|
| Features |
|
| Pricing |
|
| Ease of Use |
|
| Reliability & Support |
|
|
| Features |
|
| Pricing |
|
| Ease of Use |
|
| Reliability & Support |
|
| Rating |
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Features |
|
|
|
| Pricing |
|
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
|
| Reliability & Support |
|
|
|
Astrill VPN is undeniably powerful and packed with useful features. Its network of 300+ servers in 64+ countries offers superfast connection speeds and access to geo-restricted content around the world.
Read allHotspot Shield is a popular VPN service with over 650 million users and multiple servers in 55+ countries. In fact, the website claims it is the #1 grossing app for Productivity in the US App Store. (When we checked the App Store source, it actually indicated #8, which is still an impressive ranking.
Read allAstrill VPN is undeniably powerful and packed with useful features. Its network of 300+ servers in 64+ countries offers superfast connection speeds and access to geo-restricted content around the world.
Read allHotspot Shield is a popular VPN service with over 650 million users and multiple servers in 55+ countries. In fact, the website claims it is the #1 grossing app for Productivity in the US App Store. (When we checked the App Store source, it actually indicated #8, which is still an impressive ranking.
Read all|
|
| Starting price |
| $8.33/ month |
| Money Back Guarantee (Days) |
| 7 |
| Number of devices per license |
| 5 |
| See Plans |
|
|
| Starting price |
| $2.99/ month |
| Money Back Guarantee (Days) |
| 30 |
| Number of devices per license |
| 5 |
| See Plans |
|
|
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $8.33/ month | $2.99/ month | 121332/ |
| Money Back Guarantee (Days) | 7 | 30 | 0 |
| Number of devices per license | 5 | 5 | Unlimited |
| See Plans & Pricing | See Plans | See Plans |
| Best VPNs 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. |
|---|---|---|
|
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 VPNs 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. |
|
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 VPNs 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. |
|
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 VPNs 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. |
|
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 VPNs 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. |
|
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 VPNs 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. |
|
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 VPNs 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. |
|
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.
|
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
Ex-Google, International tech speaker
Which VPN is better?
Ratings
Features |
4.3
|
4.0
|
0.0
|
|
Pricing |
3.0
|
4.5
|
0.0
|
|
Ease of Use |
4.4
|
4.5
|
0.0
|
|
Reliability & Support |
4.2
|
4.3
|
0.0
|
Reviews
Review by our expert
Technology Researcher
Technology Researcher
Latest positive user review
Best VPN I have used.
I'm a genuine customer about to renew for the 7th year - I have no issues with it. I get 3/4 of my 1Gbps speed and it stays connected for weeks at a time using a MAC. You get what you pay for and I am happy with that. I contacted support earlier today and got a reply by e-mail within minutes. I like the fact they scramble your data and I can remove any connection logs on demand. I also like they way they have an office in a tiny little place in the Indian Ocean - makes it extra easy to not keep logs. I'll be renewing on Black Friday but for now I am taking a year at full cost. For reference I am in the UK and I don't need a VPN but I use this on my mobile and laptop and it gives me security when using Hotel and public WiFi.
Used it for a Month - Perfect
I've been using hotspot shield for about a month now. Very easy to connect and speed is amazing, Doesn't slow down any of my streaming, I used different vpns in the past and they all slowed down my internet speed.
Latest negative user review
Terrible company
This company sold me a VPN router that never functioned properly, I was with technicians on remote for two days after trying to install. Then the router stopped working completely. Now they are refusing to replace the router. I am baffled, this was a good company but I will make sure no one uses this company from here on. I was a customer for over five years and will never use this company again.
This program sucks. App store wouldn't let it open.
Absolute failure to launch. I spent time downloading, offering my credit card info for this 'free' app, and it wouldn't even open despite repeated clicks. I am looking for a free VPN that actually functions. This one didn't.
Pricing
Starting price
$8.33 / month
$2.99 / month
121332 /
Money Back Guarantee (Days)
7
30
0
Number of devices per license
5
5
0
Best VPNs by category
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Ariel Hochstadt
Ex-Google, International tech speaker
Time to decide which one is best for you
This page isn't yet translated into . If you wish to volunteer and translate it, please contact us using the contact us page.
Katie Kasunic
Pete
