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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering 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 the independent, 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 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering 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 the independent, 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.

Hotspot Shield vs ProXPN 2024

Table of Contents

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Unfortunately, ProXPN has called it quits and no longer offers its VPN services. However, during our testing, we found it to be an overpriced and outdated VPN based in a non-privacy-friendly country with a small server network. Don’t be dissuaded, though, as we’ll still give you a breakdown of what Hotspot Shield has to offer.

    Hotspot Shield was first launched in 2008 and has always been known for its great unblocking capabilities, large server network, and ability to work in highly restrictive countries, like China.

    What attracts many to its service is the free forever plan, although it limits you to a single device and server location. While you won’t have access to gaming or streaming mode either, it’s one of the few VPNs that allow unlimited bandwidth use with its free plan.

    With a paid plan, however, you’ll get access to its full server list in 80 countries across the globe. You can also expect premium treatment with 24/7 live chat support, a wider range of supported devices, and up to 5 simultaneous connections. Another good incentive to try it out is its longer-than-usual 45-day money-back guarantee.

    Our Score

    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 8.8/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 9.4/10
    Features 7.5/10
    Pricing 6.0/10
    Ease of Use 8.2/10
    Reliability & Support 8.4/10

    Reviews

    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
    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

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Kate Veale
    Kate Veale

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 7.5/10

    For many people, finding the perfect VPN is a top priority. It’s understandable; we all are looking to surf the web securely and privately and a good VPN can help us do just that. There are hundreds of VPNs out there at a range of prices, and if having a great VPN is important to you, then you’re most likely willing to invest a bit of money into it. However, with all of the options, it’s im...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    G
    Greg
    8.0/10
    Been quite good so far.

    I heard about ProXPN from Steve Gibson's "Security Now!" podcast, and purchased it on their recommenda... tion and review. For the most part I have no complaints. I have used VPN4ALL (Which was good too), but I found dollar for dollar ProXPN was better. I've used HideMyAss as well and left over some misgivings I had at the time over whether or not they would actually keep my info private from state authorities - I can't say if that is still an issue now (April 2017) as it was a while back. Bottom line, I am happy with ProXPN at the moment and have not desire/need to leave. The ONLY reason I don't give it 5 stars is that I am also a Linux user with which it is not compatible yet. 4 stars for now because of that (5 if they make it compatible with Linux)More

    Latest negative user review
    C
    Chris
    2.0/10
    No longer supported, i switched to another VPN provider.

    I heard about PROXPN from Security Now and was a happy user for many years (albeit the connection app ... was outdated and data throughput speeds were slower than expected). However when their root certificate expired I could no longer connect to any VPN server and this continued for many months, so I switched to another VPN provider and will never consider using PROXPN again. Their connection app doesn't integrate well with Windows 10. After disconnecting from the VPN server, I had to manually change network adaptor settings from static IP assignment (which the PROXPN app does upon connection) back to DHCP assigned IP address to prevent network connection issues later. Also, some VPN servers would drop the VPN connection often and the kill switch simply didn't work on any of my computers.More

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    Starting price $6.25/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 3 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    All of Hotspot Shield's apps come with highly effective security features, like some form of Wi-Fi protection, support for multiple VPN protocols (including its proprietary Catapult Hydra), a kill switch, and split tunneling, making it an excellent choice for any device. Just keep in mind that different apps offer different selections of available servers. So, you might have to switch devices if a specific option isn’t available. While there are some minor privacy concerns, the large and diverse server network puts the world at your fingertips.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Hotspot Shield does support torrenting on all its servers, which is a good start. Although its speeds are somewhat slow, they are consistent, which is also important when downloading large files. There are some privacy concerns regarding Hotspot Shield’s parent company, Aura, and the fact that it’s based in the US. However, it has a strict no-logs policy, plus all the right privacy features.

    Best VPN for Windows

    HotspotShield’s Windows app is fantastic, with a highly polished dashboard that gives you a lot of useful information, without being overwhelming. A great feature that’s only on Windows and macOS, is a data widget that shows you the server load, latency, peak speeds, and daily data transmitted through the VPN. This allows you to quickly find the best option for you and manage your bandwidth use.

    Best VPN for Android

    As the winner, Hotspot Shield offers a great Android app. One unique feature it has for Android and iOS is Identity Guard, which automatically blocks spam calls. If you’re usually on the go, you’ll also find the “Auto Protect” feature particularly useful, as it will automatically launch the VPN and protect your connection if you connect to a public Wi-Fi.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Hotspot Shield’s macOS app is just as good as the Windows version, with the same informative dashboard, security features, and access to all protocols. However, it also has an “Always-on” mode that will automatically reestablish the VPN connection should it disconnect accidentally. The Bypasser and “Notify on public Wi-Fi” features on macOS basically replace the “Smart VPN” and “Trusted Wi-Fi” tools on Windows and Android, but serve roughly the same purpose.

    Best VPN for iOS

    VPN apps usually have fewer features on iOS, but you won’t have to make many compromises with Hotspot Shield. While the iOS app doesn’t have the same Smart VPN feature, it offers a Bypasser that works in roughly the same way by letting you specify apps that can ignore the VPN connection. The “Always-on VPN” feature automatically reestablishes the connection if it drops unexpectedly, making sure you’re secured at all times. You can also still use its proprietary Hydra protocol, while not all the others are supported.

    Best VPN for USA

    If you want to use a VPN in the US, you’ll have no shortage of options to choose from, thanks to Hotspot Shield’s massive server network. There are multiple options in the US or neighboring countries if you just want to secure your local connection while maintaining fast speeds. Or, you can access international services in nearly any other country by connecting to the appropriate server.

    The Bottom Line

    When going head-to-head, Hotspot Shield pulled ahead at the finish line, even when ProXPN was active. With its affordability, good ethics, and general ease of use, Hotspot Shield is a nice product for those of you who are interested in streaming Netflix and don’t necessarily worry about top-notch security. Plus, it’s one of the very few VPNs that offers servers in China. Hotspot Shield is worth considering if you want a secure and reliable service that’s also budget-friendly.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    FAQ

    Is Hotspot Shield better than ProXPN?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is better overall than ProXPN. It has 1800 servers in 80 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between Hotspot Shield and ProXPN?

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

    Is Hotspot Shield faster than ProXPN?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is faster than ProXPN. 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 Hotspot Shield or ProXPN offer any deals?

    Both Hotspot Shield and ProXPN 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 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering 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 the independent, 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.