# Hotspot Shield VPN Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is Hotspot Shield VPN the right VPN solution for you? Explore 80 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/186549/Hotspot-Shield-VPN/reviews --- Hotspot Shield VPN 4.3 (80) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/186549/Hotspot-Shield-VPN/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Reviews of Hotspot Shield VPN Ease of use 4.4 Customer Service 4.1 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews DM Dennis M Senior Frontend EngineerLeisure, Travel & Tourism, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Overall, I am impressed by Hotspot Shield VPN reliability and performance and i Give it a Solid 9.5 Rating out of 10.“ June 3, 2025 Giau N managerRestaurants, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: I used a free trial. “There have been some concerns about Hotspot Shield VPN's privacy practices, such as collecting user data, so I find it hard to trust them with my data.“ January 13, 2023 DM Dennis M Senior Frontend EngineerLeisure, Travel & Tourism, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Using Hotspot shield is an amazing Experience.“ June 3, 2025 DE David E finance managerRestaurants, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: I used a free trial. “Hotspot Shield VPN's logging policy may raise some concerns for those who value privacy (based in the US, with membership in Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes.)“ January 25, 2023 TI Tariq I Full Stack Developer E-Learning, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Generally most of the VPN not works in chrome extension but hotspot shield VPN is amazing it allows us to select desire country as a extension.“ October 18, 2022 Mohammad Izaz Arefin M Digital MarketerMarketing and Advertising, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “The price of this VPN is at the high end compared to other VPNs while it lacks some advanced features that other VPNs offer.“ November 12, 2022 Mohammad Izaz Arefin M Digital MarketerMarketing and Advertising, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “Overall, it is a good VPN that can be used for all most all kinds of activities with privacy and security, but it has lots of things to improve to come at par with other industry-leading VPNs such as Nord VPN, Express VPN, etc.“ November 12, 2022 DE David E finance managerRestaurants, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: I used a free trial. “The free version of Hotspot Shield VPN is limited and may not be suitable for heavy users.“ January 25, 2023 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 80 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Mohammad Izaz Arefin M. Digital Marketer Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "A decent VPN with average speed and feature." November 12, 2022 4.0 Overall, it is a good VPN that can be used for all most all kinds of activities with privacy and security, but it has lots of things to improve to come at par with other industry-leading VPNs such as Nord VPN, Express VPN, etc. Pros This VPN can be used on multiple platforms and devices such as Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, routers, and more. It has browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. It provides enough speed for most activities over proprietary Hydra protocol, however, speed can be well below most Wireguard VPNs. Hotspot Shield unblocks most streaming services including US Netflix, iPlayer, Prime Video, and Disney Plus; and also supports torrenting over P2P servers. It has server locations across 80 countries meaning that enough servers for geo-restricted content. The Hydra, IKEv2 protocol, Kill Switch, and standard AES-256 encryptions ensure privacy and security. Though it has a no-log policy, it does collect some data that can not be directly connected to your account. Auto Connect and Smart VPN features are available on Windows and some other platforms. However, these features are not consistent over different platforms and apps. Hotspot Shield provides helpful live chat supports when you encounter problems, but the support can be improved further. Cons The price of this VPN is at the high end compared to other VPNs while it lacks some advanced features that other VPNs offer. Review Source ECM Evandro Cláudio M. Administrator Assistant Accounting Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Hotspot Shield VPN and it's reliability" November 1, 2024 4.0 I used Hotspot Shield VPN on a trial for 7 days was a great experience, the speed is super legit and reliable. Pros The ability to use IP's from multiple countries Cons Sometimes disconnect suddenly without reporting the reason why! Switched from [Psiphon](https://www.capterra.com/p/242363/Psiphon/) Hotspot Shield VPN has more countries to connect that's why. