A virtual private network (VPN) is a service that encrypts a user’s connection to a network so they can surf the web anonymously.
As a free VPN with a P2P feature, Hola VPN is among the most popular VPNs since it enables peers to easily communicate data without the use of middlemen on P2P-friendly websites like torrent and others.
However, Hola VPN appears to be wanting in the most of these regards. The primary reason to use a VPN is to safeguard users’ private information, thus it goes without saying that HolaVPN is not the best option if you’re looking for a VPN.
Where does Hola VPN go wrong?
The Israeli company Hola released its VPN service in late 2012. Over 150 million people from all over the world are supposedly using it. It’s the first P2P VPN we’re aware of because all of its users have equal access to all of the network’s resources. However, how trustworthy is Hola? This VPN was found to be using its users’ personal information for commercial gain.
Hola VPN’s only redeeming feature is that it’s fast and free. But other than that, it’s a huge gamble for web surfers to count on this service.
The lack of industry-standard encryption in their service leaves you vulnerable to a number of cyber threats. There have been other hacking events, the most prominent being the 2018 server hack. To better serve their paying customers, they also make extensive use of data collected from their free consumers.
You also risk having any suspicious (or illegal!) online behavior associated with your IP address if you share it with others and have no say over how it is utilized.
So, if there are many questions about a free service, what good is it? The VPN service fails the most fundamental security muster.
Where does Hola VPN go wrong?
The Israeli company Hola released its VPN service in late 2012. Over 150 million people from all over the world are supposedly using it. It’s the first P2P VPN we’re aware of because all of its users have equal access to all of the network’s resources. However, how trustworthy is Hola? This VPN was found to be using its users’ personal information for commercial gain.
Hola VPN’s only redeeming features are its zero-dollar price tag and lightning-fast connection. However, that isn’t the only reason why relying on this service is a huge gamble for internet consumers.
Their service puts you at risk from several cyber threats due to its nonstandard encryption. There have been other hacking events, but the one that made headlines in 2018 was when their server was compromised. Most of the data collected from their free users is also shared with their paying customers.
Since you have no say over who uses your IP address or for what, you leave yourself open to having any suspicious (or criminal) behavior online linked to you personally.
What good, then, is a free service if it is met with widespread suspicion? The VPN service is not secure, in the most fundamental sense.
Is there anything comparable to Hola?
Let’s break out how we ranked each alternative to Hola VPN before we dive in. The cost should be one of your primary concerns. Since Hola is totally gratis, it has attracted a large user base. Therefore, we need to include free or freemium VPNs with a robust free plan on our list of Hola alternatives. Keep in mind that “Free VPN” was created with flaws in mind. We’ve already gone into depth about the limitations of VPNs. You should be conscious of the constraints of the free options available, however there are several.
The second component is how the user is made to feel. The Hola alternatives should not have annoying features like pop-up ads or slow download speeds. There are further elements to consider, such as speed, security, bandwidth, and the availability of servers. We have also attempted to incorporate alternative P2P VPN services. Next, let’s examine several excellent alternatives to Hola.
You May Also Like: 10 Top Virtual Private Network Add-ons for Google Chrome
Tunnelbear Is A Free Alternative To Hola
We recommend Tunnelbear VPN because of its abundance of useful features. Non-technical VPN users can use the service for free and without any limitations. Additionally, pop-up advertising are not a part of HolaVPN’s free plan. Finally, Tunnelbear is one of the finest Hola VPN alternatives, allowing you to access Netflix and other geo-restricted content.
Torrenting is supported in all regions, making Tunnelbear VPN a perfect choice for basic VPN needs. In case users encounter issues in other countries, Tunnelbear recommends specialized tunnels for Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Romania, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The security offered by Tunnelbear VPN is its most striking feature, as the company does not record its users’ online actions and conducts an annual assessment of critical data.
The main drawback, though, is that you can only use 500MB per month. It does provide more storage space for specific tasks (like tweeting). The premium subscription removes all limitations and costs less than competing VPN services.
Particulars to note:
Server Count: 1700
Hosted in 20 different countries
Five gadgets is the maximum allowed.
Desktop versions are available for both Mac and Windows.
