Hotspot Shield review

Hotspot Shield VPN has been around for over a decade. It’s popular for its free VPN, but its premium plans offer much more, including servers in 85 countries, robust encryption, and high-speed connections. This makes it a great option for streaming, torrenting, and surfing with privacy protection.

Hotspot Shield’s speed test results confirm its claim as one of the fastest VPNs available, due in part to its use of the Hydra protocol. The VPN also supports WireGuard, a reliable protocol known for its speed and security. Hotspot Shield has also introduced streaming-optimized servers for premium accounts, improving access to Netflix. The VPN now allows access to multiple regional streaming libraries, including those in the US, UK, and Japan.

Security-wise, the VPN offers a kill switch, split tunneling, and 256-bit encryption. The no-logs privacy policy has been revamped. However, the VPN still uses aggregated data to improve its services. This may put some users off. That said, the VPN stores no records of user activities alongside IPs, meaning Hotspot Shield is reliable for online privacy purposes. As of 2023, the privacy policy has been audited.

Hotspot Shield’s free VPN limitations are significant: data is capped, and speeds are throttled. In 2025, the free plan remains useful for bypassing censorship and basic online privacy. However, upgrading to premium grants access to 10 simultaneous connections, live chat support, exclusive streaming, and gaming servers.

The only real drawback? The VPN costs $6.66 per month – pricier than some top competitors. In this review, we’ll dive into the details of Hotspot Shield to see if its features and performance are good enough to justify that price. Keep reading to find out!

Hotspot Shield key data

* Average speed over multiple global locations based across multiple speed tests per day.

Hotspot Shield review: Pros and cons

This VPN is worth considering if you’re looking for a VPN with decent speeds, Netflix access, and an easy-to-use interface. Below, I’ve summarized the pros and cons based on my in-depth testing. I’ll provide more details on each VPN feature later in this review.

Do I recommend Hotspot Shield?

Yes. Hotspot Shield is a secure VPN that offers reliable access to streaming services. It works well as a VPN for streaming, unblocking Netflix, Hulu, and other platforms without issues. I also tested it as a VPN for torrenting, and it fully supports P2P traffic on all servers. I also tested this VPN for gaming, and the new gaming-optimized servers were decent.

The Hydra protocol, audited by AV-TEST, delivered consistently fast speeds. WireGuard is also available and works well for data-intensive activities. However, despite claims about being the fastest VPN, my tests revealed that other VPNs, including NordVPN and Surfshark, are faster.

Security features are solid. ChaCha20 encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection are included. Split tunneling is available on Windows and Android, and auto-connect works to protect you on public wifi. Drawbacks? Some advanced features like multi-hop, Tor over VPN, port forwarding, and obfuscation are not available, and the absence of the OpenVPN protocol may prompt some users to seek an alternative.

Hotspot Shield has a no-logs VPN policy that keeps no usage logs or connection logs. However, it still stores aggregated data and partial IP addresses for active sessions. Privacy-focused users may feel put off.

Price-wise, I find Hotspot Shield a touch expensive. I would prefer it to introduce a two or three-year plan with a bigger discount. That said, the monthly price is competitive, making it good for short-term use, such as vacations. And there is always the free plan, though users will find that customer support via live chat is reserved for paying customers, which is not ideal. (Though I did find a loophole to this, check it out below).

Overall, it’s a decent VPN. It’s available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux (command line). You can try it risk-free using the 45-day money-back guarantee.

Features

Hotspot Shield VPN has been around since 2008. Since its launch, it has constantly sought to expand and improve its service. In 2011, it added support for mobile devices, and in 2020, it was acquired by Aura, which provides some of the features available in the Hotspot Shield Premium bundle.

The VPN offers a streamlined experience that caters to home internet users. However, it lacks some advanced features offered by competitors like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN. This makes it slightly less attractive for power users in need of advanced VPN capabilities.

The VPN is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux (command-line only). It also makes browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox (though this is a proxy rather than a full VPN). The extensions offer a variety of features, including ad, tracker, malware, and WebRTC blocking.

Hotspot Shield has setup guides for routers and is compatible with many popular brands, including Asus, GL-iNET, Linksys, and Netgear. Some routers, such as Linksys and Netgear, may require DD-WRT or FreshTomato firmware for compatibility. If flashing new firmware onto a router sounds too tricky, you can purchase a pre-flashed router from FlashRouters.com.

Anybody wanting to set up Hotspot Shield on a router can find setup guides on its website. Router setup guides provide full installation instructions for supported models. A router VPN automatically protects all the devices in your home, including any devices that won’t let you install a VPN directly (such as consoles or smart TVs).

Below, I’ve broken down every feature Hotspot Shield offers. This will help you decide whether the VPN is right for your needs.

Core VPN features

Hotspot Shield provides a choice of protocols that are designed to be secure and fast. The popular WireGuard protocol is available for Windows, Mac, and Android. This is a secure and speedy protocol that is suited to streaming and other data-intensive tasks.

The Catapult Hydra protocol has been audited by AV-TEST and is also optimized for fast speeds and stable connections. You can alternate between these two protocols to figure out which gives you faster speeds. (In my tests, it was Hydra.)

Users accustomed to seeing OpenVPN available in most premium VPNs may be disappointed to find that it is not available in any of Hotspot Shield’s apps. This has been a mainstay of the VPN industry for 20 years, and it is a highly trusted protocol.

