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If you are looking for an alternative to HideMyAss (HMA) VPN in 2026, the four providers below are the ones with current, attributable details to compare: Proton VPN, Surfshark, NordVPN and Mullvad. This guide covers four rather than five. The dated, named-source details we could find for a fifth provider did not meet the same standard, so rather than pad the list, we stopped at four. The right choice depends less on a single ranking than on what you need a VPN to do.
This guide does not measure speed, leak behaviour or streaming access. Where a claim comes from a review or from the provider itself, the text says so.
What HMA says it offers
HMA’s privacy page describes VPN encryption and IP hiding, protection against IPv4, IPv6 and DNS leaks, and servers for streaming and P2P (peer-to-peer file sharing) use. These are HMA’s own statements. They describe what the service advertises, not how it compares with other VPNs, so use them as a baseline to check each alternative against.
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- Privacy and audit evidence. Look for a published privacy policy and an independent audit you can read, not only marketing copy. Proton’s comparison page discusses audit and privacy information, which makes it a useful place to start.
- Intended use. Streaming and P2P are separate needs. Confirm each one on the specific plan you would buy.
- Network reach. Check the number of servers and countries, and whether the locations you need are included.
- Devices and simultaneous use. Find out how many devices one account can connect at the same time, and whether that limit is stated in the provider’s terms.
- Total cost, including renewal. Compare the price after the first term, not only the introductory price. Prices change, so check the provider’s pricing page on the day you buy.
The four alternatives at a glance
| Provider | Free plan | Network figures | Device terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | Advertised on Proton’s pricing page. Proton’s free-versus-paid comparison says paid plans add streaming support and advanced features. | Not stated in the cited sources | Not stated in the cited sources |
| Surfshark | Not stated in the cited sources | Not stated for Surfshark itself. Its comparison page lists competitor server counts taken from third-party reviews. | No device limit per account, according to a TechRadar review dated September 24, 2026 |
| NordVPN | Not stated in the cited sources | Not stated in the cited sources | Not stated in the cited sources |
| Mullvad VPN | Not stated in the cited sources | 578 servers, 90 locations and 50 countries, according to a Tom’s Guide review published August 14, 2026 | Not stated in the cited sources |
The four alternatives, by need
Proton VPN: a free plan and public privacy material
Proton VPN is the only one of the four whose sourced details include a free option. Its pricing page advertises a free plan. That plan should not be read as a smaller version of the paid one: Proton’s own free-versus-paid comparison lists streaming support and advanced features as things paid access adds. Its features page covers streaming support, security features and NetShield, a filtering feature. Proton’s comparison page, last updated in April 2026, discusses audit and privacy information, so it is a sensible place to read the provider’s own claims.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
- Choose it if you want to try a no-cost plan before paying, or you want the provider’s privacy material in one place.
- Watch for plan boundaries that change. Confirm streaming support and device limits on the current pricing page before you subscribe.
Surfshark: lower cost and many devices
A TechRadar review dated September 24, 2026 describes Surfshark as a low-cost option and states that a single account has no limit on the number of devices. Those are the reviewer’s statements, not results from testing done for this guide. Surfshark’s own comparison page lists its features and competitor data, but notes that some competitor server counts come from third-party reviews, so treat those figures as secondhand.
- Choose it if you need one subscription to cover several phones, laptops and tablets, and cost is a deciding factor.
- Watch for a device claim that comes from a review. For a large household, confirm it in the current terms before you buy.
NordVPN: a vendor-reported test result
NordVPN’s blog reports that testing firm Artifact Security awarded it the only Platinum rating in its 2026 comparison of five large VPN providers. According to NordVPN’s description, the test followed the AMTSO testing standard and covered speed, leak protection, website accessibility, feature reliability and connection time. The rating is NordVPN’s account of third-party testing, not a neutral ranking. Before treating it as decisive, find Artifact Security’s own report and read its methodology and results.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
- Choose it if you want to weigh a third-party test result and can locate the original report.
- Watch for the summary’s wording. It is a paraphrase by the vendor, so do not quote it as the testing firm’s own language.
Mullvad VPN: a smaller network with a RAM-based design
A Tom’s Guide review published August 14, 2026 reported 578 servers in 90 locations across 50 countries at the time of writing. Those counts are dated and may have changed. The same review describes Mullvad’s servers as diskless, running from RAM. That is the reviewer’s description and has not been confirmed here from a primary technical source.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
- Choose it if the server design described in the review matters to you and the network size suits your needs.
- Watch for a specific country or city requirement. Check that location against the provider’s current server list before subscribing.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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