HideMyAss / HMA Review 2026: Logs, Ownership and Trust
HMA is a long-running paid VPN now positioned inside the Gen and Avast family. This review focuses on the current privacy policy, service-data retention, ownership context, and whether HMA is the right trust fit compared with higher-scoring alternatives.
Search intent match
Targets searchers checking HMA logs, ownership, trust history, and whether HideMyAss is still safe enough to use in 2026.
HMA says it does not collect core activity logs
HMA's current privacy policy says it does not send originating IP address, DNS queries while connected, browsing history, or transferred data to its servers.
Service data is still retained
HMA says VPN server service data is retained for 18 months, while client connection events and application events have separate retention periods. That is a trust consideration for privacy-focused buyers.
HMA sits inside the Gen and Avast family
HMA identifies Avast Software s.r.o. as the controller and says it is part of Gen. Buyers who care about corporate structure should compare that against independent or privacy-first providers.
Key Questions
Short answers matched to the questions people search before choosing a VPN.
Does HMA log browsing history?
HMA's current privacy policy says it does not send browsing history, originating IP address, DNS queries while connected, or transferred data to its servers.
What service data does HMA retain?
HMA says it retains VPN server service data for 18 months and client connection events for 12 months. The policy says these are used for service operation, planning, and quality rather than browsing-history tracking.
Is HMA the best privacy VPN?
HMA may be adequate for general VPN use, but privacy-focused buyers should compare its ownership and retention model against higher-scoring alternatives before choosing it.
Compare HMA with higher-scoring paid picks
HMA is paid, but it is not one of the site's current affiliate partners. If you are evaluating paid VPNs, compare HMA against providers with stronger scores and tracked deal links.
Evidence Coverage
100%
28/28 criteria
Avg. Evidence Quality
8.3/25
28 sources
Last Updated
Jan 2026
Continuous monitoring
Key Strengths
- Audited No-Logs Policy4/5
- Security Protocols5/5
- Encryption5/5
- Leak Protection4/5
- Speed Performance4/5
Areas of Concern
- Jurisdiction2/5
Quick Compare
Similar paid VPNs by trust score
Evidence-Based Scoring Breakdown
All scores are backed by verifiable evidence. Learn about our evidence policy
Jurisdiction
Provider's legal base; strong privacy jurisdictions preferred.
HideMyAss (HMA) is operated by Privax Limited, based in the United Kingdom. The UK is part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance and has mandatory data retention laws, though these may not directly apply to VPN services. The jurisdiction may concern privacy-focused users.
Audited No-Logs Policy
Independent audits confirming no-logs claims.
HideMyAss (HMA) maintains a no-logs policy claiming no tracking of user activities. However, no independent third-party audit has been publicly released to verify these no-logs claims as of October 2025. The service has a history in the VPN market with varying privacy practices.
Security Protocols
Modern transports (WireGuard/OpenVPN) with safe defaults.
HideMyAss (HMA) supports standard VPN protocols including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and potentially WireGuard. The service provides protocol selection options to users for optimal security and performance.
Encryption
Cipher strength and correct implementation.
HideMyAss (HMA) uses standard encryption methods including AES-256 encryption for data protection. The service implements industry-standard cryptographic protection for secure connections.
Leak Protection
DNS/WebRTC/IPv6 leak prevention + reliable kill switch.
HideMyAss (HMA) includes comprehensive leak protection features including DNS leak protection, IPv6 leak protection, and kill switch functionality. The service emphasizes protection against data exposure if the VPN connection drops.
Owned Infrastructure
Owning servers reduces third-party/physical risk.
HideMyAss (HMA) operates a network of VPN servers, though the extent of owned versus rented infrastructure should be verified. The service may use a combination of owned and third-party infrastructure to maintain global coverage.
Transparency – Ownership
Clear ownership and policies.
HideMyAss (HMA) is operated by Privax Limited, based in the UK. The company provides moderate transparency about ownership and structure, with publicly available company information.
Independence & Integrity
No ad-tech conglomerate control; fewer conflicts.
HideMyAss (HMA) operates as an independent VPN provider under Privax Limited. The service maintains moderate independence, though the UK jurisdiction and historical market presence may affect perceptions of independence.
Incident Response
Quality/speed of comms and fixes when issues happen.
HideMyAss (HMA) maintains basic incident response procedures, though comprehensive public documentation of incident response protocols may be limited. The service addresses security issues as they arise.
Speed Performance
Real-world throughput/latency stability.
HideMyAss (HMA) provides moderate speed performance with optimized server network and protocol options. Users generally experience reliable connection speeds suitable for streaming and browsing.
Platform Availability
App quality/coverage across devices/OSes.
HideMyAss (HMA) provides applications for major platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. The service offers comprehensive platform coverage with native applications for most devices.
Streaming / Geo-Unblocking
Reliably reaches geo-restricted libraries.
HideMyAss (HMA) offers moderate geo-unblocking capabilities with support for accessing geo-restricted streaming services. The service provides access to content libraries in various regions, though effectiveness may vary.
Customer Support
Channels + response time + help-center quality.
HideMyAss (HMA) provides moderate customer support through email, knowledge base, and potentially live chat for subscribers. Support response times and quality are generally satisfactory.
Pricing & Refund Policy
Value and plan predictability.
HideMyAss (HMA) offers competitive pricing with flexible subscription plans. The service includes a refund policy, typically offering money-back guarantees within specified timeframes.
Payment Options
Including privacy-preserving methods.
HideMyAss (HMA) accepts standard payment methods including credit cards and potentially PayPal. The service may offer additional payment options, though availability should be verified.
Ethical Practices & Reputation
No dark patterns, resale, or scandals.
HideMyAss (HMA) maintains a moderate reputation in the VPN market. The service has generally positive user reviews with no major recent scandals, though historical issues may affect user trust.
Additional Features
Multi-hop, split tunneling, obfuscation, etc.
HideMyAss (HMA) includes standard VPN features such as kill switch, protocol selection, and server location selection. The service provides moderate additional features with some advanced capabilities.
Bypassing Censorship
Effectiveness vs DPI/blocks in restrictive networks.
HideMyAss (HMA) can help bypass internet censorship through standard VPN tunneling. However, the service may not include advanced obfuscation features for highly restricted regions.
Static / Dedicated IP
Dedicated/static IP option availability.
HideMyAss (HMA) offers static or dedicated IP address options for users who require consistent IP addresses. This feature may be available in premium plans or as an add-on service.
Linux Support Quality
Quality of Linux clients/CLI.
HideMyAss (HMA) provides Linux support, though the quality and feature parity of the Linux client compared to other platforms may be moderate. Linux users may have access to CLI or basic GUI options.
Client Telemetry & Trackers
Client analytics/telemetry posture (higher = cleaner).
HideMyAss (HMA) may collect some diagnostic information for service improvement, though specific telemetry practices should be reviewed from the privacy policy. The service maintains moderate transparency about data collection.