Founded to guarantee the safety of its founder's grandmother, Medical Guardian has become a prominent provider of medical alert systems and monitoring services, enabling individuals to live independently and securely. With over 310,000 satisfied customers, Medical Guardian provides customers with dependable support through phone, email, chat, and a convenient online portal. The company's accreditation from the Better Business Bureau further solidifies its reliability.
Our comprehensive review of Medical Guardian showcases how the introduction of the Medical Guardian Freedom smartwatch and the Family Guardian caretaker tracking system have positioned Medical Guardian among the leading choices in the market.
Medical Guardian: Medical alert systems
Medical Guardian provides various medical alert systems beyond the standard services.
Let's examine each system:
MGClassic: An affordable in-home landline system with a wireless pendant boasting the longest range tested. However, greater range may not always be advantageous as it can impede effective communication with emergency responders when far from the base station.
MGHome Cellular: An in-home system utilizing a cellular network. It's the well-known Mobilehelp CBS5 system, featuring exceptional speaker quality, providing clear and loud audio for seamless communication with emergency responders.
MGMini: A reliable mobile pendant-style device that includes GPS location tracking, making it easier and faster for EMTs to locate you in an emergency.
MGMini Lite: Another mobile system with GPS and Wi-Fi location tracking, providing a more precise determination of your location when help is needed. It's conveniently designed as a wrist style, similar to a watch.
The Freedom Guardian was the first medical alert smartwatch to hit the market in 2018. (Image credit: Future)
MGMove: The most stylish option, a sleek smartwatch with a color display and up to 24 hours of battery life. Unlike most smartwatches, it doesn't require a smartphone connection due to its cellular capabilities. It offers excellent audio quality, text-to-speech capabilities, and even additional apps like a weather forecast. Notably, it's user-friendly, making it accessible for those unfamiliar with smartwatches or smartphones, while providing more than just a safety net. Its non-medical alert appearance makes it appealing to many seniors.
Unfortunately, the pricing for the plans for these devices is opaque, and requires company contact. We prefer some transparency on this allowing seniors to cross shop the prices and stay within their budget.
Medical Guardian: Emergency response center
In our evaluation, Medical Guardian outperformed most services by promptly answering emergency calls in less than 30 seconds on average. Their response time consistently ranked among the fastest in every round of testing, although it was not always the absolute fastest. This impressive performance is largely attributed to the high-quality call center they have partnered with, ensuring prompt assistance in critical situations.
Medical Guardian's Classic Guardian has a pendant range of over 1,300 feet. (Image credit: Future)
In addition to the emergency response speed, we analyzed the call quality. The quality of the calls was consistently excellent, which is primarily due to the call center partnered with Medical Guardian. In comparison, some emergency response centers had inconsistent scripts and disinterested operators. However, Medical Guardian had operators who followed an effective script, and they sounded genuine. They repeatedly asked if we needed assistance and confirmed our identity, which is a small but impactful security measure.
Medical Guardian: Medical alert service
Medical Guardian is known for its "Client Support" department, emphasizing customer service. However, while the assistance provided is commendable, we find the marketing approach to be somewhat overly assertive. While we understand that every business aims to drive sales, the marketing tactics employed at times seem excessive.
Medical Guardian has excellent customer service, with an aggressive marketing team. (Image credit: Medical Guardian)
We took the risk assessment, expecting a call from a "safety specialist" or a third-party consultant. We were surprised to receive a call from a sales representative. Despite answering all questions with responses indicating no risk (no falls, no medical issues, no medications, regular exercise, and no need for mobility assistance), the representative still recommended the purchase of the Classic Guardian. We would have preferred the assessment's conclusion to be something like "Congratulations! You don't need a medical alert system."
In terms of support options, the first and only route is to contact them at the Customer Service number, 1-800-313-1191, which is available Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm EST, reduced hours on Saturday and closed on Sunday. For other direct support options, we did not find a direct email, a chat, or a support portal.
On the self support side, we did find some FAQ’s, along with videos, and a customer portal. We did not find other content, such as online guides, whitepapers, or a blog.
Medical Guardian has above-average pricing, though there are more affordable systems on the market. (Image credit: Medical Guardian)
Medical Guardian: Final verdict
Despite appearing like just another medical alert company, Medical Guardian stands out due to the addition of the Freedom Guardian smartwatch and the Family Guardian activity tracking system. These unique features set Medical Guardian apart from its competitors.
When you combine these options with impressive US-based emergency call performance that is quite fast, the choice of Medical Guardian becomes compelling.
The pricing of the plans needs to be more transparent, but we like the wide choice of devices from this provider. It is no wonder Medical Guardian has earned recognition as one of the leading medical alert systems in the market, and should be considered for your needs.
Microsoft Visio is a powerful diagramming and flowchart software platform that’s up there with the most popular in the world. Originally released in 1992, it was bought by Microsoft in 2000 and has been regularly updated in the years since.
Even the most cursory glance shows why Visio is used by business owners and marketers across the world. It offers great tools, comes with a beginner-friendly interface, is affordable, and even includes a 30-day free trial.
However, be warned: compared with other flowchart and diagram-making tools, Visio is difficult to get hold of.
(Image credit: Future)
Microsoft Visio: Plans and pricing
Microsoft Visio comes with a range of different pricing options suited to everyone from individual users to large businesses. New users have the choice of two monthly plans, two permanent licenses, and a 30-day free trial.
There isn’t a free version, but there is a basic version, included in Microsoft 365 plans. This features basic editing, limited templates, real-time collaboration, commenting, and sharing, and the usual Microsoft 365 security, privacy, and support.
It’s useful for home use, but not really suitable in the workplace. For that, you’ll need Visio Plan 1 or Plan 2.
Visio’s two monthly subscriptions are both based on a per user model, with a range of useful tools and no lock-in contracts. Visio Plan 1 costs just $5.00 per user per month if you pay annually or $6.00 with monthly payments. It includes access to the Visio web app and 2 GB of OneDrive storage, and allows users to create simple diagrams directly with their internet browser.
Alternatively, signing up for Visio Plan 2 costs $15.00 per user per month ($18.00 with monthly payments) and includes the Visio desktop app. It comes with a much wider selection of tools and is a better choice for larger businesses and those who want to create more advanced diagrams and flowcharts.
Along these monthly subscriptions, Visio offers two permanent licenses for those who want to buy the software outright. A Visio Standard 2021 license will cost you $309.99 for the program’s basic features. It allows you to work on both your desktop or a tablet/hybrid and includes the most common tools.
The pricier Visio Professional 2021 costs $579.99, meanwhile, and comes with advanced features for larger businesses, including powerful collaboration tools.
It’s worth noting that both the Standard and Professional license are only valid for one computer.
(Image credit: Future)
Microsoft Visio: Features
Visio comes with an impressive range of native features that back its reputation as an industry-leading diagramming and flowcharting program.
For starters, Visio allows users to easily create professional flowchart diagrams. You can base your design on any one of a range of powerful templates or start with a blank canvas.
Visio’s collaboration tools are up there with the best we’ve seen. They allow team members to work on the same document from different devices, increasing productivity and eliminating the need for third-party messaging apps.
Another of our favorite things about Visio is its ability to integrate with real-time data sources. This means that you can set your flowcharts and diagrams to automatically update when new information becomes available. A few of the things you can link to include Microsoft Excel workbooks, SQL Server databases, and Access databases.
Visio also offers impressive flexibility, with both desktop and web versions available. The web app is a great tool for those who regularly work from different devices, as it doesn’t require a PC-specific license.
Finally, Microsoft Visio also comes with complete Microsoft 365 integrations, allowing you to easily connect your project to programs like Excel and Word to further streamline workflow processes.
(Image credit: Future)
Microsoft Visio: Ease of use
Visio supports desktop and browser-based use. Both interfaces are extremely intuitive and beginner friendly.
Selecting a shape to begin composing your first diagram is as simple as you would expect. While different to most other Microsoft tools, Visio nevertheless shares a collection of standard tools found in other diagramming and flowchart apps. If you’re familiar with competing tools, it won’t take long for you to develop familiarity with Microsoft Visio.
The web version is the simplest, and also a great option for those who want to work on the go. It’s very easy to navigate and comes with Visio’s core features. The desktop app is even more impressive, allowing you to perform advanced actions and create high-quality diagrams at the touch of a button. Its collaboration features and integrations with other Microsoft software will help you streamline team feedback and various other processes.
(Image credit: Future)
Microsoft Visio: Customer support
Microsoft Visio’s support offering is disappointing, lacking live chat and phone help. However, there are a few other options available to users.
For starters, the Visio help center contains a wide range of articles, video tutorials, and how-to guides. It’s a great first choice when you’re having trouble understanding how to do something. Alternatively, users can also make use of the Visio community forum or reach out to the Microsoft team via an online contact form.