Devices: iOS and Android mobiles.
Add-ons for the Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browsers.
Plan – Free (up to 500 MB monthly) and Paid (from $9.99 monthly).
Save Tunnelbear
The Best 7 Mobile VPN Apps for Android and iOS is a related read.
The #2 Best Free VPN: Windscribe
Windscribe is yet another popular option to Hola, and it comes highly recommended by users. Windscribe is a great app since it has a clean design and useful extras. This virtual private network (VPN) makes it simple, for instance, to access geo-restricted content on services like US Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Windscribe’s free 10-gigabyte (GB) bandwidth bundle is a great way to try out the service before committing to a paid membership. Windscribe provides an exceptionally safe server because they encrypt all traffic with 256-bit AES and use a 4096-bit RSA key scheme. This means your work with them is shielded from potential harm. They don’t keep any kind of user data because they have a strict no-activity-log policy. A paid VPN service can be had for as little as $1 per month (per location) or $9 (for all locations) per month.
Particulars to note:
Over 110 servers in use.
Hosted in 60 countries
You can connect an infinite number of devices.
Mac, Linux, and Windows desktop versions are available.
Android, Apple iOS, and Blackberry mobile devices are all supported.
Add-ons for the Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browsers.
Free (10GB/month) and paid (starting at $9/month) options are available.
Get the Windscribe add-on.
Safe, Free Alternative to Hola: Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield VPN is not just among the world’s oldest VPNs, but also one of the finest free VPNs. In addition, the free version provides military-grade encryption to bypass geo-restrictions on content.
The connection is reasonably fast and secure, however the free edition only provides access to one virtual location within the United States. In addition, the VPN service includes 500 MB of daily data usage. Hotspot Shield further states that it does not log user activity. The only catch is that their free plan doesn’t work with any streaming sites.
Particulars to note:
There are 2,000 servers spread throughout 24 countries.
Five gadgets is the maximum allowed.
Availability:
Macs and PCs both have desktop counterparts.
Devices: iOS and Android mobiles.
Chrome and Firefox Add-ons for Your Browser.
Free for 7 days, then $2.99/month after that.
Get Hotspot Shield here:
Proton VPN Is the Best Free Option to Hola
CERN, the cradle of the internet, is also the genesis of ProtonVPN, a service that evolved from the successful Proton Mail email service. The VPN is also quite safe, complementing the Mail service’s meticulous attention to privacy and security. Given that it offers a fully functional free plan similar to Hola’s, it is arguably the finest free alternative to Hola.
A free trial of ProtonVPN Plus will be activated for you and last for 7 days. During this period, you can use all of the servers and functions of ProtonVPN. The ProtonVPN trial will start after the initial connection has been made. If you sign up for ProtonVPN but don’t start using it for a few days, you won’t lose the seven-day trial period.
If you do not upgrade before your trial ends, your account will default to the Free plan. If you sign up for ProtonVPN’s free subscription, you’ll get access to five servers in the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States. However, you’ll be limited to connecting to only one gadget at a time.
Particulars to note:
There are 395 servers in all.
There are 32 host countries.
Ten gadgets is the maximum allowed.
Desktop versions are compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Devices: iOS and Android mobiles.
Plans are available for free (7-day trial plus $0/month) or for a low monthly fee (starting at $4).
Get ProtonVPN Now
P2P VPN using BitTorrent (BitVPN) Greetings, Substitute
One of the most reliable alternatives to Hola VPN is BitVPN, a decentralized VPN service built on the blockchain for maximum security. When it comes to security, anonymity, and content availability, BitVPN is your best bet.
Virtual private networks (VPNs) enable their users to stay anonymous and safe even when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. Due to its decentralized design, BitVPN is unable to monitor or log your online activities in any way. In addition, BitVPN is immune to attacks like the one that crippled HolaVPN.
Particulars to note:
Mesh Network of Peers
Absolutely No Tree Harvesting
Adaptable and sturdy
Availability:
Macs and PCs both have desktop counterparts.
Devices: iOS and Android mobiles.
Add-on for Google Chrome; three-day free trial; monthly fees starting at $3.99.
Grab BitVPN Here.