HMA (HideMyAss) is a UK based VPN provider that claims a huge number of subscribers and a history few rivals can match.
It has undergone some changes and introduced updates since we last looked, yet there was always a dark cloud of controversy over its handling of user privacy. Are the updates enough to redeem it, or will this hidemyass.com review find the same service, the same dark cloud, wrapped in a shiny new package?
- 3400+ servers in 100+ locations across 65+ countries
- No-log policy since September 2019, verified by a 2020 VerSprite audit
- From A$4.39/month on the 36-month plan, or A$6.99/month on 12 months
- Up to 5 devices at once, or 10 with the Family Plan
- 7-day free trial plus a 30-day money-back guarantee
30-day money-back guarantee
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Pros
Cons
On the surface, HMA Pro VPN delivers most of the features any Australian user could wish for, and it provides decent speeds. Then you get to the grey parts.
US Netflix is one of the most visited streaming services in the world because of its large content library, and HMA used to open it without much fuss. Not anymore. In recent testing, independent labs found HMA could not reach US Netflix, and results elsewhere were hit and miss: one reviewer reached German and Japanese libraries, while the largest and most current round of testing found no Netflix region working at all.
The one streaming win that keeps showing up is BBC iPlayer, which HMA unlocks through a dedicated UK streaming server. Treat any Netflix promise with caution, because streaming support shifts constantly.
Torrenting is supported on dedicated P2P servers. HMA is not the friendliest advocate of downloading, though. Users have complained of slow P2P download speeds, and HMA has been known to send out warnings about accounts downloading copyrighted material.
HideMyAss Pricing
HideMyAss VPN only offers paid plans these days, ranging from 12 to 36 months, plus a 7-day free trial. There is no monthly subscription option. The trial costs nothing at checkout but reverts to a paid annual plan automatically once the 7 days are up if you have not cancelled.
Standard plans cover 5 devices at once, while the Family Plans cover 10. Prices below are in Australian dollars, verified 17 October 2026 against the official HMA pricing page.
| Plan | Term | Price per month | Billed as | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 12 months | A$6.99 | A$83.88 once a year (regular price A$203.88) | 5 |
| Standard | 36 months | A$4.39 | A$158.04 every 3 years (regular price A$611.64) | 5 |
| Family | 12 months | A$10.99 | A$131.88 once a year | 10 |
| Family | 24 months | A$9.99 | A$239.76 every 2 years | 10 |
| Family | 36 months | A$8.99 | A$323.64 every 3 years | 10 |
Prices in AUD, verified 17 October 2026 against https://www.hidemyass.com/en-au/pricing. A 7-day free trial is available, and a 30-day money-back guarantee applies to paid plans.
A 30-day money-back guarantee is offered for HMA Pro, and you can cancel online at any time. Payment methods accepted are credit cards, PayPal, and UnionPay. For security-conscious individuals, cryptocurrency is not supported. (Looking for a VPN that accepts Bitcoin?)
Key Features
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Servers
HMA runs 3400+ servers in 100+ locations across 65+ countries, with dedicated streaming and P2P servers included. That country count is far smaller than the 190 countries claimed in older marketing, so it pays to read the fine print.
A great deal of the network is made up of virtual server locations. This means the server you connect to is not necessarily where it claims to be, and reviewers confirm virtual locations are still part of the HMA network design in 2026. They can also deliver reduced speeds as a result.
Protocol Support
OpenVPN is the default protocol on Windows and Android, using AES-256-GCM encryption with 4096-bit RSA keys and SHA256 authentication. Apple devices use IKEv2/IPSec, built on Apple’s own stack, and independent testing recently confirmed WireGuard support in the Windows app. A legacy client still offers PPTP, but you should avoid PPTP altogether because it is no longer considered secure.
DNS Service
HMA runs its own private, no-log DNS servers, and the Leak Shield feature is designed to stop IPv4, IPv6 and DNS leaks. That said, there is no Smart DNS tool, so you cannot use it to unlock streaming apps on smart TVs or consoles without router setup.
Platforms Supported
Dedicated apps cover Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, plus Android TV. If you are a Linux user, there is a command-line script for configuration. The service can also be installed on some routers using manual setup guides, where it counts against your device allowance.
There is no native Fire TV app and no Smart DNS for Apple TV or games consoles, which is a real gap for Australian loungerooms. The internet router or Android TV route is the only way around it.
Device Support
The acceptable use policy lets you connect up to 5 devices at once on a standard plan, or 10 on a Family Plan. That is a big improvement over the old 2 device cap and matches what most rivals allow. If you deliberately exceed the limit, HMA can take a dim view of it and might suspend your account.
Privacy and Security
For Australian users, both privacy and security are crucial, especially with metadata retention laws in effect.
The headline problem is history. In 2011, HMA handed IP and timestamp logs to UK police in the investigation of a LulzSec member involved in the Sony Pictures hack, and reporting from TheBestVPN also notes a 2017 case where logs went to US authorities. Those incidents happened under different ownership and a far more intrusive logging policy, but they still shape how much you can trust the brand.
Things have genuinely changed. HMA updated its policy to no-log in September 2019, which means it no longer records browsing activity, originating IP addresses, or the VPN servers you use. Cybersecurity firm VerSprite audited HMA’s systems in August 2020 and awarded a low-risk user privacy impact rating, the best classification available. The small amount of data that remains, such as connection timestamps and bandwidth totals, is aggregated and not tied to any specific account.