Being a Microsoft product, you’re not going to be short of answers online. The problem is finding the right answer – even on Microsoft’s own support forums, that’s not always easy.
Microsoft Visio: The competition
Although Microsoft Visio is a powerful tool for those who need to create top-quality diagrams and visualize workplace processes or data, there are numerous alternatives out there.
For example, Lucidchart is a popular option due to its affordability and the slightly different features it offers. It is important to recognize, however, that the landscape has shifted considerably over the past few years. Strong alternatives to Visio exist, such as EdrawMax and Canva Flowchart Maker, both of which have free versions.
Given how difficult it is to access Visio even with a Microsoft 365 account, these competing tools might be easier to sign up to and use.
Microsoft Visio: Final verdict
Microsoft Visio has developed a reputation as one of the best diagramming and visualization programs in the world, and for good reason. It comes with an impressive range of tools, great collaboration features, four different payment options, and a 30-day free trial.
However, Visio does fall down slightly on the customer service front, and some of its competitors offer significantly cheaper subscription options. In some cases, the competition is free.
All things considered, it’s certainly worth considering Visio as an option if you’re looking for a powerful program to streamline workflow processes. But if you need a flowchart or diagramming solution in a pinch and you don’t have a suitable Microsoft account already, look elsewhere.
In 2006, Michael Hollauf and Till Vollmer founded their company, Meister, launching MindMeister a year later. It’s a web-based, cross-platform app that helps you capture your ideas, develop them, and share them visually with others. MindMeister can be used for brainstorming, planning projects, taking notes, and more.
Today, Meister is an international company that employs 50+ people in Munich, Vienna, and Seattle. Over 14 million people use MindMeister, and the company’s second product, MeisterTask, is a well-regarded collaborative task management software platform.
(Image credit: MindMeister)
MindMeister: Plans and pricing
If you are new to MindMeister, you can use the Basic plan free of charge. Though limited (you can only create a maximum of three mind maps), you can still test out most of the functionality included in MindMeister and receive support from the Meister team via email.
Users who want to create a larger number of mind maps should opt for one of the paid subscription plans. If you upgrade to the Personal plan ($6.50 per person per month), you get the ability to create as many mind maps as you would like, attach files and images, and print your mind map or export it as an image or PDF.
Upgrading to the Pro plan ($10.50 per user per month) adds Google Workspace tools, more customization options, and additional export options. The Business plan ($15.50 per user per month) comes with regulatory compliance features, a custom domain that your collaborators can use to access your projects, and priority support via email and telephone.
(Payments based on annual subscription. A 6-monthly option is also available.)
Meister offers discounts to those affiliated with academic or nonprofit institutions. If you want both mind mapping software and task management tools, you can purchase both of Meister’s products at a 30% discount.
(Image credit: Future)
MindMeister: Features
When creating a mind map, you can get started with a blank document in the editor. However, if that’s overwhelming, you can choose to begin with one of the templates provided by MindMeister instead. The map template library has many options from which you can choose, including ones for brainstorming, taking notes, and writing a business plan.
MindMeister features collaboration tools that allow you to share your mind maps with as many people as you'd like. They can comment and edit in real-time, which makes sure that everyone is on the same page.
The History Mode included with MindMeister lets you see all of the changes that have been made to your mind map over time. You can see when the changes were made as well as who made the change.
MindMeister allows you to create various types of mind maps, and the app includes templates to help you get started. The drag-and-drop editor allows you to work on your mind maps with ease, and you can upload custom items, such as background images and logos, for use with your projects.
If you need to present your ideas, MindMeister has features that help you turn your mind maps into presentations similar to those you would create with Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides.
Meister also puts out MeisterTask, which is a task management suite. It integrates well with MindMeister if you are interested in placing mind maps into your task and planning notes.
(Image credit: Future)
MindMeister: Ease of use
MindMeister’s clean, modern interface is appealing, and the minimalist toolbars and context menus make it easy for you to find the features you want to use. There is a learning curve as you get used to where MindMeister has placed certain things, but for the most part, we found it easy to get started with a template and add, edit, or remove items.
MindMeister also offers a mobile-friendly version so that you can view projects as well as create, edit, or comment on mind maps when you’re away from a laptop/desktop. The apps were fairly well designed, but as mind maps got bigger, we found it more challenging to work on the smaller screens.
MindMeister: Customer support
You should enjoy a headache-free MindMeister experience, but if you encounter any challenges, click the ? button in the lower-right corner of the design space. This provides links to keyboard shortcuts, tutorials, a feature requests form, and the Help Center.
The searchable MindMeister Help Center includes step-by-step how-to articles as well as answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. MindMeister also offers tutorial videos and training courses.
If you want to reach out to the MindMeister team, you can do so via email. Those with the enterprise-grade Business subscriptions receive priority email and telephone support.
MindMeister: The competition
If you want to look at several options for mind mapping before making your final decision, there are several alternatives you should consider, including Lucidchart and draw.io.
Lucidchart is a web-based diagramming and flowchart creator tool that, while not strictly designed for mind mapping, can be used for such. It comes with some fairly advanced features, including built-in data/analytics tools. However, Lucidchart tries to make its product accessible despite its power feature set and functionality.
If what you’re looking for is a simple, easy-to-use solution for quick drawings, consider draw.io. It is free to use, and though it doesn’t pack a punch the way MindMeister and Lucidchart do, it may be sufficient for simple drawings.
MindMeister: Final verdict
MindMeister is a powerful, feature-rich mind mapping tool that can be used to visually convey your ideas. Furthermore, MindMeister comes with useful tools that facilitate collaboration, track changes to mind maps over time, and more.
Most importantly, it’s easy to use. Effortlessly getting your ideas into visual form is an important part of the creative process, so this is a particular strength of MindMeister.
Though the product’s applications are somewhat limited and the support team offers only email-based contact to most users, MindMeister is nevertheless a great option for its intended audience.
Lucidchart is one of the best flowchart software platforms available. Powerful and data-based, it is used by 99% of the world’s largest Fortune 500 companies. Based on professional flowchart diagrams, it’s a great choice for those looking for actionable information that they can use to improve company workflow processes.
A web based (HTML5) tool that enables online collaboration among local and distributed teams, Lucidchart has been around since 2008. It’s become quite a big name in the diagramming market, hence the high regard in which it is held.
Along with an impressive range of features suited to businesses of all sizes, Lucidchart comes with a great free trial and easy-to-use templates to get you started.
We’ve spent some time using Lucidchart to help you decide if it is the right tool for your purposes. Lucidchart has been evaluated based on price, features, ease of use, support provision, and competing tools.
(Image credit: Lucidchart)
Lucidchart: Plans and pricing
With both personal and business plans, Lucidchart offers a range of pricing options for users of all sizes. It’s worth noting that all subscriptions include a free trial so you can test before you buy.
The Free subscription is quite limited but gives you access to free shape libraries and all design templates. It’s a good choice if you just want to play around and make a few diagrams for your personal project.
On the other hand, the Individual subscription costs $7.95 per month but offers significantly more powerful features. Among these are 1 GB of storage, unlimited documents and shapes, Visio import and export, premium shape libraries, and premium templates.
If you’re looking for a more powerful subscription to cover your entire business, Lucidchart’s Team plan starts at just $9 per user user per month. This plan includes everything in the personal Pro plan, along with revision history, the Visual Activities feedback tool, collaboration tools, and a range of useful integrations with Microsoft, Google. You also get access to the Lucidchart API.
If you’re running a larger business, Lucidchart also offers a custom Enterprise plan which is priced according to your needs. Along with this, it includes a range of management features and optional enhancements to help you boost your business.
(Image credit: Lucidchart)
Lucidchart: Features
As one of the leading diagramming tools available, Lucidchart comes with an impressive range of noteworthy features. We’ve covered some of the best here, but it’s by no means a comprehensive list.
One of the most noteworthy things about Lucidchart is its great list of keyboard shortcuts. Designed to help you streamline otherwise time-consuming processes, you should find that these dramatically improve your productivity.
Lucidchart also comes with powerful layering features. These allow you to create diagrams within diagrams, which should, in turn, help you build a clean, intuitive layout that’s easy to understand.
Similarly, you can also keep things simple by linking to text boxes or blocks within your diagram. These will only appear when the relevant element is clicked.
There’s nothing more annoying than having to communicate with your coworkers via email or other messaging apps. Luckily, Lucidchart includes a range of integrated collaboration features which you can use to communicate with your team members while you’re working. Asana, Atlassian, Microsoft, and Google products are all supported. There is even the option to use Microsoft Copilot to produce AI summaries of your diagrams.
