Hotspot Shield logo review
Hotspot Shield review (2021)

Our rating:

6.4 / 10
Review of:
Posted: 02-01-2021

Price from $6.99 per month

  • Speed - 7/10
  • Usability - 6/10
  • Price - 6/10
  • Reliability - 7/10
  • Customer service - 6/10

Hotspot Shield review (2021)

Back to overview

Hotspot Shield may not be the biggest provider, but it is one of the most popular. This is partly because it has a free service in the package that is of an acceptable level. In addition, it also offers paid services when it comes to VPN. It is therefore a good option for different markets. It is true that there are also some downsides to the possibilities. That is why sketching a complete picture of the provider is also an important matter. This makes it easy to determine to what extent this is interesting to use.

Hotspot Shield review apparaten

Main functions of Hotspotshield

Hotspotshield breaks down shields rather than throws them up. It is true that the software of this provider has long been well regarded when it comes to bypassing censorship, for example. It was also used several times in situations where this was important. The possibilities it offers to, for example, overcome geographical blockades are greater than with most competitors. Although it also has a number of other good features to offer.

Main benefits of Hotspot Shield

  • Free service
  • Speed is very high
  • Can be used for torrents
  • Breaking geographic blockades
  • Great provider

Some disadvantages of Hotspot Shield

  • Keeps some logs
  • Not always safe

Presence of Hotspotshield servers

HotspotShield’s servers are linked to the type of service you use. Although 2500 servers can be found all over the world, they are by no means accessible to everyone. Those who use this provider’s free service will only have access to the US servers. That makes it a bit more attractive to still pay money for a subscription. In that case, five of the six continents are covered. Only in Africa are no servers available at the moment. In 29 countries on the other 5 continents there are. It is therefore also much easier to get past the geographical blockades if you wish. For example, to be able to view specific content that you normally cannot access.

Hotspot Shield review snelheid

Availability of Hotspot Shield servers

Hotspot Shield is a typical example of how it can be done as a VPN. It is true that it can be found in a limited number of countries, but because there are more than 2500 servers in the network, there are still plenty of opportunities for everyone to use it. As a result, it can compete well with the competitors. This also explains why it serves hundreds of millions of customers around the world. It has simply built up the network of servers for that over the years.

What distinguishes Hotspotshield?

User-friendliness is the most important point of Hotspotshield. In fact, this is actually above privacy and security. This means that it is a very handy service, especially for daily use. You mainly use VPN to add extra options when you start working online. This makes it very easy for any target group.

Hotspot Shield logo review

Our score:

6.4 / 10
Posted: 02-01-2021

Price from $6.99 per month

  • Speed - 7/10
  • Usability - 6/10
  • Price - 6/10
  • Reliability - 7/10
  • Customer service - 6/10

Own Hotspot Shield protocols

Hotspot Shield offers connections based on its own protocols. First it used OpenVPN connections. Nowadays it is different. It now uses the so-called Catapult Hydra. This was designed by Hotspot Shield’s parent company. It also helps you keep connections with severs at good speed over longer distances. This is of course an advantage in itself, because speed is often an issue with VPN use. On the other hand, it is of course true that you become even more dependent on the provider in this area. You will always have to work with your own designed protocol when you start working with this provider online.

Hotspotshield and your privacy

When you use a VPN, that is not in itself a reason to feel safe. After all, a VPN service provider can watch with you as much as it would like to. In that respect, it is no different from your internet service provider. It is important to know what a VPN service does to you. In that respect it is also extra important to take a good look at Hotspotshield. The policy of this company is somewhat different from that of many of its competitors.

Hotspot Shield review connect

Hotspot Shield does not store IP addresses

In any case, what Hotspot Shield does not do is keep track of who you are. The IP addresses are always forgotten immediately after disconnection. Therefore, as a user, you can at least be sure that you can go online in an anonymous way. It is also nice to see that this is one of the points on which both the free and paid service of Hotspotshield is equal. You are always made anonymous when you use it. However, tests have shown that the protection is not as good as you would like when you start using VPN.

