What is HideMy.name?
HideMy.name is a VPN service based in Belize — a small Central American country with no mandatory data retention laws and outside the 14-Eyes intelligence alliance. This makes it one of the more privacy-friendly jurisdictions for a VPN to operate from.
It's a smaller, less well-known VPN than NordVPN or PureVPN, but has been operating since 2012 and has built a reputation as a budget-friendly privacy tool for users who don't need top-tier speeds or streaming support.
Speed Test Results
This is where HideMy.name falls short of the top picks. Using OpenVPN protocol (no WireGuard available), we measured significant speed reductions:
A −35% speed loss on a 100 Mbps connection still leaves you with 65 Mbps — more than enough for Netflix (which needs 25 Mbps for 4K). For basic browsing and privacy it's fine. For gaming or large downloads, look at NordVPN instead.
Privacy & Jurisdiction
HideMy.name's biggest strength is its Belize jurisdiction. Belize has no intelligence-sharing agreements with the US, UK, or EU, and no mandatory data retention laws for VPN providers.
The VPN claims a no-logs policy but has not had this independently audited — unlike NordVPN (×6) or PureVPN (KPMG always-on). We found zero IP or DNS leaks in our tests, but the unaudited no-logs claim means you're taking their word for it.
Pricing
The 5-year plan at $2/mo is genuinely cheap. However, committing to 5 years with an unaudited VPN is a significant ask. The 1-year plan at $4.99/mo competes with PureVPN's 2-year plan — and PureVPN wins on features at that price.
Pros & Cons
- Belize jurisdiction — outside 14-Eyes
- Very cheap on 5-year plan ($2/mo)
- Reliable kill switch in all our tests
- Stable connections — no unexpected drops
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Significantly slower than NordVPN or PureVPN
- No WireGuard protocol — OpenVPN only
- No-logs policy not independently audited
- Streaming unreliable — Netflix hit or miss
- Only 5 simultaneous devices
- Smaller server network (1,000+)
Rating Breakdown
FAQ
Final Verdict
HideMy.name earns a 7.8/10. It's a decent budget privacy tool with a good jurisdiction (Belize), but the slow speeds, unaudited no-logs policy, and unreliable streaming hold it back.
Get HideMy.name if: You want the cheapest reputable VPN and mostly use it for basic privacy browsing — not streaming or gaming.
Consider PureVPN instead if: You can spend $2.14/mo — you get faster speeds, a stronger no-logs policy, and much better streaming for just $0.14 more per month.