Traditional diagramming software can be messy and hard to work with, especially if you have to create neat, presentation-quality images. However, Lucidchart includes a range of “smart” design elements which automatically keep your diagrams tidy.
(Image credit: Future)
Lucidchart: Ease of use
An in-depth trial of the Lucidchart user interface shows why it’s up there with the best management software available. It’s easy to use from the beginning and took us no more than a couple of minutes to get the hang of.
On top of this, Lucidchart allows you to specify exactly what you’re going to be using it for. Doing so causes the most relevant tools to be presented in an easy-access dashboard.
When you actually begin to build your first diagram, you will be able to start with a blank document or choose from one of a range of templates. From there, it’s all a matter of adding the elements you want via the intuitive editing interface.
These are accessed via a menu on the left-hand side of the screen. Standard formatting tools can be found across the top of the interface, and right-clicking a placed element will reveal a context menu. It’s all easy to use, uncomplicated, and fast.
Remember, this is browser-based software, so you can use it on any operating system provided you have a compatible browser.
(Image credit: Future)
Lucidchart: Customer support
Unfortunately, Lucidchart does fall down slightly on the customer service and support front. It doesn’t offer any online live chat, but it does come with quite an impressive resource center and community forum.
If you do want to speak with a member of the Lucidchart team, you will have to call or reach out via their social media pages. Helpfully, a Lucidchart flowchart illustrates the process to follow – search the help center, search the community, and post in the community if you need help with the app. If the problem relates to how Lucidchart works, you can raise a support ticket.
It is a relief that the resource center contains solutions to a range of popular questions. We found it very useful, and expect you will too. The Lucid community board is a friendly place, and thanks to the wide use of the software, pretty busy.
Lucidchart: The competition
Although Lucidchart is a leader in the world of diagramming and presentation software, there are numerous great alternatives that are worth considering.
Microsoft Visio is perhaps the biggest name in this field, but has issues. Its baked-in Microsoft-ness, outdated legacy artwork, and the comparative difficulty of actually accessing the tool, make it pretty undesirable. Its collaboration tools fall short, too.
Lucidchart, by comparison, feels light and fresh, and probably easier to use.
Meanwhile, platforms like Draw.io and EdrawMind are full cloud integrations, allowing you to save and access your diagrams and charts from anywhere. They’re closer to Lucidchart than Visio, and we think that similarity proves Lucidchart’s superiority.
Lucidchart: Final verdict
All things considered, it’s easy to see why Lucidchart is up there with the best diagramming and chart management software available. Its prices are extremely reasonable, and it even comes with a full free trial.
Similarly, Lucidchart’s depth of features is almost unrivaled, and its user interface is simple and intuitive. Although its customer service does fall down slightly, everything else about this program is so good that we think you’ll love it.
SmartDraw is online and downloadable diagramming software with a range of features including flow charts, and mind mapping. This software also works with geographic maps, health diagrams, and floor plan creation.
First released in 1994, SmartDraw has long been an industry leader, and early on was a main competitor of Microsoft Visio. In recent years, its desktop app has been accompanied by an online, cloud-based web app.
We’ve assessed SmartDraw to see how its capabilities stack up against the competition, on pricing, features, ease of use, and customer support.
(Image credit: SmartDraw)
SmartDraw: Plans and pricing
SmartDraw has both a Windows desktop and an online version. When you first check out the SmartDraw site, it can be unclear what you’ll actually pay before entering your email and creating an account. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the SmartDraw pricing so you know exactly what you’re going to get.
(Image credit: Future)
SmartDraw: Online Edition
For a single user, a cloud-based SmartDraw account is $9.95 per month. A team of at least 3 users is $8.25 per user per month. All accounts are billed annually, so you’ll actually be paying around $120 when you check out for a single account. SmartDraw does offer a seven-day free trial which is worth checking out to ensure the software works for you.
The Site option is for larger companies, and is available “for as low as $1 per user per month.” This is with annual billing, but there is no automated sign-up option here. Instead, you’ll need to contact SmartDraw’s sales department to discuss your requirements.
SmartDraw is the ability to sync with Google Drive and other Google products. What may surprise you is that the online edition has everything the PC edition does with just a handful of exceptions. This even includes architecture and genealogy tools that are hard to find on this kind of cloud-based software.
(Image credit: Future)
SmartDraw: PC Edition
The downloadable PC version of SmartDraw is a one-time $297 purchase. There are no extra fees and you’ll be able to use SmartDraw without any mandatory updates that competing products like MindManager require.
After purchasing a license, you will receive free updates and premium support for one year. Following that, the maintenance and upgrade service costs $69.95 per year. However, upgrading is not required to run the program. It is also worth mentioning that for more than five users you can get a yearly subscription for $595, which could be a good deal for businesses.
As far as use goes, the main difference you’ll notice between the PC version and the online version of SmartDraw is that there are more templates in the Windows variant. In addition, there are schedule and calendar creators, presentation capabilities, and process documentation.
Choosing the right edition will be about what you need the program for and for how long you’ll need it.
(Image credit: Future)
SmartDraw: Features
SmartDraw stands out because of the wide variety of capabilities it offers for a large number of fields. This program hasn’t narrowed itself down to a particular niche but instead works for academic, business, and personal users.
Like the competing MindManager and MindView software packages, SmartDraw can help you build organizational trees, mind maps and many different types of charts. SmartDraw’s mapping interface might not be as advanced as, say, MindView’s, but it will cost you significantly less.
SmartDraw is pretty advanced in the architectural design realm and even stacks up well against specialized software like AutoCAD. While SmartDraw doesn’t have 3D modeling capabilities, it can import CAD files and provides you with numerous ready-to-go floor plans.
Not only that, but for quick and simple designs, you can use SmartDraw to throw together ready-made building blocks like office spaces, bedrooms, and dining rooms. This makes it a great tool for interior designers or novices who want to give their architect an idea of what they are looking for.
SmartDraw sets itself apart by the huge volume of templates it has to offer. These include diagrams for the health sector like family history genograms, personal charting, electrical diagrams, body charts, and nutrition graphics. Engineers will also get a lot to work with such as vehicle designs, electrical wiring diagrams, and software project plans. If you run an interdisciplinary team, this software could be for you.
(Image credit: Future)
SmartDraw: Ease of use
To get started with SmartDraw, you can either download the Windows desktop version by entering your email or create an account for SmartDraw online. Both will prompt you to purchase during your seven-day free trial.
Once you are signed up, you can begin designing diagrams and checking out the SmartDraw templates. When you first open SmartDraw, you’ll see a long list of them on the left side of the page. Some of these are populated with sample information, but others are mostly empty, intended for more radical revision.
The way the toolbox on the left-hand of the screen appears will be different based on what you are designing. For example, in an architecture template, you’ll see rooms and walls, whereas, in a genogram, it’ll show individual family members. The toolbar at the top of the screen stays pretty much the same and is fairly basic compared to programs that are more task or industry-specific like Mindmanager or AutoCAD.
SmartDraw: Customer support
Getting started using SmartDraw is straightforward. The interface provides some useful tips on first launch, and a number of learning resources can be found on the website. These cover templates, diagrams, and general resource. There are also developer resources, including a guide to the SmartDraw API.
For assistance using SmartDraw, you can open the Support menu and click the Help button or Contact Support. This launches the SmartDraw Knowledge Base, where you will also find a contact form to open a support ticket. Alternatively, you can call the SmartDraw technical support team over the phone during standard working hours.
SmartDraw: The competition
Diagramming, mind mapping, and flowchart tools are most web-based these days, with cloud storage. Key competitors to SmartDraw include Lucidchart, Cacoo, and Creately. Each of these has a similar feature set, price point, and are easy to use.
For most purposes, there is little between them.
The offline version of SmartDraw stacks up favorably against other downloadable software such as Microsoft Visio. Its accessibility, low price-point, and broad feature set makes it a superior option. However, SmartDraw’s template graphics are quite close in style to those in Microsoft Visio, more than any other tool we’ve seen.
SmartDraw: Final verdict
If you are looking for diagramming software that can do it all, SmartDraw is the tool for you. For advanced industry-specific capabilities, you may want to explore other options, but in all likelihood, SmartDraw will be the right way to produce any type of diagram or chart you need without blowing your budget.
The free trial is really useful, but in most cases you won’t need the desktop tool. SmartDraw’s modern cloud-based web-app offers more flexibility and won’t take up space on your SSD.
With it, you can create flowcharts, organizational charts, and even manage your workforce. Originally published by Mindjet in 1998, the company has been acquired by the former Corel Corporation, now known as Alludo. As such, MindManager is part of a stable of well-known applications and utilities.