Ownership matters too. HMA is operated by Privax Ltd in the United Kingdom, and it now sits inside Gen Digital, the company formed when NortonLifeLock and Avast merged in 2022. The UK is a Five Eyes member with intrusive data retention powers, which is why the strongest privacy advocates remain wary despite the audit.
On the security side you get a kill switch on Windows, Android, and macOS, though the iOS app has none. Independent testers have reported IP leaks on iOS and a buggy Windows kill switch, and there is no ad blocker, obfuscation, multi-hop, or dedicated IP option. Split tunneling and the IP Shuffle feature are only available in the Android app. That is a thin feature set for a provider that wants to compete in 2026.
Ease of Use
Sign-Up
If you wish to download HMA, the entire process is super simple. As soon as you sign up for an account, you are given a license key. Either this or your username and password credentials can be used to sign in to any app.
Setup and User Interface
Installation is a breeze, and then all you do is start the app and log in. The home screen shows your status, your location, and your assigned IP address. Lightning Connect finds the fastest server for you in one click, Auto Connect lets you choose when the VPN turns on, and the server list is grouped by purpose, including streaming and P2P categories. The old Instant Mode, Location Mode, and Freedom Mode are gone, and the current interface is cleaner for it.
Advanced Features
HMA does not provide many further features. The kill switch, Leak Shield, split tunneling on Android, and the IP Shuffle tool are about the extent of it, and most of those are table stakes or platform specific. There are no surprises here, but there is also nothing that gets the service ahead of the pack.
Browser Extensions
HMA does not offer a full VPN browser extension. Its browser tool is limited to an IP checker, which only displays your address and provides nothing in the way of security.
Performance and Servers
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Speed Test
Speed is where HMA still deserves credit. Independent testing from top10vpn ranks it 11th of 61 VPNs for speed, with a download drop of just 4% on a same city connection. Long distance results are less impressive: testers recorded roughly a 20% drop on routes to South Africa and Australia, and TheBestVPN’s 2026 testing found weaker results on distant Asian servers. HMA has run 20Gbps servers since 2019, which shows. If your main use is crossing the Pacific to reach overseas servers from Australia, expect a real dip.
Customer Service
There are two main options: browse the comprehensive knowledge base with its guides, FAQs, and video walkthroughs, or raise a support ticket. HMA advertises 24/7 support in English, but the live chat appears to have been quietly discontinued, and testers report email replies can take a very long time. Simple problems are usually solvable through the knowledge base without contacting anyone.
Is this the VPN service for you?
It would be good to say that HMA is the best VPN for Australia, but it is not. The audited no-log policy and the new prices are genuinely better than they used to be, and local speeds are good. Yet streaming remains a lottery, the feature set is thin, there is no kill switch on iOS, and the 2011 logging scandal still hangs over a brand based in a Five Eyes country. Add sluggish support to that list, and it still does not look like HMA has Australian privacy, or value, at heart.
If you want a more reliable all-rounder, NordVPN consistently unblocks US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and Disney+ in independent tests, and its no-log claims are independently audited. It costs more than HMA’s discounted plans, but you get a much fuller feature set for the difference.
Alternatives to HideMyAss
| Alternative | Best for | Why it beats HMA |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Privacy and streaming | Reliably unblocks US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and Disney+ in independent testing, with audited no-log claims and a much bigger feature set. |
| ExpressVPN | Streaming libraries | Consistently opens 18 different Netflix libraries in independent testing, while HMA could not reach US Netflix. |
| Surfshark | Streaming on a budget | Unblocked Disney+ on every server in its network during independent testing, with lower long-term pricing than HMA. |
Alternative verdicts drawn from independent lab testing (top10vpn, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HideMyAss keep logs?
HMA moved to a no-log policy in September 2019. It no longer records browsing activity, originating IP addresses, or the VPN servers you use, and cybersecurity firm VerSprite audited its systems in August 2020, awarding a low-risk user-privacy impact rating. Small amounts of aggregated data, such as connection timestamps and bandwidth totals, are still kept and are not linked to any specific account. It is also worth remembering that in 2011, under previous ownership, the company handed connection logs to UK police in the Sony Pictures investigation.
How much does HideMyAss cost in Australia?
The 12-month plan costs A$6.99 a month, billed A$83.88 once a year, and the 36-month plan costs A$4.39 a month, billed A$158.04 every 3 years. Family Plans cover 10 devices and start at A$8.99 a month on the 36-month term. There is no monthly subscription, but a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee apply. Prices verified October 2026 against the official HMA pricing page.
Is HMA VPN stronger than ExpressVPN?
No. ExpressVPN consistently unblocks 18 different Netflix libraries in independent testing, while HMA could not reach US Netflix in the most recent tests. ExpressVPN also has a broader feature set and stronger international speeds. HMA wins on headline price, with its 36-month plan at A$4.39 a month, but for most people ExpressVPN remains the stronger all-round service.
Does HideMyAss work with Netflix?
Mostly no. Independent testing in 2026 found HMA could not reach US Netflix, and the same lab found no Netflix region that worked, though one other reviewer reached German and Japanese libraries. BBC iPlayer is the streaming service HMA unlocks most reliably, via a dedicated UK streaming server. If Netflix is a priority for you, choose a service that unblocks it consistently.