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Rsearcher Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Hotspot Shield VPN Review" July 12, 2022 3.0 Overall, its is an excellent VPN for everyday users because of its price and features. Pros I have been using this software since 2018 and I love to use for my future. The best thing in this software is that it is inexpensive with almost every premium feature. Cons Sometimes, it gets hang while connecting to far states. Review Source aH aseal H. Accountant Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "On of the best free VPN softwares for PC and mobile " April 17, 2023 5.0 In my country there are many blocked applications that are important and this application helps me access those applications. Pros I like this VPN and I use it so much, the free version is good compared to other VPN applications. Also, I like that the speed of the internet is not affected too much and the servers that it connects to are great. Cons The paid version is a little bit expensive and there are a lot of advertisment in the mobile application that are so annoying. Switched from [NordVPN](https://www.capterra.com/p/166743/NordVPN/) The speed of the internet after vpn connection is much faster using Hotspot Shield VPN Review Source AM Alex M. Freelancer Translation and Localization Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Hotspot Shield VPN - excellent value for the money" April 19, 2020 4.0 I purchased a lifetime license in the past before it became part of Pango. I find it to be excellent value for the money. Pros It is easy to setup and use. It runs fairly fast on most of the servers if you know what server to choose from the list and stick to it. Cons I sometimes run into cloudflare protection against DDOS attacks saying that from the ip address that I'm using "huge amount of traffic has been reported". I then have to switch to another server from the list an all returns to normal. I mostly run into this issue while selecting a server from US. Alternatives considered [VYPER](https://www.capterra.com/p/152500/VYPER/)[NordVPN](https://www.capterra.com/p/166743/NordVPN/) Reason for choosing Hotspot Shield VPN The option to purchase a lifetime license at a good price. Switched from [NordVPN](https://www.capterra.com/p/166743/NordVPN/) NordVPN was too expensive. Review Source iM itumeleng M. freelance Graphic designer Design Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "HotSpot Shield VPN" October 28, 2020 5.0 It has definitely made my life easier, by allowing my to bypass certain WiFi restrictions and access more websites to continue doing my work. It's very disheartening to use someone elses WiFi and can access the website that you want, but with HotSpot shield, this issue has become a thing of the past. Pros I've been using this software for almost 2 years now, and I love it. The deployment time is fast, functionality is easy and it hasn't let me down YET. Every time I turn it on, it always amazes me at how much easy it is, and for a price like that, it has been worth every penny. Cons My only issue with it is the sheer number,ber of AD's it pushes through whenever I turn on an app. And the fact that it would always automatically switch me back to its home page and play an AD before it takes me back to YouTube, is very annoying. Alternatives considered [ExpressVPN](https://www.capterra.com/p/170765/ExpressVPN/) Reason for choosing Hotspot Shield VPN It is Inexpensive, and very reliable, and would definitely recommend it to someone. Review Source DM Dennis M. Senior Frontend Engineer Leisure, Travel & Tourism Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Enjoy private Browsing, Military Grade-Encryption and Amazing Speeds using the Most Popular VPN: Hotspot Shield" June 3, 2025 5.0 Using Hotspot shield is an amazing Experience. Hotspot Shield VPN allows me to browse privately whether i am working from a Cyber Cafe or a public WIFI at a coffee shop. Furthermore, Hotspot shield is easy to use as it has a One-Click connect feature activating protection when i connect to a public WIFI. Furthermore, i can install Hotspot Shield VPN on a variety of devices and operating systems due to its cross-platform compatibility. Overall, I am impressed by Hotspot Shield VPN reliability and performance and i Give it a Solid 9.5 Rating out of 10. Pros What i like most about Hotspot Shield VPN is that you can login in multiple devices, up to 10 of them ensuring that you are protected at all times. Additionally, Hotspot Shield VPN has a free and a premium version catering for everyone. Cons I love everything about Hotspot Shield VPN as it meets all my needs. I would even recommend other people to switch from other VPNs and Try Hotspot Shield. Review Source IRA Imogen R. A. Digital Marketing Specialist Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Reliable access protection safeguard with hotspot shield vpn" May 19, 2025 5.0 There are advertisements playing client-side in different areas of the world, and it’s important to test if ads appear and access geo-blocked platforms. Hotspot Shield enables me to experience the environment as if I’m in another country and at the same time secure my data, which is a must for rapid digital marketing tasks. Pros Hotspot Shield VPN provides me with enough reassurance to safely check into client dashboards or access analytics tools when I’m traveling. The speed remains consistent, particularly on public Wi-Fi. Cons Every once in a while, it will screw up with some of the marketing tools or region-locked ad programs. Manual server switching could be more seamless. Review Source Lawrent M. Owner Education Management Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Hotspot Shield Elite is a good choice if you want to protect your privacy and unblock websites" November 13, 2022 4.0 Overall, I think Hotspot Shield Elite is a solid choice for a VPN. It's not the fastest, cheapest or best option out there, but it's not bad either. Pros The Hotspot Shield software is an easy-to-use program with good features such as malware protection, ad blocking, and DNS leak protection built right in.Hotspot Shield has been the most popular VPN service for over a decade. The free version of Hotspot