In this review, we’ll discuss MindManager’s main features and the pros and cons associated with the platform. You’ll quickly see why we consider this one of the most advanced and user-friendly mind-mapping tools on the market today.
(Image credit: MindManager)
MindManager: Plans and pricing
If you want to download MindManager to see if its right for you without splashing out, you can take a look at the web version. You can also click the Try it free link to get a 30-day trial for Windows or macOS.
Three plans are available: Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise.
Essentials is the web version of MindManager, for individual use, and costs $99 a year.
The Professional plan is for individuals and small teams, and is $179.00 a year. This includes a full suite of features, collaboration tools, and regular updates. You can use this with up to 5 users.
For larger teams, the Enterprise option is $179 per user per year, where the software is used by 5 or more personnel. Quotes and pricing options are available for this tier, which offers various extended features, such as SSO, dedicated support, and training and consultation services.
Note that there is also a one-time purchase option for MindManager. This covers licenses for Windows and macOS, and costs $369.
(Image credit: Future)
MindManager: Features
MindManager is a popular brainstorming and organizational tool and is well-recognized for its feature density. This software particularly stands out for its mind mapping toolkit and selection of add-on options. One of the great things about MindManager is the extent to which you can visually customize any charts you use it to create.
As mapping is MindManager’s foremost feature, its capabilities in this area are impressive. Maps can be connected to each other and exported to Word or similar software. You can create Gantt charts, add indexes, schedules, and even display your charts and maps in a presentation mode.
For project management planning and business start-up, MindManager has development, risk management, and training templates. You can also sync your MindManager business data with other productivity platforms such as Outlook and Slack. The big benefit here is that MindManager will track your team’s progress in real-time, and notify you if things are off-track or if any information is missing.
If starting from scratch seems intimidating, MindManager’s wealth of templates will help you get started. These include example data that you can leave in place – useful if you are just getting to grips with the tool – or create the mind map as a bare-bones project to complete as you go.
When using MindManager as a team, individuals can drop links to detailed notes, references, and URLs in the same project. The MindManager system also features app-integration with Microsoft Sharepoint, and Jira. It has Microsoft Team integration, too.
(Image credit: Future)
MindManager: Ease of use
Upon opening the software, you’ll see that MindManager resembles a Microsoft product. This is not by accident. MindManager’s interface was designed to make those who are already comfortable with the office suite feel at home.
In addition to some very familiar tabs like, “Insert” or “View”, you’ll see buttons that change depending on what you’re working on such as the “Task” project management tab.
The main ribbon-like toolbar is nice and compact, but most of the interaction with your projects will take place within the main design space. This is a great interface, one that makes it easy to add topics and sub-topics to your mind map. Useful context menus and formatting tools help you to expand your mind maps and convey concepts in a myriad of stylish ways.
(Image credit: Future)
MindManager: Customer support
In the MindManager program, you can click on the help button to find FAQs, quick tips, and keyboard shortcuts. If you’re in need of more hands-on help, you can fill out a ticket, send an online chat message, or contact one of MindManager’s many international offices by phone or email.
In most cases, this probably won’t be required. The tool is exceptionally easy to use, and offers quick pop-up tips when you access a new feature or template. Additionally, the example data that can be optionally opened in new templates also includes information on how to use the chosen mind map.
MindManager: The competition
For several years, the main competitor to MindManager was MindView. Both have very similar user-interfaces, capabilities, and price-points. MindManager’s organizational charts are slightly more advanced and it has several more diagrams and map templates that you won’t find on MindView.
Having used them both relatively recently, I found MindManager to be slightly superior to MindView. But the competition is far greater than a simple battle between these two apps. Scapple, Mindomo, LucidChart, and many others are vying for attention, all boasting spacious design areas, slick shortcuts, and stylist layout and formatting options.
MindView doesn’t stand out against many alternatives, but MindManager does.
MindManager: Final verdict
Whether you’re a business manager looking to organize a team or an academic needing to visualize your ideas, MindManager is a fantastic program without bloatware and with all the features you could ask for from a diagram and mind-mapping tool.
For businesses, contacting MindManager to discuss adding its Enterprise version to your tech stack could be one of the best things you do for your company.
Owned by MatchWare, MindView is a charting and graphics tool that helps you create project plans, mind maps, flow charts, and various other customizable charts.
First released in 2011, MindView is currently available for macOS, Windows, and as a cloud app, MindView Online. Mobile apps for iOS and Android add an extra dimension of use.
A wide selection of diagramming tools are available, so why should you choose MindView? To help in your decision-making process, we’ve assessed the software based on pricing, features, support options, ease of use, and how it compares with competing tools.
(Image credit: MindView)
MindView: Plans and pricing
MindView Suite can be evaluated with a free 30-day trial, with sign up by email, Google, Microsoft, or Facebook account.
The online version of MindView is cloud-based and features mapping software, bibliography creation, and automatic citation. It also supports Word and Google Docs syncing and collaboration through a shared workspace.
MindView Online lacks some features that advanced users may want but can only be found in the offline versions of the software. Analytical and statistical capabilities, Gantt charting, timelines, and the ability to sync with Excel are absent from MindView Online.
The Windows MindView software is the most advanced edition. It includes charting features the online version doesn’t like Gantt charts and outlining, as well as the ability to sync with Excel and Outlook. If you are doing advanced work (like using graph mathematics) you will be glad to hear that this version of MindView supports statistical calculations.
A 1 year license for MindView costs $20 a month, based on the price of an annual subscription. A 2 year license works out at $17 a month (a 15% discount), while a 3 year license is $15 a month.
Volume and site licenses are available on demand, as are educational licenses.
(Image credit: Future)
MindView: Features
MindView is known as a helpful business and educational tool. It’s well-recognized for its accessibility features and focuses on usability for disabled persons. MatchWare has also built in a lot of tools to promote collaboration through the platform and to help you represent your ideas more clearly.
MindView’s mapping features are extensive. Every offered map type is super customizable and can be connected and integrated with other existing maps. You can specify relationships using special connectors and produce maps that are top-down or bottom-up. You can also make Gantt charts, timelines, or enter a Prezi-style presentation mode.
When it comes to project management, MindView offers detailed and eye-catching templates ready-made for you to edit, as well as a range of other organizational capabilities. For example, you can create tasks with priorities, constraints, and dependencies on other events. These can all be integrated into a unified calendar.
The MindView software works with DragonSpeak speech to text software and allows you to add voice recorded notes which is a huge benefit for educators. No tablet version of MindView is available, but you can export and import data with the Windows version. The cloud-based variant of the platform allows you to connect with other subscribers, which is particularly useful for team projects.
Research notes can be added to a MindView Online project using the mobile apps. Curiously, there doesn’t appear to be a way to add these manually through your browser.
(Image credit: Future)
MindView: Ease of use
On the MatchWare website, you can either purchase the MindView product or start with a free 30-day trial. Once you download the program, you’ll be directed to a screen with a very recognizable toolbar, designed to look a lot like other Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, and Access. If you are familiar with the Microsoft suite, you will feel very at-home.
You can either start with a blank screen, or open “File → New”, to browse a selection of templates and get started exploring the software. Right off the bat, you’ll see for yourself how extensive a feature set MindView offers, and may even feel a bit overwhelmed. Luckily, you can sign up for a seminar, read MatchWare’s published whitepapers, or watch tutorials embedded in the program to get a deeper understanding of what everything does.
When you start exploring the templates, you’ll see that you can generate different map-types with the same information. This means you can find which is the best visual representation of your information. After you’ve finished creating, you can add citations or links (its easiest via the context menu), and then export to other software like Excel by navigating to the “File” menu again.
(Image credit: Future)
MindView: Customer support
If you need help using MindView or are searching for a particular tool, the best thing you can do is go to the toolbar, locate the lightbulb icon and type in what you need help with. Most likely, the tool you want will pop up as well as a “Get Help” prompt. From there, you can look through MatchWare’s relevant advice. Videos, manuals, and other resources are available.
With MindView Online, open the File menu and click Help to open the MindView Online User Guide.
If you need technical support (even after checking out the MindView FAQ), you can submit a ticket. MatchWare has 5 worldwide offices spread across the US, UK, Germany, France, and Denmark, each of which is available by phone and email.
(Image credit: Future)
MindView: The competition
MindView is in direct competition with programs like MindManager. For timelines, Gantt charts, and outlines, MindView has a few more features and is slightly more user-friendly than its closest competitors. It has a comparable feature-set to MindManager but integrates slightly better with other programs.
If you’re keen on mind mapping tools that are comfortable for Microsoft users, MyDraw and Visio are the obvious examples. However, MindView is far easier to use than these options, thanks to its focus on mind maps and nothing else.
