Private Internet Access vs HMA VPN 2024

James Everard

Senior Writer

It would be hard to pick 2 more contrasting VPNs, with chasms between them regarding speed, customer service, streaming capabilities, and ease of use. For once, though, there is a very clear winner.

Nevertheless, we didn’t shirk the detail, putting both services through a rigorous program of testing. We looked at streaming, file-sharing, and gaming capabilities, before inspecting a broad range of metrics to confirm our findings.

Private Internet Access (PIA) is the better VPN in almost every regard. It’s faster, more reliable, and better for practically every online activity. On top of all that, it’s also the cheaper option. See it for yourself for free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

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Streaming — A Considerable Win for PIA

PIA is a decent streaming service that can safely access a lot of popular platforms in HD from anywhere. However, it didn’t work with Netflix or Disney+ in our tests, and it isn’t always consistent with iPlayer (but it worked this time). By contrast, though, HMA hardly works with any streaming platforms at all. In fact, we were surprised it even worked with Netflix.

PIA also has 2 streaming servers for the US — East and West

PIA offers specialty streaming servers for 11 countries, including the US, UK, Germany, and Japan. You can find them by typing “streaming” into the search box on the server list. HMA offers one streaming server each for the UK and Germany and 4 for the US. Nevertheless, it failed to work with the majority of platforms we threw at it.

HMA's streaming servers are intuitively grouped and easy to find

Smart DNS is another area where PIA outshines HMA. PIA’s version is easier to set up and more effective at managing different streaming requirements. It offers additional settings that enhance your experience, making it more adaptable to your needs. HMA’s Smart DNS can be cumbersome to configure and sometimes less reliable in performance.

Winner

PIA is the better choice for streaming because it consistently provides faster speeds, broader device support, and more reliable server connections.

Server Network — PIA’s is Vastly Superior

PIA boasts over 29,650 servers compared to HMA's 1,110, covering more ground with a significantly denser network. This extensive network means PIA can offer you better connectivity and reduced latency. HMA, although present in more countries, doesn’t provide the same level of robustness.

Both VPNs employ virtual servers that can give you an IP of the corresponding country. In the case of PIA, the virtual servers are clearly marked with a globe icon beside the country in the server list. With HMA, you have to connect first, then click on the i symbol. Plus, more of PIA’s servers are in physical locations.

PIA also allows for far more versatility with its network, with features such as Multi-Hop. This allows you to spool your data through a VPN and a proxy server to double your privacy. Dedicated (private) IPs are also available for a small extra charge.

Winner

PIA stands out with its vast server network, providing not only a higher count but also a variety of specialized servers for different uses.

Speed — PIA is Significantly Faster

Our UK-based tester had speeds in the region of 240 Mbps. Numerous servers were tested over a period of weeks. They used the fastest protocol for each VPN, which is WireGuard for PIA and OpenVPN for HMA. Note that you can’t select protocols for HMA, OpenVPN is automatically selected when you use a regular server.

PIA's local ping speeds were impressive at 24 ms

PIA has solid speeds, with losses of under 25% for all European locations tested. The biggest loss was 55% from Singapore, but that’s over 6,800 miles away. It’s still an impressive speed considering Singapore is a physical server location.

Strangely, HMA's upload speeds were a little faster than PIA's on average

By stark contrast, PIA’s worst speed matches HMA’s best. HMA’s 55% speed drop from a local server is among the slowest we’ve seen from a premium VPN. Again, the slowest speed recorded was from Singapore, but in HMA’s case, the loss was a staggering 96%.

Alongside its small server network, HMA’s use of OpenVPN may account for its ponderous speeds. It’s a dated protocol, and most premium VPNs offer a speed-based alternative. For example, PIA uses the industry-standard, open-source protocol for speed, WireGuard.

Here is a brief summary of our speed tests:

Winner

PIA more than doubles HMA in the all-important local speeds metric. It also outpaces its competitor across most distances.

