Hotspot Shield Review – Is It The Best VPN in 2023?

Hotspot Shield Review

This post will provide you with an in-depth Hotspot Shield review so you can determine whether it is the best VPN service available today.

Another VPN provider that provides everything you’re searching for in a VPN service is Hotspot Shield. They assert that they don’t keep any records, offer online anonymity, and let you access websites and apps that are geo-restricted. In addition, they provide streaming and game mode. The streaming mode is optimized for Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and more while the game mode is optimized for Fortnite, Roblox, and other games.

Further, we will walk you through all the Hotspot Shield details such as pricing, security standards, features, compatibility across several areas, and more. Is there a free trial available? How long does it offer a money-back guarantee? Is the customer service on par with that of other Premium VPNs? Continue reading, and we’ll go into detail on all of these topics and more.

Pricing

Hotspot Shield offers both a monthly and an annual subscription. Naturally, if you subscribe to their annual plan, you could purchase for much less. In addition, if you want to increase the number of user accounts and device connections, you can choose between their Premium and Premium Family packages. The Premium account allows for 1 person and up to 5 device connections, whilst the Premium Family account allows for 5 member accounts and 25 device connections (5 per member).

Furthermore, the Premium plan starts at $8 a month, while the Premium Family plan starts at $12. That is if you choose the annual plan. Nonetheless, you can save 40% should you choose it over their monthly plan of roughly $14 for the Premium and 21% for the Premium Family. All of their Premium Plans include a 45-day money-back guarantee, military-grade encryption, 500+ fast VPN servers across 115+ locations, unlimited bandwidth limitations, streaming and gaming mode, and 24/7 customer support.

Finally, they also have a free plan, however, it obviously has fewer services. That is 1 member account for 1 device connection and only 1 virtual connection across 160+ VPN locations. Plus, it doesn’t offer streaming or gaming mode, and its customer support is only available through its support center.

Hotspot Shield Free Trial

The good news is that Hotspot Shield also offers a 7-day free trial in addition to a 45-day money-back guarantee and a free subscription. This, in my opinion, is preferable to their free subscription because it gives you access to premium features like streaming mode, 115+ locations, and 5 simultaneous connections.

Video on How to Install Hotspot Shield on Firestick

Hotspot Shield Installation Guide on Firestick with Screenshots

1. Click Home on your remote and scroll once to your left. It will be the search icon.

2. You can say Hotspot Shield to your Alexa’s voice-enabled remote or start typing it. If you typed it, click on the suggestion when it appears.

3. Click on the Hotspot Shield icon.

4. Click Get to Download.

5. Click on Open.

6. Link a TV to your account. Make sure you are subscribed to premium.

Hotspot Shield Speed Test

This is the result of our Speed Test for their Hydra protocol:

VPN Protocol: Hydra (Dallas, TX)

Hotspot shield tends to be fast on the right servers. Hotspot shield will perform 10 Mbps more swiftly than other VPNs on any server located in Asia or Europe. Surprisingly, their US servers run at a slower speed when compared to other VPNs. If you intend to use a server located in Asia or Europe, then the hotspot shield is the fastest software to use.

Privacy /Anonymity

Zero Log Policy

Hotspot Shield states that it does not record, track, log, or keep any of your information, including your IP address.

It’s worth noting, though, that Hotspot Shield was reported in 2017 to be routing its users’ traffic for advertisers who paid for their service. We have an article on the biggest VPN controversies where you can read more about it.

Mask Your IP Address

By connecting to one of Hotspot Shield’s 3,200 servers spread across more than 80 nations, you can conceal or mask your IP address and location. As a result, you can surf and stream the internet anonymously.

Security

Hotspot shield employs the following security encryption and protocol:

AES-256 encryption

Hotspot shield utilizes the industry-standard AES-256 military-grade encryption. In this manner, it may guarantee to offer privacy and security while preventing malware and phishing websites from targeting your data. Additionally, it keeps you safe even when using public networks like WiFi.

Hydra Protocol

Hotspot Shield used to employ protocols that most VPN services use today, but they weren’t satisfied with them due to a variety of issues including latency, speed, and platform compatibility. And so, in order to overcome these problems and enhance performance without compromising security, they created the proprietary Hydra protocol.

Hydra protocol offers a highly secure connection that is 2.4 times faster than OpenVPN and is compatible with all major platforms. As a result, it addresses the challenges of speed, security, platform compatibility, and accessibility in a single protocol. Furthermore, Hotspot Shield is proud to offer only one protocol as they feel it is the only one you will ever need.

