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Alternatives · VPNs

hide.me alternatives

hide.me compared with 6 alternatives: Windscribe, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, TunnelBear, Surfshark and 1 more.

hide.me has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.69 per month, billed $69.99 every 26 months at the same price on renewal. 4 of the 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.

6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
hide.meThis toolFree plan · from $2.69/moYesmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
WindscribeFree plan · from $3/moYesmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
Proton VPNFree plan · from $83.88/yrYesmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
Private Internet AccessFrom $47.88/yrNomacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
TunnelBearFree plan · from $3.33/moYesmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
SurfsharkFree trial · from $79/yrTrial onlymacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
PrivadoVPNFree plan · from $1.11/moYesmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

Price against what you get

hide.me starts at $2.69 a month and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 6 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.

Surfshark scores higher without starting lower. PrivadoVPN starts lower without scoring higher.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

C2.0B3.0A4.0$1$2$5$10$20More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lesshide.meWindscribeProton VPNTunnelBearSurfsharkPrivadoVPN

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of VPNs, and the best at every price

How each one differs from hide.me

  1. Windscribe

    VPN with a 10GB free plan and pay-per-location pricing

    • Windscribe starts at $3 per month for 3 locations (Build A Plan). hide.me starts at $2.69 per month, billed $69.99 every 26 months at the same price on renewal.
    • Windscribe is open source, according to its own site.

    Suits: Light users who can live within 10GB a month for free

    Windscribe vs hide.meWindscribe pricing and details

  2. Proton VPN

    Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap

    • Proton VPN starts at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88. hide.me starts at $2.69 per month, billed $69.99 every 26 months at the same price on renewal.
    • Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.

    Suits: Trying a VPN for free without a data cap

    Proton VPN vs hide.meProton VPN pricing and details

  3. Private Internet Access

    Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states

    • Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal). hide.me starts at $2.69 per month, billed $69.99 every 26 months at the same price on renewal.
    • hide.me has a free plan. Private Internet Access does not.
    • Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.

    Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows

    Private Internet Access vs hide.mePrivate Internet Access pricing and details

  4. TunnelBear

    McAfee-owned VPN with a 2GB free plan and pay-once multi-year plans

    • TunnelBear starts at $3.33 per month on the 3-year Unlimited plan ($120 paid once). hide.me starts at $2.69 per month, billed $69.99 every 26 months at the same price on renewal.
    • Only hide.me lists a Linux app.

    Suits: Occasional users who need a VPN for a few gigabytes

    TunnelBear vs hide.meTunnelBear pricing and details

  5. Surfshark

    VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles

    • Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23. hide.me starts at $2.69 per month, billed $69.99 every 26 months at the same price on renewal.
    • hide.me has a free plan. Surfshark does not, though it has a free trial.

    Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows

    Surfshark vs hide.meSurfshark pricing and details

  6. PrivadoVPN

    VPN with a 10GB free plan and ad blocking on paid plans

    • PrivadoVPN starts at $1.11 per month for a first 27 months (24-month plan); renewal price not stated. hide.me starts at $2.69 per month, billed $69.99 every 26 months at the same price on renewal.

    Suits: Light users who need a few gigabytes of VPN a month for free

    PrivadoVPN vs hide.mePrivadoVPN pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in hide.me

  • The free plan allows one device and 8 locations at restricted speeds; Premium is needed for 10 devices and all 92 locations.
  • The pricing page mentions 3-, 6- and 36-month terms but links to them only through a coupon checkout, with no price shown.
  • Bolt, hide.me's speed technology, is described for Windows only.
  • Prices are in US dollars and VAT may be added at checkout.
hide.me pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to hide.me?

The alternatives to hide.me in this directory are Windscribe, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, TunnelBear, Surfshark and PrivadoVPN. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with hide.me.

Is there a free alternative to hide.me?

Yes. Windscribe, Proton VPN, TunnelBear and PrivadoVPN have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Is there an open-source alternative to hide.me?

Windscribe, Proton VPN and Private Internet Access are described as open source on their own sites.

When were these prices checked?

Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.