Hotspot Shield includes split tunneling (referred to as Smart VPN) on Windows and Android. Mac and iOS users who want split tunneling will need to consider alternatives. Split tunneling for iOS is a rarity.

A kill switch is included to block your internet if the VPN connection fails. Unfortunately, it is only available for the Hydra protocol. If you switch to WireGuard or IKEv2, the kill switch will no longer work.

Finally, Hotspot Shield offers servers in 85 countries. This is a solid network that offers users the ability to IP-spoof to all continents. In the US, it has servers in 27 different cities, which is perfect for bypassing blackout games. I’ll explain more about its network later in this guide.

Advanced security & privacy features

Hotspot Shield has all the key features you would expect to find in a top-tier premium VPN. It delivers online privacy and data security. However, it lacks some advanced features available with key competitors.

• Encryption Standards: AES-256 encryption is used for Hydra and ChaCha20 encryption on WireGuard connections, ensuring strong data security.
• DNS & WebRTC leak protection: Protects users from IP address leaks when browsing.
• Auto-connect: The Windows and Android apps can automatically connect to the VPN when accessing unsecured public wifi networks.
• Always-on VPN: Works alongside the kill switch to automatically reconnect the VPN after a disconnection. (Not to be confused with the always-on VPN feature native to Android).
• Malware detection & anti-phishing: Helps protect against malicious websites and phishing attempts at the DNS level.
• Gaming-optimized servers: Offers low-latency connections for VPN for gaming, reducing lag in online multiplayer matches.
• Streaming-optimized servers: These servers have been set up to provide access to popular streaming services. They are currently available for the US and UK only. Later in this guide, learn more about their ability to access international streaming services.

Additional features

Hotspot Shield has developed several features that enhance its usability for streaming, browsing, and overall internet security.

• VPN for torrenting: Hotspot Shield supports P2P traffic on all servers.
• Smart VPN selection: Automatically selects the best available server based on the user’s activity.
• Multi-device support: Allows up to 10 simultaneous connections.
• Apps for all platforms: Available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux (command-line only), Fire TV, and Android TV.
• Browser extensions: Offers Chrome and Firefox extensions with WebRTC blocking, malware protection, and ad tracking prevention.
• Customer support: 24/7 live chat support for premium users, while free users must rely on email support.
• Unlimited data: There are no bandwidth limits for premium or free users.
• 45-Day money-back guarantee: Users can try the VPN risk-free.

Overall, Hotspot Shield provides a well-rounded feature set, but its lack of OpenVPN, limited advanced security tools, and aggregated data retention may make it less appealing to users with an elevated threat model.

Note: Hotspot Shield used to offer a bundle called Identity Guard. This plan provided Hotspot Shield Premium with identity theft protection and a password manager. This is no longer available

Price and plans

Hotspot Shield is a premium-priced VPN that offers two subscription tiers: Basic (free) and Premium. While its monthly plan is competitively priced, the long-term plans are expensive compared to other leading VPN services. Hotspot Shield lacks some advanced features found in similarly priced VPNs, which impacts its overall value.

Below, I’ve outlined the different plans and pricing details so you can compare Hotspot Shield directly to other services.

Price breakdown

Hotspot Shield offers two subscription plans:

Hotspot Shield pricing

While the monthly plan is reasonable, Hotspot Shield’s long-term plans are expensive, especially compared to VPNs like NordVPN, Surfshark, or CyberGhost, which offer multi-year deals at a fraction of the cost (often with additional features, better speeds, and better access to streaming services).

Add-ons

Unlike some competitors, Hotspot Shield does not offer standalone add-on features like dedicated IPs, cloud storage, or fancy security suites.

Previously, Hotspot Shield could be bundled with a password manager and identity theft protection. These services were offered through a partnership with Aura. This bundle is no longer available, so please keep that in mind if you were hoping to bundle the VPN with extras that might make it better value for money: you’re out of luck.

The Hotspot Shield Family Plan has also now been discontinued. This used to allow up to 25 devices to connect to the VPN, but it is no longer available.

Discounts

Hotspot Shield does not offer multi-year discounts like other VPNs. Most premium VPNs charge $3 to $5 per month on bi-annual and three-year plans. With Hotspot Shield, the best deal is the yearly plan, which costs $6.99 per month if you follow the links in this guide. We have an exclusive coupon, so subscribing by following our link will give you the best price all year round.

That said, seasonal promotions will occasionally lower the price. During holidays, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, for example, you can get Hotspot Shield even cheaper by clicking the link in this review.

Hotspot Shield also provides a 7-day free trial across all platforms. This lets you try the VPN for free for a week. However, you do have to select a plan and provide your payment details to access this free trial. Don’t worry, though; the money will not be taken from your account for seven days, and you can cancel if you prefer.

To cancel: log in to your account, disable auto-renewal, and then contact customer support to cancel your account. You must do this 24 hours before the trial ends. Deleting the app does not cancel the subscription, so you must be sure to follow these steps to avoid any charges.

Payment methods & refunds

Hotspot Shield accepts the following payment methods:

• Credit/debit cards
• PayPal

It does not accept cryptocurrency or other anonymous payment options, which may be a concern for privacy-focused users.

Hotspot Shield offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is longer than the 30-day refund period provided by most VPNs. This gives you plenty of time to test the VPN and see if it suits you.

Testing the money-back guarantee

If you decide to request a refund, log in to your account and go to Account Info. Here, you can check your subscription status and cancel any recurring payments. Then, open live chat support and provide the email address associated with your account so the agent can verify your subscription.