Does It Work Well With Popular Streaming Apps?

Wondering if Hotspot Shield works with popular streaming services such as Kodi, Netflix, and Hulu? Here’s a summary of its performance in unblocking the restrictions with these apps.

Kodi

Currently, Kodi is one of the leading streaming networks in the world since it is easy to use and comes with numerous add-ons that give its users a vast library of digital content. However, Kodi has some inherent security flaws and the most famous add-ons frequently feature geo-limitations.

The good news is that Hotspot Shield successfully gets over geo-restrictions so you can access any apps, including Kodi.

Netflix

The Premium and Premium family subscriptions from Hotspot Shield include a streaming mode. And part of it is its optimization for popular streaming services such as Netflix. So, yes, Hotspot Shield also works with Netflix restrictions.

However, you can try these easy fixes if Netflix suddenly won’t let you play a certain piece of content or if it has blocked your designated IP.

Hulu

Hulu follows in the footsteps of Netflix, thanks to Hotspot Shield’s encryption, which unblocks streaming services. So, yes, Hotspot Shield enables you to bypass Hulu’s restrictions so that you can simply watch your favorite movies and TV shows.

Jurisdiction

Hotspot Shield is based in the United States. Unfortunately, this is within the Five Eyes alliance, which is not a great area for internet privacy.

GeoIP

You can use Hotspot Shield to bypass the GeoIP bans in your location. Some refer to this as having the ability to appear local in another country. All you have to do is disguise your IP address using one of its VPN servers and you can begin viewing any content on your chosen location.

Servers

Hotspot Shield has 3,200 servers in 80+ countries and 35+ locations worldwide.

Apps

Hotspot Shield offers apps for all major platforms, including Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, Chrome, Smart TV, Linux, and Routers.

Kill Switch

Hotspot Shield includes a Kill Switch in its service. This prevents security breaches if your VPN connection is lost since it restricts your device from sending or receiving data until your VPN connection is restored.

Split Tunneling

Hotspot Shield also features Split Tunneling. Split tunneling is a technology used to enable a user to access a website or service without using a VPN. This can include apps or websites that you trust or those that require access from your home network. In addition, Split Tunneling has the benefit of increasing network speed because it prevents strain on the main network by limiting the amount of traffic that passes via the VPN tunnel.

DNS Leak Protection

Hotspot Shield encrypts DNS requests, so users who use this service avoid DNS leaks. However, they openly admit that certain websites detect DNS breaches while using their VPN service.

Torrent Policy

One of the best things about this VPN is that they fully support anonymous torrenting, unlike most VPNs in the market. The network utilizes a super secure AES-256 encryption to guarantee that all the information being transferred to and fro your gadget is safe. No one can access your network activity or browsing history provided Hotspot Shield upholds its logging policy. Hotspot Shield might therefore be one of the choices for avid torrent users seeking a secure P2P experience.

Tor Compatibility

The VPN is not compatible with TOR, and they restrict their users to the proprietary Catapult Hydra Protocol. Previously, they allowed the use of OpenVPN protocol, but that changed once they introduced their Catapult Hydra protocol.

SOCKS5 Proxy

The free VPN proxy from Hotspot Shield creates a safe, virtual tunnel around your online activity. Moreover, your security is guaranteed by this tunnel because it encrypts your data and obstructs any potential outside threats. You may be certain that it offers anonymous access to the website you are trying to view because it displays the Proxy’s IP address rather than your own IP address.

Customer Support

Hotspot Shield provides 24/7 customer support through live chat and email for its Premium users. In addition, their website has a Support section where you can read Frequently Asked Questions about Payment & Subscriptions, Managing your Account and Devices, and Troubleshooting issues.

Final Thought

Hotspot Shield provides a one-of-a-kind VPN experience by using AES-256 encryption and just their patented Hydra Protocol, which is essentially all of the protocols rolled into one. However, I find inconsistencies in the specifics of their service due to a few factors. First off, despite their claims to exclusively use one protocol, the IKEv2 protocol can be speed tested. Second, I am questionable about the actual number of servers available due to the inconsistent information provided on their website. If you’re keen on selecting the best VPN for you, consistency is undoubtedly a key consideration. The last thing that bothers me is their previous issue with data leaks to advertising businesses.