Gaming — A Narrow Win for PIA

When you play games using PIA, you might appreciate its consistent speeds, which are crucial for gaming without interruptions. Both VPNs support a wide range of routers, but you might find PIA more straightforward to configure, offering detailed setup guides.

HMA provided slightly lower ping times over mid-distance in the US, which is essential for fast-paced games. However, I've observed that PIA's performance is equally reliable, ensuring smooth gameplay with minimal lag. Each VPN boasts robust anti-DDoS protections if you frequently engage in competitive gaming where security is paramount.

I recommend the WireGuard protocol for smooth gaming (HMA only has OpenVPN)

Winner

Considering the overall gaming performance, PIA stands out as the better choice for most gamers. It not only provides slightly more reliable connections and robust security features but also supports a wider range of router configurations.

Torrenting — PIA Offers Faster Downloads

If you install popular torrenting clients like qBittorrent, Vuze, and Deluge, PIA typically offers a smoother setup and more stable downloads than HMA. Hardly surprising since HMA has just 8 P2P-optimized servers, whereas PIA’s entire fleet of 29,650 servers supports file sharing.

PIA also stands out with its easy-to-use port forwarding feature, which makes it simple and more effective in facilitating speedy and smooth P2P file sharing. Conversely, HMA doesn’t offer this feature at all.

Please note that only public domain files were downloaded during testing. Myself and the team at vpnMentor are strongly opposed to copyright infringement.

Winner

PIA surpasses HMA in several key aspects of torrenting, providing a more user-friendly experience with easier setup and more reliable performance.

Security — PIA Offers Greater Protection

PIA supports the newer and faster WireGuard protocol, whereas HMA sticks mainly to OpenVPN. The latter has over 4 times the codebase of the built-for-speed WireGuard, so if speed and modern technology are priorities in your VPN choice, PIA offers you an edge.

PIA has a further advantage by using RAM-based servers, which automatically wipe all data upon reboot. This ensures that no remnants of your online activity are left behind. On the other hand, HMA has not explicitly confirmed the adoption of such technology.

To activate, got to Settings > Privacy > PIA MACE

You also get access to PIA MACE, a tool that blocks ads, trackers, and malware. It’s not the most impressive blocker I’ve tested, but it prevented over double the amount of threats that HMA did since HMA does not offer a comparable feature. Furthermore, PIA lets you switch encryption levels to balance speed and security.

HMA's encryption and IP masking blocked 21% of ads and trackers, which is better than nothing

Winner

PIA proves to be the better choice for security, primarily because it offers a wider range of advanced features, like WireGuard support, and additional tools like MACE.

Privacy — PIA Has You Covered

PIA offers a strict no-logs policy that doesn't store any data about your internet activity, setting a high privacy standard. Conversely, HMA stores connection logs for 30 days, including data transfer amounts and timestamps, which might concern you if your priority is anonymity. This difference in logging policies highlights PIA's commitment to user privacy.

On top of this, PIA has proven its policy under legal pressure, providing an extra layer of trust. HMA has a history of compliance with law enforcement requests, which might raise concerns about the stringency of its policy.

PIA's software is open-source, allowing for external audits of its security and privacy features. This transparency can give you confidence in the integrity of its privacy protection. HMA does not provide open-source applications, limiting your ability to verify its software independently,

Regarding jurisdiction, PIA is based in the United States, part of the Five Eyes Alliance data-sharing network. This might raise some privacy concerns. HMA, based in the UK, faces even stricter data retention laws due to its location, potentially posing a greater privacy risk.

Winner

PIA stands out as the better choice for privacy. Its strict no-logs policy and open-source software provide robust privacy safeguards, which are further validated by independent audits.

Works in China — PIA Might Work, HMA Doesn’t

PIA strives to offer a service in China, which not many VPNs can match. While it doesn’t promise 100% uptime, it carries a useful troubleshooting guide on its website. It has many servers, Multi-Hop, and a choice of protocols, meaning you have options if you run into connectivity issues.

Conversely, HMA doesn’t claim to work in China and doesn’t offer obfuscation, double-hop, or other methods for hiding the use of a VPN.

