VPN like HotSpot Shield + Alternatives + Competitors + Similar VPNs

Hotspot Shield has a beautiful interface that is easy to use, and they allow you five simultaneous connections. Hotspot Shield VPN has blazing speeds. On the security front; they say they don’t keep logs, they have strong encryption, and are handy with a kill switch and security leaks protection. There are many other VPN like Hotspot Shield that offer similar and also your desired security and privacy features. These similar VPNs are known as the best Hotspot Shield alternatives and competitors available. In this article, we shall explore all the Hotspot Shield competitors and alternatives to help you choose the most suitable option.

Hotspot Shield has a good number of connection points (over 2500 in 25 countries); they fully support P2P activity; and with good server selection, they will give you access to Netflix.

A long time ago, an armed warrior will hold a sword and a shield – the sword to attack, and the shield to protect. Thus, the shield became a symbol of protection.

Though the shield will offer absolutely zero protection against the kind of attacking weapons available in this present age; the shield still remains a symbol of protection.

So when you hear Hotspot Shield VPN, you should know that they are there to offer some protection. Yes, Hotspot Shield is one of many providers of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services with a mission to protect you from hackers, ISPs, and other snoopers watching or tracking you online.

Hotspot Shield VPN came on board in 2008 and already has over 600 million users. Why are so many people going for it? In this review, I’ll examine Hotspot Shield VPN to help you determine what it has going for it?

However, their privacy policy leaves a lot to mull over; and they also do not allow anonymous payments. What further add to privacy concerns is that they are located in the U.S, and they are owned by a company with accusations of passing users’ data to ad partners hanging over its head.

They use a proprietary protocol which is largely unknown, and yet they do not offer the other popular VPN protocols. Lastly, the timeliness of responses (with the ticketing service) can use some improvement. Hotspot Shield is one of the top VPN services, but if you are not satisfied with privacy and security features, you may try out other alternatives that strongly compete with Hotspot Shield. Below are other VPN like Hotspot Shield:

VPN LIke Hotspot Shield + Alternatives:

• NordVPN
• Surfshark
• ExpressVPN
• Proton VPN
• CyberGhost VPN
• PureVPN
• Private Internet Access
• IPVanish
• TorGuard
• Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield Features Review:

Ease of Use:

The interface is beautifully designed; and very user-friendly. You sign in to meet a minimalist page with a prominent power button at the center. I like that hotspot shield don’t leave users guessing; they put a short text under each icon that tells you what the icons represent. For example, under the prominent power button is “click the button to start connection”.

Hotspot shield VPN is one of those VPNs that allow you to be protected with just one click. Clicking the connect button automatically connects you to a U.S. server. Once you are connected, the simple one-button interface is replaced by yet another simple interface (not the cluttered interface you get with some VPNs). A big round “stop” button shows the duration of your connection; and you can click it to disconnect from the service. It also allow you to view your current data usage (download and upload amounts), the country connected to, and your current IP address.

Switching servers is easy; a country drop down menu will reveal the server locations, and you will be automatically connected when you select a country.

A three-line menu button at the top right of the interface allows you to access ‘Account’ and ‘Settings’. Admittedly, Hotspot Shield settings page is short on advanced configurations; you can only do basic stuff like clicking buttons to turn on leak protection, and enabling the kill switch.

Compatible devices:

Hotspot Shield VPN is compatible with Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android devices. They also have browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, which have ad-blocking software.

Hotspot Shield does not currently support Linux; and you can’t use the service on routers either. Given that many VPN services can be used on any device that uses an operating system including gaming consoles and smart TVs, I’d expect any serious VPN to cover at least the five major operating systems (which includes Linux).

Simultaneous connections:

Hotspot Shield VPN allows five simultaneous connections on one license. This will cover you if you have multiple devices without having to spend on another license. It should also be said that 5 connections is the industry average.

Torrenting:

Hotspot Shield VPN warns on their website that torrenting attract a great deal of negative attention, therefore you should consider your security and data protection when engaging in torrenting activities. They preach for the benefits of torrenting with a VPN service, and finally they recommend their service for an anonymous and secure torrenting experience. With this, it is safe to say Hotspot Shield fully supports torrenting.

