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NordVPN vs IPVanish VPN vs Hotspot Shield 2023

Table of Contents
    Rated: 9.4/10
    %s User Reviews
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    Rated: 9.2/10
    %s User Reviews
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    Rated: 9.1/10
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    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    All three VPNs provide excellent online protection. Furthermore, they’re easy to use, compatible with all major platforms, and offer helpful 24/7 live chat support. However, each has its unique strengths.

    NordVPN has 5,507 servers worldwide, a solid reputation, and more advanced security features. IPVanish provides unlimited simultaneous device connections, and Hotspot Shield provides an extended 45-day money-back guarantee. Review our comparison below to find out which one comes out on top.

    Rating

    Features 9.4/10
    Pricing 9.6/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 9.2/10
    Pricing 9.2/10
    Ease of Use 9.4/10
    Reliability & Support 9.4/10
    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 9.0/10
    Ease of Use 9.0/10
    Reliability & Support 8.6/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Managing Editor

    10.0/10

    On the surface, NordVPN looks like a really impressive service. It claims to have a huge global server network, the ability to unblock tons of streaming platforms, and iron-clad security and privacy features. Plus, you can get it all for just $3.49/month. That all sounds great, but is there a catch? To find out, I did an in-depth analysis of NordVPN. I tested its speeds and how well it performs...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    J
    John Hoy
    10.0/10
    Best documentation was easy to understand

    I came from Surfshark which never worked correctly. I had to run from the browser extension with supp... ort telling me it was my network that was causing the problem. That was rubbish. I set Nord up and had it running in a short time from the documentation. I only had to ask support about accessing more servers than just the one I saw. Great product.More

    Latest negative user review
    D
    Dax
    6.0/10
    Average service, some nice features, rubbish support

    Basic features work really well. Basically. I liked the feature that when Nord crashes (as it seems to...  do monthly) it will shut other apps so they aren't exposed. My subscription is based in Australia. Found downloads peak at about 1-1.5Mb/s, which is ok as long as you aren't playing online games. Don't go for the frills (though hard not to when they gamify them). I canceled my subscription because I added the Kill switch and then MFA. Nek Minnit I can't even log in. No way to remove the Kill switch without logging in. Uninstalled, reinstalled no joy. Went to the help page, and it redirected me to up my subscription as the only solution. No chatbot where I am. and I don't have an email app so couldn't email help. After a couple of hours of mucking around. Gave up and went to a competitor. Note: if I hadn't played with the security settings, I would still be with Nord. But if I can't log in, it's a dead service to me.More

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    Review by our expert
    Author Image Ren Sayer
    Ren Sayer

    Senior Writer

    9.4/10

    IPVanish offers high-speed connections and an impressive list of advanced security features at a budget-friendly price. So, I was eager to test it out for myself. I carefully studied its privacy policy and thoroughly tested its speed, security features, and ability to access popular streaming services (like Netflix). I also looked into its network coverage and ease of use and put its customer ...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    S
    Stu Taylor
    10.0/10
    Very, very satisfied

    I am into my third year of using IPVanish. I am extremely happy with the speed, reliability, features ... and reliability. The fact that I have used it for this long without trying the competition speaks volumes. I am never going to try anything else because I am completely happy with what I have. Why risk it?More

    Latest negative user review
    B
    Beth Gray
    2.0/10
    Misleading, false advertising, don't honor guarantee. BEWARE

    IP address and region not effectively blocked on most sites. Streaming sites do NOT work with their se... rvices, but they do not disclose that anywhere on their website. The support team had no idea in terms of technical knowledge. They claim that their 30-day guarantee is unconditional and there is no risk, but they have so many exclusions buried in their fine print that the average user would have huge difficulty finding. They advertise on many streaming how-to websites where they KNOW their services do not work. COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY. If I could give less than one star I would. SO unethical.More

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    Review by our expert
    Author Image Kennedy Otieno
    Kennedy Otieno

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    8.0/10

    Hotspot Shield claims its proprietary Hydra protocol makes it faster than most VPNs — but is that true? I tested HSS on my fast internet connection (it allows up to 1Gbps speeds) to discover how it does with streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Mostly, I had a seamless internet experience — watching shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video without buffering. Its 1,800 servers in 80 countries ...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    G
    George
    8.0/10
    Great Interface, easy to use and smooth/zippy.

    It just feels well put together. Turns on automatically, which is no bad thing (if you don't like that... , turn the damn thing off with a click). The speed is consistently above average, and on a couple of inadvertent occasions, the Kill Switch operated as it should. I especially like the GUI, which is really simple, solid, yet has a refined/slick feel - far superior to a few I've tried but won't name here. I see no issues with it, although the security issues pointed out in the article are a bit alarming. I'm using the 'Business' version. Nice VPN, IMO.More

    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
    More Info

    Pricing

    Starting price $3.49/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 6 devices
    See Plans
    Starting price $3.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    See Plans
    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    See Plans

    Best VPN by category

    Best VPN Overall

    NordVPN takes the lead with its massive network of servers in 60 countries, incredible speeds, and advanced security features. It even has a built-in adblocker (CyberSec).

    Best VPN for Torrents

    All three VPNs support torrenting. However, NordVPN is the best option, as it has the most privacy-friendly jurisdiction (outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances). NordVPN is also the fastest one I tested, which is ideal for uninterrupted downloading.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Even though the three VPNs have similar-looking Windows apps and they offer different features, NordVPN is the winner for this category. This is because it additionally offers a quick connect feature and various specialty servers, which is quite rare for a VPN.

    Best VPN for Android

    NordVPN is my top choice because of its full suite of reliable features for Android devices (like Double VPN). It also offers different types of specialty servers that the other 2 VPNs don't, including, obfuscated, onion over VPN, and P2P servers.

    Best VPN for Mac

    NordVPN, IPVanish, and Hotspot Shield all have user-friendly apps for Mac. However, NordVPN wins thanks to its high-security levels that won't compromise your speed, plus specialty servers for various online activities, like torrenting.

    Best VPN for iOS

    All 3 VPNs have iOS apps that support the fast IKEv2 protocol. However, NordVPN's NordLynx beats all other options for its super-fast speeds and secure connections.

    Best VPN for USA

    NordVPN takes the lead with the most significant number of US servers in over 17 locations. It also beats its competitors in unblocking US streaming services, including Sling TV, Disney+, and Hulu.

    The Bottom Line

    When it comes to finding a great VPN, there are none that can really beat NordVPN. The service is amazing with servers everywhere. Even when it isn’t at its fastest, there isn’t a huge amount of delay. If you find yourself with a slow connection, then you can message their customer support and they’ll be able to help. Compared to Hotspot Shield, which does an excellent job of protecting data as well, their customer service makes NordVPN even better. While NordVPN may be more difficult to use, the protection and support make this service the best you can possibly get.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is NordVPN better than IPVanish VPN and Hotspot Shield?

    Yes, NordVPN is better overall than IPVanish VPN and Hotspot Shield. It has 5462 servers in 60 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $3.49 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between NordVPN, IPVanish VPN and Hotspot Shield?

    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 NordVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests.

    Is NordVPN faster than IPVanish VPN and Hotspot Shield?

    Yes, NordVPN is faster than IPVanish VPN and Hotspot Shield. 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 NordVPN, IPVanish VPN or Hotspot Shield offer any deals?

    NordVPN, IPVanish VPN, and Hotspot Shield 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 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.