Hola VPN is a community-powered VPN that helps you remain anonymous and browse some region-blocked websites. Its users can help keep the VPN network running while also reaping some benefits by contributing minimal resources.
Hola unlimited free VPN reroutes your internet traffic through other users devices, making it appear as if you are located in a different country or region. This allows you to bypass geo-restrictions and access websites that would typically be unavailable in your area.
P2P VPNs like Hola make it more difficult for someone to track your location because your data jumps around multiple sources. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything else that Hola free VPN is really good for. Why? Let’s find out.
Hola VPN review – Quick summary
Let’s go through the specifications of Hola VPN very quickly:
| Price | Free |
| Bandwidth | Limited for free users, Unlimited for premium users |
| Platforms | iOS, Mac, Linux, Windows, Samsung, Huawei, FireTV, LG web OS |
| Encryption | AES 256 |
| Kill switch | No |
| No-log policy | No |
| Based on | Israel |
| Unblocks | Region-blocked sites, streaming content |
| Number of connections | Up to 20 devices |
| Number of servers | 1500 servers and 7.7 million IP addresses |
| Smart DNS | Only in premium |
Pros and cons of Hola VPN
Pros
Hola comes with a few advantages. They are as follows:
- Free
- Lightweight
- Easy-to-use interface
Unfortunately, the advantages of Hola VPN end there. It is not the best VPN service and has several disadvantages, which we will discuss now.
Cons
Hola-free VPN comes with far more disadvantages than advantages. They are listed below:
- Unsecure encryption and security protocol
- Lack of basic essential features
- Below-average, laggy connections
- Sells data to third parties
- A Chrome browser extension is unavailable
- Unavailable on Google Play Store
- Expensive premium plan
- Limited bandwidth on the free plan
- Uses your network resources
- Torrenting unavailable
Hola VPN full specification
In this section, we’ll go into more detail about what Hola has to offer and how it works.
1. Pricing
Hola offers three plans of service, each with its own features and advantages. Let’s take a look at the prices for each plan.
Hola free VPN
Hola offers a free version of their VPN that gives you 30 minutes of unlimited bandwidth per hour. If you want to enjoy unlimited data, you will have to upgrade to the paid version.
Hola premium unlimited VPN
You can get the following benefits if you upgrade to Hola premium:
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Faster connection than free Hola plan
- Connection up to 10 devices simultaneously
- Quick customer support
The pricing term for Hola premium is as follows:
- Monthly subscription – 14.99 per month
- Yearly subscription – 7.69 per month
- 3-year subscription – 2.99 per month
Hola ultra advanced VPN
You can get the following benefits if you upgrade to Hola premium:
- Unlimited bandwidth
- The fastest connection to other plans
- Connection up to 20 devices simultaneously
- Quick customer support
The pricing term for Hola premium is as follows:
- Monthly subscription – 29.99 per month
- Yearly subscription – 19.99 per month
- 3-year subscription – 7.99 per month
2. Hola VPN payment options
It has multiple payment options. You can pay using your PayPal account or with a credit card. The company also accepts Google Pay, Ali Pay, and Giro Pay. If you have a promo code, you can apply it during the checkout process.
Unfortunately, it does not have cryptocurrency payment options.
3. Speed and Performance – How fast is Hola VPN?
Hola VPN proxy uses a peer-to-peer network, which means that your internet speed will depend on the number of users and their location. The further away they are, the slower your connection will be.
In our testing, we have found that the average maximum speed of Hola premium VPN is 48.32 Mbps.
Whereas, the free version of Hola throttles user bandwidth, making it unsuitable for gaming or HD streaming.
4. Available platforms
Hola VPN is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and iOS. It is not available for download from Google Play Store on Android devices because Google removed it. However, it is also available in Samsung and Huawei app stores.
Hola VPN has extensions for MS Edge, Firefox, and Opera browsers but is unavailable for chrome.
It is also compatible with Xbox, Playstation, LG webOS, Smart TV, Apple TV, and Fire TV Stick.
5. Privacy and security – How secure is Hola VPN?
Hola VPN is not a secure VPN service because it uses a peer-to-peer network. This means that your data is not encrypted and might be misused by hackers.
