Hola NZ

Recommended for streaming
Free version is not recommended for privacy

Jurisdiction: Israel | Audit: No | Apps for: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone | Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Browser Extensions: Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge | Advanced Features: P2P VPN, Ad Remover, GPS Location, Accelerator

Total servers: 1,500+ Servers | Servers in New Zealand: Yes | Servers in Australia: Yes

Pros

Hola VPN in NZ is a free service
It provides access to blocked websites from all over the world
This service has a massive network of Hola nodes
Hola is fast, enabling users to stream 4K video
It’s very easy to use

Cons

Hola shares a little of your bandwidth and CPU time with other users
The free plan only allows one hour of Netflix time per day
It is not a real VPN, only works on browser data, and Hola does not state its encryption levels

Hola VPN NZ Review

Hola VPN NZ takes a unique approach to online security, offering free and premium plans. The free version is an excellent way for New Zealanders to unblock popular worldwide websites like US Netflix. It also provides enhanced browsing security, but before you download it, there are some things you should know.

In this Hola VPN review NZ, we’ll discuss Hola VPN, what it’s used for, how it works, and if it’s the right service for you.

About Hola

When most of us think about Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), we think of security. A traditional VPN creates a private network from a public one, routing data through secure servers. In this way, your IP is masked, and all data transferred on the secure network is encrypted so that even if an intruder were to intercept your data somehow, they wouldn’t be able to read it or use it in any way.

Hola is not a real VPN. It’s a VPN-like service that routes browser data through its users to make a “peer to peer” VPN network. As such, Hola is able to offer its service for free because it does not generate the cost associated with maintaining its own servers or bandwidth.

Once you install a Hola app, you’re allowing the company to use some of your system and network resources. While this may not sound appealing, Hola only uses devices that are idle and connected directly to a power source. That way, you don’t have to worry about decreased performance from your devices while they’re in use.

What’s more, Hola caps the amount of data they use to 3MB for mobile devices and 100MB for desktops each day. That way, none of Hola’s users should experience any dips in performance caused by the service, and Hola is about to offer it for free.

Of course, Hola also offers a paid premium service that acts more like a traditional VPN. Hola Premium provides you with access to the company’s personal servers, and you no longer share your bandwidth with other users.

Features

Hola offers several useful features to complement its VPN service. Most of them focus on improving the browsing experience so that you are better able to stream video. Given the fact that Hola’s free service is primarily used to unblock websites, this makes a lot of sense.

P2P VPN

First up is Hola’s free service. When you sign up for Hola’s free plan and download one of its apps, you agree to be a part of its community-powered VPN. While this provides you with an unrestricted browsing experience, you’ll also be agreeing to contribute idle device resources to a vast pool of residential IPs.

For New Zealanders, this free VPN NZ enables you to use country-restricted services like Netflix US. However, you should be aware that, while it allows for unrestricted browsing by masking your IP, it does not provide a secure connection for transmitting sensitive information as a traditional VPN would.

Hola Premium

You can sign up for Hola Premium for as little as $2.99 per month. This service supports all major devices and platforms, including Android and iOS devices, Mac OS, and Windows. You can also set it up to run on routers, Smart TVs, and gaming consoles.

As a paying customer, you can use Hola Premium on up to ten devices simultaneously without having to share bandwidth as you would with the free plan. Using Hola VPN New Zealand, you’ll have access to US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more.

What’s more, it offers a level of security and encryption. Although Hola is not explicit in how it guards data, the company is continually monitoring activity and has the ability to identify the origin of misuse and security breaches.

Hola Ad Remover

In line with Hola’s primary goal of improving the browsing experience, the company also offers an ad-blocker. Hola Ad Remover is built to block advertisements, malware, and suspicious tracking.

Hola Ad Remover is free and works like a lot of similar apps. It works to remove annoying ads and block pop-ups and intrusive banners. It also blocks video ads and tracking and offers the first level of defense against malware.

Hola GPS Location

Another feature Hola develops is Hola GPS Location. This app can be downloaded onto any device with a GPS locator and used to change the GPS. It works by changing your location and overwriting your current proximity.

