Hotspot Shield VPN Review (2026): Is it the right choice?

Hotspot Shield VPN Review

Hotspot Shield is ultra-fast, but falls short on privacy. The privacy policy is invasive, logging browsing activity and IP addresses. We recommend alternatives like NordVPN, Surfshark, or Norton instead.

• Privacy: 0%. Hotspot Shield records users’ IP addresses and browsing activity. Other VPNs do not.
• Streaming: 100%. Hotspot Shield works with most major streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Prime, and more.
• Speed: 100%. Its proprietary Hydra protocol delivers exceptional download speeds with minimal lag.
• Security: 80%. While the Hydra protocol is fast, its closed-source nature limits independent security audits.

Hotspot Shield is fast, but NordVPN is the most advanced VPN.

Privacy

When we tested Hotspot Shield, we found that its privacy practices are more complicated than its marketing suggests. While the company claims to have a strict no-logs policy, our review of its documentation and behavior during testing showed that it still collects and retains several types of anonymized and identifiable data.

Data collection

Hotspot Shield records session duration (including timestamps), bandwidth usage, device hashes, and the VPN server location you connect to. It also calculates an approximate user location to help assign nearby servers. Some identifiable data — like your originating IP address — is temporarily stored during an active session but deleted afterward.

However, aggregated logs of browsing activity and connection details are retained and may not always be fully anonymized. Certain records, such as bandwidth data, timestamps, and location logs, can reportedly be kept indefinitely.

Free Version

In its free version, Hotspot Shield shares limited user information with advertisers, including device details, the server used, and anonymized metadata. The premium version, which we tested separately, avoids this type of data sharing and provides stronger privacy protections. Still, there are limitations: there’s no option to pay anonymously using cryptocurrency or other privacy-focused methods.

United States

The company is based in the United States — a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance — which means it operates under some of the world’s most intrusive surveillance and data access laws. Hotspot Shield is owned by Aura, another U.S.-based company, making it subject to potential government data requests and retention obligations.

We also noted that while the proprietary Hydra protocol has undergone an independent audit, the privacy policy itself has not. Furthermore, Hotspot Shield hasn’t published a transparency report since 2019 and does not operate diskless (RAM-only) servers, which would have minimized the risk of data persistence.

Controversies

Hotspot Shield’s privacy history has seen multiple controversies. A 2016 CSIRO report discovered that the app injected ad and tracking code. In 2017, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) filed a complaint alleging misleading privacy claims. Then in 2018, a data leak exposed users’ approximate locations and Wi-Fi network information.

Aura

Under Aura’s ownership, the privacy policy was updated to clarify its data collection and advertising practices, emphasizing that no long-term identifiable information is retained and that approximate location data is deleted at the end of each session. On a positive note, Hotspot Shield can function in restrictive environments like China through its obfuscated servers.

Conclusion

Overall, while Hotspot Shield has improved transparency and privacy clarity under Aura, its U.S. jurisdiction, lack of independent audits, inconsistent past claims, and history of privacy issues make it a less trustworthy option for users seeking strong anonymity.

Streaming

Hotspot Shield Premium unblocks most geo-restricted streaming platforms, like BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. The free version, by contrast, fails to access any streaming service.

Speed

Hotspot Shield sets the benchmark for VPN speed, delivering near-identical performance to a standard internet connection, even on long-distance servers. This makes it an excellent choice for activities requiring high bandwidth and low latency, such as streaming, gaming, and file sharing.

Performance Highlights:

• Speed Impact: Minimal speed loss, with a 3% drop on US-to-Europe connections, which is exceptional for long-distance VPN use.
• Streaming: Supports UHD (4K) streaming without buffering.
• Gaming: Low latency (6ms on local servers) ensures smooth online gaming, with mobile apps featuring gaming-optimized servers.

Hotspot Shield Free matches the Premium version in speed but is limited to four server locations.

Security

When we tested Hotspot Shield, we found that it delivers strong encryption and several essential privacy tools — though some advanced protections are missing or inconsistently implemented across platforms.

Encryption

Hotspot Shield uses AES-256-bit military-grade encryption and the ChaCha20 cipher to protect user data. It also implements Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS), meaning encryption keys are regularly rotated to prevent past sessions from being compromised, even if a key is exposed. In our tests, this combination ensured that all data remained securely encrypted, as verified through Wireshark packet inspection.

Protocols

The VPN supports three protocols: its proprietary Hydra, WireGuard, and IKEv2 (IPSec). Unfortunately, it does not offer OpenVPN support — a notable omission for users who prioritize open standards. Hydra, based on TLS 1.2, employs AES-128 encryption, 2048-bit RSA certificates, and PFS.