Please note that many VPNs and their websites are blocked in China. The government of China largely uses blocking to prevent VPN use rather than prosecuting individuals. There aren't any publicly reported cases of tourists getting fined for using one there. However, we strongly recommend consulting local laws and complying with regulations.

Winner

PIA stands out as the more reliable option for China. Its robust obfuscation methods, combined with a large and well-managed server network, ensure that you have better odds of maintaining access.

Installation & Ease of Use — Draw

Both VPNs take under 2 minutes to install across a broad range of OSs and devices. However, PIA stands out with its dedicated client for Linux users, making it more accessible if you prefer an out-of-the-box solution without the need for manual configuration.

Click the 3 dots to open PIA's feature-rich Settings panel

Both apps are clean and intuitive, but techies may prefer PIA for its greater range of features. On the contrary, VPN beginners may prefer HMA’s more basic app along with its fun, donkey-based branding. However, everyone will prefer PIA’s unlimited device connections on a single account, compared with HMA’s 10.

Click the cog symbol to open HMA's Preferences panel

Winner - draw

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Both VPNs are quick and easy to set up. Which one you prefer may depend on your technical preferences; PIA has some complex, in-depth features, whereas HMA is simple and basic.

Reliability & Support — PIA is Miles Ahead

Both VPN apps are reliable. I’ve never had to reinstall either app due to perpetual problems, and I never experienced an issue with either of them crashing. However, there is a chasm between them when it comes to support.

PIA offers a reliable 24/7 live chat feature on its website. Agents are quick to respond and knowledgeable. You just need to type in your email address to connect. Its website also has tons of information should you run into any issues.

HMA doesn’t have live chat, and it didn’t respond to our communications via the request form. That’s very poor for a premium VPN. Worse still, the latest update on its website’s news section is from January 2021. It seems HMA is still happy to take your money, but it won’t take your questions.

Winner

PIA stands out as the better choice for reliability and support due to its extensive and detailed support documentation and resources, and immediate response via live chat. By contrast, it almost feels like HMA has given up.

Pricing

	Private Internet Access	HMA VPN
Starting Price	$2.19/month	$2.99/month
Price (On Renewal)	$79 per 3 years (subject to change)	$431.64 per 3 years (subject to change)
Money-Back Guarantee (Days)	30 days	30 days
Number of devices per license	Unlimited	10
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Easy setup with detailed guides	Manual setup

Both of these VPNs appear to have attractive starting prices that are below average for premium VPNs. Yet, despite being the better service in almost every regard, PIA is cheaper across all plans.

But that only tells part of the story. Take a look at HMA’s astronomical price on renewal. It’s not unusual for a VPN to offer a considerable reduction for the first term before hiking prices. But rarely have I seen such a huge markup.

I also have some concerns that HMA doesn’t offer one-month or even 6-month contracts. It suggests a lack of confidence in its own service — you can’t test it without making a sizable commitment. Sure, there’s a 7-day free trial, but that’s not long enough to fully test out the service.

Winner

Not only is PIA the better service, but it’s also cheaper by some margin. Plus, it offers unlimited device connections with every plan.

Our Methodology for Testing Private Internet Access vs HMA VPN

First, we tested each VPN for popular online activities such as streaming, file-sharing, and gaming. Next, we conducted extensive speed tests across a number of weeks. We also took into account server networks, security, and privacy policies. Finally, we assessed each VPN for ease of use and took a look at pricing policies.

For the full details on our testing criteria, check out our methodology page. It provides the lowdown on the methods our international team of digital experts employ to bring you the latest info on security tech. Feel free to use it as the basis for your own testing.

Private Internet Access vs. HMA VPN — Reddit Opinions

PIA gets much praise for its fast speeds, reliability, and privacy credentials. Many loyal users have been using the service for years. By contrast, HMA gets a lot of criticism. Many posters report the same issues we had with customer service. As such, there are numerous horror stories of users being unable to cancel contracts or use the money-back guarantee.

There was little or no positive feedback for HMA