This feature is handy for circumventing geo-restrictions, such as those on certain social network platforms and dating sites. It’s an effective location spoofer.

To use Hola GPS Location, you must first disable your default location settings and set them to GPS Only or Device Only. From there, you select the requested location on the map or by using the search bar. Then, click Play, and your location is changed.

Hola Accelerator

Hola also offers a video accelerator to help speed up your video streams and prevent unnecessary buffering. In other words, it speeds up your videos so that they start faster and are less likely to become stuck buffering. Hola Accelerator improves your video watching experience.

Hola Browser

Lastly, Hola offers its own browser extensions. It works on many of the most popular browsers, including Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Microsoft Edge. It’s also supported on Mac, Windows, and Android devices.

The Hola Browser is an efficient way to reap the full benefits of Hola’s P2P VPN service. Once you add it, you’ll be able to access web content from all over the world, including country-restricted content like Netflix US.

Hola Proxy for Business

Hola offers several proxy services for business under its Luminati services. In addition to proxy servers used for security and to unblock web content, Hola offers businesses the tools to manage their proxies while mining for valuable information.

This data has many different business applications, including global market research, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) monitoring, and search engine results. It can also be useful for ad verification, price comparisons, and all different types of web information extraction.

All in all, if your business needs more market research data to increase consumer satisfaction and Return on Investment (ROI), Hola offers these services. Hola’s proxy manager enables you to manage all of your proxies from a single interface.

When you sign up for Hola’s Luminati services, you’ll receive a free trial and the following:

  • Access to over 30-million IP address from all over the world
  • Precise IP resolution
  • Ability to run many concurrent sessions
  • Lots of Geo-targeting options, including city, country, carrier, and ASN
  • High bandwidth (high request rate with multiple IPs
  • Developer API for controlling the routing of your HTTP/S
  • Technical Support engineers

Before we move on, let’s take a look at a few reasons your business can benefit from this service. The following are some of the use cases.

Price Comparison

Luminati enables your business to research the prices of your competitors effectively. You’ll be able to compare your prices with that of other companies anonymously.

Brand Monitoring

Another reason businesses sign up for Luminati is to ensure their brand messaging is consistent across the web. This service is especially helpful if your business sells multiple products across many different platforms. You’ll be able to check product descriptions and pricing to ensure compliance with your brand.

Self-Testing

The Luminati service also gives you the power to see how your website looks from various locations worldwide. This feature is especially important for international businesses and confirms brand compliance across the web.

Malicious Advertisement Prevention

It’s critical to your reputation with an online business to ensure any ads you display are not malicious. With Luminati, you’ll be able to easily check that every ad on your site conforms to the content of their landing pages. Preventing malicious advertisements from appearing on your site will help preserve your brand’s reputation.

Is Hola Free Using User Data for Other Purposes?

Hola is upfront about the data they monitor and collect. While this monitoring enables the company to track and prevent malicious activity, it also provides them with a large database of personal data.

Everything you do on Hola’s network is monitored and collected. The data collected includes the web pages you visit, how much time you spend on them, and your personal IP address. Hola also records the node that was used for the connection.

Hola’s excuse for gathering so much information is to combat cybercriminals. However, the company is also collecting a lot of personal information. For instance, if you log into Hola using a social media account like Facebook, you’re giving Hola all of the information from that account, including your name, address, and possible billing information.

So, the real question is: is Hola using this data for other purposes? While Hola claims they do not rent or sell any personal information, they may disclose this information to its subsidiaries and affiliated companies.

This means that the data Hola gathers from its free users is then shared with its affiliated company Luminati. In this way, Hola has compiled a database to power its proxy business, with features such as brand monitoring, price comparison, and malicious ad prevention.

The bottom line is that if you are privacy-conscious and don’t like the idea of your personal information being shared, Hola is probably not for you. Those looking for a VPN to protect their privacy and sensitive data will need to upgrade to Hola Premium or look elsewhere. On the other hand, if all you need is a simple solution to unblock websites, Hola Free could be just what you need.

Available Hola Apps

For the most part, Hola offers its apps and services through all of the most common platforms. To get Hola VPN NZ on your mobile device, all you have to do is search for it and download it. From there, the app will walk you through the rest of the necessary steps.

