ExpressVPN vs Hotspot Shield 2024

Akash Deep

Cybersecurity Researcher

ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield are two popular VPN services on the market. Both providers promise online privacy, fast speeds, and secure HD access to streaming platforms from anywhere. But which one truly delivers the best overall experience? I put these VPN giants head-to-head to find out.

I rigorously tested every key aspect — from speeds and torrenting capabilities to server networks, security features, privacy jurisdictions, and user interfaces. I also looked at their logging policies and track records when it comes to protecting user data.

While both VPNs have their strengths, ExpressVPN is a superior choice overall. It has faster speeds, a proven no-logs policy, and is more reliable for streaming. That said, Hotspot Shield isn’t without advantages — it offers slightly affordable plans and user-friendly apps. However, it logs a relatively large amount of data, which is a drawback from a privacy standpoint.

Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Streaming — ExpressVPN Is More Reliable

When it comes to streaming performance, both ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield put up a good fight. During our evaluation, my team of international testers and I could access all the major platforms, like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Max, and BBC iPlayer, with both VPNs.

All the UK servers that I tested worked well with BBC iPlayer

However, ExpressVPN pulled ahead by providing more reliable HD access to a wider range of streaming platforms and libraries. For instance, Hotspot Shield didn’t work with certain Netflix libraries like South Korea, South Africa, and Argentina. But ExpressVPN could stream these same libraries with ease.

The difference became even more apparent when testing smaller platforms. For example, Sky TV works seamlessly through ExpressVPN, but Hotspot Shield fails to work with this service. My German colleague saw similar results trying to stream RTL+.

ExpressVPN also offers MediaStreamer, a Smart DNS service that lets you access HD content from anywhere on devices that don’t natively support VPNs. Hotspot Shield lacks a comparable Smart DNS feature.

Winner

Both VPNs prove perfectly capable for most streaming needs. But ExpressVPN's superior ability to safely access a wider range of global streaming platforms and its Smart DNS feature made it the clear winner in this category.

Server Network — ExpressVPN Offers a Larger Server Network

A large and widespread server network is essential for a seamless online experience.

ExpressVPN comes out on top in this department with over 3,000 servers spanning 105 countries. Hotspot Shield's 1,800 servers across 80+ countries is still a sizeable network, it has dropped from over 3,200 servers previously. The company claims this reduction is due to using more powerful servers and improved protocols like Hydra.

You won't have to worry about overcrowding or lack of nearby options with either VPN. However, ExpressVPN offers quick connection times. In my tests, it let me hop onto servers in under 2 seconds consistently, while Hotspot Shield occasionally made me wait up to 10 seconds.

Another plus with ExpressVPN is its significantly higher number of city-level server locations. This gives you more control over your connection point. Hotspot Shield only provides city-specific options in select regions like the US, UK, and Canada.

It even offers specialized servers for streaming and gaming

Both providers offer a mix of physical servers as well as virtual ones. Virtual servers are physically housed in another location, yet they can provide IP addresses tied to the desired country or region. This allows VPN providers to offer server options in restricted areas while still protecting your privacy and security.

Winner

Hotspot Shield has built a robust network, but ExpressVPN's significantly larger global infrastructure gives it an edge. More widespread server coverage translates to more local options anywhere for optimal performance.

Speed — ExpressVPN Is Much Faster Than Hotspot Shield

When it comes to VPN speeds, ExpressVPN takes the lead over Hotspot Shield based on my testing. I connected to servers globally using each provider's fastest protocol — Lightway for ExpressVPN and Hydra for Hotspot Shield — from a 236Mbps baseline connection in London.

During my tests on nearby UK servers, ExpressVPN maintained an impressive 230Mbps, just a 2% drop from my non-VPN speeds. While Hotspot Shield's 205Mbps was still quite fast for most use cases, it represented a more noticeable 13% slowdown that can't compete with ExpressVPN's minimal speed loss.