Hotspotshield does collect data anonymously

It is striking to see that Hotspot Shield has no no logs policy. It does keep logs. For example, it examines which websites and apps can all be reached via the VPN connection. It does that by looking at where the users have all been. Because it is not linked to IP addresses, this is done anonymously. This does not alter the fact that data is collected and stored. This makes it immediately more vulnerable than many of the competitors. That should actually be different.

The owner of Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield does not stand alone. It is part of a larger technology company based in California. AnchorFree is the owner. HotspotShield has been active since 2008. As a result, it has grown into one of the most important branches within the AnchorFree company, with 650 million users.

Appearance and ease of use of Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield has set up a website that is easy to understand. It is not only aimed at selling you services. It is also true that there is a lot of free information about what hackers do with your information. There is also a clear explanation of what VPN is. This is a good start for what you can expect from Hotspotshield. It is in all cases that the aim is to keep everything simple and clear. As you see on the website, this is also the case for the software. It is nice that many things seem to speak for themselves. That way you can also easily use it if you do not have any knowledge in this area. This is a nice thing for new users. You will want to use the VPN services faster.

Hotspot Shield review VPN aan vs uit

Split tunneling

Hotspot Shield is not directly concerned with the possibilities in the field of split tunneling. Sometimes it is nice not to let certain things go via the VPN. In that case, a second tunnel next to your VPN is so easy. Without having to fear directly for the security you have online. So it is good to know what the possibilities are.

DNS leak test tool results

To know how safe you really are when you start using Hotspot Shield, it is important to look for a DNS leak. Using a DNS leak test tool, it can be determined whether this provider is closing everything properly. In this case, that is also simply the case. The various tests have shown that no leaks can be detected. This way you can go online safely, without anyone being able to easily collect your data.

Speed ​​and performance of Hotspot Shield

The speed of Hotspot Shield is in good order. This is great for those who want to use streaming services, for example, or who are a lot of gaming. It is therefore often said that it is precisely for these forms of internet use that this VPN provider is one of the more suitable parties on the market. The speed tests prove that there is little loss.

Hotspot Shield support

Hotspot Shield is easy to apply. So it hardly matters which system you use on your device. Therefore, it is always nice to be able to enjoy the possibilities that are offered. It is good to know that it is not suitable for Linux. This is a small disadvantage when looking at other types of VPN.

Conclusion Hotspot Shield

HotspotShield has done good things in the past in the fight against censorship and dictatorship. On the other hand, it also has some flaws in the software in modern times. For example, it is not completely free of logs and it is not always safe. This means that it is only of limited appeal.

Hotspotshield prijzen pakketten

Update Hotspot Shield review January 2021

Read the review of Hotspot Shield to immediately get a picture of Hotspot Shield as a provider of VPN services. You only use a VPN if the provider suits the way you think about the use of the services. Do you need a VPN that you can use the way you want? Then see if Hotspot Shield can meet this.

What can you expect from Hotspot Shield?

Hotspot Shield actually serves all types of users in the field of VPN. After all, there is not only room for paid services, as is the case with most competitors today. There is also a free service instead. As a result, Hotspot Shield can be seen as a provider that can also be seen as a good stepping stone in the world of VPN. It is true that not everything is so good with some of the competitors that are at the top of the market. That is therefore also important to take into account. By carefully weighing everything you can easily make a good choice. In that respect, Hotspotshield is intended for specific users.

Hotspot Shield specifications

  • 7-day money-back guarantee
  • Free, or from € 3.99 per month
  • More than 2,500 servers
  • Servers in 29 different countries
  • Some logs
  • Netflix and Torrents
  • Infinite number of simultaneous connections
  • Protocols: Catapult Hydra
  • Operating systems: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux

Hotspot Shield review – User friendliness

The ease of use of Hotspot Shield is in order as long as you do not have any questions yourself. When this is the case, it will be slightly different. The customer service is not that good. When you have a question, you can not continue using your VPN on the one hand, but on the other hand you can not solve it because there is no help available. The fact that many other things are in good order actually makes a lot less difference. It is precisely for that reason that it is also good to see what Hotspot Shield has to offer.

