Hotspot Shield VPN Review 2024: Features, Pricing And More

Hotspot Shield is a solid choice for a fast and easy-to-use VPN. Hotspot Shield has over 3,000 servers in more than 80 countries around the world.

When you purchase the paid plan, you’ll be able to use the service on up to five compatible devices including Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux and routers. While almost every VPN can be used on most computers and mobile devices, not every company offers the ability to install the VPN on a router.

The five-device-per-account limit is quite standard among VPNs but the router compatibility has a multiplier effect as everything connecting to the internet through the VPN router will be protected—and that includes all your IoT gadgets such as smart lamps and refrigerators.

To get your router set up, Hotspot Shield provides guides and tech support to help you, but the company also sells routers with the VPN preinstalled if you’d rather skip the headache.

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1

NordVPN

Monthly Pricing (2 Year Plan)

$3.49 per month

# of Devices

6

Encryption

AES-256

1

NordVPN

Learn More

On NordVPN's Website

2

Surfshark

Monthly Pricing (2 Year Plan)

$2.29

# of Devices

Unlimited

Encryption

AES-256

2

Surfshark

Learn More

On Surfshark's Website

3

Private Internet Access

Monthly Pricing (2 Year Plan)

$2.03

# of Devices

Unlimited

Encryption

AES-256

3

Private Internet Access

Learn More

On Private Internet Access' Website

Hotspot Shield made our list for the top best VPNs of 2024 and specifically ranked best for streaming. The company is also one of the few to offer a free VPN option, and though it comes with limitations, the free version is a solid choice to consider.

In addition, Hotspot Shield is the most well-reviewed VPN we’ve analyzed. At 1.5 million reviews, it surpasses any other service significantly—all while maintaining higher than a four-star rating across the App Store, the Play Store and Trustpilot.

Pros

Hotspot Shield also offers a free version, which many VPN services do not offer. The free version allows you to connect one device and has limited data of up to 500MB per day. However, if you haven’t used a VPN before, or want to get a sense of Hotspot Shield’s user interface, it could be a good option to start with.

The company also has a large number of servers throughout the world, which increases the chances that a server will be located in the country you’re looking for.

Hotspot Shield allows you to connect up to five devices for its standard paid plan. With the Premium Family plan—which costs $11.99 per month annually—you’ll be able to share the VPN with up to five members, and each member will be able to use up to five devices. The company outshines competition with its money-back guarantee policy of 45 days, while the industry standard is 30 days or less.

Cons

There are a few features Hotspot Shield lacks that other VPN companies provide. Hotspot Shield does not offer multi-hop connections, which direct your internet traffic through an additional server for increased security.

Additionally, the company does not have the option for a dedicated IP. If this is a feature you know you’ll need, you’ll want to consider competitors that offer this option as an add-on. Hotspot Shield is also more expensive than many of its competitors such as NordVPN and CyberGhost.

Finally, there are a few security considerations to make before choosing Hotspot Shield, which we cover below, especially considering that security is very often the main reason to use a VPN.

Hotspot Shield offers a number of features that are important to any VPN, including:

DNS Filtering and Non-VPN Protection

This feature allows you to block inappropriate and harmful content from being accessed on your device. This feature is available for all plans, including the free version.

Kill Switch

The paid plan also comes with a kill switch feature that automatically disconnects your internet connection if your VPN drops. This way, there’s no risk your information will be exposed if your connection suddenly drops.

Smart VPN (Split Tunneling)

Hotspot Shield offers a feature called Smart VPN, which gives users the option for split tunneling. This allows you to distinguish between sites that use a VPN and the ones that you choose not to. This can be useful if, for example, you want to switch between a site that requires a VPN to access, and another site that will restrict access due to your VPN.

Hotspot Shield offers multiple subscription plans, including a free version that is suitable for more limited use. We’ve outlined some of the main differences between the free plan and the two paid plans below.

Keep in mind that for payment options, Hotspot Shield accepts all major credit cards and PayPal. Compared with other VPN providers, these options are limited, as other companies provide more private forms of payment such as cryptocurrencies. For those who are concerned with sharing personal information online, this may be problematic.

Basic

The Basic version is a great place to start since it’s free. The main limitations of this plan are the speed limit, which is set at 2 Mbps. This plan also limits the virtual locations you can connect to at one, whereas paid plans have over 125 locations to choose from.

Premium

One step up is the Premium plan. The annual plan offers a steep discount compared to the monthly plan, at $7.99 per month for the first year instead of $12.99 per month. With this plan, you’ll be able to connect up to five devices. This is the best plan for an individual as it allows one member account. Additionally, you’ll have access to a 24/7 live chat and the ability to send a message to customer support. This plan is also optimized for Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ and other streaming services.

