideline, download speeds of 100 Mbps or more and upload speeds of at least 10 Mbps are typically sufficient for nearly all online activities, and both VPNs gave us this.

We were pleasantly surprised by HMA's performance

That said, we had to give the win to HMA VPN because it was consistently faster in our tests. Take a look at the table for a more detailed breakdown:

Winner

Although NordVPN isn’t by any means a slow VPN, HMA VPN was generally faster on both nearby and long-distance servers, which might be due to the actual physical locations of its virtual servers.

Gaming — NordVPN Steals the Win With Long-Distance Low Latency

The critical factor when considering a VPN for gaming is ping, which indicates the network latency or delay between a player's actions and the server's response. Low ping rates under 100 ms make a VPN suitable for fast-paced gameplay. Our speed tester recorded latency on several servers, starting with a ping of 3 ms.

Both NordVPN and HMA VPN are solid options for gaming on nearby servers, and I experienced no lag while playing Stumble Guys.

My character responded to my commands without delays

As the server distance increased, however, latency became more noticeable with both VPNs — a common issue when using long-distance servers. Despite this, HMA VPN’s latency rates started to outstrip NordVPN’s, giving us nearly double the lag on long-distance servers. While you wouldn’t be able to use either to play fast-paced multiplayer games at this distance, it’s an indication that NordVPN is using higher-quality server hardware.

Here’s a breakdown of our test results:

Winner

NordVPN only just steals the win here, as while both VPNs perform extremely well on nearby servers, HMA VPN has nearly twice as much latency on long-distance connections.

Torrenting — NordVPN Wins With More P2P Servers

NordVPN is the clear choice for torrenting. While it only allows P2P on its optimized servers, these are available in almost all of its covered locations, which means you’ll get great speeds no matter where you are. In comparison, HMA VPN only has 8 P2P-optimized servers located in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the UK, and the US.

Despite the latter’s smaller number of torrenting servers, both VPNs are fast. I downloaded a 1 GB copyright-free file with HMA VPN in under 5 seconds and with NordVPN in under 7 seconds.

Unfortunately, neither service supports port forwarding. This can increase your speeds, but some consider it a security risk, so this might not be a dealbreaker for you.

NordVPN also offers SOCKS5 proxies that you can integrate directly within your torrenting client. This can improve your speed since it doesn’t encrypt your data, which typically causes some reduction in performance.

Keep in mind that while torrenting is legal in many areas, downloading copyrighted content is illegal almost everywhere. Make sure to use your VPN responsibly and adhere to the laws in your region.

Winner

NordVPN wins with a larger number of P2P-optimized servers and SOCKS5 proxies that you can set up directly in your torrenting client.

Security — NordVPN Has More Advanced Features

When it comes to essential security features, both VPNs have you covered. However, NordVPN has more to offer to keep you safe.

Both VPNs offer the industry-standard security protocol OpenVPN. NordVPN also has its own NordLynx protocol. This was built on top of the popular WireGuard protocol to fix security vulnerabilities, so it provides excellent speeds and superior security. HMA VPN uses WireGuard and Mimic (stealth protocol), but they’re only available on Windows.

NordVPN has specialized servers, like Onion Over VPN servers, allowing you to access the dark web using any standard browser without requiring you to download Tor. It also has a Double VPN feature for extra security — it encrypts your data twice by routing your traffic through two VPN servers instead of one. HMA VPN has no security-focused optimized servers.

You can also use the search bar to save from scrolling

NordVPN’s Threat Protection uses DNS filtering to block ads, trackers, and malicious domains while you’re connected to a server. While this is powerful on its own, if you upgrade to the Plus or Ultimate plan, you’ll get access to Threat Protection Pro. This also scans your device for malware and security vulnerabilities, and it works even without a connection. HMA VPN also offers an ad blocker, but only with its browser extension.

I like HMA VPN’s IP Shuffle feature. It automatically rotates your IP address without disconnecting you from the VPN. Changing your IP address adds an extra layer of protection, as it makes it harder for trackers or any unwanted individuals to follow you online. If you want to shuffle your IP address through NordVPN, you’d have to disconnect and reconnect.

To turn on the feature, go to Privacy > Preferences

Finally, NordVPN has recently updated its Linux app with post-quantum cryptography, which aims to protect you against attacks launched from quantum computers. These devices are still in their infancy, but few VPNs (like ExpressVPN and NordVPN) have thought this far ahead.

Winner

NordVPN wins with more security features and specialized servers like Onion Over VPN and Double VPN.

Privacy — NordVPN’s Audit Record Outstrips HMA VPN

Both NordVPN and HMA claim to follow strict no-log policies, which have been confirmed through independent audits. NordVPN's no-logs policy has undergone multiple audits by various third-party organizations, while HMA has had its policy verified through a single audit conducted by VerSprite.

