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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

HMA VPN vs Astrill VPN 2024

Table of Contents

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Former Managing Editor

    HMA and Astrill VPN are two very innovative yet different VPN providers with a wide range of offerings. Both VPNs offer 24/7 support via live chat and provide key features like unlimited bandwidth, 256-bit encryption, and support for P2P file sharing. HMA and Astrill also both have free dedicated apps for MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android devices, and allow you to connect up to five devices simultaneously per subscription. In addition, HMA and Astrill both offer protection from IPv6 and DNS leaks and are ideal for bypassing tough geoblocks on US Netflix and similar websites worldwide. The differences between these two VPNs highlight the variety of approaches providers can take to creating high-quality VPN services. While HMA provides around 900 servers in over 190 countries, Astrill offers 320+ servers in 63 countries. Unique security features like Onion over VPN can only be found in Astrill’s service. HMA, however, offers more budget-friendly prices and a 30-day money-back guarantee, compared to Astrill’s 7-day refund policy. Keep on reading to see how these two VPNs compare over several categories to help you decide which is better.

    Our Score

    Features 7.0/10
    Pricing 7.0/10
    Ease of Use 7.0/10
    Reliability & Support 6.6/10
    Features 5.3/10
    Pricing 3.6/10
    Ease of Use 5.0/10
    Reliability & Support 7.4/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 7.0/10

    HMA (formerly HideMyAss) is a relatively cheap VPN that claims to offer more server locations than anyone else. However, it has faced some serious controversies in the past. Is it a VPN that can keep you safe and anonymous online? To find out, I performed extensive tests on all its features and explored its updated privacy policy. I also checked out several connection issues customers have rep...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    P
    Paulo
    10.0/10
    Excellent value for money!

    First, it's a full VPN. Very intuitive and easy app. Lots of connection options and without much loss ... of speed. The official website has the payment method in my local currency, with a localized value and thus leaving a fair value through the VPN. Thank VPNMentor for the product recommendation and targeted discount.More

    Latest negative user review
    s
    sumit
    2.0/10
    Zero Customer Service

    Billed me after not using the service for three years, no customer service response despite emails and...  completed web forms, I agree fully with the other reviews that this company has an old out of date product and no customer support. This is one company to avoidMore

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 5.3/10

    Astrill VPN is one of the most popular VPNs to use in China. But it's also one of the most expensive VPNs available and doesn't have a money-back guarantee. With such a big investment, is it still the best VPN for China, and should you try it if you're located elsewhere? After my tests, I can confirm it's an excellent VPN for China but falls short in other areas. It offers slow speeds and clunky a...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    N
    Nestor
    10.0/10
    Been using it for a long time.. but have to go

    I have been using Astrill for more than 10 years. Never had a problem. A couple of times I used the ch... at for support and it was excellent. However this is probably going to be my last year. Reason .... price. With the virus crisis I am unemployed and can not afford it. They do not give any kind of discount and keep raising the price year after year. I am not in China so I suspend it, I do not need all those features.More

    Latest negative user review
    J
    Jim
    2.0/10
    Don’t even think of it if you own Apple products

    Worst VPN ever. Unreliable, unstable. It’s utterly expensive. Forget about streaming. Apple products a... re almost useless with it. Technical support team answers are pretty much like “Why don’t you turn it off and on?”. Please don’t waste your money as I did. They don’t even have a refund policy!More

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    Starting price $12.5/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 0 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    A huge network with servers in nearly every country in the world, strong security features, and affordable subscriptions make HMA an exceptional and highly popular VPN. Astrill VPN also offers an innovative VPN service that includes some very strong security features, user-friendly apps, and servers in a reasonable number of locations.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    HMA is an ideal VPN provider for downloading torrents anonymously, offering dedicated P2P servers and unlimited bandwidth. Astrill also allows torrenting on its servers, but some sections in the provider’s terms of service are unfavorable to anonymous P2P file sharing.

    Best VPN for Windows

    We recommend HMA’s service for Windows because of the app’s minimalist design and security features like IPv6 leak protection and a kill switch. Astrill also has a user-friendly Windows app that features DNS leak protection and access to dedicated IP addresses at an additional cost.

    Best VPN for Android

    By providing a dedicated app with useful features like a dedicated streaming mode and servers in 190 countries, HMA has created an exceptional VPN service for Android. Astrill is also a very attractive VPN for Android users, with advanced features like a Stealth VPN protocol and DNS leak protection.

    Best VPN for Mac

    We recommend HMA’s robust VPN service for MacOS, as the powerful app offers strong encryption, a kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, and support for multiple VPN protocols. Astrill competes with its innovative VPN service for MacOS that features Onion over VPN and free port scanning.

    Best VPN for iOS

    HMA provides a very attractive VPN service for iOS users. The dedicated app includes a preconfigured streaming mode, access to over 900 servers, and a kill switch. Astrill’s VPN app for iOS includes split tunneling, with a smart mode that allows you decide which traffic should be sent through the VPN connection.

    Best VPN for USA

    The speed of HMA’s dedicated US servers and their ability to seamlessly unblock Netflix and hundreds of similar websites makes HMA our preferred VPN for the USA. Astrill also offers a reliable VPN service for the USA, with high-speed servers that reduce the likelihood of buffering.

    The Bottom Line

    Although both of these VPN providers boast a fine array of features, HMA wins this comparison by offering more budget-friendly subscription plans, a larger network, and world-class 24/7 live chat support. Furthermore, whether you’re browsing, streaming, or downloading torrents, HMA connects you to very fast servers for every purpose. Only the very best VPNs can compete with HMA, although things get a little more interesting when the champion of this comparison goes up against the likes of ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    FAQ

    Is HMA VPN better than Astrill VPN?

    Yes, HMA VPN is better overall than Astrill VPN. It has 1110 servers in 210 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between HMA VPN and Astrill VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then HMA VPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is HMA VPN faster than Astrill VPN?

    Yes, HMA VPN is faster than Astrill VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do HMA VPN or Astrill VPN offer any deals?

    Both HMA VPN and Astrill VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 82% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Kristina Perunicic is a former editor for vpnMentor. She’s a cybersecurity expert with an interest in VPNs and their importance in the digital privacy landscape.