Premium Family

The Premium Family plan is designed for multiple users. When you sign up for the annual plan, you’ll get a discount of $8 per month for the first year ($11.99 per month compared with $19.99 per month). This plan gives you the option of having up to five members. Plus you can connect up to 25 devices (up to five per member).

Once you create an account, you’ll log in to your online portal to install the Hotspot Shield application. Then, you’ll be prompted to create an account with your email and password.

You’ll be asked if you want the VPN to automatically launch when you start your computer and you can either select “Allow” or “Don’t allow.”

From there, connecting to the VPN is simple. You will be able to select the location of your server but the application will select one automatically for you. The whole process is intuitive to follow and should not take more than five minutes.

Setting up Hotspot Shield is an easy and straightforward process. It took us about five minutes to install and the process was user-friendly. The application makes it easy to select different server locations to connect to from a menu. It will also tell you the duration you’ve been connected to the VPN as well as the network you are using.

Hotspot Shield has servers in over 125 locations and over 35 cities. Free accounts will be able to select from the following locations: Los Angeles, New York, Singapore and the United Kingdom. For Premium account holders, different virtual locations are offered for different platforms. Generally, locations span the U.S., Australia, Canada, Europe, South America and Asia. To find out which specific virtual locations are offered by specific platforms, you can look at the list here.

Hotspot Shield Speed and Performance

Company	Company - Logo	Forbes Advisor Rating	Forbes Advisor Rating	Average Download Speed	Average Upload Speed	Download Latency	Upload Latency	Learn More CTA text	Learn more CTA below text	LEARN MORE
	No VPN			339.21mbps	53.72mbps	107ms	49ms	N/A
Private Internet Access				129.55mbps	35.24mbps	31ms	51ms	Learn More	On Privateinternetaccess.com's Website
CyberGhost				302.40mbps	34.56mbps	63ms	48ms	Learn More	On CyberGhost's Website
TorGuard VPN				273.79mbps	24.34mbps	44ms	46ms	Learn More	On TorGuard's Website
NordVPN				282.39mbps	35.06mbps	74ms	38ms	Learn More	On NordVPN's Website
IPVanish				334.37mbps	34.39mbps	43ms	43ms	Learn More	Read Forbes' Review
VPN Unlimited				195.08mbps	34.48mbps	45ms	46ms	Learn More	Read Forbes' Review
ExpressVPN				91.34mbps	34.48mbps	51ms	40ms	Learn More	On ExpressVPN's Website
Surfshark				227.88mbps	34.94mbps	37ms	35ms	Learn More	On Surfshark's Website
Windscribe				313.12mbps	34.93mbps	46ms	56ms	Learn More	Read Forbes' Review
Hotspot Shield				224.85mbps	35.55mbps	87ms	204ms	Learn More	Read Forbes' Review

Methodology: Our VPN speed comparison is tested on a Windows 11 machine using Ookla’s publicly available speed test. VPN services are connected to the nearest possible server. Speeds are updated weekly.

VPNs can often slow down internet speed, especially when streaming. While speeds will vary depending on device, server location, and other factors, overall Hotspot Shield had an average download speed of 240.28 Mbps and an average upload speed of 35.74 Mbps in our testing. For reference, the fastest upload speed we tested was Surfshark with an average download speed of 368.06 Mbps and the slowest was ExpressVPN at 77.17 Mbps. For average upload speed, Hotspot Shield fell in the middle of the pack at 35.74 Mbps.

Independent audits are the gold standard for verifying that a VPN upholds its privacy claims. Hotspot Shield has not yet released any independent audit reports.

Security Protocols

While most VPN companies stick with standard security protocols, Hotspot Shield uses a proprietary technology called Hydra. Hotspot Shield claims Hydra allows for faster speeds.

Hotspot Shield also uses the popular security protocol OpenVPN. OpenVPN is an open-source protocol, which means it can be monitored for bugs by the cybersecurity community. In addition, Hotspot Shield uses Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), another popular protocol used by VPNs to provide secure communication over the internet.

One caveat: the company does log the domain names users visit (but not the URLs) though claims this information cannot be tied back to the individual user.

What Is Hotspot Shield’s No-Logs Policy?

When it comes to evaluating the security of a VPN, a no-logs policy is the industry standard. This means that the company does not keep any identifying information about its users and would not be able to hand over any information if requested.

While many competitors including NordVPN and Surfshark maintain a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited, Hotspot Shield’s policy is less strict. The company does log the domain names users visit (but not the URLs), though claims this information cannot be tied back to the individual user.

