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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.
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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.

PrivateVPN vs Hotspot Shield 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.2/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, Cyberghost and Expressvpn are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kate Richards
    Kate Richards

    Managing Editor

    PrivateVPN is a market-leading service provider with numerous advanced security features and a knack for bypassing geo-restrictions worldwide. Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, is backed by a large security company (AnchorFree) and has been used by over 600 million people worldwide. While Hotspot Shield provides 2,500+ servers in 25 countries, PrivateVPN operates a streamlined network of over 100 ultra-fast servers across 57 countries. Both VPNs use strong encryption and support multiple protocols, including OpenVPN and IKEv2. PrivateVPN’s advanced features include IPv6 leak protection and port forwarding, whereas Hotspot Shield offers malware protection. With regard to refund policies, Hotspot Shield and PrivateVPN offer 45-day and 30-day money-back guarantees, respectively, on new orders. While Hotspot Shield may appear to have more budget-friendly prices, PrivateVPN’s prices are very competitive, and the provider makes up for any cost difference by offering more security features. In addition, while Hotspot Shield forbids torrenting on its servers, PrivateVPN supports P2P file-sharing activities on its UK servers and offers port forwarding as well. A more comprehensive comparison across multiple categories follows below. NOTE: This comparison is for the paid Hotspot Shield version, Hotspot Shield Elite.

    Our Score

    Features 9.2/10
    Pricing 9.2/10
    Ease of Use 8.8/10
    Reliability & Support 9.2/10
    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 Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 9.2/10

    PrivateVPN advertises itself as one of the best VPNs for streaming at a low price. It also claims to have great torrenting support, strong security features, and a true no-logs policy. But PrivateVPN is a small company, so can it compete with the biggest VPNs? To learn the answer, I tested out everything it offers. My global team and I found out if it really lets you stream securely in the bes...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    D
    Daniel Andersson
    10.0/10
    Works Great for many years.

    I've been using their service for a great many years, and I'm very pleased indeed. Great service and s... upport, and more than enough speed for covering my needs. As long as they have coverage in countries I need to connect to, the number of servers in total is less relevant, as long as the servers they Do have provide enough speeds. They also support Wireguard, which is seldom mentioned in these reviews, probably since they don't have it in their native app, but they do and it's rock solid using that with their provided config files, and that in and of itself also increases the connection speeds, at least for me. All in all, they provide anything and all I want from a VPN provider. What others see as a downside, split tunneling and such, I see as a strength. I want my VPN provider to stick their nose in my business as little as possible, but rather provide a "clean VPN line" and then let Me decide what to do with my routing table. In short, they're Great, for my needs, but others will have to test and make up their own minds. :-DMore

    Latest negative user review
    E
    Emil
    2.0/10
    Been There

    I've been using PrivateVPN for a year. The main reason was due to good price. It's slow, on certain ho... urs of the day you can't watch video smoothly. They have down time or some other problem frequently and it take ages to fix it. Customer support are so poor that my mum without IT knowledge could probably do a better job. Now I switched to another one and feelings for PrivateVPN is much worse because I have something to compare withMore

    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/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 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

    PrivateVPN is an exceptional VPN overall, topping Hotspot Shield by offering more advanced security features, faster connection speeds, and access to geo-restricted content that is hard to reach even with most VPNs. Hotspot Shield is also a reliable provider, however, with a large network and a dedicated streaming feature with servers optimized to access top media platforms worldwide.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    PrivateVPN is clearly the better VPN choice for torrenting, as it offers dedicated UK servers for P2P file sharing and also features port forwarding for complete anonymity. We do not recommend Hotspot Shield for any P2P-related activity, as the provider expressly forbids torrenting on its servers.

    Best VPN for Windows

    By providing 2048-bit encryption with AES-256 and IPv6 leak protection, PrivateVPN’s dedicated Windows app keeps your online activity truly anonymous. Hotspot Shield also provides a dedicated app for Windows that features a neat user interface, a kill switch, and malware protection.

    Best VPN for Android

    PrivateVPN’s Android app can be installed and set up within minutes and includes a StealthVPN feature that allows you bypass tough geoblocks with ease. If you own an Android device, you’ll also enjoy Hotspot Shield’s dedicated app that gives you access to its free limited version and security features like wi-fi and tracking protection.

    Best VPN for Mac

    From a remote help option for installation to security features like IPv6 leak protection and port forwarding, PrivateVPN offers a powerful service for MacOS. Hotspot Shield also provides a MacOS app that features a kill switch and the provider’s proprietary Catapult Hydra technology, which optimizes multiple server connections for improved speed.

    Best VPN for iOS

    With support for six simultaneous device connections per account, a dedicated app, and features like leak protection and support for multiple encryption protocols including OpenVPN and IPSec, PrivateVPN provides a very reliable service for iOS. Hotspot Shield also features a dedicated iOS app that includes malware protection and access to dedicated servers for streaming.

    Best VPN for USA

    PrivateVPN offers one of the fastest services available for bypassing US geoblocks worldwide. It seamlessly unblocks Netflix-US and many other US-based streaming platforms. On the other hand, Hotspot Shield is also very fast and reliable for unblocking US Netflix and similar websites. It offers a dedicated streaming feature with access to US servers optimized for a glitch-free streaming experience.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    Hotspot Shield deserves its reputation as a very solid VPN, but PrivateVPN wins this comparison by offering a faster and more secure service. PrivateVPN’s support for torrenting and provision of advanced security features like leak protection and port forwarding ultimately push it far ahead of all but a very few, elite VPN services. With affordable subscription packages, PrivateVPN is a great choice if you’re after a VPN with amazing connection speeds, support for P2P, easy-to-use apps for all platforms, and enough advanced features to keep even the most tech-savvy VPN user happy.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is PrivateVPN better than Hotspot Shield?

    Yes, PrivateVPN is better overall than Hotspot Shield. It has 200 servers in 63 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2 a month.

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

    Is PrivateVPN faster than Hotspot Shield?

    Yes, PrivateVPN 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 PrivateVPN or Hotspot Shield offer any deals?

    Both PrivateVPN 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

    Kate is a Managing Editor at vpnMentor. Kate promotes the use of VPNs as a means to achieve unhindered access to the internet, as she strongly believes in online freedom for everyone.