hide.me vs Private Internet Access
Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit & Twitter discussions
Community Pick
Private Internet Access
Based on community sentiment and discussions
Approval Rate
25%
3 recommend · 9 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
156
Reviewers
150
Best for:
Android TV / Nvidia Shield and Firestick users who want a VPN that just works
People who want a free VPN option without constant upgrade pressure
Privacy-minded users who want basics like a kill switch and split tunneling
hide.me comes up as a solid, privacy-leaning VPN that a lot of people feel comfortable using day to day. It gets points for practical features like a kill switch and split tunneling (selective routing...
Private Internet Access
Winner
Approval Rate
58%
63 recommend · 46 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
159
Reviewers
128
Best for:
People who want a cheaper VPN that still feels full-featured
Torrenters who want port forwarding
Folks who use multiple devices (Windows, Android, macOS, Linux) and want one VPN for all of them
Users who prefer a VPN with a long history and lots of community familiarity
Private Internet Access (PIA) has a long-time fan base and a reputation for being a solid “everyday VPN” that’s usually easy to live with. People like that it’s affordable, works across Windows, Andro...
Performance by Use Case
| Use Case | hide.me | Winner | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | -- (1) | → | 67% (9) |
| Torrenting | - | → | 63% (8) |
| Privacy | 0% (8) | → | 46% (64) |
| Censorship | 0% (1) | ← | 25% (4) |
| Work | - | → | 0% (3) |
| Router | - | → | 100% (2) |
| Mobile | - | - | 100% (1) |
| Price | 100% (1) | → | 86% (12) |
hide.me
Strengths
- Kill switch
- Split tunneling (selective routing)
- Works well on Android TV / Nvidia Shield
- Free tier that isn’t overly pushy
- Privacy-focused reputation
Weaknesses
- Slow speeds for some people
- Price can feel high depending on the plan
- Server locations may not fit everyone
- Torrenting performance can be hit-or-miss
Private Internet Access
Strengths
- Good value for the price
- Generally easy to use on Windows and Android
- No-logs track record people point to
- Linux support (especially with the GUI app)
- Port forwarding and torrent-friendly features
Weaknesses
- Ownership and trust concerns (Kape)
- US jurisdiction makes some people uneasy
- Some reports of slower speeds or worse reliability over time
- macOS app/daemon can be glitchy
- Linux command-line experience can be frustrating