If the agent asks for a reason for canceling, simply state that you’ve decided you don’t want a VPN. The agent will then assist you with your refund request.

I purchased a one-month account for testing and successfully received a refund using this process. The refund took around five working days to return to my account.

Keep in mind that while the refund period is 45 days, users on the monthly plan should request a refund before the month ends. The agent informed me that monthly subscribers are still eligible for the full 45-day refund, but I found this claim a bit dubious and didn’t want to risk it.

To avoid any issues, it’s best to cancel and start the refund request before another month rolls over and you’re charged again due to auto-renewal. Doing so will ensure a smooth refund process without any issues.

Those of you who decide to pay for a yearly account can go ahead and make use of the full 45-day money-back guarantee without concern. Just remember to request your refund after 43 days to ensure it goes through before the time limit ends.

Does Hotspot Shield offer value for money?

Hotspot Shield is relatively expensive compared to the best VPNs on the market. While it provides solid service, it has fewer server locations than some competitors, isn’t as fast as advertised, and lacks advanced features like multi-hop and Tor over VPN.

Additionally, Hotspot Shield does not offer bundled extras like IPVanish, NordVPN, or TotalVPN, which limits its overall value. However, its single-month plan is competitively priced, making it a decent short-term option for vacations or work travel.

Speed – Is Hotspot Shield fast?

Speed is always a critical factor when choosing a VPN. Like most users, I want a service that provides strong privacy, reliable streaming access, and minimal speed loss. A good VPN should maintain fast connections for 4K streaming, gaming, and torrenting without noticeable slowdowns.

Hotspot Shield claims to be one of the fastest VPNs on the market, thanks to its Hydra protocol and 1 Gbps server speeds. I decided to test this claim by running detailed tests on its servers.

To verify its real-world performance, I ran multiple Hotspot Shield speed tests across different locations. The methodology? I tested the VPN’s servers in New York (USA), London (UK), and Hong Kong, running speed tests in each location in the morning, noon, and evening to get a clear performance average.

The tests were conducted on a high-speed connection capped at 250 Mbps (to provide consistency for all VPNs tested and better emulate the average speed of home broadband in the US). The test machine is based in Manchester, UK, and is set up using a Windows Virtual Machine. I used the app version of Speed Test by Ookla to measure the VPN.

I started by running a few initial tests to see whether WireGuard or Hydra performed better. Hydra was consistently faster, so I decided to stick with this protocol. Below, you can see the results of my comprehensive Hotspot Shield speed tests using the Hydra protocol:

Hotspot Shield speed test results

Speed analysis

As expected, server speeds varied by region. The Hong Kong server typically showed a bigger speed drop, while nearby servers maintained better performance.

As you can see, the results were pretty consistent at different times of the day. The VPN always offered me speeds above 60 Mbps, which is enough for data-intensive activities like streaming and torrenting.

That said, Hotspot Shield markets itself as the fastest VPN, and my tests revealed that it can’t quite keep up with competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark. So if you want the fastest VPN available, you may want to shop around.

Device compatibility (VPN apps)

Hotspot Shield has custom apps for all popular operating systems: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux (CLI). It also provides browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, as well as apps for Fire TV and Android TV (available in the modified Play Store for Android TV).

Hotspot Shield supports manual configuration on VPN-compatible routers, allowing all network-connected devices to benefit from VPN protection. It provides setup guides for various router models, including Asus, GL-iNET, Linksys, and Netgear. Some routers, such as Linksys and Netgear, may require DD-WRT or FreshTomato firmware for compatibility. I went ahead and tested the router setup to see which protocol it uses.

I was surprised to find that the router setup uses the OpenVPN protocol. This is a highly trusted VPN protocol that many consumers like to use for privacy purposes. Unfortunately, it is not available in any of the Hotspot Shield apps.

By setting the VPN up on your router, you can protect every device in your home with OpenVPN that uses AES-128-CBC cipher and SHA256 for authorization. While AES-128 is not the best implementation of OpenVPN, it is still considered secure.

Subscribers can use the VPN on up to 10 devices with a single account. This is usually enough for most families, but there are VPNs on the market that cost 50% less and let you connect unlimited devices.

Below, I have included a detailed breakdown of Hotspot Shield’s features across the primary platforms it is available for:

Platform-specific details

Windows

Android

macOS

The macOS app is a simplified version of the Windows client with fewer features.

iOS

Linux

Hotspot Shield recently introduced a command-line (CLI) client for Linux, making it suitable for users comfortable with terminal-based configurations. While it lacks a graphical user interface (GUI), it offers essential VPN functionality and can be configured using straightforward commands. Hotspot Shield provides detailed setup guides on its website to assist users with installation and usage.

Browser extensions (Chrome and Firefox)

Since its release, the Hotspot Shield Chrome extension has experienced some issues, including incorrect connection status. The app was temporarily removed from the Chrome Store. It is now back, and it seems like the kinks have been ironed out, which is good news.

Ease of use

I tested Hotspot Shield thoroughly on Windows, iOS, and Android to evaluate how it performs across different platforms.

I found the apps simple, modern-looking, and easy to use. They offer a consistent experience across devices and make it simple to access the settings. I like that the app displays useful information about the ongoing connection, such as download and upload speed and ping.

