LogMeIn Hamachi Review 2024: Before You Buy, Is It Worth It?

Fast Transfer Speed

An impressive feature of LogMeIn is that it works well even with slow connections. It’s not uncommon for Remote Desktop programs to lag when used over mobile networks or slow broadband connections, but LogMeIn optimizes the connection so that it runs smoothly.

Speed Test Results

LogMeIn Hamachi allows fast data transfers without slowing down your internet connection as a regular VPN does. It accomplishes this by creating secure tunnels between your devices rather than directing your traffic through a server.

Once I got it installed and running on another PC, I realized that my download speed depended on the upload speed of the computer I was streaming from, which could be somewhat slow at times

Is LogMeIn Hamachi Fast Enough for Gaming? Yes!

LogMeIn Hamachi offers unique capabilities tailored specifically to gamers, allowing you to set up secure gaming services that provide properties associated with LAN networks. Using this option will ensure robust security on the server and enhance possibilities for popular online games such as Minecraft. Gamers who are involved in celebrity streaming and highly competitive gaming can rely on Hamachi’s additional protection against malicious attacks.

Server Network — Unavailable

Logmein Hamachi doesn’t have an established server network like traditional VPNs. That said, you can create your own private network and link it with all your devices. This requires installing the Hamachi client on each device and connecting them to the Logmein Hamachi network. After the network has been established, you will be able to transfer files easily and securely between devices.

Security — Point-To-Point Encryption

LogMeIn Hamachi uses what is referred to as a zero-trust network. Zero-trust networks are based on the premise that even secure networks are vulnerable to intrusion, so they assume all connections are insecure. Consequently, each connection is protected by point-to-point encryption, which ensures that you remain safe whenever you connect one device to another.

Hamachi is equipped with a number of security features that keep you safe whenever you use it. AES-256 tunnel encryption and RSA key exchange make Hamachi a very secure solution. Each packet is authenticated by SHA1 encryption hashes and numbered to prevent replay attacks. The high level of security Hamachi offers makes it one of the safest VPN choices available. As an additional security feature, Hamachi never displays your real IP address. Rather, it assigns all users a subnet address space prefixed with “5. x.x.x”.

In your role as the network administrator, you can configure security and accessibility features like memberships, network authentication, and passwords. With this, you can be in complete control of how things operate on your network.

However, there are still some security concerns. Hamachi does not use IPsec or OpenVPN due to the nature of its connections. For this reason alone, many businesses will be unwilling to use Hamachi because it does not meet high-security standards.

It is also lacking a kill switch, a security feature that shuts down your VPN connection when it malfunctions, preventing your IP address from being exposed. Even though this security feature isn’t very important in business applications, frequent gamers would find a kill switch useful for keeping their IP addresses safe online.

Hamachi works as a public-shared VPN solution, so anyone connected to the same server as you is essentially connected to the same network as you. Such a network is called a Local Area Network (LAN). Considering that people’s identities are unknown on Hamachi’s servers, this can potentially lead to dangerous outcomes.

Privacy — Collects Information

There are privacy concerns with LogMeIn Hamachi. As per its privacy policy, the service records information like your hardware type, your hostname, and your IP address. According to the company, these analytics are used to enhance the client app and to tailor the in-app experience to each individual.

It is particularly concerning because LogMeIn Hamachi is headquartered in the USA, and is a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. The fact that their location might mean they are compelled to share information with the government gives me serious concerns about their privacy practices.

If you need a service that is dedicated to maintaining your privacy, I recommend checking out ExpressVPN. It encrypts your online activities with military-grade encryption, and guarantees to never keep any records of your activities, so they cannot be accessed even if they’re physically inspected.

Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

Torrenting — Uncovered

LogMeIn Hamachi is not designed to mask your IP address. Despite this, you can technically share files more quickly since P2P networking is enabled between your devices. So, torrenting may not be possible, but it would enable devices connected to the service to share downloaded files.

P2P sharing presents risks from unknown files from anonymous sources, so using a VPN for an added layer of security is wise. Cyberghost is a great VPN for torrenting if you need such a service. The company provides good connection speeds and has a global network with servers in 100 countries. Also included are a kill switch, 256-bit AES encryption, and IPv6/DNS leak protection. However, my team and I do not support illegal torrenting. Make sure that the files you access do not contain copyrighted content.

Does LogMeIn Hamachi Work in China? No!

Hamachi is not suitable for use in China or in countries where internet censorship is imposed. The service does not come with a server network, lacks obfuscation tools, and its log-keeping policy makes it unfit for use in such areas. You can only accomplish this by using a VPN that reroutes your internet traffic through encrypted servers located in other countries.

ExpressVPN is without a doubt the best VPN for China. The obfuscation technology used on its servers ensures your VPN traffic is undetectable. It boasts a huge selection of VPN server locations, the fastest network of servers, and 5 simultaneous connections, with an extremely high uptime guarantee of 99.9%.

It is worth noting that non-government-approved VPNs are illegal in China, but no instances of tourists being penalized have been reported. China’s policy against VPNs involves technological blockades rather than pursuing the individuals who use them.

LogMeIn offers a support hotline, an email ticketing system, and a community forum to everyone who uses Hamachi. I emailed a few questions but never received a reply. Unlike most VPN services, purchasing a Hamachi subscription does not guarantee improved customer service.

If you like to do things yourself, download the Getting Started Guide, access Control Tools for System Administrators, and then read all about LogMeIn Hamachi’s security. I found most of the answers to my questions in the starter guide or in the community forum.