4 Best Alternatives for HMA – 2023 Fastest & Cheapest
HMA is one of our best-rated VPNs for many reasons. It offers military-grade encryption, a robust global server network, fast speeds, and responsive customer service. It unlocks Netflix and other famously tricky geoblocked content with user-friendly, intuitive apps.
However, VPNs aren’t one-size-fits-all, and the features that are important to you might not be the same ones that appeal to someone else. At vpnMentor, we believe that the best possible VPN is one that perfectly fits your needs, regardless of what user and expert reviews might say.
Furthermore, in spite of its positives, HMA does have shortcomings, especially if total privacy is your number one reason for using a VPN.
For one thing, HMA acknowledges that it stores some use logs temporarily. That's a real concern since the provider is based in the UK, a Five-Eyes country, which means that law enforcement and intelligence agencies can demand access to the VPN's data files.
The provider claims that the information kept isn't enough to link your activity to you, but any possibility of giving up your anonymity matters when choosing a VPN. With providers like ExpressVPN keeping no logs at all, you can get a premium VPN service without taking chances.
Whether you have tried HMA and are not in love with it, or are considering signing up for the service but still have some questions, we’re here to help you evaluate all your options.
Read on for more information about the strengths and weaknesses of HMA, and which VPN services surpass it in particular areas or offer better features for your purposes.
Best Alternative VPNs to HMA – Quick List
In case you need to make a swift decision, here's a brief rundown of some our favorite services that compete well with HMA – or in the case of the top three, consistently outperform HMA in our testing.
- ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN gives you ultra-fast speeds, simple apps for all platforms, and military-grade encryption. It’s not the cheapest service, but most users consider it worth the price because of industry-leading streaming and torrenting performance. - CyberGhost
CyberGhost boasts a growing server network, user-friendly apps, and very affordable plans for a premium VPN. It does almost everything HMA does and quite a few things HMA doesn't, including safeguarding your anonymity with a strict no-logs policy. - PrivateVPN
One PrivateVPN subscription will let you protect up to six devices simultaneously, and the service offers extremely good value for your money. - IPVanish
IPVanish is a solid VPN provider that offers strong encryption, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and an impressive 40,000 different IP addresses
Why You Might Need an Alternative to HMA
We love that HMA offers a range of apps that use military-grade encryption. It has servers in 280 locations worldwide with an amazing 110,000 IPs, you can protect up to five devices with one subscription, and the features are impressive.
Nevertheless, we do wish that HMA's subscription options were a bit more generous. Other premium VPN services offer 18-month, 2-year, or even 3-year contracts, with progressively bigger discounts.
The longest HMA subscription is one year, which means those sizable discounts are not available. So if you’re willing to commit long term, you can get a better deal with one of our other top providers.
It’s also worth mentioning that HMA keeps some data logs for 30 days. The provider stresses that logs are only kept for diagnostic purposes, and only the user, connection time, and session length are logged. No information about the sites you visit or files you download is stored.
Nevertheless, given that HMA is based in the heart of Five-Eyes territory, the existence of any logs is far from ideal. If complete anonymity is your top priority, consider a VPN provider that adheres to a stricter no-logs policy, like our first four options below.
If your VPN uses include torrenting, you'll be pleased to know that HMA allows P2P activity on its network. However, torrenting is restricted to selected servers. As a result, HMA generally can't match ExpressVPN's lightning-fast download speeds.
The unique connection modes built into HMA’s apps – Instant Mode, Freedom Mode, and Location Mode – might really suit you. But if you want a little more control and have the technical skills, you might prefer VPN apps that are more easily customizable.
Finally, if you spend time in Asia, make note that ExpressVPN works in China. Although it can occasionally bypass the Great Firewall, HMA does not consistently work in China, and customer support is not currently offering any workarounds.
The Best VPNs to Replace HMA
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN stakes its reputation on fast connection speeds, and our tests prove that it delivers on the promise. It can also easily break through the geoblocks built into streaming services like Netflix and the BBC iPlayer.