Additionally, the company does record the amount of bandwidth used in a VPN session, the locations of the VPN servers utilized, and may assign a “hash” to your device, which the company defines as, “a random ID generated when you first launch one of our VPN apps. Device hashes are not linked to VPN browsing activity or user identity but may be used to measure individual user activity.” In a transparency report released in 2019, the company stated that it has never shared information about its users with governments, law enforcement agencies or other third parties.

Hotspot Shield offers live chat but only for Premium account holders. There is also a knowledge base with information to answer common questions should you need to look up a particular issue. The extensive tutorials are easy to follow and are divided by platform, such as Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

It’s worth noting that 24/7 live support is only available to Premium subscribers. If you sign up for the Basic plan, you will be able to access the FAQs in the application but will not be able to chat with a representative or send a message. Keep in mind that Hotspot Shield does not offer phone support but it isn’t common for VPN providers to do so.

In addition to the live chat available through the application, Hotspot Shield also has a live chat on its website. When Forbes Advisor tried to connect to an agent through the live chat on the website (which is a general support portal), we were asked for our name and email and told we would be contacted shortly. The bot was not able to answer our question. Based on two interactions with the live chat, it seems that the chat is able to generate AI responses but does not connect to a live representative.

Hotspot Shield allows you to connect to up to 10 devices with the paid plan. However, keep in mind that if you install the VPN onto your router, you will be able to use it automatically with every device that connects to the internet through your router.

Hotspot Shield works with a variety of hardware and software, including:

• Desktops and laptops: Hotspot Shield is compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems.
• Smartphones and tablets: Hotspot Shield can be installed on Android and iOS devices.
• Routers: Hotspot Shield can be installed on compatible routers and routers with the VPN preinstalled, which will protect all devices connected to it.
• Streaming devices: Hotspot Shield is compatible with any smart TV that features the Google Play Store, in addition to Fire TV and Android TV.
• Chrome: Hotspot Shield also has a browser extension for Chrome.

Hotspot Shield is rated the best VPN for streaming among our best VPNs. The VPN is optimized for Netflix, YouTube and Disney+. For gaming, it is optimized for Fortnite, Roblox and more.

However, keep in mind that regardless of the VPN you choose, using one will likely slow down your connection. VPNs prioritize security and that can come at the cost of speed. The true speed you will experience with a VPN will depend on several factors including the server you are connected to, how far away the server is from your physical location and the device you are using.

Hotspot Shield offers tips and advice on how to improve your internet connection when using a VPN, which includes adjusting your VPN settings.

You’ll probably want to consider a couple of different VPNs before committing to one. To make your search easier, we’ve compared Hotspot Shield with three of its competitors, NordVPN, CyberGhost and Surfshark.

Hotspot Shield vs. NordVPN

For the first year, NordVPN is significantly more affordable than Hotspot Shield. Additionally, the company also offers a higher number of servers and the option for a dedicated IP add-on. NordVPN also received a rating of 3.9 while Hotspot Shield only received a rating of 3.0.

Hotspot Shield vs. CyberGhost

CyberGhost was one of our top-rated VPNs, among the top 10. The company received a score of 4.3, compared with Hotspot Shield’s score of 3.0. Additionally, CyberGhost is much more affordable, with an introductory yearly price of $47.88 compared to $95.88.

Both companies offer similar features and the same money-back guarantee period of 45 days. However, CyberGhost does have a higher number of servers (over 7,000 compared to Hotspot Shield’s 3,200).

Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark

Surfshark and Hotspot Shield are comparable companies, though Surfshark’s introductory rate is nearly half that of Hotspot Shield. Both companies have the same number of servers and neither offers a dedicated IP add-on. However, according to our tests, Surfshark provided a faster internet connection. Plus, Surfshark allows you to connect to an unlimited number of devices, while Hotspot Shield is capped at 25.

As there is no business or team subscription option (other than the family plan, which you could feasibly swing for a small team), Hotspot Shield’s VPN is likely best suited for personal use. Additionally, Hotspot Shield does not offer a dedicated IP address, a feature that’s a must-have for work and business uses.

However, when it comes to personal use, this VPN has the most user reviews we’ve analyzed and is rated one of the fastest and more reliable providers. If you’re not ready to commit to the somewhat pricey annual subscription, give the free version a whirl.

Hotspot Shield is a highly rated VPN but there are security factors to consider before signing up. While competitors such as NordVPN and Surfshark have been independently audited, Hotspot Shield has yet to share an independent audit (though the company did share a transparency report in 2019).

Additionally, the service costs between around $30 to $50 more than competitors, per year. Still, we ranked Hotspot Shield the fastest for streaming and the company does have features that are optimized for streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+.