MindView: Final verdict
If you have the budget, MindView is a fantastic option to improve your personal, educational, and business organization. Compared to free online tools, MindView’s downloadable software is clearly at a much higher standard than what you can get online for free.
It is extremely easy to use, lacks bloatware, and can export and import all the timelines, Gantt charts or mind maps you could possibly need.
Brickhouse Security is a New York-based company that offers GPS fleet tracking services. Founded in 2005, the company offers various security and tracking solutions. A trusted brand in the US, Brickhouse Security offers services to over 80% of Fortune 500 companies, along with 2,500+ government agencies. Furthermore, the firm also boasts over 40,000 companies globally as its clients.
Brickhouse Security sells a wide variety of tracking hardware including GPS trackers, surveillance cameras and other security systems. These products are plug-and-play vehicle tracking devices, as well as advanced hardware and software solutions tailored to specific business requirements.
(Image credit: Brickhouse Security)
Brickhouse Security: Pricing
Brickhouse Security offers a diverse range of hardware options with pricing starting at $29.99 for the Livewire Dash GPS Vehicle Tracker. This tracker provides updates every 60 seconds and offers access to highly detailed reports on your fleet's travel history. Unfortunately, it does not list specific monthly pricing tiers on its website.
However, Brickhouse offers a free demo for companies to test out its services and products. Their products also come with free, unlimited lifetime technical support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
(Image credit: Brickhouse Security)
Brickhouse Security: Features
Brickhouse Security offers smart GPS fleet tracking services equipped with features that will likely meet the requirements of most businesses. These solutions not only efficiently track and manage assets on the move, but also help clients optimize their workforce, fleet, and enhance cost efficiency.
Brickhouse Security’s solution aims to help clients with:
Reducing the number of traffic and compliance violations
Reducing fuel expenses by managing routes efficiently
Efficiently handling dispatch and scheduling
Improving the vehicle’s lifespan
Ensuring driver safety
Providing driver training on better driving habits
The company offers a wide variety of customizable reports, such as efficiency reports, vehicle maintenance reports, safety reports, and driver scorecards. These reports can significantly help key decision-makers in optimizing fleet operations.
Brickhouse Security offers a cloud-based solution that can be accessed from anywhere using any device. The solution is accessible via the web, which hosts two different platforms. TrackView is applicable for clients who joined before October 2019, and customers who signed up after October can log in to the newer LocateGPS dashboard. The company also offers a mobile app for Android and iOS.
The company offers both hardwired as well as battery-powered GPS trackers, all dependent on 4G for connectivity.
(Image credit: Brickhouse Security)
The key features of Brickhouse Security are:
Real-time tracking: Real-time tracking allows operators to stay in control of the fleet, ensure drivers adhere to their assigned routes, and assist them in case of any issues. It also keeps them informed about the ETA, traffic status, and delays, and allows them to efficiently dispatch the nearest vehicle to the job site.
Reducing costs: Efficiently managing your fleet results in reduced fuel costs, leading to an overall reduction in expenses. Features like geofencing ensure that drivers follow their designated route, and detailed reports like idling reports help identify where fuel is being wasted. Optimizing routes also helps as drivers often have a favored route which may not always be the most fuel-efficient.
ELD compliance: Brickhouse Security offers an ELD compliant tracking solution that helps reduce penalties during roadside inspections. By electronically recording drivers' Hours of Service (HoS), vehicle log errors, and more, the solution reduces paperwork and improves compliance.
Variety of tracking hardware: Brickhouse Security provides a diverse range of tracking solutions, including hardwired options for compliance requirements, plug-and-play devices, and battery-operated trackers. This allows companies to optimize hardware costs and choose the appropriate tracker based on the specific needs of each vehicle.
Geo-fencing: While a basic feature with all GPS tracking solutions, Brickhouse Security allows you to create a geo-fence for every asset. Every time an asset enters or exits the designated area, the system alerts the operators instantly.
Technical support: Brickhouse Security offers free and lifetime technical support for all the hardware it sells. Unfortunately, Brickhouse Security doesn’t specify if the support is available on-site as well.
(Image credit: Brickhouse Security)
Brickhouse Security: Customer Support
Brickhouse Security’s support team can be reached via a direct call, chat, email or SMS. The company has a toll-free number for calls and texts in the US, plus an international helpline. There is a live chat option as well, and both the call center and live chat team are available between 10am to 7pm on weekdays.
Additionally, the website hosts a comprehensive Knowledge Base for troubleshooting common problems. While Brickhouse's social media accounts are not very active, its YouTube channel is occasionally updated.
Brickhouse Security: Final verdict
Brickhouse Security has an impressive line-up of customers, including many major businesses. It offers a plethora of hardware devices that come with free and lifetime technical support. Unfortunately, it does not prioritize marketing and releasing new content for its social media platforms.
Despite being accredited by the Better Business Bureau, Brickhouse Security lacks substantial reviews on the Bureau's platform, which may pose challenges for consumers seeking user-based feedback before making a purchase. However, it's noteworthy that it has a commendably low number of complaints, an incredible feat for a company as old and as big as Brickhouse Security.
Sign up with a regular VPN and you'll probably expect access to a carefully managed network of high-powered dedicated servers, while support for the very latest encryption and protocols blocks all unauthorized access to your traffic.
Hola isn't like that at all.
The Israeli company describes its offering as a "community powered (Peer-to-Peer) VPN". You'll get to choose a destination country from a list of 41 options, but Hola routes your traffic through other Hola user's computers, rather than its own network.
The service is much more basic than other VPNs – there is no P2P support, no dedicated IPs, no port forwarding – but there are some possible benefits, especially if you're looking to unblock Netflix or other sites or platforms.
Conventional VPNs often struggle with unblocking, exactly because they route their traffic through relatively few servers. Having large numbers of users with the same data center IP addresses makes them easy to detect and block.
But with Hola, your traffic could be routed through any of thousands of ordinary devices in ordinary homes. From the website's point of view, your browsing looks no different to its other visitors, which means you're far less likely to get annoying "unavailable in your region"-type warnings.
One obvious concern here is that although you get to use the bandwidth of other Hola nodes, they can also use yours. This isn't just regular internet users looking to stream TV shows in other countries. Hola also makes money by selling some of your bandwidth to businesses, as a reliable way to access web data from around the world.
Plenty of people don't like this idea on principle. The approach has created some very bad Hola-related headlines in the past, and left the company with a horrible reputation for privacy.
From a practical point of view, though, Hola shouldn't have much impact on your system. The company points out that it only routes traffic through devices if they're completely idle and not running on battery power, and even then, Hola doesn't use more than 3MB data on mobile devices, 100MB on desktops.
There’s still scope for problems. If your system becomes the exit node for another Hola user who's hacking, sending spam or downloading something illegal, for instance, your IP address may be recorded as the offender.
Fortunately, if you like the concept of Hola, there's a simple way to avoid the risk: switch from a free plan to a paid option and you won't have to share bandwidth.
Hola collects quite a bit of data about its users online activity (Image credit: Hola)
Pricing
Hola is available in a free plan, but this has many issues. It allows others to use your bandwidth, displays regular popups while you're connected, and limits the usage you can make of the service each day.
Uncomfortable with that? Then we'd really recommend you sign up with a real VPN, but if for some reason you're keen on Hola, you can also upgrade to Hola Premium.
The service supports Windows, Mac, iOS and some Android devices, and can be set up to run on routers, gaming consoles, smart TVs and more. Hola Premium allows you to connect up to 10 of these devices simultaneously, and as you're a paying customer, no one else will be able to use your bandwidth.
Prices start high at $14.99 billed monthly, or an equivalent $7.69 on the annual plan. You could sign up with ExpressVPN, a vastly superior service which actually will protect your privacy, for a very similar price ($12.95 monthly, $8.32 on the annual plan.)
Hola's pricing is designed to push you to the three-year plan, though, which is far cheaper at $2.99 a month. That's good value, but again, you can get far better VPNs for much less.
The excellent Private Internet Access gives you three years plus three free months for $2.03 a month, for example. That translates to 39 months of coverage for $79, while Hola offers 36 months for $107.55.
The Hola Ultra plan allows connecting up to 20 devices, and adds support for Smart DNS and 4K streaming. Sounds reasonable, at least until you see the very high prices: $29.99 billed monthly, $19.99 on the annual plan, $7.99 over three years. Private Internet supports unlimited devices, also has smart DNS and should have no difficulty with 4K streaming, all from barely a quarter of the price.
If you do decide to sign up, Hola's payment options include credit card, PayPal, Google Pay and more.
Hola has a money-back guarantee, but beware, this only applies if you've never made a single Hola Premium connection, and you make your claim within 14 days of purchase. Most VPNs allow you to use the service as much as you like for a full 30 days to decide if the service is right for you.