My speed drop never exceeded 7% no matter which UK server I tried

The performance gap widened considerably when testing long-distance connections. Even ExpressVPN's New York server over 5,000 miles away delivered 217Mbps — only an 8% decrease. In contrast, Hotspot Shield's speeds plunged to 172Mbps on that same server location, which is a relatively higher 27% drop.

Finally, I connected to the Tokyo servers on both VPNs. ExpressVPN lost 33%, but I could still stream in HD without lag. However, Hotspot Shield's 104Mbps represented a significant 56% drop that could potentially lead to performance issues like buffering, especially if you have slow baseline speeds.

Winner

Both VPNs offer fast speeds that are ideal for bandwidth-intensive tasks. However, ExpressVPN comfortably beats Hotspot in head-to-head tests. Its Lightway protocol simply proved more efficient than Hotspot Shield's Hydra technology at preserving speed, especially over long distances.

Gaming — ExpressVPN Is a Better Choice for Gaming

For a seamless online gaming experience, a fast connection with low latency (ping) is essential. In my tests, ExpressVPN outperformed Hotspot Shield in delivering lower pings.

From the UK with an 8ms starting ping, I connected to a nearby ExpressVPN server and recorded a ping rate of only 10ms. I could play graphics-intense games like PUBG on my iPhone without any lag.

There was no input lag during my gaming sessions

Hotspot Shield also did well locally, with a 17ms ping on the nearby UK server, which is more than enough for lag-free gaming.

On French servers, ExpressVPN gave me a 14ms ping, while Hotspot Shield's ping was 31ms. Both delivered excellent numbers, but there was a clear gap.

The difference became more apparent when I tested US locations. For instance, I connected both VPNs to their New York servers. ExpressVPN maintained a usable 81ms ping — I could play Apex Legends with some lag. However, the ping rose to 134ms with Hotspot Shield, which made it almost impossible to play.

Winner

ExpressVPN is the winner in this category because it delivers consistently lower ping times than Hotspot Shield on both nearby and distant servers. Hotspot Shield is a good choice when gaming on nearby servers, but its ping can rise significantly on distant servers.

Torrenting — ExpressVPN Is Faster and More Private

Both ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield allow P2P file-sharing traffic, making them suitable for torrenting. You'll get essential security features like military-grade encryption and leak protection with either VPN to safeguard your downloading activities.

But when it comes to download speeds, ExpressVPN has a clear edge over Hotspot Shield. While the differences weren't night and day, ExpressVPN's faster servers translated to quicker download times.

For instance, I could download a 5GB copyright-free Linux disk image in under 3 minutes with ExpressVPN. Hotspot Shield, despite being fast in its own right, added around 50 seconds to that download time.

Beyond just speeds, privacy is also important when torrenting. This is another area where ExpressVPN outshines Hotspot Shield, which I'll expand on in the Privacy section later. But in brief, ExpressVPN's proven no-logs policy provides a greater peace of mind.

Note that torrenting is legal almost everywhere, but downloading copyrighted materials isn't. The team and I don't condone using a VPN for any illicit activity, and we advise you to always check if the content you want to download is in the public domain or copyright-free.

Winner

Both VPNs are excellent for torrenting, but ExpressVPN's combination of faster servers and more robust privacy features makes it a better option.

Security — Both VPNs Are Secure, but ExpressVPN Has Extra Features

Both ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield come equipped with robust security features to keep you safe. They use military-grade 256-bit AES encryption to protect your internet traffic and prevent eavesdropping or interception of your data.

You also get IP/DNS leak protection with both options. I ran leak tests and never detected any IP or DNS leaks with either VPN. Any website or app that you visit won’t be able to see your true location or IP address.

Both VPNs offer proprietary protocols: ExpressVPN has Lightway, which is designed for fast speeds, low data usage, and reduced battery consumption, making it ideal for mobile devices. Hotspot Shield offers Hydra, which aims to provide stable and reliable connections even over long distances. In addition to their proprietary options, ExpressVPN includes OpenVPN while Hotspot Shield offers WireGuard and IKEv2.

The split tunneling feature is another handy feature available with both VPNs. It allows you to selectively route certain app traffic outside the VPN for improved speeds when accessing local resources that don't require encryption.

