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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: Holiday.com, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: Holiday.com, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Hotspot Shield vs Astrill VPN: Which VPN Should You Pick in 2025?

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 5.3/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Is Hotspot Shield or Astrill VPN better for price, speed, streaming, gaming, and privacy?

    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic Former Managing Editor
    First published on December 18, 2018

    US-based Hotspot Shield and Seychelles-based Astrill VPN are well established providers with very different offerings. While Hotspot Shield offers over 2,500 servers in just over 25 countries, Astrill has around 332 servers in 62 countries. A key difference is that Astrill VPN supports torrenting on its servers, whereas Hotspot Shield forbids all P2P activities. Differences between these two providers can also be found in the areas of encryption and network performance. Astrill uses 256-bit encryption across all platforms, while Hotspot Shield offers you a choice between 128-bit and 256-bit encryption levels. Hotspot Shield also offers advanced features like malware protection and a unique technology that enables it to deliver faster server connections. Both Astrill and Hotspot Shield offer dedicated apps for MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. They also offer unlimited bandwidth on all their paid plans and allow you to bypass restrictions on Netflix and similar streaming platforms. Both VPNs are very easy to set up and use and provide 24/7 customer support. A more detailed analysis is provided below across several categories. NOTE: This comparison is for the paid Hotspot Shield plan, Hotspot Shield Elite.

    Our Score

    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 8.8/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 9.4/10
    Features 5.3/10
    Pricing 3.6/10
    Ease of Use 5.0/10
    Reliability & Support 7.4/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Lawrence Wachira
    Lawrence Wachira Editor
    Our Score: 9.1/10

    Hotspot Shield is a VPN that’s undergone many changes recently. After dealing with several controversies, it overhauled its logging policy and is under new management. So, has it gotten better? My global team and I tested everything it offers to see if Hotspot Shield (HSS) is safe. We fully explored its logging policy and found out if its security features can prevent data leaks. We also tes...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    H
    Howard Rosenbrook
    10.0/10
    Had for 3 years no problem

    Kept cable providers off my ass just dont like that you cant pay a week or so early and dont like the ... auto renewal i should beable to pay my bill on my own when i want as long as im not late it shouldnt be a problem with your companyMore

    Latest negative user review
    A
    Alt
    2.0/10
    Blocked by Real-Debrid on just about every us city and nearly all countries

    Easy to connect speed pretty good multiple platforms not great from streaming.. which is where you nee... d the speed. Nord vpn and Express are both cooperative providers with real-debrid meaning no connection problems. Even if you do find a server that connects frequently this is blocked during streaming.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos Senior Editor
    Our Score: 5.3/10

    Astrill VPN is one of the most popular VPNs to use in China. But it's also one of the most expensive VPNs available and doesn't have a money-back guarantee. With such a big investment, is it still the best VPN for China, and should you try it if you're located elsewhere? After my tests, I can confirm it's an excellent VPN for China but falls short in other areas. It offers slow speeds and clunky a...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    N
    Nestor
    10.0/10
    Been using it for a long time.. but have to go

    I have been using Astrill for more than 10 years. Never had a problem. A couple of times I used the ch... at for support and it was excellent. However this is probably going to be my last year. Reason .... price. With the virus crisis I am unemployed and can not afford it. They do not give any kind of discount and keep raising the price year after year. I am not in China so I suspend it, I do not need all those features.More

    Latest negative user review
    J
    Jim
    2.0/10
    Don’t even think of it if you own Apple products

    Worst VPN ever. Unreliable, unstable. It’s utterly expensive. Forget about streaming. Apple products a... re almost useless with it. Technical support team answers are pretty much like “Why don’t you turn it off and on?”. Please don’t waste your money as I did. They don’t even have a refund policy!More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $7.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    Starting price $12.5/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 0 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    We recommend Hotspot Shield overall, based on its large network of servers, budget-friendly subscription plans, responsive 24/7 live chat support, and host of security features. Meanwhile, Astrill VPN has servers in more countries and offers a pretty reliable service, with very intuitive apps for all major platforms including Linux.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Astrill wins this category easily, as it supports torrenting on its servers and offers leak protection to keep you anonymous. Hotspot Shield does not allow torrenting across its network, expressly forbidding the activity.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Hotspot Shield offers a user-friendly app for Windows that actively protects your PC from malware and third-party tracking. Meanwhile, Astrill VPN offers a dedicated Windows app that supports the OpenWeb and StealthVPN protocols, which enable the VPN to bypass tough geoblocks worldwide.

    Best VPN for Android

    With Hotspot Shield’s dedicated Android app, you benefit from built-in malware protection and leak prevention features. The app also offers access to the provider’s entire network of over 2,500 servers. Astrill, on the other hand, provides an Android app that features unlimited bandwidth for streaming and access to dedicated IP addresses.

    Best VPN for Mac

    By offering a MacOS app that includes a dedicated streaming feature, wi-fi protection, and the provider’s proprietary Catapult Hydra technology that speeds up servers, Hotspot Shield scoops up the prize for this category. Astrill competes with a MacOS app that features an innovative selective kill switch, which allows you choose which apps to disconnect from the internet whenever your VPN connection drops.

    Best VPN for iOS

    Hotspot Shield provides a reliable VPN service for iOS, with a native app that features malware protection and a dedicated streaming feature. Astrill also has an iOS app that features military-grade 256-bit encryption and a kill switch. It’s worth mentioning, however, that if you subscribe to the service from the iOS app, the VPN will only work on that platform. Therefore, if you need to use your VPN on multiple platforms, you’d be better served by purchasing your subscription from your browser.

    Best VPN for USA

    Hotspot Shield reliably bypasses tough US geoblocks and offers a dedicated streaming feature for unblocking Netflix and other streaming services. Interestingly, you can also rely on Astrill for unblocking US content providers like Netflix that are usually tough to access. However, it falls short with regard to speed.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    By offering lower subscription prices, faster servers, and more security features, Hotspot Shield wins this comparison. Hotspot Shield’s larger network of thousands of servers means that you’re less likely to experience congestion-related sluggishness than with Astrill. The availability of a free limited version and a 45-day money-back guarantee also help to put Hotspot Shield over the top as the better VPN provider. Astrill does offer a very solid VPN service, however, and its location in the Seychelles is very favorable for privacy-focused users.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with Hotspot Shield
    Go with Astrill VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is Hotspot Shield better than Astrill VPN?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is better overall than Astrill VPN. It has 1800 servers in 80 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $7.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between Hotspot Shield and Astrill VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then Hotspot Shield may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is Hotspot Shield faster than Astrill VPN?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is faster than Astrill VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30*-day money-back guarantee*, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do Hotspot Shield or Astrill VPN offer any deals?

    Both Hotspot Shield and Astrill VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 61% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    [*] Please note that ExpressVPN's generous money-back guarantee applies to first-time customers only.
    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: Holiday.com, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Kristina Perunicic is a former editor for vpnMentor. She’s a cybersecurity expert with an interest in VPNs and their importance in the digital privacy landscape.