ZoneBlade vs Hola VPN

The short answer

ZoneBlade is the better free VPN for your browser. Its free plan isn't time-limited, it never shares your connection, and it keeps no record of the sites you visit. Hola's free extension runs on a time limit, its privacy policy says extension logs may include browsing history, and its free desktop apps share your connection with Bright Data's network. Hola reaches more countries if you pay, 190+ against ZoneBlade Premium's 180.

Checked against Hola VPN's own website and store listing on . Every claim about Hola VPN links to its source.

Side by side

ZoneBlade and Hola VPN, row by row.

Numbers link to their sources at the bottom of the page.

FeatureZoneBladeHola VPN logoHola VPN
Free planYesYes1Time-limited
Works without an accountYesNot stated
Free dataUnlimitedTime-limited2Then a wait
Countries on the free plan6Not stated
No ads on the free planYesYes3
Doesn't sell your data or share your connectionYesPartly4Free desktop apps share your connection; extension logs may include browsing history
A different country in each tabYesPartly1Says per tab or site; we couldn't confirm which
The same site in two countries at onceYesEach country keeps its own cookiesNot stated
Countries180190+5
Apps for your whole deviceNoChrome and Edge onlyYes6
Price, month to month$5.99Premium, monthly$14.997
Lowest price a month$4.00Premium, $47.99 a year$2.9973-year plan
Hola VPN: who runs it
Hola VPN Ltd, Israel [8]
Hola VPN: how free is paid for
Free users of its desktop apps lend idle bandwidth to the Bright Data network, which Hola charges companies to use; the Chrome extension isn't part of it [9]
Hola VPN: logs
Its privacy policy says extension log data may include browsing history, kept up to 12 months [4]
Hola VPN: Chrome Web Store
4.6 stars from 368,000 ratings, 4 million users [1]
Hola VPN: history
In 2015 free users' bandwidth, sold through Luminati, was used in an attack on a website [10]

Free, with a timer

Hola's free extension gives you a limited amount of VPN time, then asks you to wait; it doesn't say how long either is. ZoneBlade Free has no timer and no data cap in its 6 countries, and no account.

How the free plan is paid for

Hola's free desktop and Android apps use your device as a peer in Bright Data's network, which Hola sells to companies; Hola says its Chrome extension isn't part of that network. Its privacy policy also says extension logs may include browsing history, kept for up to 12 months.

ZoneBlade never uses your connection to carry anyone else's traffic, keeps no record of the sites you visit, and doesn't sell data. Free is paid for by people who choose Premium.

A country in every tab

Hola's Chrome listing says you can get a different country for each tab or website; we couldn't confirm how it works, and Hola doesn't say each country keeps its own cookies. ZoneBlade's Each tab mode gives each Chrome tab group its own country and its own cookies, so the same site can be open in two countries without one seeing the other.

When Hola VPN is the better pick

Choose Hola if you need the most countries, 190+, with apps for TVs and routers on its paid plan.

The verdict

For a free VPN you can leave on, ZoneBlade wins: no timer, no data cap, no connection sharing and no record of your browsing, plus a country in every tab with cookies kept apart. Hola has more countries on its paid plan, but for free browsing ZoneBlade is the safer choice.

Questions

Is Hola VPN free?

Its extension has a free version with a time limit. ZoneBlade Free has no time limit and no data cap.

Does Hola share my connection?

Hola says its Chrome extension doesn't, but its free desktop and Android apps use your device as a peer in Bright Data's network. ZoneBlade never shares your connection.

Does Hola keep my browsing history?

Its privacy policy says extension log data may include browsing history, kept up to 12 months. ZoneBlade keeps no record of the sites you visit.

Sources

  1. 1https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/hola-vpn-your-website-unb/gkojfkhlekighikafcpjkiklfbnlmeio
  2. 2https://support.hola.org/en/articles/9636258-how-do-the-time-limits-work-on-hola-s-free-product
  3. 3https://hola.org/faq
  4. 4https://hola.org/legal/privacy
  5. 5https://hola.org/
  6. 6https://support.hola.org/en/articles/9636464-which-platforms-does-hola-support
  7. 7https://hola.org/pricing?currency=usd
  8. 8https://hola.org/legal/sla
  9. 9https://support.hola.org/en/articles/9636342-how-does-hola-make-money
  10. 10https://www.pcworld.com/article/427726/ultra-popular-hola-vpn-extension-sold-your-bandwidth-for-use-in-a-botnet-attack.html

Try ZoneBlade before you pay for Hola VPN.

Free for good: unlimited data in 6 countries, a country in every tab, no account, no ads. Ready in a minute.

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