Streaming:

Hotspot Shield can be used to effectively unblock a lot of streaming channels including Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Hulu.

However, with Netflix’s aggressive blocking of VPN services, it was not surprising that Hotspot Shield didn’t score stellar performances with Netflixing. A lot of the VPN service servers (the US and Canada servers) couldn’t access Netflix contents; but, some European servers were able to get through Netflix walls.

Conclusion: With a good server selection, Hotspot Shield VPN would currently allow you stream Netflix

Servers Availability

Hotspot Shield operates over 2500 servers in 25 countries. This robust server network covers North and South America, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Middle East. With over 2500 connection points, you have a lot of options when choosing your virtual location; you are also less likely to struggle with overcrowded servers.

Hotspot Shield server network becomes more impressive when you consider that many of the premium VPN services operate less than one thousand servers. It is particularly impressive that Hotspot Shield VPN operate servers in countries that simply hate VPNs for providing a work-around to beat their censorship of the internet (such as China, Russia, Iran, and Turkey).

However, in terms of coverage, given that VPN services with ±200 servers cover up to 30 countries, I’d expect Hotspot Shield to do much more than 25 countries. Having only Brazil in the whole of South America is not good enough; and I cannot really describe the server network as truly global when no country from the continent of Africa is represented.

Speed

Hotspot Shield VPN is easily the fastest VPN in the market. In testing the VPN speed; a control (upload/ download) is done without a VPN, and the result is compared with the figures (download/ upload) obtained with the VPN connected.

Hotspot Shield VPN is known for their lightening fast speeds, and the results were not disappointing. On the average, Hotspot Shield showed undecipherable decrease in speed (3% for download and 4.3% for uploads). Because using a VPN generally decreases internet speed, it is not often you see test results that are faster than the control. Hotspot Shield PVN tests revealed a lot of connection points with test speeds faster than the control.

Conclusion: Hotspot Shield has excellent speed.

Privacy And Security Features

VPN Protocol and Encryption:

Other VPNs use the well known protocols such as OpenVPN, L2TP/ IPsec and PPTP; even the services that offer a proprietary protocol still support these popular protocols. Well, not Hotspot Shield.

Hotspot Shield does not currently use any of the popular VPN protocols; they use a proprietary protocol, developed by their parent company, called Catapult Hydra. To establish secure client-server connections and encrypt data packets, the Catapult Hydra protocol uses the standard TLS-based security used in the OpenVPN. It uses RSA certificates with 2048 bit key for server authentication, with ECDHE for perfect forward secrecy.

Though many VPN providers go for 256-bit encryption and 4096 RSA keys, the 128-bit with 2,048 bit keys is still considered very secure. Hotspot Shield VPN encryption levels is strong enough to ensure that your traffic is secured.

Hotspot Shield says that you can trust the Catapult Hydra security code because it has been evaluated by third party security experts from more than 60% of the world’s largest security companies; and because it passed the evaluation, some companies have adopted it to provide VPN services to their users.

Some have asked why Hotspot Shield does not offer the other protocols. I think their answer is “why offer those, when there is something better?”

Hotspot Shield claims that one of the performance advantages of the Catapult Hydra is that it significantly improves connection speeds over long-distance connections (more than twice faster than for OpenVPN tunnel between the same client and server).

I like to see companies that have proprietary technology, because it tells me that the company is making investments to create value for customers; but I also like to see a range of protocols on offer, because different protocols have different specifications and offers different benefits to users in different circumstances.

Kill Switch:

VPN services provide online security and privacy, but the service can only do that when it is up and running. What of those times when the VPN is down? When you are online and the VPN service disconnects without warning (which is inevitable), your online activity and IP address is exposed, and the very privacy and security you needed the VPN for is compromised. The kill switch is the feature that saves the day when the VPN disconnects; it senses when the VPN is about to disconnect and cut off internet connection, ensuring that you are not online without the VPN service and accidentally exposing your IP address and traffic.

Hotspot Shield VPN says on their website: “If your VPN doesn’t have a kill switch, then it’s almost as bad as not using a VPN at all”; and they cannot be more correct. Hotspot Shield VPN has the kill switch feature; it requires zero maintenance, and eliminates the potential security breaches in the VPN service when the VPN connection is interrupted.