Many of Hola’s additional features are also available on most platforms. Installing Hola Ad Remover, Hola Accelerator, and Hola GPS Location can be done on Android and iOS devices.

For other devices, Hola apps are also for Windows and Mac. What’s more, it can be installed on routers, Smart TVs, and other consoles, including Playstation and Xbox.

How the Apps Work

The computer-based app provides you with a simple location picker, with available connections to the United States and 42 other countries. Then, once you’re connected, Hola’s VPN works like a standard VPN, routing your internet traffic through Hola’s encrypted tunnel.

It’s a simple process to work with and a few features to worry about. Although it would be nice to have a Favorites system and displayed server load and ping times, overall, the Hola app does what it says on the tin. Once connected, you’ll be able to view your new IP address and a flag of your current location.

Besides that, the app has three groups of settings. A Security panel provides additional control over Hola’s encryption methods. An Auto-Connect feature connects you to a particular location when the app starts. And an App Kill Switch helps to reduce the chance of having valuable data stolen in the event the VPN connection drops.

Mobile Apps

Overall, the mobile apps are easy to use but work a little differently from the desktop ones. For example, the Hola VPN Proxy Plus app for Android works as a launcher for websites and other installed apps. You simply specify the desired location and go from there.

Hola favors simplicity over features, so you don’t get the options available from other similar apps. As such, you can’t save certain locations as Favorites or set up the app for auto-connection. However, most will find that there’s little need for such features anyway.

Manual Setup Guides Available

Hola can be installed on up to ten devices simultaneously. There is an easy installation method, but you can also opt for the manual setup, enabling you to configure the app to more customized needs.

Manual setup guides are available for Windows and Mac OS. In addition, Hola’s website includes step-by-step instructions for many other devices, including Smart TVs, game consoles, and browsers.

Browser Extensions

On top of the available apps, Hola can also be set up as a browser extension. The browser extension includes Hola’s VPN service and Video Accelerator. It’s available for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge.

Servers Network

Hola has over 2000 servers all over the world. While it’s unknown whether these servers are classified as standard VPN servers, obfuscated servers, or P2P servers, Hola’s free service is available everywhere.

Servers In New Zealand

As for New Zealand, Hola’s free service is an effective way to unblock websites for streaming. Plus, if you opt for the Hola Premium, you’ll also have the security of Hola’s VPN servers located in New Zealand.

The fact that Hola has servers in New Zealand makes it an attractive option for NZ users. Hola Premium users can expect Hola VPN NZ speed to be high performance, and Hola Free is ideal for unblocking websites worldwide.

Streaming

Hola is built to unblock websites and enable you to stream content from anywhere in the world. The free service will unblock several popular websites, including Netflix US, but where the service truly shines is with Hola Premium.

Hola’s premium service is ideal for streaming. With it, you’ll be able to stream content for most services worldwide—for instance, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Netflix (from all international versions).

Interestingly, the reason Hola is so good at streaming international content is that it’s not a real VPN. With a regular VPN, streaming services can still identify your location and block you. However, Hola’s service provides users with access to the internet connections of its free users.

When you route your connection through Hola’s service, you can use the location of various internet connections from all over the world. You’re literally connecting to the internet from whatever international location is required for each individual streaming service. For this reason, it’s nearly impossible to block your connection without also blocking legitimate users.

Performance

Hola Premium works as well or better than other VPNs on the market when it comes to overall performance. Using Hola Premium, websites load quickly, and video streaming services from all over the world are available. Of course, there are sure to be some locations where connection speeds are slower; in New Zealand, Hola appears to work beautifully.

That said, if you use Hola’s free service, you’ll gain the same access to geo-restricted websites as the Premium version, but you agree to include your device in Hola’s P2P network. Once there, other users will be able to access the internet through your device.

Hola claims devices are only used when they are idle. Nevertheless, by signing up for the free plan, you agree to put your system resources and bandwidth in the hands of Hola’s P2P network.

Torrenting

Hola blocks all BitTorrent traffic on its network. This goes for free and paid premium users. The reason for this is to prevent the bandwidth of free users from being drained by torrents. So, while this is good news for free users, you’ll have to find an alternative for torrenting.