While it is a bit thin on the ground in terms of features, everything that comes with it worked for me without issues. Below, you can see my experience testing the Windows and Android apps

Hotspot Shield for Windows

The Windows app delivers a solid, user-friendly experience. Downloading and installing the client was quick, and the onboarding process was simple. However, the introduction doesn’t walk you through how to use the app (which would probably be better for newcomers). Instead, it provides a vague overview of the app’s capabilities. This could be improved.

The app’s dark theme (with white text) gives it a modern look, whether it is night or day. The initial appearance of the interface is minimalist, with a large On/Off button that makes it clear how to connect. The app also shows you how much data you have uploaded/ downloaded through the VPN that day.

Clicking Connect establishes a VPN connection within 5-7 seconds, which feels pretty nifty compared to many other VPNs. If you want to pick a different server location, then click the arrow in the Virtual location box.

Once a connection has been established, a  server map appears alongside a bunch of useful connection details like:

• IP address

• Server load & latency

• Data usage & transfer speeds

• Local network name

While these details might overwhelm beginners, they can easily be ignored, and they are useful for advanced users who like the monitor the VPN’s performance.

Server selection

Clicking on ‘Virtual location’ lets you choose between all the available servers. When you first launch the app, the best streaming and gaming servers are pinned at the top, which is convenient.

Any servers you connect to after this will be added to this list. Unfortunately, this will bump the streaming and gaming servers off the list. If this happens, you can use the search bar to search for streaming or gaming to locate them again.

I like that Hotspot Shield uses icons rather than a list to display its servers. This is nicer on the eyes than many other VPNs.

However, available servers do not display server load figures or ping times, so you can’t pick a VPN based on congestion or performance metrics. Many other VPNs provide these figures to help you pick the best server.

There is also no favorite system to highlight the servers you intend to access regularly. On the plus side, the latest version of the app has a search bar that lets you search for any location you require. This was unavailable in previous versions of the app.

Settings

I found the Hotspot Shield settings menu easy to navigate. Everything is clearly labeled. It only includes a basic set of VPN features, so there are no confusing or complicated details to worry about.

Once in the settings menu, you can pick between five tabs: General, Split Tunneling, Protocols Advanced, and Shortcuts. The Shortcuts inform you of keyboard shortcuts you can use to control the app. Nice, but not strictly necessary.

Under General, you can set up how you want the VPN to behave. You can set it to launch when you start your device and auto-connect to the last server used. You can also change the language; it supports nine different languages.

At the bottom of the General Features menu, there’s an arrow leading to Special Features. Initially, I was excited until I realized there were none. Instead, it simply provides basic information about how the VPN works.

Confusingly, it claims to include Tor over VPN, which was news to me. I searched through the settings, knowledge base, and server list but found no such feature. When I asked live chat support, they told me that you “connect to the VPN and then use the Tor browser.” This is not a dedicated Tor over VPN setup.

While this method does route traffic through the VPN before reaching Tor, it’s something any VPN can do and not a specialized feature like those offered by NordVPN or ProtonVPN. This misleading claim is confusing for users who expect genuine Tor integration.

Protocols

To change between protocols, click the protocol tab. It is set to Auto by default, but I switched it to Wireguard as this is my preferred protocol for everyday use. If you want faster results, Hydra may suit you better.

Kill switch

The kill switch can be found by heading to the advanced tab. The menu states that the kill switch is available for the auto and Hydra protocols. It doesn’t take Sherlock Homes to figure out that this means Auto always defaults to Hydra: the killswitch is only available for Hydra. Needless to say, the inclusion of “auto” seems to be there solely to make the VPN seem more impressive than it really is.

I tested the killswitch to check whether it is system-level by forcing the app to crash while using a page refresher extension attached to an IP checking tool. Unfortunately, as soon as I did this, the page instantly refreshed to show my home IP. This means that it is a basic app-based kill switch that offers no protection in the event that the app crashes.

This is the worst type of VPN kill switch available. So, if you are in the market for a VPN that completely cuts your internet regardless of the reason why the VPN connection drops, you will need to consider alternatives like NordVPN or Surfshark.

Split tunneling

Finally, I tested the split tunneling feature. I set it to bypass my Chrome browser and then ran IP leak tests on Firefox and Chrome. As I hoped, I could use my regular internet connection in Chrome and the VPN-protected IP address on Firefox.

It can also be set up to bypass websites from the VPN tunnel if this is your preferred way of doing things.

The auto-connect can be set to connect any time you join a new unsecured wifi network. However, it cannot be configured in any other way.

Many other VPNs let you set the auto-connect to behave differently on different networks, but Hotspot Shield offers no customization options.

To conclude. There are a few notable drawbacks:

• The kill switch is app-based only and will only work with the Hydra protocol. If you switch protocols, it disables itself. This creates a security risk for users who don’t manually re-enable when they switch back to Hydra.
• Lack of server data: You can’t pick a server based on metrics, meaning that you may sometimes encounter a slow server and decide to switch to avoid congestion.

Does Hotspot Shield for Windows work as expected?

Mostly, yes. Other than the kill switch being app-based only, everything worked as it should, with one exception: When I connected to the Brazilian server, it kept disconnecting after a few minutes. I reconnected each time, but it would kick me off again a minute later. This made the Brazilian server unusable. However, it is possible this was a temporary server glitch that will be fixed.

Compared to the Mac version, the Windows app has more features, but I would be lying if this meant it was feature-rich. This is a basic VPN with a minimal feature set – especially for the price. This may frustrate power users (on either platform).

