HMA vs AtlasVPN: Which is The Better VPN?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are becoming increasingly important for internet users to protect their online privacy, access geo-restricted content, and improve security.

Two popular options in the VPN market are AtlasVPN and Hide My Ass (HMA). In this article, we’ll compare these two providers to help you decide which VPN better fits your requirements. We’ll explore their security, customer support, and more.

Comparison highlights

HMA vs AtlasVPN pricing

AtlasVPN offers a more affordable pricing structure with four plans: free, monthly, yearly, and tri-yearly. The free plan comes with basic features, while the paid plans unlock additional features and better server performance. A monthly plan will set you back $10 every 30 days, while its annual sub costs $49.01 annually. To grab the best savings, you’ll want to go for its three-year subscription, costing just $1.99 monthly.

Hide My Ass has a higher price point, offering monthly, 6-month, and annual plans. However, it provides a more extensive range of features and better server performance than AtlasVPN’s free plan. HMA’s monthly plan comes in at $11.99, whereas if you opt for its one-year plan, you’ll only pay $4.99 monthly. If you want to save even more, you can go for its three-year plan, costing a minuscule $2.99 monthly.

Money-back guarantees

Most premium VPNs offer money-back guarantees to ensure you aren’t tied in with a VPN provider that you’re not 100% satisfied with. For AtlasVPN and HMA, you can expect a 30-day money-back guarantee. In other words, you can get a full refund if you aren’t happy within that period.

HMA vs AtlasVPN features

Apps

HMA and AtlasVPN offer a range of apps to support almost every platform you can think of. This includes apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. HMA also offers support for the Linux command line. Unfortunately, AtlasVPN isn’t there yet with Linux support, and it also doesn’t allow you to install its apps on routers.

Fortunately, both VPNs can be installed on a Windows device, allowing you to setup a virtual VPN hotspot that will protect any device you connect to it.

Connection Limits

Multiple simultaneous connections allow you to use a VPN on several devices simultaneously. HMA offers a 5-device connection limit, whereas AtlasVPN allows unlimited connections which is perfect for sharing a plan between friends and family members.

Extras

AtlasVPN and HMA provide users with essential VPN features such as AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and split tunneling. Split tunneling is only available on Android devices with HMA.

AtlasVPN’s Safeweb browser blocks malware before it can infect your device and helps to hide from government censorship.

Streaming Ability

Hide My Ass excels at streaming, consistently working with popular platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and HBO Max. Unfortunately, it struggles to access Prime Video at the time of writing. 

AtlasVPN comes out on top in this category for the sheer volume of streaming services it can access. Users can access Prime Video, multiple Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Disney Plus, Sky Go, and many other popular providers.

Do They Work in China?

China’s Great Firewall is a beast in blocking VPNs, so many providers struggle to access restricted services within the region. Unfortunately, AtlasVPN and HMA have difficulties operating in China due to the country’s aggressive VPN-blocking efforts.

If using a VPN in China is necessary, we’d advise checking out NordVPN, which works flawlessly in countries like China and Russia, which employ heavy internet censorship controls.

Setup and Interface

AtlasVPN offers a straightforward setup process and a user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for VPN beginners.

HMA’s setup process can be more complicated, especially for inexperienced users, but its interface is intuitive once configured.

Whether you’re using AtlasVPN’s mobile or desktop apps, you’ll see a list of available servers sorted by task type (streaming, torrenting, etc.) and servers in specific cities rather than selecting a country.

Similarly, HMA gives you a list of servers and allows you to connect quickly with a single tap/click. Moreover, you can select servers based on the activity you want to use them for and choose your favorite servers for later on.

Servers and Performance

HMA has an extensive network of servers in 200+ countries. This vast network contributes to its strong streaming performance and ability to bypass geo-restrictions. In contrast, AtlasVPN has a more limited server network, with servers in around 45 countries.

AtlasVPN’s average download speed of 247 Mbps is excellent for seamless UHD streams. HMA has drastically improved its speeds lately, so it’s hot on the heels of Atlas, with an average download speed of 238 Mbps. Check out our list of the fastest VPNs for the top performers.

Security

Both providers offer robust security features such as AES-256 encryption, kill switch, and DNS leak protection. AtlasVPN’s security measures are commendable but HMA has more advanced options like IP shuffling and split tunneling, which can enhance security and flexibility. 

HMA supports OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP protocols. AtlasVPN makes use of IKEv2 and the superfast Wireguard protocols. With the exception of PPTP, all these are secure protocols, and Wireguard is generally the fastest.

Privacy

AtlasVPN has a strict no-logs policy but is based in the surveillance-heavy jurisdiction of the United States. Similarly, HMA is based in the UK, a country with data retention laws and intelligence-sharing agreements. Although AtlasVPN and HMA claim to keep no logs, their jurisdiction raises concerns for privacy-conscious users.

AtlasVPN allows you to pay for its service with Bitcoin, ensuring your transactions are completely anonymous. Meanwhile, HMA offers the option to pay with a prepaid card. This option can let you sign up anonymously with a burner email address.

Configuration

HMA and AtlasVPN both use a shared IP address allocation model. In short, multiple users will share a single IP address, making linking any online activities back to you more challenging.

If you’re looking for a dedicated IP address, you may want to look elsewhere, as neither of these providers offers them.

Customer Service

AtlasVPN and HMA provide customer support through email and online resources such as a searchable knowledge base and how-to guides.

AtlasVPN has a more comprehensive support offering with live chat support and phone assistance, giving it an edge in customer service.

Winner: AtlasVPN

AtlasVPN and Hide My Ass offer unique advantages and drawbacks, making a choice between them largely dependent on individual needs and preferences. AtlasVPN is a more budget-friendly, user-friendly option with better-streaming potential and faster speeds. Hide My Ass boasts advanced features and a more extensive server network. 

We selected AtlasVPN as our winner based on what an average user would look for in a VPN: affordable pricing, fast servers, top-notch security, unlimited device connections, and round-the-clock customer support.

Frequently asked questions

See also:

• Hola VPN vs AtlasVPN
• ProtonVPN vs AtlasVPN
• ExpressVPN vs HMA
• Surfshark vs HMA