Alternatives

Of course, Hola is not the only game in town. There are other companies offering free VPNs as well. However, it’s difficult to compare the service Hola offers to traditional VPN services. After all, Hola uses a unique structure that looks more like a Tor Network than a regular VPN service.

Given the fact that Hola connects you through user devices all across the globe instead of providing private servers, it’s users are typically interested more in its unblocking abilities than privacy. On top of that, Hola monitors your activity and keeps extensive logs.

That said, there are alternatives to Hola that may allow you to achieve similar results. For example, ProtonVPN has a free VPN service focused on privacy with a strict no-logging policy. Another example is Windscribe, with a similar free option that encrypts your browsing information and unblocks some geo-specific content.

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is located in Switzerland, a country known for its strict online privacy laws. The company’s focus is on security, routing your internet data through their privacy tunnels so that it can’t be intercepted and stolen.

The service also enables you to access websites that are blocked in your country, but this is not its primary concern. ProtonVPN’s free plan gives you 1 VPN connection with servers in three different countries. Your data is also limited to 10GB per month.

Windscribe

windscribe

Another potential alternative to Hola is Windscribe. Windscribe offers a VPN service that encrypts your browsing data, blocks ads, and unblocks entertainment content. The company has servers in 63 countries and 110 cities.

Windscribe offers strong encryption and has a free plan that offers unlimited connections, access to over ten countries, and 10GB per month of data. Much like ProtonVPN, Windscribe focuses on protecting your privacy as it is a traditional VPN service. While you can use it to unblock geo-restricted content, that is not its primary purpose and does have limitations.

Hola Premium vs. Hola Free

Interestingly, Hola Free and Hola Premium are, basically, different products. Hola Free is designed to open that web by unblocking geo-restricted websites. Its main draw is offering the ability to stream from popular services such as Netflix US and Hulu.

On the other hand, Hola Premium is a paid service for protecting browsing history more in line with a traditional VPN. With Hola Premium, you get unlimited VPN time, security and encryption, and site unblocking. Plus, it has fast servers designed for private HD video streaming.

Unlike the free plan, Hola Premium also has a no-log policy. So, while the free plan logs your data and tracks your activity, the paid plan does not and acts like a regular VPN.

Free Trial and Pricing

With Hola’s free plan, you sign up for their unique P2P VPN in order to unblock various international websites in exchange for allowing Hola to use some of your device resources. However, if you’d rather not share your resources and your data, you can upgrade to Hola Premium.

Hola Premium is $4.08 (American) or $5,76 in New Zealand dollars per month. However, it is billed as a flat sum for the first year, making it $49 (American) or $69,09 in New Zealand dollars for the first year. After that, you’ll be charged an annual service fee of $92.26 (American) or 130,19 New Zealand dollars until you cancel your subscription.

While Hola does not currently offer a free trial of its Premium service, that’s because the company already offers a free plan. Nevertheless, Hola does have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can give it a try knowing that if you cancel in the first 30 days of using it, you’ll get 100% of your money back.

Summary

Overall, Hola VPN is one of the best free VPN NZ services, and it is an excellent product for unblocking websites. However, it’s critical to know what you’re signing up for. Hola VPN NZ is able to offer its free services because it uses its customers’ resources to power it.

Hola’s free VPN is able to provide you with an unrestricted browsing experience because it compiles a large pool of residential IPs from its users. In this way, New Zealand users can use country-restricted services like Netflix US. While this is great, it’s crucial to realize that, while Hola masks your IP, it does not provide the same level of security as a traditional VPN.

For higher levels of privacy and security, you can upgrade to Hola Premium. The upgraded service uses Hola’s personal servers to encrypt your browser data rather than routing it through other users. With Hola Premium, you’ll get unlimited VPN time, site unblocking, security and encryption, and private HD video streaming.

The bottom line of this Hola VPN review NZ is, if you’re looking for a traditional VPN to protect your privacy and secure your browsing history, you’ll need Hola Premium. On the other hand, if what you need is website unblocking, Hola Free is simple, free, and effective.

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