That said, I am a VPN reviewer who likes all the bells and whistles. And most people may not need many extra features. With this in mind, Hotspot Shield VPN can be a decent choice for beginners primarily interested in a secure connection that allows them to access streams on vacation, bypass blocks at work, or connect to public Wi-Fi without fear of hackers.

Plus, you have the option of its free version, which can be a blessing in certain situations. For instance, this VPN was hugely popular during the Arab Spring, when thousands of citizens used it to bypass social media blocks intended to prevent them from coordinating their uprising.

Hotspot Shield for Android

Installing Hotspot Shield on Android is quick and effortless. The app is available directly from the Google Play Store, and the setup took me less than a minute. The only slightly confusing thing is that it is listed in the Play Store as “Super VPN – Hotspot Shield Proxy.” Changing this to Hotspot Shield VPN would make users less worried that they may have stumbled on an imitation app.

The dark interface matches the Windows and Mac versions, giving it a modern look that is suited to day and night use. You can also switch to Light mode if you prefer. Navigating the menu is intuitive. And it is easy to connect to the fastest server by clicking Auto. However, I was in the UK, and Quick Connect gave me a server in the US – so this may be a touch buggy.

The home screen is well-designed, offering a quick-connect button that gets you connected to the best available server in seconds. The experience felt as smooth as on Windows, and the Android version keeps things touch-friendly, making it easy to navigate on a smaller smartphone screen.

The server selection process is straightforward. Streaming and gaming servers are listed at the top, making them easy to find. Unlike Windows, you also get a dedicated server for Social Networks and Chat. I liked this design choice as it speeds up the process of finding a suitable server for specific tasks.

You can also favorite any server by clicking the star next to it. Once you have clicked it, you can go back to the main screen, and the server will appear at the top.

Just bear in mind that (as on Windows), there is no server load data or ping time indicators before you connect. This means you have to manually test different servers to determine which one is best. On the plus side, as soon as you connect, you can see the server load and latency at the bottom, so no guesswork is needed.

Split tunneling

I tested the split tunneling by selecting specific apps to bypass the VPN. The feature worked flawlessly. I could stream local UK content on Netflix while my Chrome browser had an IP address in the US. I was also pleased to find that Hotspot Shield has now added URL-based split tunneling to Android, so it is just as capable as the Windows version.

Protocols

You don’t get IKEv2, which is pretty standard on Android. I found switching between WireGuard and Hydra protocols easy within the settings. Of those two protocols, Hydra was a touch faster, but it’s nice to have WireGuard for any activities that require a more robust and trusted protocol. You can select Smart, and the app will supposedly select the best protocol for you. However, this seems to always default to Hydra.

Auto-connect

The Connection Center is one of my favorite features. This auto-connect feature is more advanced than its Windows counterpart. You can set the VPN to launch at startup and connect when you join unsecured networks such as public wifi or on secured networks and mobile data too. Plus, you can ask it to disconnect when the device goes into sleep mode (which will save your battery and some mobile data).

Security-wise, Android integrates with the system-wide kill switch, which makes it more reliable than the Windows version’s app-based kill switch. In my tests, the kill switch prevented any internet traffic from leaking outside the VPN tunnel, ensuring my real IP was never exposed. This is the advantage of leveraging Android’s always-on VPN functionality; it is foolproof.

Throughout my testing, connection stability was consistent and switching between wifi and mobile data didn’t cause unexpected disconnections. However, there were some occasional delays in automatic reconnections. If you are moving from mobile data to wifi, keep watch for the lock symbol at the top of your screen.

Did Hotspot Shield for Android work as advertised?

Generally speaking, Hotspot Shield for Android delivers a smooth and reliable VPN experience. The interface is clean and user-friendly, and key features like split tunneling and the kill switch work exactly as expected. However, I suffered an occasional glitch when disconnecting:

The app froze and said Disconnecting but never completed the process. This hung the app. The only way to solve the problem was to force-stop the app in Android settings. This was quite an annoying bug that I never experienced when testing it in previous years.

No metrics

As with the other apps, it doesn’t display server load metrics until you connect – meaning you can’t see which servers are going to perform better at a glance.

Those drawbacks aside, the Connection Center and system-wide kill switch give it an edge over its Windows counterpart in terms of usability and automation. However, considering the subscription cost, these frustrations are definitely a turnoff.

If you primarily need a VPN for streaming, gaming, or public wifi security, Hotspot Shield for Android is a solid choice. The VPN still lacks some of the advanced features, like multi-hop and port forwarding.

Server Network

Hotspot Shield Premium has a large server network that spans 85+ countries. While it isn’t the largest VPN network, it provides extremely solid coverage with servers in a few underrepresented regions. Below, you can find out more about its server metrics and how it compares to competitors.

Server metrics

Hotspot Shield Premium has 3,200+ servers across 85+ countries and 115+ locations. This includes 29 different US cities, making it a great option for bypassing blackout games.

The free version only offers servers in four places: Los Angeles, New York, Singapore, and the UK. You will not be able to stream using the free version of Hotspot Shield, as streaming services are restricted to paid servers.

The service provides streaming and gaming-optimized servers, but these are limited to the US only. CyberGhost, by contrast, offers dedicated streaming servers in over 25 countries, clearly labeled by platform.

Anybody wanting to torrent will be happy to find that P2P connections are permitted on all of Hotspot’s premium servers.