Where ExpressVPN takes the lead is its integrated Threat Manager — a combined tracker blocker and anti-malware component that Hotspot Shield lacks. With Threat Manager enabled, ExpressVPN actively protects you from malicious websites, intrusive trackers, and potential malware threats for a safer, cleaner browsing experience beyond just VPN security. Plus, it also offers a built-in ad-blocker.

I found its ad-blocker to be pretty reliable

Winner

Both ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield offer robust security features, including military-grade encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch. However, ExpressVPN stands out with its proprietary Lightway protocol, which is more suitable for mobile devices. Plus, it offers a built-in malware blocker for added protection.

Privacy — ExpressVPN Is a Much Safer Option

In terms of online privacy, ExpressVPN outshines Hotspot Shield by collecting minimal user data and maintaining a verified no-logs policy. ExpressVPN goes to great lengths to protect user identity.

You can sign up for the service privately by paying with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Plus, ExpressVPN's servers are all RAM-only, meaning any potential data gets wiped with every restart. The provider is also based in the British Virgin Islands, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction outside the 14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance.

The only user data it retains is the date of your last connection attempt and the total bandwidth used — which is anonymized so it can't be tied back to you. This minimal connection logging is solely for diagnostic purposes. ExpressVPN's strict no-logs claims have been independently audited and verified on multiple occasions by third parties.

The provider's privacy commitment was further validated in a real-world incident in 2017 when Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server during an investigation. Despite the seizure, no user data or activity logs were found because it simply doesn't record any.

In contrast, Hotspot Shield's logging practices are more concerning from a privacy standpoint. While not as egregious as some providers, the VPN does keep potentially sensitive logs like your real incoming IP address. Hotspot Shield claims it only stores IP addresses temporarily during an active VPN session, but the fact it retains identifiable data at all raises questions.

Plus, Hotspot Shield logs info like your connection timestamps, bandwidth usage, VPN server location, and general originating location — and it keeps these logs indefinitely rather than deleting them regularly. Your web browsing data is recorded but in an anonymized, aggregated form not tied to your account. Plus, it’s based in the privacy-averse US and doesn’t offer RAM-only servers.

The privacy situation is even worse with Hotspot Shield's free version, which shares users' personally identifiable information with third-party advertisers for revenue purposes.

Winner

If privacy is your goal, ExpressVPN is the safer choice thanks to its verifiable no-logs policy, minimal connection data retention, and real-world proof of protecting user data. Hotspot Shield's more liberal logging poses greater privacy risks.

Works in China — ExpressVPN Is More Reliable

China's Great Firewall is notorious for its strict internet censorship and restrictions on VPN usage. While both ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield claim to work in China, ExpressVPN is known to be a far more reliable choice.

Hotspot Shield touts its proprietary Hydra protocol as a solution that works in China. However, our research revealed that it’s very unreliable in China.

In contrast, ExpressVPN offers advanced obfuscation on all its server connections to reliably disguise VPN traffic. The obfuscation kicks in automatically when the app detects restrictions. If you're a remote worker, traveler, or business professional who frequently visits restrictive countries like China, ExpressVPN will be the better choice.

Note that non-government-approved VPNs are illegal in China. There aren't any public reports of tourists getting fined for using one there, but we advise you to stay informed about local laws to avoid accidentally breaking any rules.

Winner

While Hotspot Shield does work in China on occasion, its inability to consistently tunnel through the Great Firewall could result in periods of lost access. ExpressVPN's advanced obfuscation provides the reliability factor that Hotspot Shield lacks for a seamless internet experience within China's restricted environment.

Installation and Ease of Use — Both VPNs Are User-Friendly

When it comes to getting set up and using a VPN, both ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield deliver a streamlined, user-friendly experience from start to finish.

The installation process is straightforward for either provider. Their apps are available on all major device platforms like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and even Linux. The setup wizards provide simple guidance, and you can have the VPN running on your systems within just a few minutes.