Security Leaks Protection:

Hotspot Shield VPN comes handy with protection for DNS leaks, IPv6 leaks and WebRTC leaks. The leak protection (IPv6 and WebRTC) is enabled by default but can be accessed in the settings page.

 A test for security leaks was very satisfying, as all leaks were plugged. No DNS leaks, no IP leaks, no WebRTC leaks.

Know that some users have reported that the Hotspot Shield Chrome extension at some time leaked DNS; however, it should be remembered that browser extensions are proxy services and do not have the functionality of a full VPN.

Logging:

Hotspot Shield VPN says that they do not collect any personally identifiable information. That is fine to the ears (to the eyes, since you are definitely reading this). However, since it is not a secret that VPN no logging claims are sometimes nothing but lip-service, I decided to examine their privacy policy. Most often than, the fine prints of a VPN service’s privacy policy set out the actual information that they collect and how they use the information.

For starters; when you signup to create an account with the service, when you contact the VPN’s support for assistance, and when you purchase a subscription to the premium plans; you will submit personal information (email address, e-mail attachments, and payment information) that will be stored somewhere (by Hotspot Shield or the third party payment processors).

Not ideal, but this doesn’t particularly stain Hotspot Shield; it’s standard practice.

From here, the privacy policy becomes worrying.

Hotspot Shield states that when you launch the app, before you connect to the VPN; they and their service providers collect device-specific information which includes the unique mobile ID, network information, and approximate location.

But they said they do not collect any personally identifiable information; do they really believe that this information (unique mobile ID, network information, and approximate location) is not personally identifying?

They also state that your approximate location is derived using your IP address that they collect (but do not stored) when you launch the app.

Why do I feel that my IP address will be secured from everyone except Hotspot Shield and AnchorFree?

Also, Hotspot Shield confesses that when you launch the app but before you connect to the VPN, their service providers may collect IP addresses for marketing attribution purposes.

Wow! That’s the very IP address that I wanted to make disappear.

Hotspot Shield senses that their privacy policy up till this point is not reassuring; so they move to give you some assurance – that the information collected is never associated with your online activity.

Thank you Hotspot Shield VPN for the effort at assuring me, but I’m still not convinced.

When you connect to the VPN service, Hotspot Shield collect your IP address, immediately encrypt it, store it for the duration of your VPN session, and delete it when you disconnect from the VPN.

Not bad. Though, I’ll rather have that they do not store the IP address in the first place.

For the users of the free version, the privacy policy will give more scare.

It’s not clearly stated whether advertisers will get your IP address, but there is no doubt they (the advertisers) will get your approximate location.

Now, that seems to settle it. There is a big fat chance that advertisers will get your IP address.

Jurisdiction:

First I’ll mention here that Hotspot Shield is not one of those VPN providers that will have you digging hard before you can get any information about the company. “About us” on their website will take you to a page that gives you all you need to know about the company (its owners, board members, and even investors).

That said, Hotspot Shield VPN (which is owned by AnchorFree) is headquartered in the U.S. We know users get edgy about VPNs in the U.S for a lot of reasons; chief among them is that, the U.S has anti-privacy laws that could force organizations to retain user data. The government can issue warrants that force the VPNs to reveal users’ data, and be quiet about it at the same time. Also, the U.S is a member of the Five-Eyes intelligence alliance (including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.K) that work together to spy, collect and share intelligence.

As if the U.S location is not enough cause for concern, the Mother Company of Hotspot Shield VPN (AnchorFree) has caused a few worries. AnchorFree is in bed with a lot of ad companies, and some operations of the partnership (having to do with Anchor allowing ad partners access to certain information) have been questioned on ethical grounds. Also, in the recent past, AnchorFree has even been investigated by the Federal Trade Commission (RTC).

Packages And Pricing

Hotspot shield VPN has two service offerings – the paid plan called Hotspot Shield Elite, and the free version. The free version will be treated later; it is enough to say here that like every free VPN service it is very limited. The premium version exists as only one plan with four different billing options. This means that no matter how long you subscribe to the Hotspot Shield VPN service, you are guaranteed to get access to all features offered by the Hotspot shield VPN service.