In the past, HMA faced criticism for sharing user data with authorities on two occasions. However, since its acquisition by Avast, the company has revised its privacy practices, and no similar incidents have been reported since then.

Despite being owned by a Czech company, HMA VPN is headquartered in the United Kingdom, a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. It means that the company operates under UK jurisdiction, which has data retention laws that may impact user privacy. NordVPN is based in Panama, which is known to be a privacy-friendly country.

Winner

NordVPN has been audited several times and is based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction. HMA, on the other hand, has only been audited once and is based in the UK.

Works in China — NordVPN Might Work, but Not Guaranteed

Even the best VPNs struggle to work in China reliably, as it takes a lot of resources to keep up with the Great Firewall’s constantly updating VPN blocks. NordVPN doesn’t work reliably in China, and HMA VPN doesn’t make any claims about whether it’s available there.

In theory, both should be able to work — NordVPN offers obfuscated servers, while HMA VPN has an obfuscated protocol, Mimic. However, we can’t guarantee that either works in the country, so I wouldn’t recommend them as a reliable option.

Given the challenges of finding VPNs that work reliably in the country, it may be helpful to explore our list of top-performing VPNs for China.

Winner - draw

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Neither VPN works reliably in China despite both having obfuscation features.

Installation & Ease of Use — NordVPN Supports More Devices

Both VPNs are easy to use and install, but I found NordVPN’s clean and modern design more appealing. In comparison, HMA’s app feels a little outdated. It’s fairly easy to navigate, but its UI feels like a hallmark from the early 2000s.

You can choose servers using the interactive map, server list, or the search bar

HMA VPN’s app is very simple and has just a few settings available. There’s no room for major customization, but there are some options you can adjust to your needs. For example, you can choose to start HMA VPN when the computer starts (to always stay protected) or mark servers as favorites (so it’s easier to find them).

You can find your favorite servers in the tab on the left side

NordVPN also supports more devices and offers consistent apps across all major operating systems. HMA VPN doesn’t support Linux, and its iOS app lacks features like a kill switch, WireGuard, and Mimic protocols.

Winner

Both VPNs are quick to set up and easy to navigate. However, NordVPN apps support and are available on more devices.

Reliability & Support — NordVPN Wins With 24/7 Live Support

NordVPN offers 24/7 chat support, which is extremely useful while troubleshooting urgent issues. I also found its customer support agents were knowledgeable and friendly. When I had questions, they were solved in minutes. The only downside is that I had to go through a chatbot first.

You can contact HMA VPN customer support through a ticketing system. I received a response from an agent within 24 hours, so I can’t complain. However, live chat for paid services is the industry standard.

Winner

Live chat support gives NordVPN an edge over HMA VPN.

Pricing

	NordVPN	HMA VPN
Starting Price	$2.99/month	$2.99/month
Price (On Renewal)	$139.08 per year (subject to change)	$143.88 per year (subject to change)
Money-Back Guarantee (Days)	30 days	30 days
Number of devices per license	10	10
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Manual setup	No

Both of them operate at a very similar price point, but overall, I’d say that NordVPN offers better value for money. You’ll get far more advanced features than with HMA.

NordVPN offers both short-term and long-term subscriptions, while HMA VPN doesn’t have a monthly plan, and a yearly commitment is the shortest you can get. Both offer money-back guarantees, so you can get your money back if you’re not happy.

It’s worth noting that NordVPN offers 3 plans — Basic, Plus, and Ultimate. Plus and Ultimate offer a few extra features, like Threat Protection Pro and a password manager, but you’ll get all of the VPN features you need in the Basic package. However, I like that this is an option, particularly if you want a more holistic security suite.

Winner

Both VPNs are priced very similarly, but NordVPN offers far more for your money, along with more flexibility with your subscription.

Our Methodology for Testing NordVPN vs HMA VPN

In our comparison of NordVPN and HMA VPN, we evaluated factors such as speed, server availability, streaming capabilities, privacy, security features, and more. We conducted thorough testing to cover each area, providing a complete analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of both services.

Our team of experts carried out a detailed testing process to deliver accurate results. We invite you to check out our in-depth methodology page, where we explain each testing phase in detail. This will offer valuable insights into assessing VPN performance, reliability, and security and help guide your own testing efforts.

NordVPN vs HMA VPN — Reddit Opinions

Redditors' opinions about NordVPN are positive, with people praising its stability and reliability. On the other hand, Redditors seem to be suspicious of HMA VPN, and most of the reviews are negative — primarily due to its controversial past.

Redditors don't hold back with their distrust for HMA