Pow VPN vs hide.me: Which Should You Choose?
hide.me is one of the better-known names in the VPN category. If you're deciding between hide.me and Pow VPN, here's an honest look at where each one actually stands out -- not a one-sided takedown.
hide.me at a glance
| Jurisdiction | Malaysia |
| Primary protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 |
| Network | a well-regarded free tier alongside a separate free web proxy tool |
| Standout feature | a free browser-based proxy in addition to the full VPN client |
| Pricing pattern | mid-range pricing on paid tiers, with a usable free plan for light use |
Where hide.me does well
- A genuinely usable free plan, not just a short trial.
- A separate free web proxy for quick, clientless browsing.
- Independently audited no-logs policy.
hide.me is a solid pick for people who want to try a capable free tier before ever entering payment details.
Where Pow VPN is the better fit
- Plans sized to how many devices you actually have -- 1 device on Lite, 2 on Max, 3 on Elite -- instead of one fixed price for everyone.
- AmneziaWG (an obfuscated WireGuard variant) and VLESS Reality, both designed to blend in on networks and countries that actively block ordinary VPN traffic.
- No browsing activity, DNS query or destination logs kept at the network layer -- session metadata used for abuse prevention is short-lived and never includes what you visited.
- A real free plan (2 GB every month on Lite locations) and a genuine 3-day, 10 GB trial before you enter a card for a paid plan.
- One price shown once -- no countdown-timer discounts that quietly renew at a much higher rate.
Pricing side by side
Pow VPN's paid plans start at $1.59/month (Lite, 1 device), $2.99/month (Max, 2 devices) and $4.59/month (Elite, 3 devices) on monthly billing, dropping further on 3-month and annual terms -- see the pricing page for the current annual rates. Compare that against hide.me's pricing pattern above and pick based on how many devices you actually need to cover and which protocol matters more for your network.
Bottom line
hide.me suits people who want to try a capable free tier before ever entering payment details. If you'd rather pay only for the devices you use, connect through obfuscated protocols built for restrictive networks, and know exactly what is (and isn't) logged, try Pow VPN free -- no card required to start.