Comparison with competitors

Hotspot Shield’s 3,200+ servers allow it to compete with the top-end of the VPN industry. However, it is a touch short of the very best VPNs like NordVPN (7,100+ servers in 118 countries) and CyberGhost (11,500+ servers in 100+ countries).

Raw server count isn’t everything, but having more servers generally means less congestion, more stable speeds, and more choices. For example, in the UK, you only get servers in Coventry and London. Some competitors offer a wide number of city-level options.

Hotspot Shield states that its servers are capable of 1 Gbps speeds; however, as you can see in the speed test section, the VPN was not as fast as many of its chief rivals.

Finally, Hotspot Shield VPN does not run on diskless servers. Diskless servers improve network security because they run entirely on RAM, ensuring no data is permanently stored. Some VPNs, like NordVPN and Surfshark, use diskless servers for improved network security.

Virtual servers

Hotspot Shield uses the term ‘virtual servers’ to refer to all its servers, which can be confusing. In the VPN industry, ‘virtual servers‘ typically refer to IPs hosted in one country but physically located elsewhere using DNS routing.

Hotspot Shield uses the industry-recognized version of virtual servers to provide IP addresses in some countries. For example, the Indian location is hosted via servers in Singapore to avoid India’s strict data retention laws. Similarly, IP addresses for Cambodia, Pakistan, and Algeria appear to be routed through Amsterdam rather than being physically based in those locations.

Virtual servers are not inherently bad. In fact, many VPN providers use them to offer IPs in regions with poor connectivity or repressive internet laws. However, Hotspot Shield does not identify which of its servers are virtual in its apps or on its website.

This makes it impossible for users to:

1. Avoid virtual servers if they want to.
2. Find out where their data is being physically processed for jurisdictional transparency.

In contrast, providers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN not only disclose virtual server locations but also provide lists explaining where the physical servers are located.

Unique or rare locations

The network spans Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, with servers in regions that often lack strong VPN support, such as Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Pakistan, and Liechtenstein. Unlike some VPNs that skip African locations entirely, Hotspot Shield offers servers in four African countries, which is an advantage for users in those regions.

Does Hotspot Shield work in China?

Hotspot Shield’s Hydra protocol includes native obfuscation, which should, in theory, help to bypass restrictive firewalls. However, the VPN provides no information on how its obfuscation works, so you have to take it at its word.

What I can tell you is that Hotspot Shield does not work in China. The Great Firewall has already blocked Hotspot Shield’s servers, even when using the Hydra protocol. Shop elsewhere if you live in or are going to visit China.

That said, Hotspot Shield is one of the few VPNs that offer an IP address in China. This allows people outside the country to access region-locked Chinese content.

Streaming and unblocking

Hotspot Shield has introduced streaming-optimized servers in the US and the UK, which should mean it is now better equipped to access platforms like Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video USA, iPlayer, ITVX, and other popular services. So, how did it stand up during testing?

Overview

I started by testing its US streaming server.  I could watch US Netflix without issues, and it also worked to stream Hulu, Disney Plus, and Prime Video. Next, I connected to the UK server and tried streaming iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4. Again, I could stream all those platforms without a hitch. It’s a decent VPN for streaming British and American content.

Streaming service compatibility

Hotspot Shield Netflix access

Netflix is always on consumers’ top list of priorities when it comes to watching Netflix, and with countries like the UK now clearly warning users that they could be fined if they watch live content without a TV license – the need for a Netflix VPN is only increasing.

Hotspot Shield works with various popular Netflix libraries: the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia. It is also fast enough to stream your Netflix account in HD without any buffering.

Just remember that this does not apply to the free plan. Hotspot Shield blocks all streaming services on its free servers to encourage users to upgrade to a paid plan.

Does Hotspot Shield work with international streaming platforms?

I always make sure the VPNs I test work for users worldwide. To put HSS through its paces, I tried accessing various free streaming services from different countries. Here’s how it performed:

• Germany: I watched Dar Erste on ARD Mediathek while connected to the German server. The quality was fantastic, and I suffered no buffering.
• France: I tested the Paris Hotspot Shield server to watch France.tv. I was able to stream live TV on France 2 with no errors.
• Brazil: I tried to watch Globo Play connected to the Brazil server, but it wouldn’t load.
• Canada: I connected to the Toronto Hotspot Shield server. It worked to watch live and on-demand shows on CBC Gem for free.
• Australia: I could not watch free TV feeds on 10Play while connected to the Hotspot Shield Sydney server. The service served me an error that told me to turn off the VPN.

As you can see, Hotspot Shield performed well. Most services streamed without problems, and the VPN gave me decent speeds. However, various other VPNs work to access all the platforms I tested. Some of those are cheaper than Hotspot Shield. If you specifically want the best VPN for streaming, then you may prefer to shop elsewhere.

Does Hotspot Shield allow torrenting?

Yes. Hotspot Shield allows P2P connections across its entire network. You can torrent securely from any location. In addition, the Hydra protocol offers decent download speeds, so files will download quickly. However, this VPN does not offer port forwarding, which limits how useful it is for seeding.

Is Hotspot Shield safe for torrenting?

While it is generally a safe VPN for torrenting, its kill switch is app-level only. This means it will not protect the privacy of your downloads if the VPN happens to crash.

That caveat aside, I should note that I never experienced any app crashes myself during testing. So, the VPN kill switch should work for torrenting without issues under normal circumstances.

Is Hotspot Shield safe?

Hotspot Shield is a popular VPN first launched in 2008. Although it is primarily known because of its free VPN offering, it also offers a full Premium VPN package, which steps up user privacy and is ad-free.