Hola uses AES-256 bit encryption in premium versions, but it doesn’t use it in the free version. It does not have a kill switch feature, so your identity may be exposed if the VPN connection drops.
In addition, Hola keeps logs of your browsing activity and sells this information to third parties. So, if you are looking for a VPN for privacy, do not even consider Hola an option.
6. Unblocking capabilities
Hola VPN can unblock some region-blocked websites. However, its bypassing abilities are not as great as other VPNs, which use more robust encryption since it primarily uses the P2P protocol.
7. Streaming
Hola VPN software can unblock Netflix and other streaming services, but the videos do not always play well. The free version is terrible at unblocking streaming content since there are no dedicated physical servers.
8. Servers
Hola VPN has servers in over 190 countries. These servers are not physical, but rather virtual servers that run on a peer-to-peer network.
The Hola free version only offers servers in the US, UK, Canada, and the Netherlands.
However, the premium version gives you access to all their servers.
9. Peer to peer technology
Hola VPN uses a peer-to-peer network instead of the traditional server-client model. This means that your traffic is routed through other user’s devices instead of servers.
This also means that your data is not encrypted since it is passed on from one user to another. Imagine someone accessing illegal content which is being routed through your IP address. Therefore, this VPN is not very secure.
10. Customer service
You can reach out to them from their “Contact Us” page. They do not have a live chat feature, so you can only contact them by email. The response time is slower as a result.
Related: Best VPN providers in 2026
Hola VPN Premium features
A premium Hola VPN service provides a higher level of security and privacy than a free service. Premium features include:
Unlimited bandwidth: You can use unlimited internet data at all times.
Ultra-fast speeds: Since the fastest servers can be accessed, premium users can experience the full potential of Hola’s internet speed.
Auto-activation: VPN automatically activates when you connect to the internet.
High-level encryption: The premium versions have better encryption, whereas the free one has none.
High video streaming quality: Access to faster IP addresses will give you enough bandwidth to stream higher quality videos.
Access to 7.7 million IP addresses globally: Both premium plans allow you to access 7.7 million IP addresses.
Smart DNS: Free VPN lacks DNS leak protection, but both the premium versions have it.
Up to 20 device connections: The plan starts from $2.99 per month and allows you to use 10 devices with the same account. The number of devices goes up to 20 if you purchase an ultra-advanced plan which starts from $7.99 per month.
A premium VPN service is perfect if you want to ensure greater online privacy and security.
Hola VPN download
You can download the Hola VPN app to devices on several platforms. Here is how you can download Hola free VPN:
Download Hola VPN by following these steps:
Step 1: Go to their official page.
Step 2: Select the platform you want to download.
Step 3: After the executable file is downloaded, install it.
Step 4: After installation, choose a free VPN server and you will be connected.
Related info: Check out this – best free Android VPNs, where we have listed expert-tested free VPN providers for Android devices.
Hola VPN alternatives
If you’re looking for a VPN to properly protect your online privacy and other personal information, we recommend you try any one of these alternatives as a Hola user is more at risk of being identified and tracked.
Following VPNs are great alternatives to Hola VPN:
Surfshark VPN is far more capable and secure than Hola. It has many features and security protocols such as a kill switch, split tunneling, AES-256-GCM encryption, and more.
It is also very affordable as it offers an 81% discount on the 2-year plan. Moreover, it is very user-friendly and can be used by anyone, making it a great Hola alternative.
NordVPN is another excellent Hola alternative. It is more reliable and offers better security. NordVPN has various features that make it an excellent choice for online privacy and security.
Nord has a far more secure VPN server network and VPN protocols. The VPN company is also not as controversial with selling user data. It also has an android app available too. In addition, it has an affordable premium plan with a free trial and free user bandwidth.
Much like Surfshark and Nord, ExpressVPN is a popular VPN available in browser extensions, mobile apps, and PC applications. It offers better protection than the Hola network and unlocks more streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, etc.
It is a superior option for online security as it encrypts browser traffic in much better ways. It has many servers across 94 countries in the world, making it more secure than a peer-to-peer VPN like Hola. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and 3 months free with its 12-month plan.
Related info: Check out this – best free iPhone VPNs, where we have listed expert-tested free VPN providers for iOS devices.
FAQs about Hola VPN
Is Hola VPN free?