Shield offers basic features like ad blocking, malware protection and some privacy settings. However, it also comes with a monthly cap on bandwidth usage, which is understandable given that it's a free product.Other pros that are worth mentioning:-Very good speeds-Free version-Top-notch security features-Unblocks most streaming services including Netflix-24/7 live chat customer support-Good global coverage-P2P-compatible Cons There are cheaper VPN services that offer similar features at a lower price point. If you're looking to stream or torrent, the free version isn't going to cut it—and if you've got the cash, I'd recommend Private Internet Access instead. That said, if you're looking for basic security while browsing the web and sending emails (and don't mind getting some ads in exchange), then Hotspot Shield is probably more than enough for your needs. If you're looking for a VPN to use in China and want to be able to visit sites like Google, Facebook and YouTube, then I would recommend getting ExpressVPN instead. Review Source Giau N. manager Restaurants Used the software for: I used a free trial ### " Fast speed VPN service with easy-to-use interface but concerns with privacy" January 13, 2023 5.0 The VPN offers good security and fast speeds. However, users should be aware of the limitations of the free version and some concerns about privacy. We ended up changing our VPN provider because we're a bit paranoid. Pros We found Hotspot Shield VPN to have fast connection speeds, which is important for streaming and downloading. It is easy to set up and use, even for those who are not tech-savvy... like us.Hotspot Shield VPN uses advanced encryption to protect users' online activities from being tracked or monitored and provides malware protection.It is available for multiple devices: We used the VPN on Windows, Mac, and iOS. Cons The free version of Hotspot Shield VPN has limitations, such as a data limit, and users must upgrade to the paid version to access all features. Some VPN providers like Cyberghost allow you to test the software with all options. There have been some concerns about Hotspot Shield VPN's privacy practices, such as collecting user data, so I find it hard to trust them with my data.We sometimes had connection issues with Hotspot Shield VPN, such as frequent disconnections. We didn't have them that often with Cyberghost. Review Source VA Vishvam A. Information Security Computer & Network Security Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Hotspot Shield VPN for secure browsing." February 13, 2023 4.0 Overall Hotspot Shield VPN works best and affordable which supports data encryption and aims to make the web safe and reduce the potential risks of crime. Pros The feature i like the most is the Kill switch which very quickly brings me back to the normal network and instantly changes back to secure channel when turned on which is available for free plan too.Hotspot shield VPN also have the browser extension which also work seamlessly. Cons Sometimes when opting for the server like Canada and Netherlands which are very busy resulting into slower speeds and high latency which makes it impossible to browse the web. Switched from [Norton Secure VPN](https://www.capterra.com/p/169494/Norton-Wifi-Privacy-VPN/) The pricing was the main factor to shift Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Computer Science Student Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "My Favorite VPN" December 7, 2019 4.0 I tried out different VPN's but I liked HotSpot Shield the best. It's the most reliable and easy-to-use VPN among the ones I used. Pros There are lots of countries to connect to, which is nice. It's a great product if you are living in a country with restrictions on certain websites. It also provides a greater security as your actions are not traced. Speed can sometimes be an issue, but I overcame that problem by trying out different country options. So that's not too big of a problem. The speed overall is nice. For example, video streaming websites like Netflix worked without pausing. Cons Disconnections can be a problem if you are using the regular version, but I guess that is the nature of VPN's Review Source AI Arda I. Computer Engineering Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "One of my most trusted VPN app" May 25, 2023 4.0 Pros It's VPN always worked for me, whenever or wherever i need it. Cons I can not really say that this app has cons. Review Source TI Tariq I. Full Stack Developer E-Learning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best VPN as aa chrome extension " October 18, 2022 5.0 Pros Generally most of the VPN not works in chrome extension but hotspot shield VPN is amazing it allows us to select desire country as a extension. Cons Sometimes it automatically disconnected while working. