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Head-to-head · Free VPN Services

Proton VPN vs hide.me

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Proton VPN #1 in Free VPN Services 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 1 features Visit Proton VPN
hide.me #2 in Free VPN Services 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 1 features Visit hide.me

Proton VPN leads on 0 checks, hide.me on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreProton VPN · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth

Proton VPN scores higher on our rubric for free vpn services: 9.3 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.

Proton VPN is the better fit for best overall free VPN users. hide.me is the better fit for privacy-focused streaming and torrenting.

  • Proton VPN fits best

    Best overall free VPN users

  • hide.me fits best

    Privacy-focused streaming and torrenting

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Side by side

Feature Proton VPN 9.3/10 Visit ↗ hide.me 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 9.1
Ranking #1 in Free VPN Services #2 in Free VPN Services
Best for Best overall free VPN users Privacy-focused streaming and torrenting
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Money-back guarantee 30 days 30 days
Deployment Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support Email, Live chat, Docs Email, Live chat, Tickets, Community, Docs · 24/7
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Proton VPN 0/1 · hide.me 0/1
Ads on free plan Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Free data allowance Not checked yet Not checked yet
Free server choice Not checked yet Not checked yet
Free speed policy Not checked yet Not checked yet
Logging policy Not checked yet Not checked yet
Free device limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Unlimited data and an audited no-logs policy on the free plan
  • Open-source apps across desktop, mobile, browsers, and more
  • Paid plans add 10-device support, streaming, P2P, and NetShield
  • Free plan includes unlimited data and no logs
  • Streaming-optimized servers and torrent support
  • Broad clients with WireGuard and a kill switch
Cons
  • The free plan supports one simultaneous device
  • Free servers are limited to 10 randomly selected countries
  • Streaming and P2P support are available on paid plans
  • The Free plan has restricted speeds
  • Streaming support is listed with Premium — 26 months
  • Dynamic port forwarding is listed with Premium — 26 months
Our verdict

Proton VPN is a virtual private network service from Proton AG, a Swiss company headquartered in Geneva. It encrypts internet traffic, hides users’ IP addresses, and offers applications for web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome,…

Read the review →

hide.me is a freemium VPN service for individual internet users who want encrypted traffic, IP address masking, secure public-network access, censorship circumvention, streaming access, and torrent support. It offers native clients across…

Read the review →
  1. Proton VPNFree VPN Services 9.3Free plan
  2. hide.meFree VPN Services 9.1Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Proton VPN — where it wins

    • Unlimited data and an audited no-logs policy on the free plan
    • Open-source apps across desktop, mobile, browsers, and more
    • Paid plans add 10-device support, streaming, P2P, and NetShield

    Where it doesn't

    • The free plan supports one simultaneous device
    • Free servers are limited to 10 randomly selected countries
    • Streaming and P2P support are available on paid plans

  • hide.me — where it wins

    • Free plan includes unlimited data and no logs
    • Streaming-optimized servers and torrent support
    • Broad clients with WireGuard and a kill switch

    Where it doesn't

    • The Free plan has restricted speeds
    • Streaming support is listed with Premium — 26 months
    • Dynamic port forwarding is listed with Premium — 26 months

More comparisons

All free VPN services comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update