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: 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.
Advertising Disclosure

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: 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.

Private Internet Access vs Hotspot Shield 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.5/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    A fierce competition is taking place between two US-based VPNs: PIA and Hotspot Shield.

    Both VPNs have large networks of servers, with PIA offering 29,650+ servers in over 90 countries and HotSpot Shield having 1,800+ servers in over 80 countries. They also both allow P2P and torrenting. Yet while Hotspot Shield offers a limited free VPN service and a 45-day money-back guarantee, PIA only offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

    These two VPNs also provide user-friendly client apps. However, HotSpot Shield doesn’t have an app for Linux and has an extension for Chrome only. PIA has apps for all platforms (including Linux) and browser extensions for Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. Both VPNs work reliably with top streaming platforms, like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu. On the other hand, although both providers claim to keep no logs, Hotspot Shield has been accused in the past of leaking sensitive user information to third parties for advertising purposes.

    Read on to see these American VPNs battling it out across several important categories.

    Our Score

    Features 9.5/10
    Pricing 9.5/10
    Ease of Use 9.6/10
    Reliability & Support 9.8/10
    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 8.8/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 9.4/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Angela Jovanoska
    Angela Jovanoska

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Our Score: 9.5/10

    Private Internet Access has one of the cheapest VPN subscriptions available — you can sign up for as little as $2.03/month. With such a low price, I wondered whether PIA could really stand out against its higher-priced competitors. It’s been around for 10+ years, so it could be one of the best-value VPNs out there. I decided to find out just how good it is by looking into the company’s lo...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    E
    Ez
    10.0/10
    Best VPN Out on The Market

    I like PIA VPN the best for the following reasons: ● It's a reliable and trustworthy policy; they don... 't record anything harmful to you; strict no logs. ● I've been using it for one month and there are specific times when it speeds up my internet speed (varies by internet) ● It's a distinctive feature of DIP (dedicated IP) - I think not many popular VPNs have this feature, I also purchased this feature to avoid getting the captcha verification and it never showed up ever since. It's only been a month using this VPN but as I gain more experience with this client, I'm pretty sure I will find more good features and utilize them. Thanks for having read my review:)More

    Latest negative user review
    M
    Mike Johnson
    2.0/10
    PIA no longer works on Amazon Fire devices.

    I have used PIA for several years with no issues. Currently, amazon fire devices can no longer sign i... n to the account. Used on 3 TVs with 3 different fire devices with the same result. There is no way to resolve the issue.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Lawrence Wachira
    Lawrence Wachira

    Senior Writer

    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? I tested everything it offers to see if HSS is safe. I fully explored its logging policy and found out if its security features can prevent data leaks. I also tested its speeds, customer support, stre...

    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

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.03/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Although both VPNs offer impressive sets of features, PIA is more trustworthy when it comes to protecting your online privacy. It also offers more features at lower prices.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Both VPNs support torrenting on certain servers, but PIA is more secure for torrent use.

    Best VPN for Windows

    PIA and HotSpot Shield both offer user-friendly clients for Windows, but PIA’s Windows app is easier to use and includes more built-in features and options.

    Best VPN for Android

    The PIA client for Android uses OpenVPN as its default protocol, which is the most secure protocol used today. This is one of the many advantages it has over the Android app from Hotspot Shield, advantages that include far greater ease of use.

    Best VPN for Mac

    PIA offers a simple and easy-to-install app for Mac that supports all the major security protocols. Its interface and capabilities exceed those of HotSpot Shield’s Mac client.

    Best VPN for iOS

    PIA wins this category since it offers servers in every US state, making it easy to find an uncongested and speedy connection. It also works reliably with US platforms — while testing it in the US, I had no problem streaming on local platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

    Best VPN for USA

    While PIA operates more servers in the US than Hotspot Shield, you can’t use it to stream geoblocked American services such as Netflix. On the other hand, Hotspot Shield can bypass almost any restriction on US-based providers without compromising your connection speed.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    PIA wins this competition by gaining the upper hand in several key areas. It provides stronger encryption, more security features, and dedicated IPs. PIA is also more trustworthy when it comes to privacy, as it has always honored its guarantee that no logs are kept. And while Hotspot Shield is considered cheap, PIA actually offers cheaper prices and better customer support.

    Even though both VPNs support P2P, PIA is more secure for torrenting and other file sharing activities. On the other hand, HotSpot Shield offers a longer refund period and works with top streaming services, so this competition was definitely not one-sided. To help you choose, see what users have to say about PIA and HotSpot Shield.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with Private Internet Access
    Go with Hotspot Shield
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is Private Internet Access better than Hotspot Shield?

    Yes, Private Internet Access is better overall than Hotspot Shield. It has 29650 servers in 91 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.03 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between Private Internet Access 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 Private Internet Access may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is Private Internet Access faster than Hotspot Shield?

    Yes, Private Internet Access is faster than 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 Private Internet Access or Hotspot Shield offer any deals?

    Both Private Internet Access 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.

    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: 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

    Technical writer with a passion for online privacy.