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.
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.
Interestingly, if you compare Hotspot Shield with NordVPN, which is our top ranked vpn, you'll see that Hotspot Shield can learn a lot from NordVPN. Compare Hotspot Shield with NordVPN
Katie Kasunic
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