Hola VPN Review—Can It Be Trusted
Launched in 2012, Hola VPN is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service that boasts over 160 million users worldwide[1]. Known for its peer-to-peer architecture, the VPN offers free and premium options. To help you decide whether it’s the right VPN for you, this Hola VPN review will analyze:
- The VPN's security features
- Its server network and performance
- The potential limitations and how to address them
If you’re also concerned about the security of your payment card details when shopping online, this article will introduce virtual cards as a method for protecting them.
Disclaimer: The features described in this review are accurate as of the time of writing and may change after the publication of this article. Visit the official website for more recent information on Hola VPN's features.
Hola VPN—Key Features
We’ll explore Hola VPN by looking into five sets of features and functionalities:
- Security
- Speed and performance
- Global network
- Device compatibility and support
- Pricing
Security
For encryption, Hola VPN uses AES-256, a military-grade standard that ensures data remains secure and inaccessible to unauthorized parties. The service also supports 128-bit and 192-bit versions of AES, which are less secure, and DES3, an older cipher that is being phased out of use due to security concerns[2].
Hola VPN employs the following security protocols[2]:
- IKEv2/IPsec protocol by default for its iOS and desktop apps
- HTTPS for its Hola extension and Android app
- PPTP/L2TP as a fallback for the Windows app
- HTTP as a fallback for the Hola extension and Android app
Free users of Hola VPN can choose which apps to terminate if the connection drops, while premium users also get the option to auto-connect on startup[3]. The service lacks several advanced features, such as a device-wide kill switch, split tunneling, and multi-hop (double VPN) functionality.
The VPN's privacy policy states that it logs user information, including IP addresses, visited websites, and access times[4]. The VPN provider uses the information for analytical research that allows it to improve the service, but it does not sell any personal details. Users seeking more robust privacy protection and a no-log policy may consider alternatives such as Hide.me VPN, Private Internet Access VPN, and Hotspot Shield VPN.
Speed and Performance
Using a VPN can slow down download and upload speeds due to the encryption and routing of traffic through remote servers. The VPN's speed and performance might also be affected by server load and distance from the server.
In various online reviews, Hola VPN showed average to good speed results. For users who prioritize speed, alternatives like Windscribe VPN, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN might be more suitable.
Global Network
Hola VPN combines peer-to-peer (P2P) technology and conventional VPN networks to provide users with a broad and versatile service. The P2P network works by leveraging the idle bandwidth of connected users to route traffic through it[5].
This approach provides Hola VPN users with access to local content and services in a wide variety of locations—over 200 countries and territories[6]. The distributed network might also help with load balancing and increase server availability.
P2P’s main limitation is bandwidth sharing, which may lead to inconsistent performance and potentially affect the VPN service's overall speed. Some of the VPN’s products, including the browser extension and mobile apps, are not part of the peer-to-peer network.
Users who want to opt out of bandwidth-sharing can sign up for Premium. Hola VPN states that premium users can access non-P2P servers, although it doesn't disclose how many dedicated servers it has[1].
Users who want non-P2P VPNs with broader coverage can consider CyberGhost VPN, Surfshark VPN, and HideMyAss VPN.
Device Compatibility and Support
Hola VPN can be used on several devices and operating systems, ensuring compatibility for diverse user needs. Users can access Hola VPN on[7][8]:
- Android
- iOS mobile
- Browser extensions for Edge, Opera, and Chrome on Windows and Mac
- A dedicated Windows application for desktop users
- Mac
- Routers
- Smart TVs
Hola VPN offers in-app support, which provides direct access to troubleshooting and FAQs within the VPN application, offering immediate solutions to common queries.
Users can also turn to Hola VPN's Help Center, which consists of detailed guides and resources for troubleshooting and setup. For personalized support, users can also submit a request form[9].
Pricing
Hola VPN offers four plans[10]:
- Free—This plan includes daily usage limits but can be suitable for users who wish to test the VPN before committing to it.
- Monthly—At $14.99 per month, this plan is ideal for users who require short-term VPN access.
- Annual—Starting at $7.69 per month, billed annually at $92.26, this option can be ideal for users looking for consistent VPN protection without the hassle of frequent renewals.
- Three-year—At $2.99 per month, with a total cost of $107.55 billed every three years, this plan offers the best long-term value. It can be ideal for users who want to commit for an extended period.
Are VPNs Enough To Keep You Safe Online?
Even though VPNs boost your online protection, they only address some potential security concerns. Whether using the free or premium version of Hola VPN, you may still be vulnerable to certain risks.
For instance, the information you share with websites or services, such as personal details and payment information, can still be compromised if the merchant's servers experience a data breach. VPNs also cannot protect you from phishing attacks, where malicious actors try to trick you into revealing sensitive information through deceptive emails or websites. If you download attachments sent by someone you don't know or click on suspicious links, your device may become infected by malware.
To address these security issues, you should employ extra security methods such as:
- Learning about phishing attacks—Learn to recognize suspicious emails, messages, and websites that may attempt to steal your personal information.
- Updating your software regularly—Regular updates often include patches for vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit.
- Paying with virtual cards—Virtual cards consist of unique card numbers that protect your actual card information from being exposed during online purchases.
Banks like Capital One® and American Express® offer virtual cards, but you can also get them from specialized providers like Privacy and enjoy comprehensive spending controls on top of industry-grade security features.
Use Privacy Cards To Protect Financial Details
Privacy Virtual Cards shield your actual card numbers at checkout, adding a barrier between your financial information and potential hackers. By using Privacy Cards, you can mitigate the risk of data exposure due to potential merchant breaches.
As a BBB-accredited company, Privacy provides robust security features to protect your information. Your data is secured with AES-256 encryption, the same encryption level used by major banks and military agencies worldwide. Privacy also complies with PCI-DSS standards, ensuring your card details are handled according to the highest security protocols.
Privacy supports two-factor authentication (2FA), and it notifies you whenever your cards are used or declined, allowing you to react to unusual activity immediately.
Privacy Card Types and Features
Privacy offers three types of virtual cards:
Privacy also allows you to:
- Pause and close cards at your convenience—Pausing a card temporarily suspends all transactions, which can be useful for safeguarding against unauthorized fees that may occur when canceling a subscription. Closing a card disables it, ensuring it cannot be used for future transactions.
- Set spending limits—If you set a spending limit on a card, any transaction exceeding that amount will be declined, protecting you from hidden fees that may be imposed by sneaky merchants.
Additional Convenience Features
To make online transactions seamless, Privacy offers several additional features:
- Mobile app—Manage your virtual cards on the go with the Privacy App, available on Android and iOS platforms.
- Browser extension—Easily generate and manage virtual cards directly from your browser with the Privacy Browser Extension, available on Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Safari for iOS.
- 1Password integration—Integrate your Privacy account with 1Password for streamlined card management from the 1Password browser extension.
- Card Notes—Leave notes on your cards to remember when and where you intend to use them, ensuring better organization and transaction tracking.
- Shared Cards—Share virtual card details securely with trusted family members or give them as gifts to your friends celebrating special occasions.
Getting Your First Privacy Card
To get started with Privacy, follow four steps:
- Register
- Complete the onboarding process to verify your identity
- Connect a source of funds, such as your bank account or debit card
- Request and generate your first virtual card
Privacy has four plans:
Privacy Virtual Cards are available to all U.S. residents above the legal age and with accounts at U.S. credit unions or banks.
