HMA (HideMyAss) 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
80%
4 recommend · 1 warn
Data Quality
Medium
Reviews
13
Reviewers
12
Promotional Content
38% may be promotional
Best for:
People who want a familiar VPN for everyday browsing
Users who mainly need a different IP for general apps and websites
Anyone who wants something mainstream rather than niche
HMA (HideMyAss) gets talked about as a familiar, easy-to-grab VPN option when people just want to “disappear” online and browse with a different IP. It comes up in the same breath as other mainstream...
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 | HMA (HideMyAss) | Winner | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | -- (1) | → | 67% (9) |
| Torrenting | - | → | 63% (8) |
| Privacy | 67% (3) | → | 46% (64) |
| Censorship | 100% (2) | ← | 25% (4) |
| Travel | 100% (1) | - | - |
| Work | -- (1) | ← | 0% (3) |
| Router | - | → | 100% (2) |
| Mobile | - | - | 100% (1) |
| Price | -- (1) | → | 86% (12) |
HMA (HideMyAss)
Strengths
- Well-known brand
- Good for basic location changing
- Fits everyday browsing needs
Weaknesses
- Mixed trust when it comes to privacy
- Not a magic fix for TikTok/Instagram account creation
- Can get tricky with router or hotspot sharing setups
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