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Surfshark vs hidemy.name VPN compares a budget audited VPN with a long-running service from Belize. Surfshark covers unlimited devices with 2 Deloitte audits in our table; hidemy.name needs no registration but has no audit we could find.
On paper, Surfshark is cheaper and faster, while hidemy.name offers flexible plans and minimal sign-up. This guide compares both, from audits to refunds, and explains when hidemy.name’s unusual strengths still matter. Our hidemy.name VPN review covers the second service in depth.
Surfshark vs hidemy.name VPN on Audits
Our audit table lists 2 Deloitte audits for Surfshark, which gives its privacy claims independent backing.
We could not find any published audit of hidemy.name VPN, so its privacy rests on its own word. Surfshark leads on proof.
No-Registration Sign-Up
Sign-up needs no registration, its App Store listing says, and plans stretch from one day to five years, according to its affiliate listing.
Surfshark needs an email to sign up, so it collects a little more at registration. However, its audits show how it handles that data, which hidemy.name cannot. For most readers, a small amount of verified data handling beats an unverified promise. Readers who still prefer minimal sign-up can weigh that against the speed gap below.
Speed
CNET measured a 21% speed loss on Surfshark, our speed table notes, enough for HD streaming on a typical line.
vpnMentor’s recent tests found speed drops of up to 93% on hidemy.name’s local servers. vpnMentor’s results put hidemy.name far behind.
Two-Year Cost
On two years, Surfshark Starter costs $67.23 for 27 months, about $2.49 a month, and renews at about $79 a year, our tables show; monthly billing is $16.45.
vpnMentor puts hidemy.name’s starting price at about $4.00 a month on longer plans. Surfshark costs less per month on long plans.
Free Use and Devices
One Surfshark plan covers unlimited devices, our device table notes. There is no free tier, though app-store users can try the yearly plan for 7 days.
hidemy.name offers a one-day free trial and covers five devices, its App Store listing says. Surfshark’s unlimited devices beat hidemy.name’s five, which matters once phones, laptops and a TV share one plan.
Jurisdiction and Ownership
Nord Security, owner of Surfshark and NordVPN, runs Surfshark from the Netherlands, part of the Nine Eyes.
hidemy.name operates from Belize, TechRadar reports. hidemy.name’s Belize base sits outside the Fourteen Eyes; Surfshark’s Dutch base does not.
Security Features
A kill switch and CleanWeb ad blocking come with every Surfshark plan, though our tables note that Surfshark has switched Smart DNS off.
Secure connections come from OpenVPN and IKEv2; the PPTP option, by contrast, is best avoided.
Platforms and Support
Surfshark covers Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and TVs. Apps let you choose which applications use the VPN, its listing says.
Live chat with Surfshark runs around the clock. Without registration, your access key is your account, so support may ask for it.
Protocols and Streaming
WireGuard is Surfshark’s default, with OpenVPN and IKEv2 available; our Surfshark Netflix guide covers streaming.
TechRadar notes OpenVPN and IKEv2 alongside older L2TP and PPTP, and vpnMentor rated its streaming picture quality poor. Surfshark is far more reliable for streaming.
Which Is Better Value?
Surfshark is better value: lower long-term prices, unlimited devices and audits. hidemy.name’s value lies in its flexible plan lengths.
Which Plan to Pick
Most readers should choose Surfshark Starter on two years, which gives the lowest monthly price and renewal. With hidemy.name, use the one-day trial first, then match the plan length to your need, from a day to five years.
Payment and Checkout
Compare final totals rather than headline prices, since VAT and currency conversion apply at checkout. Save the renewal terms for both.
Refunds
Surfshark offers 30 days for refunds, our refund table notes.
hidemy.name refunds within 30 days, its App Store listing says. Both offer 30 days.
Who Each Is For
Choose Surfshark for unlimited devices and a low renewal price. hidemy.name suits people who want sign-up without registration or servers in places such as Turkey and Kazakhstan.
In short, hidemy.name fits no-registration users and travellers to Turkey or Kazakhstan; Surfshark fits nearly everyone else.
What Else to Know About hidemy.name VPN
One more point: Despite the name, hidemy.name has no link to hide.me. Its affiliate listing dates the company to 2006, with strong coverage of Turkey, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
What Else to Know About Surfshark
Beyond Starter, Surfshark sells One and One+, renewing at about $99 and $119 a year in our tables. Most VPN users only need Starter.
Testing Both
The fairest test uses the same network, the same time of day and the same sites. Run a leak test on each, as our guide to checking if a VPN is working shows, then compare speed and streaming.
Switching Between Them
If you switch, overlap the two for a day so you never browse unprotected. Then uninstall the old app and cancel its renewal.
Related pages on hidemy.name VPN cover PureVPN vs hidemy.name VPN, what hidemy.name VPN costs and whether hidemy.name VPN is safe.
Readers weighing similar options can also read Surfshark vs Mysterium VPN and Surfshark vs NymVPN.
How We Research
For this Surfshark vs hidemy.name VPN comparison, Surfshark’s audits, prices, devices, speed and refunds come from our tables. hidemy.name VPN’s figures come from our research for the hidemy.name VPN review, mainly vpnMentor’s hidemy.name review, read on 21 October 2026. We do not run our own tests. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Surfshark vs hidemy.name VPN FAQ
Surfshark for speed, price and audits; hidemy.name for no registration.
On long plans, Surfshark.
The one with no limit is Surfshark.
We found no audit.
hidemy.name, in Belize.
The Verdict
Surfshark vs hidemy.name VPN: Surfshark wins on price, speed, devices and audits. hidemy.name suits only no-registration sign-up and its regional servers.