Privacy and logging
In theory, signing up with a VPN can be a great way to shield your browsing from snoopers.
In practice, there's a problem. Sure, using a VPN prevents your ISP from tracking what you're doing, but it also gives your provider a perfect chance to do the same. That's why it's important to check that your chosen VPN doesn't log any of your online activities.
We took a look at Hola's Privacy Policy, and quickly realized this is as far away from a 'no log' VPN as it's possible to get.
When you use the service, for example, the policy says Hola might log your IP address, operating system, browser type, the web pages you visit, when you arrive, and how much time you spend on each one.
If this is a mobile device, Hola also makes a careful note of all your installed apps.
Hola says it doesn't 'rent or sell any Personal Information', but that's not as reassuring as it sounds. The company also says it may share Personal Information with 'subsidiaries' and 'affiliated companies.' Even if Hola doesn't rent or sell your data, that doesn't tell you what these other companies might be doing with it.
There's another potential catch. In data protection terms, "Personal Information" refers to items that identify an individual, so Hola is telling us that it won't sell user contact details. Your browsing history isn’t necessarily 'Personal Information', though, and there's nothing here that says Hola can't sell it, or "share" it with an "affiliated company" for some other purpose.
It gets worse (no, really.) Hola says it may also share your Personal Information and other data to comply with legal requests or to detect fraud or violations of its policies. So not only might the company hand your browsing history over if the authorities ask, but it also reserves the right to analyze it for potential 'violations.'
Still in any doubt? Compare the Chrome Store 'Privacy practices' page for NordVPN and Hola. The NordVPN page says it will not collect or use your data. Hola's says it collects personally identifiable information, financial and payment information, authentication information, personal communications, location, web history, and user activity.
Put it all together, and if you care at all about privacy, Hola is clearly not the service for you. Check out the best free VPNs for far more trustworthy providers who'll genuinely protect your privacy rather than compromise it.
Hola provides its users with a custom version of the Chromium browser (Image credit: Hola)
Security
Hola protects your web traffic using the IKEV2 protocol by default, and the Hola site says apps can also fall back to the older PPTP/L2TP protocols if IKEv2 won't connect.
This gets you AES-256 encryption with relatively basic SHA1 integrity checks. Hola's Windows app allowed us to customize encryption settings, so you can switch to SHA256 or SHA384, for instance. But the app also offers some very poor choices, including MD5 hashing and DES3 encryption, a near 50-year-old protocol which is so vulnerable to attack that NIST says it should no longer be used. (You don't have to select these, but there's always a chance someone might do so by accident, and we're struggling to see why they're on the list at all.)
Although Hola's default encryption settings are enough to, say, shield your web traffic on public Wi-Fi, they can't match the security you'll get with the top VPN competitions. Most providers use leading edge protocols such as OpenVPN or WireGuard, for instance. PPTP and L2TP are so insecure that the bulk of the industry dropped them long, long ago, and although IKEv2 isn't a bad option, it's also on the way out. (NordVPN began removing IKEv2 support in June 2023, for instance, as it doesn't offer the best security.)
Hola apps
Hola has apps for Windows, Mac, and iOS devices, but the Android situation is more uncertain. Hola has apps available on the Samsung Galaxy and Huawei stores, but not Google Play.
Confusingly, we noticed a 'Hola VPN Proxy Unblocker' app on Google Play, which uses an old Hola logo to add a little more legitimacy, but has nothing to do with the real Hola company. We would expect Hola to make more of an effort to detect bogus apps trying to cash in on its name, but in the meantime, download apps directly from the setup links on Hola's website, and if you're using Android, install the Chrome extension instead.
Hola's mobile and desktop apps (stripped-down versions of Chromium) have a plain but very familiar interface: a big On/ Off button, a list of locations underneath, and a handful of icons for tasks such as managing your account or tweaking a few settings. If you've used another VPN app you'll figure it out immediately and even if you're a total VPN newbie, it'll only take a minute or two.
One of the reasons the apps are so straightforward is they have almost no features. The Location menu is a simple list of countries with a search box, for instance: there's no server load information, no ping times, no Recent Locations list, no Sort option, no Favorites system, no 'right-click a Hola icon and choose a country' option, nothing else at all.
Sometimes Windows VPN apps hide useful features away in a Settings box, but Hola's options are relatively basic. There's the usual 'launch with Windows' and "automatically connect" settings; an App Kill Switch to close specific apps if the VPN unexpectedly drops, and (as we discussed above) some largely unnecessary encryption options, but that's about it. If you're hoping for split tunneling, "auto-connect on accessing Wi-Fi", ad blocking, DNS tweaks, or anything similar, then prepare for disappointment.
Simplicity can work if what you get works well, for instance, but that's not the case here. The app took an average of 15 seconds to connect, for instance; that would quickly wear down our patience, especially when ExpressVPN's Windows app took around one second on the same system.
Occasionally the app didn't connect at all, displaying a cryptic "there was an internal authentication error" message, along with what looked like a clickable "try again" link (although clicking this did nothing.) We found a "Fix connection" menu option that fixed these connection issues, which is better than nothing, although we're struggling to see why the app didn't automatically use that when its initial connection failed.
Overall, the apps are both far more basic and far less professional than most of the VPN competition. Even if you just want to connect to your nearest server and do nothing else at all, there are many far better and more reliable options elsewhere in the VPN world.
Hola Chrome extension
The simplest way to sample Hola is via its Chrome, Opera or Edge browser extensions. Hand over your email address to create a free account, and you can begin unblocking sites immediately.
The extension is very easy to use. Tap a shortcut to common destinations such as Netflix, or enter the domain you'd like to unblock, and Hola connects and takes you there immediately.
This worked well for us, and we managed to view exclusive Netflix content in the US, Australia, and Canada from our UK location.
The free version has some annoyances and limitations. It popped up alerts every 10 minutes, for instance. After 30 minutes, we also had to wait for a 60-second countdown. There's also a limit on your usage per day, although this doesn't appear to be fixed. Many reports say you can only use the service for an hour, but Hola doesn't give a figure, and we made it to around 75 minutes before the clock ran out.
Still, if you've a quick and easy task in mind—checking Twitter when it's blocked on your network, say—then Hola is one of the more reliable free ways to make that happen.
DNS leak and kill switch tests
A VPN must shield all your traffic from snoopers, and in part that means directing all your DNS queries (the requests which translate domains like techradar.com to IP addresses) through the VPN's encrypted tunnel.
We checked Hola for problems with DNSLeakTest.com, DNSLeak.com, IPLeak.net, and others, but none of them spotted any DNS, WebRTC or other leaks.
Hola's Windows app includes an application kill switch to close specified apps if it detects the connection has dropped. You could get Hola to close your browser if the VPN failed, for instance, to reduce the chance that your browsing might be unprotected.
Although this approach has some value, we prefer the full system kill switch you'll get with most VPNs. If Surfshark's connection drops, for instance, its kill switch automatically blocks all internet activity on your device, without you having to manually specify every possible process with a network connection (a very good idea, because there are way more than you think).
To test this, we added an app to the kill switch, connected to Hola, and then turned our router off and on to simulate a network failure. The app didn't react for more than a minute, then switched its display to show that the VPN was off. It didn't raise a notification to warn us, though, and the kill switch had no effect, either: our target app continued to run as normal.
We tried manually closing Hola's connection, instead. The app reconnected, but the lengthy connection time meant our traffic could be unprotected for several seconds.
We expect a decent VPN app to at least display a notification when it spots the disconnect, then tell us that it's redialling, and when the connection is established. Hola's Windows app just displayed its status as 'On' at all times, with no alerts or notifications to tell us when we were (or were not) protected. And again, despite the service reconnecting (so it must have known the VPN had dropped), the app kill switch had no effect.
While this doesn't prove the kill switch is entirely useless - maybe it activates in other situations that we didn't test - it's still a very poor performance overall. A simple notification if the connection drops would at least allow the user to stop what they were doing, if necessary, but the app couldn't even manage that.
Hola was able to unblock many popular streaming sites in our tests but you're limited to just an hour per day unless you upgrade to a paid plan (Image credit: Hola)
Netflix and streaming
Hola sells itself mostly on the ability to unblock top websites, especially Netflix and other streaming platforms.
We found Hola's free browser extension successfully unblocked Netflix libraries in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
Hola Premium works a little differently, so we ran some extra tests. It also allowed us to view exclusive Netflix content in the US, UK, Canada, and Japan, and with Australia on its second try (having to retry is a hassle, but as long as a service is unblocked at least once in three connections, we count it as a pass.) The app got us easy access to a couple of other top US platforms in Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video. It worked with regional sites including Australia's 9Now and 10 Play, and the UK's BBC iPlayer, ITV, and Channel 4.
