Hotspot Shield
★6.2/10
Hotspot Shield: Review of a Popular VPN with a Free Plan
Hotspot Shield is one of the most well-known VPN providers with years of history and millions of users worldwide. The service offers 3,200+ servers in 85+ countries and uses its proprietary Hydra protocol for high-speed connections. The provider attracts users with a free plan and support for up to 10 simultaneous devices.
Verified no-logs
Works with streaming
P2P / Torrents
Free version available
servers
3,200+
countries
85+
devices
up to 10
Плюсы
Large network of 3,200+ servers in 85+ countries
Free plan for basic use
Support for up to 10 simultaneous devices
No-logs policy and Kill Switch
Extended 45-day money-back guarantee
Минусы
US jurisdiction with intelligence agency requirements
Last independent audit was conducted in 2018
No RAM-only servers
Pricing
Free
$0
Бесплатно, но есть ограничения по сравнению с платными тарифами: меньшая скорость, доступ только к серверам из США
Best value
1 year
−38%
$7.99
/mo
total $95.99
1 month
$12.99
/mo
Get deal ↗
✓ 45-day money-back guarantee
Payment methods
Bank cards
American Express
Discover
JCB
Mastercard
Visa
E-wallets
PayPal
Devices
Simultaneous connections:
10
Desktop
macOS
Windows
Mobile
Android
iOS
Smart TV
smart-tv
Streaming & services
Websites
✓ Access to global websites
Streaming
✓ Amazon Prime
✓ BBC iPlayer
✓ Disney+
✓ Hulu
✓ Netflix
✓ Torrents
✓ YouTube
AI services
✓ ChatGPT
✓ DALL-E 3
✓ Gemini
✓ Microsoft Copilot
✓ Midjourney
✓ Perplexity
Protocols
Hydra
IKEv2
IPSec
WireGuard
Servers
3,200
servers
85+
countries
Server countries (85+)
Servers of Hotspot Shield are available in 85+ countries, including:
Who it's for
✓ Good for you if
✓
Users who want to test the free plan first
✓
Those who connect multiple devices — up to 10 simultaneously
✓
Users who prioritize high connection speeds
✗ Not ideal if
✗
Those who strictly avoid US-based providers
✗
Users who value recent security audits
FAQ
How secure is Hotspot Shield?
▾
How much does Hotspot Shield cost?
▾
What's the difference between free and paid plans?
▾
Verdict
Hotspot Shield is a time-tested VPN provider suitable for users who value a large server selection and the ability to test the service for free. The main drawbacks are US jurisdiction and outdated security audits. The service is worth considering for those who need high speed and support for multiple devices.
6.2
/10
Hotspot Shield