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# of Servers
1500
# of Servers
1500
Server Locations
41
Server Locations
41
Unlimited Bandwidth
Yes
Price Per Month (From)
$2.99
Price Per Month (From)
$2.99
Free Trial
-
Free Trial
-


5.4/10
Informr score
The Hola VPN currently has an Informr score of 5.4 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 16 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

Verdict

While the free price tag is sure to make Hola VPN tempting to some, being a peer on their VPN network raises tons of security questions -- we recommend opting for TunnelBear or ProtonVPN’s free tiers instead.

What's good

  • Fast speeds
  • Easy to use
  • Great device support

What's bad

  • No encryption
  • Free tier allows others to access your network
  • Extensive logging
  • Hit-or-miss with Netflix
  • Questionable policies and marketing

Hola VPN has been around since 2012. Their peer-to-peer approach to VPN services is interesting and the free price tag is sure to please. But how does it stand up to the competition? And is it really completely free?

Pricing

Hola VPN offers a free plan for non-commercial use as well as premium home and business plans. Their premium plans are priced similar to other VPN options on the market with significant discounts if you sign up for a year or more at a time.

Supported Devices

Hola VPN offers apps and extensions for nearly any device you might use to get online. Options include Mac and Windows clients, Android and iOS apps, extensions for Chrome and Firefox, and even an app for smart TVs.

Ease of Use

Using the service is simple. Just click the extension in your browser or load up the app on your phone or computer and choose a location. After a few seconds, it connects and you’re good to go.

Simultaneous Connections

Hola VPN ties your account to a single platform. So you’ll need an account or subscription for each type of device you plan to use.

Included Features

Hola VPN is more like a proxy than a VPN. This means you can use it to access sites using another IP, but there are none of the encryption or security benefits you might find with other services.

In essence, Hola VPN allows you to bypass websites that might be censored in your region or access services that are only available in other regions -- such as BBC iPlayer. However, many reviewers noted trouble accessing Netflix.

Privacy and Logging

Privacy and logging are where things really start to look questionable for Hola VPN.

If you’re using the free service, you become a part of their VPN network. This means that anyone else using the service can route their traffic through your home connection.

If you’re on a metered connection, this means that you might run out of data quickly as other people stream movies, upload media, or use P2P using your connection.

More to the point, should anything routed through your connection raise suspicions with your ISP or government, you will have a lot of explaining to do and might be held liable.

Hola VPN tries to explain that no one would abuse their network but in doing so highlight another concern, saying, “... architecture modifications allow Hola to see the origin of each request, thus if a cybercriminal were to use the Hola network, the cyber's criminal information may be passed on to the authorities.

But this also means they can track anything you might be doing online using their service as well.

And it doesn’t help that they log nearly everything about your web activity, including your browser type, sites you visit, the time you spend on various sites, and when you visit them.

To make matters worse, Hola VPN notes that they “may also transfer or disclose personal information to our subsidiaries, affiliated companies.

TheBestVPN sums up privacy opinions well, saying, “Logging is usually the most terrifying thing a VPN company can do. When it comes to this product though, it’s the least of my concerns.

Performance

Most reviewers found their connections were speedy when using Hola VPN. However, a few noticed that speeds might slow down when first connecting to a region.

Some reviewers also noted issues with upload speeds. But unless you frequently upload large files, this is less of a concern than slow download speeds.

Support

Should you run into a question, email is the only support option available. Worse still, many reviewers had trouble getting any response at all from support when sending questions about account features or what they were allowed to do using Hola VPN.

Summary

While Hola VPN might not cost anything in terms of money, you are trading access to tons of information about your browsing and opening up your network for use by others. Put simply, that seems like a bad deal to us.

The Best VPN agrees, saying, “If you’re doing anything that involves even a shred of privacy, look elsewhere. Avoid Hola VPN at all costs. It’s not secure enough for public Wi-Fi nor your data protection.

Cloudwards takes a similar stance, saying, “If you’re worried about your privacy and are looking to set up a VPN to protect yourself, please do not sign up for Hola as you have no idea what could happen once you’re signed up: you may end up finding out that free is far more expensive than signing up for a bonafide service…


What the Critics Are Saying...


VPNCentral
VPNCentral

Hola VPN has some perks, but its downsides make it hard to give a thumbs up. The speed can be a real downer on certain servers, and the free version collects a bunch of your data. While the premium version is better, the privacy concerns from the past still linger. If you’re just looking to casually...

- Diana Todea, VPNCentral
TechRadar
TechRadar

Hola Premium is great at unblocking streaming services, but the paid version is overpriced and the 'free' version isn't entirely free. It's also not the best choice for privacy conscious buyers. In short, there are better VPNs on the market.

- Mike Williams, TechRadar
Tech.Co
Tech.Co

Hola works reasonably well as a free unblocker for location-locked services, but it’s not a great all-round VPN. Other services give you stronger protection, without the impact on your own bandwidth that Hola hits you with. This is the price you pay for a free service – you’re putting something back...

- Stuart Andrews, Tech.Co
VPN Ranks
VPN Ranks

If you opt for the free version, it surprisingly works better than you might think. Not only did I manage to unblock Netflix US, but also BBC iPlayer and even Youku. It is also decently fast as well, which is something you don’t expect from a free VPN service. Now, sure they keep logs, but they clea...

- Minnie J. Hamilton, VPN Ranks
RushRadar
RushRadar

We found that the free version isn't worth it, the paid versions offer a solid service they do have some flaws. The free version should be avoided unless you're not worried about your privacy and don't mind having your data recorded or even sold, which, considering the fact that you're looking for a...

- Dalton Rush, RushRadar

Details


Overview
Headquarters Israel
Pricing/Sign Up
Starting Price (per Month) $2.99
Plans and Pricing Visit Site
Free Trial No
Money Back Guarantee 30 Days
Payment Options Credit Cards, PayPal, Other
ID Required Valid email address
Features
Server Locations (# of Countries) 41
Number of Servers 1500 +
Devices Per License 10
Simultaneous Connections 10
Unlimited Bandwidth Yes
Double-Hop / Double VPN No
Accesses Netflix Yes
P2P / Torrenting Allowed No
Accepts Bitcoin No
Non-US Company Yes
Protected
Protocols IPSec, IKEv2, L2TP, PPTP
Encryption AES-256
No Logs / No Tracking No
Dedicated IP Available No
VPN Over Tor No
Wi-Fi Leak Protection No
Private DNS Server No
DNS Leak Protection Yes
IP Leak Protection Yes
WebRTC Leak Protection No
IPv6 Leak Protection No
Kill Switch Yes
Supported Platforms
Operating Systems Windows, Mac OSX, iOS, Android
Mobile App Yes
Router Yes
Browser Extension Yes
Customer Support
24/7 Support No
Live Chat Support No
Telephone Support No
Email Support
More
Additional comments
Terms & Conditions Official Terms & Conditions

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