That's an excellent set of results, but some other services are just as effective. Private Internet Access also unblocked 100% of our test streaming platforms when we last checked, for instance, for a fraction of the cost of Hola Premium.
We replaced our normal speed tests for this review and streamed 4K video from popular streaming sites to determine Hola's performance (Image credit: Hola)
Performance
We measure the top speed of any VPN by running multiple top performance tests (SpeedTest.net, Cloudflare, Measurement Lab, and more) from a UK data center with a 1 Gbps internet connection.
Hola's download speeds averaged around 180 Mbps to 240 Mbps, more or less what we'd expect for an IKEv2 connection.
Providers who support WireGuard or similar protocols can be much faster. For example, NordVPN and Surfshark all reached over 950 Mbps in their most recent tests. But, realistically, Hola's performance is more than enough for browsing, streaming, and most other web tasks.
Support
If Hola doesn't work for you, there are a couple of ways to get some help and advice.
Hola's web-based Help Center is a searchable support site with articles on installation, troubleshooting, billing, and more.
There's a lot of information on offer. The Setup Guide area has sections for 11 platforms, for instance, many with step-by-step advice on how to get Hola running.
But there are also some significant problems. We couldn't find even a mention of Hola's Windows kill switch, for instance, or some of its other more advanced features. And although Google removed Hola from the Play Store long ago, Hola still hasn't removed its "Get Hola for Android" link. Clicking it now leads you to a 'we can't find that page' link; very unprofessional.
There's no live chat, but paying customers can contact Hola's support team via email (free users are stuck with the website, unfortunately).
We fired off a message explaining that our Windows app kill switch didn't work, we'd uninstalled and reinstalled with no change, and asked what to try next.
A reply arrived about 8 hours later. That's a reasonable response time, but the reply wasn't the best. Instead of simply accepting what we said or sounding apologetic, the agent began: "I have tested the app kill switch and it works as it should." Saying to a customer who has a problem, "Well it works for me," is never going to create the best impression.
Still, we were intrigued. we responded "How did you test the kill switch?" hoping to get help improving our own tests. But, for some reason, our agent didn't want to explain exactly what he had done, and four days and no reply later, we finally gave up.
Final verdict
Yes, Hola can unblock most websites, but at what cost? The free version requires you to share your IP address, bandwidth and browsing history with the company (and who knows else), while the paid edition charges 2-3 times as much as some top providers, yet still has more logging than almost anyone else. Run (don't work) to our Best VPN list and choose a provider who will care about your privacy, rather than trash it.
Sign up with a regular VPN and you'll probably expect access to a carefully managed network of high-powered dedicated servers, while support for the very latest encryption and protocols blocks all unauthorized access to your traffic.
Hola isn't like that at all.
The Israeli company describes its offering as a "community powered (Peer-to-Peer) VPN". You'll get to choose a destination country from a list of 41 options, but Hola routes your traffic through other Hola user's computers, rather than its own network.
The service is much more basic than other VPNs – there is no P2P support, no dedicated IPs, no port forwarding – but there are some possible benefits, especially if you're looking to unblock Netflix or other sites or platforms.
Conventional VPNs often struggle with unblocking, exactly because they route their traffic through relatively few servers. Having large numbers of users with the same data center IP addresses makes them easy to detect and block.
But with Hola, your traffic could be routed through any of thousands of ordinary devices in ordinary homes. From the website's point of view, your browsing looks no different to its other visitors, which means you're far less likely to get annoying "unavailable in your region"-type warnings.
One obvious concern here is that although you get to use the bandwidth of other Hola nodes, they can also use yours. This isn't just regular internet users looking to stream TV shows in other countries. Hola also makes money by selling some of your bandwidth to businesses, as a reliable way to access web data from around the world.
Plenty of people don't like this idea on principle. The approach has created some very bad Hola-related headlines in the past, and left the company with a horrible reputation for privacy.
From a practical point of view, though, Hola shouldn't have much impact on your system. The company points out that it only routes traffic through devices if they're completely idle and not running on battery power, and even then, Hola doesn't use more than 3MB data on mobile devices, 100MB on desktops.
There’s still scope for problems. If your system becomes the exit node for another Hola user who's hacking, sending spam or downloading something illegal, for instance, your IP address may be recorded as the offender.
Fortunately, if you like the concept of Hola, there's a simple way to avoid the risk: switch from a free plan to a paid option and you won't have to share bandwidth.
Hola collects quite a bit of data about its users online activity (Image credit: Hola)
Pricing
Hola is available in a free plan, but this has many issues. It allows others to use your bandwidth, displays regular popups while you're connected, and limits the usage you can make of the service each day.
Uncomfortable with that? Then we'd really recommend you sign up with a real VPN, but if for some reason you're keen on Hola, you can also upgrade to Hola Premium.
The service supports Windows, Mac, iOS and some Android devices, and can be set up to run on routers, gaming consoles, smart TVs and more. Hola Premium allows you to connect up to 10 of these devices simultaneously, and as you're a paying customer, no one else will be able to use your bandwidth.
Prices start high at $14.99 billed monthly, or an equivalent $7.69 on the annual plan. You could sign up with ExpressVPN, a vastly superior service which actually will protect your privacy, for a very similar price ($12.95 monthly, $8.32 on the annual plan.)
Hola's pricing is designed to push you to the three-year plan, though, which is far cheaper at $2.99 a month. That's good value, but again, you can get far better VPNs for much less.
The excellent Private Internet Access gives you three years plus three free months for $2.03 a month, for example. That translates to 39 months of coverage for $79, while Hola offers 36 months for $107.55.
The Hola Ultra plan allows connecting up to 20 devices, and adds support for Smart DNS and 4K streaming. Sounds reasonable, at least until you see the very high prices: $29.99 billed monthly, $19.99 on the annual plan, $7.99 over three years. Private Internet supports unlimited devices, also has smart DNS and should have no difficulty with 4K streaming, all from barely a quarter of the price.
If you do decide to sign up, Hola's payment options include credit card, PayPal, Google Pay and more.
Hola has a money-back guarantee, but beware, this only applies if you've never made a single Hola Premium connection, and you make your claim within 14 days of purchase. Most VPNs allow you to use the service as much as you like for a full 30 days to decide if the service is right for you.
Privacy and logging
In theory, signing up with a VPN can be a great way to shield your browsing from snoopers.
In practice, there's a problem. Sure, using a VPN prevents your ISP from tracking what you're doing, but it also gives your provider a perfect chance to do the same. That's why it's important to check that your chosen VPN doesn't log any of your online activities.
We took a look at Hola's Privacy Policy, and quickly realized this is as far away from a 'no log' VPN as it's possible to get.
When you use the service, for example, the policy says Hola might log your IP address, operating system, browser type, the web pages you visit, when you arrive, and how much time you spend on each one.
If this is a mobile device, Hola also makes a careful note of all your installed apps.
Hola says it doesn't 'rent or sell any Personal Information', but that's not as reassuring as it sounds. The company also says it may share Personal Information with 'subsidiaries' and 'affiliated companies.' Even if Hola doesn't rent or sell your data, that doesn't tell you what these other companies might be doing with it.
There's another potential catch. In data protection terms, "Personal Information" refers to items that identify an individual, so Hola is telling us that it won't sell user contact details. Your browsing history isn’t necessarily 'Personal Information', though, and there's nothing here that says Hola can't sell it, or "share" it with an "affiliated company" for some other purpose.
It gets worse (no, really.) Hola says it may also share your Personal Information and other data to comply with legal requests or to detect fraud or violations of its policies. So not only might the company hand your browsing history over if the authorities ask, but it also reserves the right to analyze it for potential 'violations.'
Still in any doubt? Compare the Chrome Store 'Privacy practices' page for NordVPN and Hola. The NordVPN page says it will not collect or use your data. Hola's says it collects personally identifiable information, financial and payment information, authentication information, personal communications, location, web history, and user activity.
Put it all together, and if you care at all about privacy, Hola is clearly not the service for you. Check out the best free VPNs for far more trustworthy providers who'll genuinely protect your privacy rather than compromise it.
Hola provides its users with a custom version of the Chromium browser (Image credit: Hola)
Security
Hola protects your web traffic using the IKEV2 protocol by default, and the Hola site says apps can also fall back to the older PPTP/L2TP protocols if IKEv2 won't connect.
This gets you AES-256 encryption with relatively basic SHA1 integrity checks. Hola's Windows app allowed us to customize encryption settings, so you can switch to SHA256 or SHA384, for instance. But the app also offers some very poor choices, including MD5 hashing and DES3 encryption, a near 50-year-old protocol which is so vulnerable to attack that NIST says it should no longer be used. (You don't have to select these, but there's always a chance someone might do so by accident, and we're struggling to see why they're on the list at all.)