Hotspot Shield review – Reliability and safety

The safety of Hotspot Shield is a point that deserves some explanation. This is because this provider works in a different way than the competitors. Protocols such as OpenVPN have been sent out. This has been replaced by Catapult Hydra. This is not a problem in itself, because many antivirus software from major providers also works in this way. Although this requires a different way of thinking and working than is the case with other providers of VPN services. That also means that you may only need the help of customer service. While it is not that good. This is therefore a disadvantage for safety.

Hotspot Shield logo review

Our score:

6.4 / 10
Posted: 02-01-2021

Price from $6.99 per month

  • Speed - 7/10
  • Usability - 6/10
  • Price - 6/10
  • Reliability - 7/10
  • Customer service - 6/10

Hotspot Shield review – Speed

The speed of Hotspot Shield is one of the things that cannot be said badly. The many servers it uses all meet the modern needs and requirements that you probably have in this area. From that point of view it is therefore also very easy to use, for example for torrents. While your regular internet use can also be used with it.

Conclusion Hotspot Shield review

Hotspot Shield may not be the very best service when it comes to VPN. That does not alter the fact that there are also a number of things that you can say are in order. If these are exactly the things that play an important role for you, then there is nothing you have to stop to get started with this VPN to go online.

Curious about the best VPN? Find and compare easily on GoodVPNservice.com.

Is Hotspot Shield the best choice? ✔️

Of course it will differ per person what is the best choice, but Hotspot Shield does have the necessary features to compete with the major players among the VPN services. For example, the fact that it is very fast and offers the necessary extensive options makes it very interesting. That way you can be sure that you get the necessary offers to make good use of the VPN. Of course it is true that you have to look at all sides of the offer of Hotspot Shield. Then you can always encounter some negatives. In that respect, it is therefore also good to do the necessary research first. That way you can be sure that you really make the best choice for your situation. It is easy to explain all this on the basis of the answers to the questions.

How do I download Hotspot Shield? 🧾

1. Before you can download you must first create an account. You can do that on the Hotspot Shield website.
2. With your account you can log in and look for the right subscription.
3. Now that you have a subscription, you can download the app you want, for example the one for windows.
4. Let the download complete and install everything properly so that you can get started.
5. Now that everything is installed, you can work with Hotspot Shield.

What are the benefits of Hotspot Shield? ➕

In the first place, it is an advantage that Hotspot Shield is really very easy to use. It is very nice to be able to understand everything, even when your technical knowledge is not that great. In that case, this provider is the right one to choose. However, this is not the only benefit it has to offer. For example, you can also have a very large network of servers. There are already more than 2,500 today. Few providers can offer such a large network. This also means that you can find a server anywhere in the world. Moreover, you do not have to worry quickly that the servers are overloaded because too many users are active at the same time. Finally, there is a completely different benefit that is worth mentioning. Using this VPN service is not expensive. Very attractive prices are charged. So it always fits well in any budget and everything can be taken out.

What are the disadvantages of Hotspot Shield? 🙃

Hotspot Shield does not only offer advantages. There are also things that don’t make it that attractive at all. For example, it is not possible to connect to certain servers yourself. That option is not included in this package. In addition, it is of course a pity that there is a certain amount of logging with this service. It is true that the logs are kept briefly and are for your own use, but that does not mean that they are still just logs. That does not immediately make using Hotspot Shield more attractive. This does not benefit your sense of security and privacy. It is also a disadvantage that streaming does not always work well and does not always go smoothly. Therefore, you cannot always do everything you would like to do. It is important to take this into account when you choose this VPN provider.