Yes, Hola VPN is free. With it, you can use the most basic VPN function, which is unblocking websites by changing your location. It also has a premium plan that offers more features.
Is Hola VPN safe and trustworthy?
Hola VPN is not as trustworthy as a VPN should be. Its free version is known to sell user data to third parties. The premium version isn’t much better either. It simply stops using your networking resources and gives you a slightly faster internet connection, but that’s about it.
The paid versions of other VPN alternatives provide better security features and do not use your network resources.
Can Hola VPN be tracked?
It is possible to track Hola VPN. The free version does not provide encryption, which means others can see what web pages you are accessing and quickly identify your actual IP address.
Is Hola VPN for Android available?
Hola VPN is not available on the Google Play Store. Google blocked it because it was said to have contained malware. You can download its app file from a third-party website and install it from your file explorer if you want it installed on your android device.
It is also available in Samsung and Huawei stores.
Is Hola VPN for PC available?
Yes, Hola VPN is available for PC. You can download it from their official website.
Is Hola VPN legal?
Yes, Hola VPN is legal. However, there have been cases where people have used it for illegal activities such as pirating movies and TV shows.
Is Hola VPN available on Chrome?
No, the Hola VPN Chrome extension is unavailable. Google removed it by stating that it contains malware, but Hola has denied such claims. [1]Hola, “Hola VPN FAQs, https://hola.org/faq#chrome-whathappened”
Is Hola VPN available in China?
No, Hola VPN does not work in China. The Chinese government has put heavy restrictions on all VPNs.
Only VPNs using high-end encryption technologies can provide services in China. Hola provides no such encryption, so it does not work in China.
Is Hola VPN malware?
Google identifies Hola VPN as malware, but Hola has denied such claims. You should be wary when you consider using this VPN.
Is Hola VPN ad free?
Yes, Hola VPN is ad-free. Hola does not make money by using ads. Their company can function despite being completely ad-free because they do not need to operate physical servers.
How does Hola VPN work?
Hola VPN uses a peer-to-peer network. When you install this VPN, your device becomes a part of the network and shares your resources with other network members. [2]Hola, “How does Hola technology work, https://hola.org/faq#intro-how-it-works”
This is how the company can provide free services. However, this also means that your device’s resources are being used, which drains more battery.
How to cancel Hola VPN subscription?
Hola VPN subscription can be canceled from within their applications. Every platform uses a different method to cancel subscriptions.
In Android, open the Play store and find the Hola app in the “Installed Apps” section. Then click the ‘cancel payments’ option to cancel your subscription.
On PC, go to Hola VPN “Cancel Page” and sign in with your Hola account. Then you can follow the instructions there.
How much does Hola VPN cost?
There are two premium plans available that start from $2.99 and $7.99 per month. They both offer similar features, but the more expensive plan provides simultaneous connections in 20 devices, whereas the cheaper one offers connections in up to 10 devices per account. It offers a free plan as well.
Does Hola VPN collect user’s data?
Yes, Hola VPN does collect user’s data. The company claims to sell your data only to trusted third parties but having your data leaked defeats the purpose of using a VPN.
They do not inform their users who the third parties are either, so there is no way to verify whether your logs are in good hands or not. [3]Hola, “Hola privacy policy, https://hola.org/legal/privacy”
Should businesses use Hola VPN?
We do not recommend businesses to use Hola at all since it is not secure. There is a chance that your data will be sold to third parties. Businesses should use other premium VPNs which encrypt their information better instead.
Is Hola VPN worth it?
Hola VPN is not worth it if you’re looking for a VPN to protect your online privacy. It is, however, worth it if you’re looking for a free way to unblock websites or a few streaming services. Just keep in mind that it’s not a genuinely secure VPN.
Final thoughts
Overall, Hola VPN is not a secure or reliable choice for a VPN. Their peer-to-peer network leaves your data vulnerable to being leaked and sold to third parties, which defeats the purpose of using a VPN in the first place.
The free version leaves you completely unprotected without any encryption, and the premium versions do not have anything to boast about either. Only the fundamental safety features can be bypassed with some effort.
There are better, more reputable options available that users should consider using instead. If you’re looking for a free way to unblock websites or stream content without caring much about your IP address getting leaked, Hola VPN may be worth considering, but if you are not willing to take risks, you should avoid this software.
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