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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 VPNSecure 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 7.0/10
    %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

    Hotspot Shield and VPNSecure are two established VPN providers with very secure apps for all major mobile and desktop platforms. VPN essentials such as 256-bit encryption, support for multiple tunneling protocols, and allowance for multiple simultaneous device connections with one account can be found with either of these providers. Both VPNs also effectively bypass geo-restrictions that many VPNs can’t get past, including those on Netflix US.

    These VPNs differ, however, in their refund policies. While Hotspot Shield offers a straightforward 45-day money-back guarantee, VPNSecure requires you to pay $1 upfront for a 30-day “trial.” You can also get a refund within 90 days, but it’s not guaranteed, and they’ll only grant it if you face a technical issue that support couldn’t solve. While VPNSecure offers slightly more budget-friendly subscription plans, Hotspot Shield offers a free plan. Unlike many other VPNs, Hotspot Shield’s free plan has no bandwidth limits, although you can only use one virtual server location and device at a time.

    These providers also differ in server network size and coverage, with VPNSecure offering around 76 servers in 40 countries and Hotspot Shield operating over 1,800 servers across 80 countries.

    For additional features, Hotspot Shield offers malware protection and a dedicated streaming profile, whereas VPNSecure competes with built-in SmartDNS functionality. Keep on reading to see how these VPNs compare over several categories.

    NOTE: This comparison is for Hotspot Shield’s paid 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 7.0/10
    Pricing 6.8/10
    Ease of Use 8.2/10
    Reliability & Support 6.0/10

    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
    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 Aleksandra Kovacevic
    Aleksandra Kovacevic

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Our Score: 7.0/10

    VPNSecure looks good on paper, but does it deliver? Finding a VPN that performs well in all fields isn’t an easy task. I took it for a test run to see whether this provider can keep you as secure as its name implies.  Founded back in 2010 in Sydney, NSW, I found VPN Secure offers solid security features with a seemingly airtight no-log policy. According to its customer support, it should e...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    K
    KG
    10.0/10
    Great VPN

    I like it. Have had it for 3 years. I bought the lifetime subscription when that was around because Sp... ectrum sent me a letter warning me about "illegal activities" when I used torrent. The speed is actually pretty good because I could play CSGO and watch Youtube without lag or buffer. Overall I'd recommend this VPN.More

    Latest negative user review
    R
    Richard
    6.0/10
    Was great, but...

    Performance is still good - IF you can connect. Many of the US servers simple don't work for me in Eu... rope. But after some trial and error, I found one. "Untied Sates + Ad Blocker" Their support used to be really, really GREAT. Now there is none. At all! I tried submitting a ticket from the app - several times. Then I tried sending a message to support on the site. NADA! NOTHING! ZIP!More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 90 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Hotspot Shield offers a very effective service that reliably cuts through tough geoblocks and includes many advanced security features. VPNSecure also has a decent service with the ability to access geoblocked content but it's not as good as Hotspot Shield as it unblocks fewer platforms. In the end, we feel Hotspot Shield is best for the majority of users due to its higher-quality apps and better connection speeds.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Neither VPN advertises itself strongly for torrenting, but both allow P2P activity in some capacity. VPNSecure allows torrenting anonymously on its servers and doesn’t restrict P2P activities. Hotspot Shield used to be completely against using its services for torrenting but has since softened its stance as well. However, there are still some concerns we have regarding its privacy policy. Hotspot Shield did have faster speeds during testing, though, especially for downloading, so it wins this category.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Sure, Hotspot Shield does lack OpenVPN and WireGuard on Windows, but it makes up for it with IKEv2 and Hydra, a proprietary protocol with improved speed and security. Its user-friendly Windows app also comes with all the features you expect of a top VPN, including a kill switch, Tor over VPN, split tunneling, and its enhanced “streaming” mode. VPNSecure also offers a dedicated Windows app, with access to its entire server network and multiple encryption levels, from 64-bit to 256-bit, but just isn’t as impressive as Hotspot Shield.

    Best VPN for Android

    Hotspot Shield’s Android app has a high 4.2-star rating on the Google Play Store, and it’s easy to see why. Users still get the essentials, like a kill switch and malware protection. But, it also comes with advanced settings in the form of the Connection Center, and Wi-Fi rules that allow you to tell the VPN when to engage to always keep you protected. Plus, Android users also get the benefit of the WireGuard protocol. As you can see from its Google Play Store rating, VPNSecure’s app is robust with SSH and HTTP protocol support but still has some catching up to do.

    Best VPN for Mac

    With split tunneling, multiple VPN protocols (including WireGuard), convenient auto-connect, and Wi-Fi settings, Hotspot Shield’s Mac app can contend with the best. We also liked the fact that you can choose whether you want it to appear full-sized or docked for convenience. While you can use VPNSecure’s Stealth protocol on Mac, allowing you to bypass DPI firewalls, there isn’t anything else that’s exceptional about it.

    Best VPN for iOS

    With a 4.5-star App Store rating for Hotspot Shield and a 2.5-star rating for VPNSecure, it should come as no surprise that Hotspot Shield wins this round. Hotspot Shield deserves this score because it offers three important VPN features on iOS that not many VPNs do: multiple protocols (Hydra, IKEv2/IPSEC, and automatic), split tunneling, and a kill switch. In contrast, the only notable things about VPNSecure’s dedicated app for iOS are a built-in SmartDNS feature and support for multiple payment methods, including Bitcoin.

    Best VPN for USA

    By providing a dedicated streaming mode with US servers optimized for speed and efficiency, Hotspot Shield has one of the most reliable VPN services for the USA on the market. It effectively unblocks US Netflix. Meanwhile, the availability of a SmartDNS feature and obfuscation technology allow VPNSecure to unblock web services like Netflix USA from anywhere as well, although its speeds are not as good as Hotspot Shield’s. However, both companies fall under the 5 Eyes Alliance, with Hotspot Shield based in the US itself.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    In comparison to VPNSecure, Hotspot Shield offers a simpler service to use, more innovative features, faster speeds, and a larger server network. An impressive 45-day money-back guarantee and the availability of a free plan are two additional reasons why Hotspot Shield wins this comparison. VPNSecure is a reliable service, but it doesn’t offer enough value for your money to compete with top-ranked providers.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is Hotspot Shield better than VPNSecure?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is better overall than VPNSecure. 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 VPNSecure?

    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 VPNSecure?

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

    Both Hotspot Shield and VPNSecure 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.