One advantage that ExpressVPN has over Hotspot Shield is its dedicated app for Apple TV. This makes it possible to access geo-restricted content on the big screen without much hassle.

Once installed, both VPNs greet you with intuitive interfaces that make connecting to a server location quick and easy. ExpressVPN has a Smart Location feature that automatically connects you to the optimal server based on your current location.

This makes it easy to find a server in your desired country

Hotspot Shield's Auto server option only connects to a US server by default, so if you’re not from the US, you’ll have to find a speedy nearby server manually. But it does have a built-in speed test tool to aid in this.

Both apps allow you to search for and favorite specific server locations as needed. I found ExpressVPN's minimalist design particularly elegant, though Hotspot Shield's layout is well-designed, too.

Configuring a VPN on a router requires some manual effort, but both providers offer tutorials. ExpressVPN has an edge here with custom router firmware that streamlines the installation process further. Plus, it also offers a dedicated router app that makes server selection super convenient.

Winner - draw

/

There's very little to separate ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield when it comes to user-friendliness. Both providers have prioritized accessibility and ease of use for VPN users of all technical skill levels. You can't go wrong with either option on this front.

Reliability and Support — Both VPNs Offer Reliable Support

Both ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield offer 24/7 live chat, email support, and comprehensive knowledge bases.

My experience with ExpressVPN's support was impressive — I was connected to a live agent in under 30 seconds. The agent was knowledgeable and guided me through setting up the VPN on a new router with a clear, step-by-step guide. Plus, they directed me to a detailed tutorial on their website for further assistance.

Hotspot Shield’s support was also great. I was connected to a live agent in about a minute. When I asked about optimizing the VPN for a streaming service, the agent provided specific server recommendations for seamless streaming. The agent also sent an email with additional resources after our chat.

Overall, both VPNs offer reliable and efficient customer support, with knowledgeable agents ready to assist with various issues.

Winner - draw

/

ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield both provide reliable customer support with responsive live chat and knowledgeable agents. Whether you choose ExpressVPN or Hotspot Shield, you can expect excellent assistance for your specific needs.

Tips on Choosing Between ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield

Deciding between ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield ultimately comes down to your specific needs and preferences. Here are some important factors to consider:

• Privacy — if protecting your online privacy is important to you, look at the VPN’s logging policies, data protection measures, and location of operation. A strict no-logs policy and a jurisdiction outside of invasive surveillance networks are essential for maximum privacy.
• Streaming — choose a VPN that works well with popular streaming sites. This makes it possible to access geo-restricted content from anywhere in the world.
• Server Locations — a VPN with a wide range of server locations offers more flexibility in finding a fast and reliable connection. This can be particularly important if you need access to servers in specific countries or regions.
• Connection Speed — fast and stable connections are crucial for activities like streaming, gaming, and large file downloads. Look for VPNs with consistently high speeds, both locally and internationally.
• User Interface — ease of use is important, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. A simple and intuitive interface with features like a one-click connection and easy server switching can make a big difference in your experience.
• Support — reliable customer support can be a lifesaver if you run into issues. Consider which support channels are available (live chat, email) and how quickly and effectively they respond to queries.
• Cost — evaluate the cost of each VPN and the value it provides. Look at the subscription options and see if long-term plans offer discounts. Balance the features against the price to determine the best value for your budget.

ExpressVPN vs Hotspot Shield — Reddit Opinions

To gauge the opinions of real users, I analyzed Reddit discussions comparing ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield.

ExpressVPN earns high praise from Redditors for its fast speed and reliability. Users commend its ability to seamlessly access streaming services like Netflix and Disney+. Plus, many users say it’s one of the fastest VPNs they’ve used for gaming. Users in Russia also praise it for its reliability — they say it’s one of a select few VPNs that still work. However, some users acknowledge that ExpressVPN's premium pricing may be a deterrent for those on a tight budget.

On the other hand, Hotspot Shield receives significantly more criticism from the Reddit community. The main concerns are regarding the company's logging practices and overall transparency regarding user privacy.