The VPN is based in the US. This jurisdiction is less than ideal for a VPN because of the presence of gag orders and warrants. The VPN could be forced to start logging in secret. However, it is worth noting that this would only happen as part of a case in which a specific suspect would be targeted, usually for a serious crime. Most users have nothing to worry about.

The VPN uses 256-bit encryption, offers a no-logs policy, and supports multiple VPN protocols. The no-logs policy has now been audited, meaning you no longer have to take its privacy claims on faith alone.

Below, I’ve included a list of all its security features and analyzed its privacy policy, encryption standards, and past controversies to determine whether it’s safe to use.

Security features

Hotspot Shield uses AES-256 encryption in its Hydra and IKEv2 protocol implementation. Users who set up OpenVPN on a router will use the AES-128-CBC cipher, which is slightly weaker – but still considered secure.

The VPN offers an app-level kill switch for Windows, but it only works with the Hydra protocol. If you switch to WireGuard or IKEv2, the kill switch turns off automatically. Other VPNs offer reliable system-wide kill switches that work with all protocols and cut your internet even if the app crashes. On Android, the kill switch is more robust as it leverages Android’s Always-On VPN setting. Mac and iOS users do not get a kill switch.

I tested for DNS and WebRTC leaks, and Hotspot Shield passed without issues. The VPN hides your home IP address and handles all DNS queries securely via its own servers.

However, some users report that they suffer some IP leaks using the Android app, so test it yourself on your device. I checked both Windows and Android and found it to be leak-free on both. However, I would be remiss for not mentioning those other users’ experiences.

Hotspot Shield’s former parent company published a standalone transparency report in 2018. However, since then, neither Hotspot Shield nor its current parent company, Pango, has provided any transparency reports or insights into the types or number of data requests they receive.

Given that the company is headquartered in the USA, a transparency report (and a warrant canary) would be valuable for assessing government data requests and potential legal obligations.

Logging Policy

Hotspot Shield has a no-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t track your browsing activity, IP addresses, or device identifiers while you’re connected. However, like many VPNs, it does collect some data, including:

• Connection timestamps
• Bandwidth usage
• Anonymized domains accessed
• Device hashes

The company says this data is used for service improvements and analytics. In August 2023, Hotspot Shield completed a third-party audit by Aon, which confirmed that it doesn’t log identifiable browsing activity.

That said, the level of data collection that Premium users are exposed to is higher than with Hotspot’s chief competitors. For this reason, I would advise users seeking the highest possible levels of VPN privacy to opt for an alternative.

Free users face even bigger concerns because Hotspot Shield’s free version includes third-party tracking SDKs, meaning advertisers can gather data about your device and interactions.

The Aon audit did not include penetration testing or a full security review of Hotspot’s infrastructure. It was less thorough than similar security audits carried out by leading competitors such as NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN.

Encryption protocols

Hotspot Shield sets Catapult Hydra (labeled Hydra in the apps) as its default protocol. This proprietary VPN protocol claims to deliver fast speeds and built-in obfuscation. However, since it’s closed-source, users have no way to verify those claims and must rely on Hotspot Shield’s assurances. The company has published technical details about Hydra’s implementation, offering at least some transparency into its security design.

Hydra security

Hydra uses TLS 1.2 for encryption and does not allow protocol downgrades. It relies on RSA certificates with 2048-bit keys for server authentication and Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDHE) for Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS), ensuring that encryption keys are unique for each session. This setup should provide strong security, but because Hydra is proprietary, we can’t verify these claims.

Hotspot Shield says third-party security experts have evaluated its Hydra protocol in collaboration with major security firms, but it hasn’t released any full audit results. That said, several major corporations – McAfee, Telefonica, and Bitdefender – license Hydra to secure data in transit, which adds some credibility to the VPN’s security claims. Still, without a published audit, users have no concrete proof.

AV-Test has also audited Hydra and found it secure and fast. However, since Hotspot Shield hasn’t published those results either, some users may prefer to stick with open-source protocols.

The VPN also offers WireGuard and IKEv2 (available on Windows and iOS), both of which are widely recognized as secure. WireGuard uses ChaCha20 a highly robust encryption protocol, while IKEv2 uses military-grade AES-256 encryption.

Hotspot Shield does not support OpenVPN in any of its apps. OpenVPN is only available via manual router configurations, so if you need OpenVPN, you’ll have to set it up manually on a compatible router.

Past controversies

Hotspot Shield has faced several security and privacy-related controversies over the years:

• Tracking Allegations (2016-2017): Hotspot Shield was accused of injecting tracking scripts into web traffic and redirecting users to partner websites.
• Data Leak (2018): Researchers found a data leak in Hotspot Shield’s client, which raised concerns about its security.
• Chrome Extension Issues: Hotspot Shield’s Chrome extension was temporarily removed from the Chrome Web Store, following reports of false connection statuses where users thought they were protected when they weren’t. The app was patched and re-released.

While not a controversy, Hotspot Shield has been through some ownership changes. It started as AnchorFree before rebranding to Pango in 2019. A year later, Aura acquired Pango, bringing Hotspot Shield under its umbrella.

While Pango still operates as a subsidiary, it’s essentially part of Aura’s larger digital security business. This transition led to updates in Hotspot Shield’s privacy policy and security practices.

Overall, the acquisition by Aura has been positive, leading to improved policies and additional transparency of information, including publishing encryption implementation details about its proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol.