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Lecturer Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Hotspot shield vpn looks like our friend" October 20, 2019 5.0 I am using this software from class 12 till today and still using having good speed and I suggest this to my all friends Pros Hotspot shield vpn is free vpn and speed is much more better Cons Like this software because this now my friend Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Parttime SaaS/B2B Content Writer Writing and Editing Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "My experience with Hotspot Shield VPN" August 6, 2019 4.0 Pros I discovered Hotspot Shield VPN while looking for a VPN that could replace the one I was using. What I like best about it is how I can use it on my browser alone. This lets me keep my software number at a minimum. Within the browser, it offers many benefits like access to geo-locked content. I also like how it gives me security while I am browsing sites because it masks my location and identity. Cons I have also tried using its downloadable software. It opened new doors such as secure P2P but it throttled my limited computing resources. Plus, there were way too many ads that they distracted me from work. Review Source SA Saif A. Director Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Good VPN to connect with middle east" September 10, 2022 4.0 Pros Hotspot shield is providing really amazing service, the best part of Hotspot shield is that it is providing applications for the system so that we can use the VPN for the whole system. Also, It provides some countries of the middle east so that we can connect to them. Cons I really do not think i have anything to say least like about Hotspot shield VPN. Review Source MS Moh S. Digital Marketing Writing and Editing Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Just a fine VPN" June 28, 2022 5.0 Pros The thing thatvi liked most about hotspot shield vpn is that it is available for desktop application as well as chrome so sometimes if we want to use low memory than we used chrome extension. Also hotspot shield vpn provide numbers of cities sobthat you can select and connect. Cons They worst part of using hotspot shield is that even if you are using paid subscription it will shows you ads pf there subscriptions. Alternatives considered [Psiphon](https://www.capterra.com/p/242363/Psiphon/) Review Source TE Tugce E. Doctoral candidate / Sessional lecturer Public Policy Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Its pros outweigh its minor "flaws"" November 21, 2019 4.0 Pros What I like most about this software is that it allows me to easily access the content I want to watch in different countries without much hassle. It is easy to use it and does not require much of a tech knowledge, especially after it is downloaded on your computer. It is pretty reliable and works in most of the cases. Cons The only downside that I have so far experienced is something that is also common for its competitors: issue of reliability. There is also the risk that the software cannot provide access even if it is connected and everything is as should be or disconnects or stops working when you change a tab and/or go to another webpage. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Lawyer Legal Services Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Fast and safe" November 8, 2019 4.0 I use it to connect safely to keep safe my phone and computer Pros Hotspot shiel vpn is a good vpn software, you can keep safe your connection and you can connect fastly without any problem. Cons After 7 day for free it is impossible to connect on mobile and on computer you have just limited time and the app always disconnects. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Systems Engineer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Hotspot Shield VPN review" January 23, 2023 4.0 Pros many different server locations split-tunneling according to the domain. bulky services package Cons Android's free version is throttled and is sponsored with customized advertisements Review Source SS Shannon S. Student E-Learning Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Cannot protect home network " November 27, 2019 1.0 Pros I installed this on my home Computer. I found out it was only protecting my computer IP address but not my router IP address. I contacted the company, 2 weeks after paying for A month subscription. They just stated “sorry they are unable to protect my system”. They did not offer to refund the rest of the month, nor did they offer any solutions to try. They turned off my VPN immediately , so I lost the remainder of the month I had already paid for as well. Cons Does not protect home networks, terrible customer service. Review Source OT Oğuz T. Specialist Doctor Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "A GREAT ALTERNATIVE VPN PROVIDER" June 9, 2020 4.0 To summarize it's there whenever you need a VPN connection. It's easy to use and working smoothly. Pros I use it when I'm in a hurry because it's really fast and easy to use. With just one click you can connect without any problem and you're connected. It provides security when you're on public wifi. Cons It costs a little more than the other VPN providers. It can be more affordable. But still worth to give money to Hotspot Shield. Review Source MT Murad T. Accountant Accounting Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Watch ads, Enjoy the internet" November 23, 2020 5.0 I used this app for 44 days. It was a good experience. Pros With watching ads, you can earn 10 minutes to use the software. You can think it is much, but no it is not. You can use it without any problem. Cons When I started using this software, every time you watched the ad you could use the VPN for 15 minutes, but after it decreased to 10. Review Source OF OMAR F. Android developer Program Development Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "God impression over all" August 12, 2021 5.0 I need to be safe on the internet and Hotspot shield VPN gives me that comfortably Pros It really perfect experience Fast connect and protect rhe data very well i only wish if the prices lower Cons I think it perfect for me No need for any modifications except the prices Review Source Similar Products Featured