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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.

Surfshark vs HMA VPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.3/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 7.0/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Former Managing Editor

    Surfshark and HMA are two very different services, each with its own strengths. The main selling point of HMA is a GIANT server network. With 1,110+ servers in over 210 countries, this VPN has the best choice of popular and exotic locations available on the market. You can get an IP address in almost any country on Earth. HMA was recently verified no-logs by VerSprite too, an improvement over its previous partial logs policy. Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands, which is a part of the 9 Eyes Alliance, but its privacy policy clearly states that no sensitive user data is ever collected. Streaming is smooth with both VPNs, thanks to great speeds. However, Surfshark currently takes the lead when it comes to streaming capabilities. It works seamlessly with Netflix and many other popular streaming platforms. Meanwhile, HMA isn’t as reliable when it comes to streaming. Surfshark also has a Camouflage mode for obfuscation. You’ll find great clients and apps, as well as live chat support and tight security (e.g. kill switch, DNS leak protection) with both VPNs. To learn whether Surfshark or HMA takes first place across the board, check out our detailed comparison by category below.

    Our Score

    Features 9.3/10
    Pricing 8.7/10
    Ease of Use 9.4/10
    Reliability & Support 9.8/10
    Features 7.0/10
    Pricing 7.0/10
    Ease of Use 7.0/10
    Reliability & Support 6.6/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Former Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.3/10

    With VPNs, you tend to get what you pay for. So when I saw Surfshark’s low prices, I was skeptical about its rave reviews. To see if it could actually live up to these claims, the team and I tested every aspect of Surfshark, including its speeds, security features, streaming abilities, network reliability, and device compatibility. I also took a closer look at Surfshark’s privacy policy to...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    L
    Lucas Pinto Ricardo
    10.0/10
    Fast, reliable and unlimited

    This VPN is fast and reliable. It has a lot of servers in different countries and can be used in an un... limited amount of devices (it supports Linux, which is something very important for me). The software and app get updated regularly: note that I experienced some bugs with the auto-connect feature on Android that have been solved since then. With this competitive pricing, I would definitely recommend it. IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not including the customer support in this review, because I never had to use it. If I use it in the future, I will update this review with my experience. I recommend you to see other reviews that include it if it is important for you.More

    Latest negative user review
    T
    Tim S.
    2.0/10
    Don't waste your money on dedicated IP

    While the generic Surfshark servers work well, the dedicated IP is worse than useless. With it, I get ... constant captchas and some websites refuse to connect at all. All is fine once I reconnect to a generic or even free VPN. Support is friendly but hopelessly incompetent at getting the problem fixed. So the dedicated IP works exactly opposite as what is advertised, all while vacuuming money out of your wallet. Stay away.More

    Read the full review
    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...

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    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

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $1.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    With strong 256-bit encryption, a strict no-logging policy, and fast servers, Surfshark earns high marks for security, privacy, and performance – the three aspects of a complete VPN. As a new service hungry for subscribers, it also comes with great extras like unlimited simultaneous connections. HMA is just as fast and easy to use, however, and offers the advantages of an established service, including access to the most far-reaching server network on the VPN market.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    HMA offers the nicer interface for torrenting, with a handy list of quick-access P2P servers. While its headquarters are in the UK (meaning it’s subject to Five-Eyes surveillance), it's strict no-logs policy means there's no information to share even if the government requested it. Meanwhile, Surfshark provides private torrenting via its Netherlands servers. We’d like to see more P2P-friendly servers in other countries added in the future, though.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Both VPNs make things easy for Windows users, but Surfshark deserves praise for its minimalist design and excellent features such as split tunneling and private DNS settings. HMA gives you far more options for server locations, a real plus if you live in a region where most of the big-name VPNs don't operate servers.

    Best VPN for Android

    HMA supports OpenVPN by default on Android, a big bonus that is unfortunately partially offset by a questionable logging policy. Surfshark’s Android app runs the IKEv2 protocol, which is a good (and often faster) alternative to OpenVPN, and grants you the privacy you’d expect from a premium VPN service.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Both VPNs impressed us on Mac, with polished clients and essential features like a kill switch. Surfshark's main advantages are a cleaner interface and less crowded servers. You may find HMA more appealing if you want greater server variety and a playful but functional design.

    Best VPN for iOS

    With Surfshark, you can connect unlimited devices at the same time, which is super useful for homes with a pile of iPads and iPhones. Add an optimized app with DNS leak protection to the mix, and you have a great iOS VPN. HMA also offers a user-friendly iOS client with a standard limit of five connected devices and very simple preconfigured profiles for common VPN uses.

    Best VPN for USA

    HMA has 190+ US servers, but bigger isn’t always better – many of them don’t work with popular US streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu. Surfshark offers fewer servers distributed over 55 US locations, but it works seamlessly with popular sites, meaning if you’re in the US, you can watch your favorite US streaming platforms with ease.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    When we start our detailed tests, we are always ready for surprises. But we still didn’t expect Surfshark to challenge HMA fiercely in every single category. It’s clear that Surfshark wants to prove itself as the next big VPN provider. And for now, it still offers the advantages of a smaller VPN, too. The result is a cheap yet powerful VPN with amazing value and spotless privacy protection. HMA’s network is undeniably impressive, but our tests reveal that the popular VPN could use a server update and a second look at its logging policy. Nevertheless, HMA didn't collect hundreds of positive user reviews in dozens of languages by accident. It remains one of the top VPNs on the market today.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with Surfshark
    Go with HMA VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is Surfshark better than HMA VPN?

    Yes, Surfshark is better overall than HMA VPN. It has 3200 servers in 100 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $1.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between Surfshark and HMA 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 Surfshark may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is Surfshark faster than HMA VPN?

    Yes, Surfshark is faster than HMA 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 Surfshark or HMA VPN offer any deals?

    Both Surfshark and HMA 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.