Pricing:

The Elite plan can be subscribed to for one month, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years.

The single month subscription costs €15.99; the 6 months subscription costs €65.94 which equals a monthly fee of €10.99 to give a 31% cost saving; the one year subscription cost €83.88 which equals a monthly fee of €6.99 to give a 53% cost saving; while the 3 years subscription cost €143.64 which equals a monthly fee of €3.99 to give a 75% cost savings.

As common in the VPN market, you will be better served financially if you go for the longer deals because these are generously discounted. I also like that Hotspot Shield offer a middle-term deal between the one month deal and the one year deal; this will serve the needs of users who need a VPN service for more than a month but do not want the commitment of a whole year.

Hotspot Shield VPN best deal is the 3 years commitment and at €3.99 is over $4.50. In comparison, many of the highly rated VPNs have best value deals priced below $3.00, and some of them entail only two years commitment. Hotspot Shield’s monthly deal which is priced at €15.99 is over $18.5 which makes it one of the most expensive VPN service. Other premium services offer monthly deals of about $10.00.

Payment:

Hotspot Shield VPN allows payment with the regular payment methods such as credit cards, debit cards, PayPal and even wire transfers. However, these supported methods entail the submission of a load of personal information that is stored by the payment processors. Privacy conscious VPN users know that using the supported methods destroys their anonymity; and is effectively painting a bull-eye on their foreheads.

Other VPN services are beginning to support anonymous payment methods such as bitcoin and other crypto currencies; unfortunately Hotspot Shield does not give their users this privacy option.

Auto-Renewals:

Hotspot shield, like most premium VPN services, automatically renew your subscription when it expires at the end of the billing period.

While some people (I included) do not like the auto-renewal strategy, its appeal to convenience and uninterrupted access will win over some users.

However, I like that Hotspot Shield is upfront about their auto-renewal; they put it boldly just under the button you click to make payment. This is a refreshing shift from most services that make their auto-renewal policy almost invisible; only to trap unsuspecting individuals into a new subscription.

Refund:

“Love it, or leave it and get your money back”. That is how Hotspot Shield advertises their refund policy. They offer a 45 days money back guarantee that allows you to get a refund of your payment if the service is not to your satisfaction.

It must be said that this is a very generous offer, because many of the competing VPNs only give a 30 days money back guarantee.

Free Version/ Trial:

Hotspot Shield allows a 7-days free trial for you to test and get a feel of the features of the Elite plan.

To start the free trial; you have to choose a payment method, and submit the necessary information to process a payment. Those are pointers to only one direction – Hotspot Shield will automatically move you to the paid version after the end of the 7 days free trial.

Except you cancel your subscription during the seven day period, Hotspot Shield will move you to the monthly package of their paid version and you will be charged. Although, they are not the only VPN service to be doing this, I don’t like… (Strike), I hate the practice. A user, and only the user, should make the decision of whether to upgrade (and when to upgrade) from a free plan to a paid plan; and that decision should be based on satisfaction levels. Forcing a subscription on users after a free trial means you’re presupposing that users were satisfied with the service; and that to me is a little presumptuous.

The free version is very limited: it has a bandwidth cap of 500MB per day, it allows you to connect to only U.S. servers, and comes with a ton of ads.

Customer

Customer support comes as usual – a knowledge base that host installation guides and FAQs, and ticketing system and live chat for direct contact.

The guides gives detailed step-wise instructions for setting up the VPN app on the supported devices; while the FAQs addresses a lot of questions about the VPN users have asked in the past. The topics touched are exhaustive, ranging from basic questions about a VPN use to more technical troubleshooting issues.

The ticketing support service allows you to reach out to Hotspot Shield for assistance if necessary. Responses from this ticketing service took just over 24 hours to arrive; this is not ideal, but also relatively not bad. It will seem that the experience is a bright spot in a dark stage, because there are many users’ reviews heavy with complaints about poor support timeliness (some over a week).

However, Hotspot Shield also offer live chat support feature which will allow you get instant feedback