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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.

Hotspot Shield vs TorGuard 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 6.6/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN Is Better?

    Author Image Kate Richards
    Kate Richards

    Former Managing Editor

    Hotspot Shield and TorGuard are two very popular VPN providers with very large networks and many practical security features. You can find your own ideal balance of speed and security by choosing either 128-bit or 256-bit encryption with either of these providers. Because they provide apps for all major platforms, you can enjoy a user-friendly experience with either Hotspot Shield or TorGuard regardless of the device or operating system you use. Hotspot Shield’s subscription plans make it a more budget-friendly service than TorGuard. Hotspot Shield also has a 45-day money-back guarantee, whereas TorGuard competes poorly in this area with a 7-day refund policy. In addition, while unique features like the StealthVPN protocol and Open Connect SSL can be found in TorGuard, Hotspot Shield fiercely competes with malware protection and its proprietary Catapult Hydra technology. With regard to network size, Hotspot Shield offers 2,500+ in over 25 countries, while TorGuard has around 3,000 servers in 50+ countries. Keep on reading to discover which VPN wins this super close contest. NOTE: This comparison is for the paid Hotspot Shield plan, Hotspot Shield Elite.

    Our Score

    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 8.8/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 9.4/10
    Features 6.6/10
    Pricing 5.0/10
    Ease of Use 5.5/10
    Reliability & Support 6.8/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Lawrence Wachira
    Lawrence Wachira

    Editor

    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? My global team and I tested everything it offers to see if Hotspot Shield (HSS) is safe. We fully explored its logging policy and found out if its security features can prevent data leaks. We also tes...

    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
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Doris Muthuri
    Doris Muthuri

    Former Senior Writer

    Our Score: 6.6/10

    TorGuard is an expensive service that focuses on keeping you safe while torrenting. However, it makes you jump through a lot of hoops to access its free trial, and the same is true for its refund policy. This really made me wonder whether this high-cost VPN is worth it. Overall, TorGuard is an okay VPN, but better alternatives are available. It offers excellent speeds and robust security featu...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    C
    Cathy
    10.0/10
    Love Torguard

    I have used several VPNs over the years and got blocked by Netflix or Amazon, etc. I went with Torgua... rd and I did have to get a personal IP address at an additional cost. But anytime there is any issue, they are right there and helping. They may have to change your IP address, but they do what they promise. I switched to their annual plan and I don’t see anyone with a much better price than what I am paying. I also have a free email address that I don’t use much, but a few people have it, so I keep it and use it. I consider trying someone else once in a while but am afraid if I do that, if I’m not happy and come back to them, the price will be higher. I honestly, don’t see why they aren’t more highly recommended. Also, I find them very patient, as I am not so young and not always great with current technology. They have been great with me.More

    Latest negative user review
    S
    Solomon
    2.0/10
    Does not work with firestick

    Their VPN does not work with 1st gen firesticks. They did not post this on their site. I paid $60 for ... a 1-year membership. After 7 days got a notice from Spectrum 18 complaints "Notice of Copyright Infringement" emails from the spectrum. Contact billing for refund, they gave me the runaround and kept asking the same questions over and over again. Then told me a refund is not available after 7 days. However, it takes spectrum over 7 days to send a complaint and they never said it didn't work with 1st gen firestick. Also, the app connected to vpn through the firestick and never said it had an issue. So this company is scamming, do not use it if you want to get a "Notice of Copyright Infringement" letter from Spectrum and no refund.More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $6.66/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    Starting price $9.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 7 Days
    Number of devices per license 12 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Hotspot Shield offers fast servers and more budget-friendly plans than TorGuard, with features like malware protection that make it a very comprehensive VPN service. TorGuard also offers a very reliable VPN service that’s easy to use and includes numerous features for improved security.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    TorGuard is our recommended VPN if you want to torrent, as it supports the service and also includes leak protection to keep your downloading activity anonymous. Hotspot Shield does not allow torrenting on any of its servers and therefore would obviously be a poor choice for this activity.

    Best VPN for Windows

    TorGuard offers a reliable Windows service, with a dedicated client that features military-grade encryption, ad blocking, and access to the provider’s entire network of servers. Meanwhile, by offering a kill switch and malware protection via its dedicated app, Hotspot Shield can be trusted to provide a very robust VPN service for Windows.

    Best VPN for Android

    Hotspot Shield features a very user-friendly Android app with a simple interface and access to the free limited version of the VPN. TorGuard also has an Android app that automatically updates its server list and includes features like 24/7 support from within the app and unlimited bandwidth.

    Best VPN for Mac

    With its unique Catapult Hydra technology, malware protection, and a user-friendly dedicated app, Hotspot Shield is the ideal choice for MacOS users interested in streaming at fast speeds. TorGuard competes with a very powerful MacOS app that features DNS and WebRTC leak protection alongside very strong encryption.

    Best VPN for iOS

    With features like an automatic kill switch, malware protection, and access to very fast servers, Hotspot Shield provides a good service for iOS. TorGuard also offers an iOS app that supports the IKEv2, IPsec, and OpenVPN protocols and includes access to dedicated IP addresses at an additional cost.

    Best VPN for USA

    Hotspot Shield offers numerous US servers and a dedicated streaming feature for unblocking content from Netflix and other US-based web services. We especially recommend it for its ease of use when you want to access US sites. TorGuard also provides many US servers capable of unblocking Netflix and similar websites.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    While these two VPNs provide similar levels of service by most standards, Hotspot Shield’s simplicity, user-friendliness, and budget-friendly subscription prices make it our winner. Other key points in favor of Hotspot Shield are its 45-day money-back guarantee and its unique Catapult Hydra feature that optimizes servers speeds. Its dedicated streaming feature, which allows you to bypass tough geoblocks worldwide, also contributes to its very tight victory in this contest. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t necessarily dismiss TorGuard as an option, particularly if you torrent.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is Hotspot Shield better than TorGuard?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is better overall than TorGuard. 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 $6.66 a month.

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

    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 TorGuard?

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

    Both Hotspot Shield and TorGuard 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 61% 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 former Managing Editor at vpnMentor. Kate promoted the use of VPNs as a means to achieve unhindered access to the internet, as she strongly believes in online freedom for everyone.