We tested Hide.me (3.0/5) and Mullvad (4.2/5) across speed, privacy, streaming, and price. Mullvad leads on overall score. Here is what drives the gap.
| Criteria | Hide.me | Mullvad |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 3.0/5 | 4.2/5 ★ |
| Jurisdiction | Malaysia | Sweden |
| 14-Eyes / 5-Eyes | No | Fourteen |
| No-logs policy | Not audited 2/5 | Audited 4/5 ★ |
| Speed score | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Protocols score | 4/5 | 5/5 ★ |
| Streaming score | 3.5/5 ★ | 2/5 |
| Leak protection | 4/5 | 5/5 ★ |
| RAM-only servers | 0/5 | 5/5 ★ |
| Encryption score | 2/5 | 5/5 ★ |
| Security subtotal | 2.2/5 | 4.6/5 ★ |
| Trust subtotal | 2.3/5 | 4.0/5 ★ |
| Price (monthly) | $9.95/mo | $5.50/mo |
| Price (1-year total) | $53.88/yr | $66.00/yr |
| Price (2-year total) | $129.99/yr | N/A |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes, 30 days | Yes, 30 days |
| Pricing score | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 ★ |
Where Hide.me wins
Hide.me leads on streaming (3.5/5 vs 2/5).
Where Mullvad wins
Where Mullvad has an edge: privacy and security (4.6/5 vs 2.2/5), value for money (4.5/5 vs 3.5/5), transparency and trust (4.0/5 vs 2.3/5), features (3.2/5 vs 3.1/5). If these are your priorities, Mullvad is the better fit.
Who should pick what
The simplest rule: Mullvad is the default recommendation based on overall scores. The only reason to choose Hide.me instead is if speed is critical for your use case.
Want to compare all VPNs side by side? Check our full VPN comparison table with scores across 18 criteria.
For most users, Mullvad (4.2/5) is the better pick. Its advantage over Hide.me (3.0/5) comes from stronger privacy performance. The only reason to go with Hide.me is if speed matters most to you. Get Mullvad risk-free.
For more context, check our full VPN comparison table or the best cheap VPN guide. Read our full Hide.me review for a complete breakdown. See our Mullvad review for more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mullvad scores 4.2/5 vs 3.0/5 for Hide.me. Mullvad leads on speed. That said, Hide.me may be the better fit if speed is your main priority.
In our speed tests, Hide.me scores 5/5 and Mullvad scores 5/5. Both score equally on speed.
Hide.me costs $9.95/mo month-to-month, or $53.88/yr for a 1-year plan. Mullvad is $5.50/mo monthly, or $66.00/yr per year. Both offer a money-back guarantee.