Although Hola's default encryption settings are enough to, say, shield your web traffic on public Wi-Fi, they can't match the security you'll get with the top VPN competitions. Most providers use leading edge protocols such as OpenVPN or WireGuard, for instance. PPTP and L2TP are so insecure that the bulk of the industry dropped them long, long ago, and although IKEv2 isn't a bad option, it's also on the way out. (NordVPN began removing IKEv2 support in June 2023, for instance, as it doesn't offer the best security.)
Hola apps
Hola has apps for Windows, Mac, and iOS devices, but the Android situation is more uncertain. Hola has apps available on the Samsung Galaxy and Huawei stores, but not Google Play.
Confusingly, we noticed a 'Hola VPN Proxy Unblocker' app on Google Play, which uses an old Hola logo to add a little more legitimacy, but has nothing to do with the real Hola company. We would expect Hola to make more of an effort to detect bogus apps trying to cash in on its name, but in the meantime, download apps directly from the setup links on Hola's website, and if you're using Android, install the Chrome extension instead.
Hola's mobile and desktop apps (stripped-down versions of Chromium) have a plain but very familiar interface: a big On/ Off button, a list of locations underneath, and a handful of icons for tasks such as managing your account or tweaking a few settings. If you've used another VPN app you'll figure it out immediately and even if you're a total VPN newbie, it'll only take a minute or two.
One of the reasons the apps are so straightforward is they have almost no features. The Location menu is a simple list of countries with a search box, for instance: there's no server load information, no ping times, no Recent Locations list, no Sort option, no Favorites system, no 'right-click a Hola icon and choose a country' option, nothing else at all.
Sometimes Windows VPN apps hide useful features away in a Settings box, but Hola's options are relatively basic. There's the usual 'launch with Windows' and "automatically connect" settings; an App Kill Switch to close specific apps if the VPN unexpectedly drops, and (as we discussed above) some largely unnecessary encryption options, but that's about it. If you're hoping for split tunneling, "auto-connect on accessing Wi-Fi", ad blocking, DNS tweaks, or anything similar, then prepare for disappointment.
Simplicity can work if what you get works well, for instance, but that's not the case here. The app took an average of 15 seconds to connect, for instance; that would quickly wear down our patience, especially when ExpressVPN's Windows app took around one second on the same system.
Occasionally the app didn't connect at all, displaying a cryptic "there was an internal authentication error" message, along with what looked like a clickable "try again" link (although clicking this did nothing.) We found a "Fix connection" menu option that fixed these connection issues, which is better than nothing, although we're struggling to see why the app didn't automatically use that when its initial connection failed.
Overall, the apps are both far more basic and far less professional than most of the VPN competition. Even if you just want to connect to your nearest server and do nothing else at all, there are many far better and more reliable options elsewhere in the VPN world.
Hola Chrome extension
The simplest way to sample Hola is via its Chrome, Opera or Edge browser extensions. Hand over your email address to create a free account, and you can begin unblocking sites immediately.
The extension is very easy to use. Tap a shortcut to common destinations such as Netflix, or enter the domain you'd like to unblock, and Hola connects and takes you there immediately.
This worked well for us, and we managed to view exclusive Netflix content in the US, Australia, and Canada from our UK location.
The free version has some annoyances and limitations. It popped up alerts every 10 minutes, for instance. After 30 minutes, we also had to wait for a 60-second countdown. There's also a limit on your usage per day, although this doesn't appear to be fixed. Many reports say you can only use the service for an hour, but Hola doesn't give a figure, and we made it to around 75 minutes before the clock ran out.
Still, if you've a quick and easy task in mind—checking Twitter when it's blocked on your network, say—then Hola is one of the more reliable free ways to make that happen.
DNS leak and kill switch tests
A VPN must shield all your traffic from snoopers, and in part that means directing all your DNS queries (the requests which translate domains like techradar.com to IP addresses) through the VPN's encrypted tunnel.
We checked Hola for problems with DNSLeakTest.com, DNSLeak.com, IPLeak.net, and others, but none of them spotted any DNS, WebRTC or other leaks.
Hola's Windows app includes an application kill switch to close specified apps if it detects the connection has dropped. You could get Hola to close your browser if the VPN failed, for instance, to reduce the chance that your browsing might be unprotected.
Although this approach has some value, we prefer the full system kill switch you'll get with most VPNs. If Surfshark's connection drops, for instance, its kill switch automatically blocks all internet activity on your device, without you having to manually specify every possible process with a network connection (a very good idea, because there are way more than you think).
To test this, we added an app to the kill switch, connected to Hola, and then turned our router off and on to simulate a network failure. The app didn't react for more than a minute, then switched its display to show that the VPN was off. It didn't raise a notification to warn us, though, and the kill switch had no effect, either: our target app continued to run as normal.
We tried manually closing Hola's connection, instead. The app reconnected, but the lengthy connection time meant our traffic could be unprotected for several seconds.
We expect a decent VPN app to at least display a notification when it spots the disconnect, then tell us that it's redialling, and when the connection is established. Hola's Windows app just displayed its status as 'On' at all times, with no alerts or notifications to tell us when we were (or were not) protected. And again, despite the service reconnecting (so it must have known the VPN had dropped), the app kill switch had no effect.
While this doesn't prove the kill switch is entirely useless - maybe it activates in other situations that we didn't test - it's still a very poor performance overall. A simple notification if the connection drops would at least allow the user to stop what they were doing, if necessary, but the app couldn't even manage that.
Hola was able to unblock many popular streaming sites in our tests but you're limited to just an hour per day unless you upgrade to a paid plan (Image credit: Hola)
Netflix and streaming
Hola sells itself mostly on the ability to unblock top websites, especially Netflix and other streaming platforms.
We found Hola's free browser extension successfully unblocked Netflix libraries in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
Hola Premium works a little differently, so we ran some extra tests. It also allowed us to view exclusive Netflix content in the US, UK, Canada, and Japan, and with Australia on its second try (having to retry is a hassle, but as long as a service is unblocked at least once in three connections, we count it as a pass.) The app got us easy access to a couple of other top US platforms in Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video. It worked with regional sites including Australia's 9Now and 10 Play, and the UK's BBC iPlayer, ITV, and Channel 4.
That's an excellent set of results, but some other services are just as effective. Private Internet Access also unblocked 100% of our test streaming platforms when we last checked, for instance, for a fraction of the cost of Hola Premium.
We replaced our normal speed tests for this review and streamed 4K video from popular streaming sites to determine Hola's performance (Image credit: Hola)
Performance
We measure the top speed of any VPN by running multiple top performance tests (SpeedTest.net, Cloudflare, Measurement Lab, and more) from a UK data center with a 1 Gbps internet connection.
Hola's download speeds averaged around 180 Mbps to 240 Mbps, more or less what we'd expect for an IKEv2 connection.
Providers who support WireGuard or similar protocols can be much faster. For example, NordVPN and Surfshark all reached over 950 Mbps in their most recent tests. But, realistically, Hola's performance is more than enough for browsing, streaming, and most other web tasks.
Support
If Hola doesn't work for you, there are a couple of ways to get some help and advice.
Hola's web-based Help Center is a searchable support site with articles on installation, troubleshooting, billing, and more.
There's a lot of information on offer. The Setup Guide area has sections for 11 platforms, for instance, many with step-by-step advice on how to get Hola running.
But there are also some significant problems. We couldn't find even a mention of Hola's Windows kill switch, for instance, or some of its other more advanced features. And although Google removed Hola from the Play Store long ago, Hola still hasn't removed its "Get Hola for Android" link. Clicking it now leads you to a 'we can't find that page' link; very unprofessional.
There's no live chat, but paying customers can contact Hola's support team via email (free users are stuck with the website, unfortunately).
We fired off a message explaining that our Windows app kill switch didn't work, we'd uninstalled and reinstalled with no change, and asked what to try next.
A reply arrived about 8 hours later. That's a reasonable response time, but the reply wasn't the best. Instead of simply accepting what we said or sounding apologetic, the agent began: "I have tested the app kill switch and it works as it should." Saying to a customer who has a problem, "Well it works for me," is never going to create the best impression.
Still, we were intrigued. we responded "How did you test the kill switch?" hoping to get help improving our own tests. But, for some reason, our agent didn't want to explain exactly what he had done, and four days and no reply later, we finally gave up.
Final verdict
Yes, Hola can unblock most websites, but at what cost? The free version requires you to share your IP address, bandwidth and browsing history with the company (and who knows else), while the paid edition charges 2-3 times as much as some top providers, yet still has more logging than almost anyone else. Run (don't work) to our Best VPN list and choose a provider who will care about your privacy, rather than trash it.