Is Hotspot Shield fast? ⏩

The praise for Hotspot Shield stems mainly from the fact that the servers are so fast. For example, if you look at servers in the Netherlands and the speed you have when you are connected to them, you will see something striking. There is hardly any decay. In some cases there is even a slight increase in speed. In that respect it is therefore also very attractive to work with it. What is also striking is that the speeds over long distances also remain pretty well. It is often the case that it becomes more difficult to find a good VPN server that is located in the United States, for example, because the distance significantly reduces your speed. However, if you work with Hotspot Shield, you will not soon see this problem. In that respect it is therefore also very attractive to work with it. When you look at the speed tests, you can be sure that you get a good idea of the good performance.

Is Hotspot Shield safe? 👮

Security is a point of some debate when it comes to Hotspot Shield. On the one hand, it is the case that Catapult Hydra is used. This is a proprietary protocol designed to protect the safety of users. It is always a good thing, of course, when specific attention is paid to user safety online. On the other hand, it is true that your privacy is not fully guaranteed. This is partly because certain logs are kept. The provider wants to improve its own services on the basis of the activities that it involves users. The fact that the logs are kept for your own use does not make it less true that things are kept about you. However, things like IP addresses and the like are not tracked. So for that reason, you don’t have to worry about your safety. Depending on how you feel about it as a user, Hotspot Shield may or may not be sufficiently safe.

Is Hotspot Shield expensive? 💸

It is true that Hotspot Shield is a lot more expensive. When you look at the prices of the subscriptions, they are all higher than with the competition. What is striking, for example, is that the average price for a short month subscription on the market is between ten and eleven euros, but at Hotspot Shield costs € 15.99. This also applies to subscriptions for a year, two years or even three years. The price per month for three years is even comparable to the price of annual subscriptions with the competitors. So it is not immediately attractive to choose that. It is therefore important to determine what you find important and how much you want to pay for this when you choose this provider. It is important to consider the price and the quality in relation to each other. Only in this way can you therefore make the best possible choice.

Does Hotspot Shield have a free option? 🆓

Hotspot Shield does indeed have an option that is free. It is also called Hotspot Shield Free. It is a slightly less complete version of the package. You can download and install this for free. You do not have to enter data for that. You do need to create an account, but you don’t need any payment information. This makes it easier to remain anonymous. This is therefore very important for some users. It is also good to know that this gives you plenty of time to try everything. You can decide whether you want to use a paid variant. Of course, the only drawback is that you don’t have the full version. You can also use it for free, but no longer than a week. Then you will have to pay for it, or switch back to Free and settle for fewer options. This gives you the most important options, at no cost.

Does Hotspot Shield work with Netflix? 📺

When it comes to working with Hotspotshield with Netflix, there is a lot to be said. In principle, the service should just work. That means that you should be able to access Netflix USA, Netflix Canada and all kinds of other regional Netflix packages via the servers. In reality it is a bit more nuanced. It often happens that Netflix starts to recognize a server and therefore blocks it. Therefore, you can no longer reach it. This is a disadvantage that this provider has to deal with. As a user of the VPN, you therefore do not always know exactly where you stand. Sometimes it is easier to access Netflix from other regions than other times. That is important to keep an eye on. If there is a good phase, you can just see a lot of content that is not available in the Netherlands at all. This makes it very interesting to do.

Does Hotspot Shield work with HBO? 📱

Hotspot Shield’s servers are sufficient to work with HBO Go. The streaming service of this network has many different types of series that are of a high level. Among them are many of the well-known series that are gaining attention worldwide. In that respect it is therefore attractive to have access to it. It is of course nice when you can see the new episodes as they come out. Without having to wait until they are broadcast on a certain channel in the Netherlands. Moreover, you can also watch series that do not make it at all. In that respect, it is also very attractive to work with Hotspot Shield when it comes to watching streaming services. You will then be offered all options for this.


Written by

Kees van Vliet

Kees van Vliet

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