Applications are available for a range of operating systems and mobile devices. The apps use the industry-standard OpenVPN protocol by default, but you have the option to choose a different security protocol if you wish.
ExpressVPN offers more than 2,000 servers in 90 countries. It comes at a comparable price to HMA However, with its higher speeds and a split-tunneling feature, which HMA lacks, you might find ExpressVPN to be a better value for you.
ExpressVPN adheres to a strict no-logs policy. Customer service is available 24/7 and agents are responsive and very knowledgeable.
- Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, Showtime, Sling TV, DAZN, and BBC iPlayer.
Supports torrenting:
- Yes, all servers support P2P activity.
ExpressVPN works on these devices:
- Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Android TV, Linux, Chrome, and Firefox. It also offers an app for use with certain routers.
2. CyberGhost
With a network of close to 5,700+ servers in 90 countries, CyberGhost remains one of the best values among premium VPNs. Big discounts for long-term subscribers make it even more affordable.
Even better, if you subscribe for 6 months or more, your plan will be backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost uses military-grade encryption and doesn’t keep user logs. The cross-platform apps are easy to use, include a kill switch and leak protection, and use the secure OpenVPN protocol by default.
Up to 7 simultaneous connections are allowed with one subscription – which is two more devices than you would get with HMA Check out CyberGhost’s reviews to see how it has climbed up our ranks in recent years.
- Dedicated streaming profile with servers optimized for: Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Comedy Central, Eurosport, ESPN, and others.
Supports torrenting:
- Yes; dedicated profile shows countries and number of users.
CyberGhost works on these devices:
- Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV, Linux, and Chrome.
3. PrivateVPN
With its low prices and unique remote installation help, PrivateVPN is a great choice for VPN beginners. It keeps no user logs, and you can protect up to 6 devices with one subscription.
The server network is not huge, numbering only around 100, but those servers are spread across 56 countries worldwide.
PrivateVPN uses strong encryption supported by the OpenVPN protocol, and can unlock geo-restricted content with ease. For its price, it’s a remarkable service, which is why customers love it.
- Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.
Supports torrenting:
- Yes, all servers support P2P activity; list of P2P-optimized servers available through the app.
PrivateVPN works on these devices:
- Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
4. IPVanish
IPVanish VPN offers subscription plans that are comparable to HMA's. Both providers charge a reasonable price for their high-quality services, with the longest available subscription period being one year. However, it's worth noting that IPVanish's year-long deal is notably more affordable compared to HMA's offering.
Impressively, IPVanish exclusively owns all of its 1,000+ servers spanning over 60 countries, eliminating any risk of third-party interference. And if you have lots of devices, IP Vanish might be for you – it protects 10 devices simultaneously with just one subscription.
IPVanish uses the OpenVPN protocol by default, but users can also choose L2TP/IPsec within the app. New subscribers get a 7-day money-back guarantee, but based on the service’s many positive user reviews, you probably won’t need it.
A word of caution: IPVanish is based in the US, a Five-Eyes country, and has provided some user data to law enforcement authorities in the past. New ownership has assured users of a strict no-logs policy going forward, but we haven't been able to verify the claim.
- Netflix, BBC iPlayer.
Supports torrenting:
- Yes.
IPVanish works on these devices:
- Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, FireTV, Windows Phone, Linux, Chromebook, Routers.
Summary
HMA is and will remain one of our most highly recommended providers. We love the slick apps, extensive server network, and robust encryption. But "highly recommended" does not mean perfect.
If you’re shopping around for the best VPN for your specific needs – and we recommend it – check out our blog posts and reviews to learn whether another VPN provider can offer you an even better service for a comparable or lower price.
In the end, though, the best way to find the perfect VPN for you is to try out several top-rated services. Money-back guarantees and free trials make that easy to do.
Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!
Your IP Address:
Your Location:
Your Internet Provider:
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we've tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it's currently offering 49% off.
About the Author
Kristina Perunicic is a former editor for vpnMentor. She’s a cybersecurity expert with an interest in VPNs and their importance in the digital privacy landscape.