Customer support

Hotspot Shield offers 24/7 live chat support for paying users, but getting through to a human agent can be frustrating. Free users do not have access to live chat. Below, I break down my experience while testing Hotspot Shield’s customer support:

My experience with customer support

During my tests, I experienced several frustrations while trying to speak to a live human chat agent. I logged into my Premium account to access the live chat and found that the chatbot tries to answer your questions without transferring you. At one point, after repeatedly requesting a human, the bot simply stopped responding (as if giving me the silent treatment).

I did not get a response and had to start again with “hello”

When I finally got through to a human, the agent was polite and knowledgeable. However, the responses were a bit slow. Although they could handle basic inquiries well, advanced troubleshooting seemed to go over their heads a bit.

I got the impression that the agents focused more on driving sales than solving serious technical problems. As a result, they usually escalate complex issues to email support. This slows you down.

Free access to live chat!

For free users: I did happen to stumble upon a useful life hack while testing the VPN!  If you go to the Hotspot Shield payment page and select a plan, a live chat option appears in the bottom right corner. This trick lets you speak to an agent before purchasing an account. This is perfect if you are a free Hotspot Shield VPN user who has a question.

What customer support channels does Hotspot Shield have?

1. 24/7 Live Chat: Available only for Premium and Premium Family subscribers. Free users cannot access it directly.
2. Email Ticket Support: Available to all users, including free users and those with pre-sale inquiries. Response times can take days.
3. Knowledge Base: Hotspot Shield offers setup guides and FAQs on its website. Some articles include screenshots, but the depth and quality of the guides feel a bit slim compared to top competitors.
4. In-App Help: The apps allow you to navigate directly to live chat or FAQs, which can speed up the process of getting there in your browser.
5. Leave a Message: If you don’t want to send an email to get started, you can use the ticket system to get help by filling in the contact form on its website.

How could Hotspot Shield improve its support?

• Easier access to human agents: It would be nice if you didn’t feel like you were jumping through hoops just to get past the chatbot.
• Faster email support: Free users can only use email support, and responses can take anything between a day and 3 days (the latter is usually for free users, though).
• Improved knowledge base: While Hotspot Shield provides setup guides and information articles, they are not that in-depth and sometimes even contain outdated or misleading/confusing info.
• Fix broken support links: Some users report seeing “You’re not authorized to access this page” errors when they try to view certain guides or FAQs. I didn’t find these specific resources during testing, but it’s possible the team removed them.
• Train support agents better: Although the agents I spoke with were polite and friendly, they lacked technical expertise and seemed undertrained.

Hotspot Shield support: Final thoughts

Hotspot Shield’s customer support is generally good for paying users, with 24/7 live chat and polite agents. However, the chatbot is annoying, email support is slow, and self-help resources could be better. While it’s not the worst support system out there, it’s far from the best, especially considering the cost of a subscription and the level of support offered by many competitors.

Hotspot Shield free VPN limitations

Finally, I wanted to remind all readers that this review primarily concentrated on the premium version of Hotspot Shield. While I did mention the free version in some key areas for clarity, it is important to note that many of the features mentioned in this guide will not apply to the free version. The free plan has fewer servers, will not work for streaming, and has a different privacy policy that is more invasive. However, it is still a useful service for getting online privacy in a pinch.

Conclusion: Should you use Hotspot Shield?

Hotspot Shield is a solid VPN for home users in need of fast speeds and a wide choice of servers around the world. This VPN has easy-to-use apps and reliable streaming access to most services I tested. This included consistent access to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer.

It fully supports torrenting and gaming, making it a versatile choice for entertainment. However, it does not support port forwarding, and the kill switch could be more secure, so some torrenting enthusiasts may prefer a different VPN.

While Hotspot Shield’s encryption is strong, the kill switch only works with Hydra, and the VPN lacks OpenVPN support in its apps. This may put off some privacy-conscious users. An independent auditor has reviewed the no-logs policy, but the VPN still collects aggregated data and operates out of the US. Most home users won’t find this a problem, but those with an elevated threat model may decide to shop elsewhere.

Price-wise, Hotspot Shield feels a bit expensive for what it offers. I found the live chat support lacking, and the bug I experienced in the Android app (which froze while disconnecting), along with the lack of a system-level kill switch on Windows, were frustrating – especially given the VPN’s price.

The free plan remains one of its strongest features, and I applaud Hotspot Shield for continuing to provide it for users who need privacy but can’t afford a VPN. However, Hotspot Shield charges more than many competitors for its annual plan. So many strong alternatives exist that users have to deliberately choose Hotspot Shield over others—which makes its lack of competitive pricing all the more disappointing for an otherwise well-rounded VPN.

What are the best alternatives to Hotspot Shield?

Our top-rated overall VPN is NordVPN, which tops the leaderboard in most categories, including speed, security, and streaming. If you want a cheaper VPN with unlimited connections, I recommend Surfshark. It delivers an impressive feature set – wider than Hotspot Shield’s – for about a third of the price. Total VPN is another great value VPN that comes bundled with Antivirus protection. And if you need advanced privacy tools like multi-hop, Tor over VPN, and port forwarding, Proton VPN is a better option.

Want to see how these VPNs compare? Check out these articles:

• NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield: Which wins?
• Surfshark vs Hotspot Shield: which wins?
• NordVPN vs Surfshark: In-depth comparison guide
• NordVPN vs ProtonVPN