hide.me vs Surfshark
Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit & Twitter discussions
Community Pick
Surfshark
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...
Surfshark
Winner
Approval Rate
52%
127 recommend · 116 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
413
Reviewers
344
Best for:
People who want a cheaper VPN that still works for streaming
Households with lots of devices
Everyday users who want something simple on Windows, Android, and iOS
Surfshark comes up a lot as a good-value VPN that’s easy to live with day to day. People like that it’s usually cheaper than the big-name alternatives, works well for streaming (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube...
Performance by Use Case
| Use Case | hide.me | Winner | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | -- (1) | → | 68% (52) |
| Torrenting | - | → | 33% (7) |
| Privacy | 0% (8) | ← | 42% (86) |
| Censorship | 0% (1) | → | 47% (21) |
| Gaming | - | - | 33% (6) |
| Travel | - | → | 50% (2) |
| Work | - | → | 50% (4) |
| Router | - | - | -- (1) |
| Mobile | - | → | 50% (2) |
| Price | 100% (1) | → | 67% (37) |
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
Surfshark
Strengths
- Unlimited devices
- Good value for the price
- Works well with popular streaming services
- Generally fast speeds
- Useful safety features like a kill switch
Weaknesses
- Billing and renewal issues
- Support can be slow or unhelpful
- Some streaming apps still detect/block it
- Trust concerns about company ownership/jurisdiction
- Occasional location/IP accuracy complaints