Recommended Free Tools
Four providers are worth comparing as alternatives to HideMyAss (HMA) VPN in 2026: Proton VPN, Surfshark, NordVPN and Mullvad. This guide lists four rather than five because the current, attributable information available for this comparison covers only these four. None of them is the best VPN for everyone. Each suits a different priority, and the matching section near the end maps those priorities to a provider.
Why this list has four entries, and how to read its claims
The title promises five alternatives, but we could not support a fifth with the same kind of current, attributable detail, so we have not added a weaker name to fill the slot. If you want a fifth option, apply the five checks below to it before you decide.
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This guide does not include our own speed, leak or streaming tests. Every performance, device or network statement comes from the provider, a named publication, or a test report, and each is cited by name and date. Prices, server counts and plan features change, so confirm them on the provider’s own site on the day you buy.
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What HideMyAss promises
HMA’s official privacy page describes VPN encryption and IP hiding, protection against IPv4, IPv6 and DNS leaks, and servers for streaming and P2P (peer-to-peer file sharing). These are company statements, not independent findings. Use them as the baseline each alternative should meet, not as evidence that HMA performs better or worse than any other service.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
Five checks before you choose
- Privacy and audit evidence. Prefer an audit or test report you can open yourself over a summary of one, and note the period it covers.
- Intended use. Streaming and P2P are separate needs. Check that the provider’s own feature page names the one you care about, and confirm whether your plan includes it.
- Network reach. Count servers and countries on the provider’s current site, not in an older review.
- Devices and simultaneous use. Read the device limit in the current account terms, and check that it covers every device you plan to connect, including a router if you use one.
- Total cost, including renewal. Compare the renewal price shown at checkout, not only the introductory rate.
Comparison at a glance
The table lists only what the cited sources report. “Not stated” means those sources do not report that detail. It does not mean the provider lacks the feature.
| Provider | Free option | Streaming and P2P | Privacy, audit or testing evidence | Network figures | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HideMyAss (baseline, company claims) | Not stated | Servers for streaming and P2P (HMA privacy page) | Encryption, IP hiding, and IPv4, IPv6 and DNS leak protection (HMA privacy page) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Proton VPN | Free plan advertised on the official pricing page | Streaming support described on the features page; listed among paid additions on the free-versus-paid page | Comparison page, last updated April 2026, discusses audit and privacy information | Not stated | Not stated |
| Surfshark | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Single account with no device limit (TechRadar review, September 24, 2026) |
| NordVPN | Not stated | Not stated | Vendor blog reports the only Platinum rating from Artifact Security’s 2026 test (vendor account) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Mullvad | Not stated | Not stated | Review describes diskless, RAM-based server operation (Tom’s Guide, August 14, 2026) | 578 servers, 90 locations and 50 countries at the time of writing (Tom’s Guide, August 14, 2026) | Not stated |
The four alternatives
Proton VPN: a free starting point
Proton VPN is the only option here with a free plan advertised on its official pricing page. The practical question is whether that plan meets your need. Proton’s free-versus-paid page presents streaming support as one of the features paid access adds, so treat a free-tier trial as a test of the basics, not of streaming. Proton’s comparison page, last updated in April 2026, discusses audit and privacy information. Read that section directly rather than relying on a summary, and confirm current plan boundaries on the pricing page before you commit to either tier.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
Surfshark: cost and device count
Surfshark’s appeal, as described in a TechRadar review dated September 24, 2026, is low cost and a single account with no device limit. Both points are the reviewer’s statements, and device allowances are the kind of term that gets revised, so read the current account terms before you rely on them. Surfshark’s own comparison page is a useful feature overview, but it notes that some competitor server counts come from third-party reviews. Treat any comparison figure there as something to check against its original source.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteNordVPN: a vendor-reported test result
NordVPN’s blog says testing firm Artifact Security gave it the only Platinum rating in a 2026 comparison of five large VPN providers. The blog names the test dimensions as speed, leak protection, website accessibility, feature reliability and connection time, measured against the AMTSO testing standard. Both the account and its framing come from NordVPN. Before this result carries weight in your decision, open the original Artifact Security report and check which providers were tested, when, and whether the rating covers the features you care about. Treat it as one input rather than a ranking.
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
Mullvad: a smaller network with a dated count
The reported server count is the main trade-off to weigh. A smaller network means fewer locations to choose from, which matters if you need a particular country. The Tom’s Guide review’s figures describe the network at the time it was written, so confirm the current count on Mullvad’s own site. The review also describes diskless, RAM-based server operation. That is the reviewer’s description, so check it against Mullvad’s own technical documentation before treating it as settled.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Matching a provider to your priority
- You want to try a service at no cost first: start with Proton VPN’s free plan, then confirm whether the features you need sit on the paid tier.
- You want low cost and several devices on one account: check Surfshark first, using its current device terms and renewal price.
- You want a third-party test result as one input: NordVPN, once you have read the original Artifact Security report.
- You are willing to accept fewer server locations: Mullvad, after confirming the current server count on its site.
- You are leaving HMA and want the same baseline: check each alternative’s leak protection, streaming and P2P coverage against the claims on HMA’s privacy page.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