It’s designed for high-speed performance and can bypass Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), making it ideal for streaming and restrictive networks. WireGuard, the open-source and lightweight option, is available across platforms and our preferred choice for transparency and efficiency. IKEv2 provides fast reconnection on mobile devices but is only available in the paid version.

Audits and Kill Switch

While Hotspot Shield performs well in most security areas, it lacks an independent, third-party security audit — something we expect from top-tier VPNs. The kill switch feature, which prevents data exposure if the VPN disconnects, works on Windows and other platforms but must be manually enabled. It’s notably absent on macOS.

Leak Protection

Leak protection is partially implemented: the apps successfully passed our IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests, but the Chrome browser extension leaked both DNS and WebRTC data, potentially exposing browsing activity to ISPs. Additionally, Hotspot Shield does not support IPv6, which can lead to exposure for users on IPv6 networks.

Other Security Features

The VPN also includes practical extras such as split tunneling, allowing specific apps or websites to bypass the VPN, and Auto-Protect, which automatically activates the VPN when connecting to new or untrusted WiFi networks. Its built-in malware protection scans websites for phishing, adware, and other threats, and a separate antivirus program is available for those seeking full device-level protection.

Hotspot Shield is compatible with Tor, offering an extra layer of anonymity by routing encrypted traffic through the Onion network. However, it lacks a multi-hop (double VPN) feature, which routes data through two servers for additional security. Finally, while the free version includes essential protections, it omits the IKEv2 protocol and several premium security options. The once-integrated Robo Shield spam call blocker is now sold separately in the U.S.

Conclusion

Overall, Hotspot Shield provides solid encryption and privacy fundamentals, but its inconsistent implementation across platforms, lack of audit, and DNS leaks in the browser extension prevent it from being a top-tier security performer.

Servers

When we tested Hotspot Shield, we found that it offers a total server network spanning 96 countries, including virtual locations. That’s slightly above the top 10 VPN brands’ average of 93 total server countries.

Unfortunately, Hotspot Shield doesn’t disclose how many of these are physical servers, so it’s impossible to determine how large its genuine hardware network is. Only half of the top 10 VPN providers share their physical server counts, which makes direct comparisons challenging.

To clarify, physical servers are actual machines located in the country they represent, while virtual servers are hosted elsewhere but configured to appear as if they’re in that location.

Virtual servers can improve performance and expand coverage, but they also raise questions about transparency — users might think their data is routed through one country when it’s actually processed in another. This distinction matters for privacy-focused users who want to know exactly where their data travels.

Prices

When comparing prices across the top 10 VPN providers, Hotspot Shield stood out for being among the most expensive mid-tier options. Its 1st-year and renewal prices are identical at $95.88, while the average 1st-year price among competitors is $53.47, with an average renewal rate of $102.85.

That means Hotspot Shield’s subscription is nearly twice as expensive as budget-friendly brands like Norton, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, Bitdefender, TotalVPN, and Avast. On the other hand, it’s slightly cheaper than premium providers like Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN.

While we appreciate the consistency in pricing between the first year and renewal, the high entry cost might deter users seeking affordability, especially when other services deliver comparable performance at lower rates.

User reviews

Hotspot Shield’s reputation among users is mixed. On Trustpilot, it holds a 3.4-star rating based on around 1,000 reviews, which is below the top 10 VPN average of 4.1 stars from roughly 22,000 reviews.

In our analysis, this lower rating reflects recurring complaints about billing issues and inconsistent customer support, though many users still praise its fast speeds and ease of use. Overall, while the service performs well technically, it appears that user satisfaction trails behind some of its competitors, especially those with more transparent practices and smoother customer experiences.

Ownership

Hotspot Shield is owned by Point Wild.

In December 2024, Hotspot Shield’s parent company, Pango Group, merged with Total Security to form Point Wild. The new company has a consumer, partner, and enterprise side.

On the consumer side, Point Wild serves over 25 million monthly active users in 150 countries through brands like Hotspot Shield, Betternet, Ultra, VPN360, Comparitech, and Total Security. These brands offer a variety of tools, including VPNs, antivirus software, and online privacy solutions, to enhance user security and privacy.

The partner side operates under the Pango brand, providing customizable security tools for businesses to boost customer trust and engagement.

For enterprises, Point Wild offers advanced solutions through brands like CyEx, which specializes in cyber and privacy incident response, and Simpluris, which provides legal and corporate administration services.

Point Wild is a major player in the online protection industry, with annual revenue projected at $600 million and a focus on consistent growth and innovation.