Hotspot VPN Review 2024 - Keep This in Mind Before Buying

Not to be confused with Hotspot Shield, Hotspot VPN markets itself as an all around service that’s capable of unblocking any type of online content you like. But is it up to scratch?

I tested the VPN’s speeds, server network, and unblocking abilities. I also investigated its security and privacy features to see if it can keep you safe. What I found is a small service that’s not yet ready to compete with the top VPNs in the business.

Try Hotspot VPN for Free

Streaming — Limited Capabilities

Hotspot only unblocks a handful of streaming platforms.

Unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+

I streamed from Netflix’s US, UK, and Singapore libraries. I could also watch shows on Hulu and Disney+ using the US servers.

I was able to watch shows on Disney+ using Hotspot’s US servers

Blocked By: Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer

Hotspot couldn’t unblock BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime Video. This wasn’t surprising since Amazon has cracked down on VPNs in recent times.

I had the same issue with BBC iPlayer, which knew I wasn’t in the UK.

Hotspot VPN couldn’t unblock BBC iPlayer during my tests

Overall, I can’t recommend Hotspot for streaming. I suggest you take a look at these streaming VPNs instead.

Speeds — Decent Performance

Hotspot VPN was surprisingly fast.

The US server was the farthest and slowest server for me

I started with a base speed of 65.75 Mbps. The first server I tested was in the UK and I noticed just a 3% drop to 63.73 Mbps. I had a similar experience with a Swedish server, where my speed stood at 58.87 Mbps — only a 10% decrease.

I was impressed to see that my speeds didn’t decrease by more than 44% on its US server either, which was far away from my location.

Overall, I can recommend Hotspot if you’re looking for a fast VPN.

Server Network — Spreads Across Several Countries

HotspotVPN has 1,200 servers spread over 70 countries. Since the server network is quite large, you shouldn’t expect any crowding or delays. I didn’t encounter major problems during testing, but the France server was unavailable.

I only encountered one location that didn’t work

Security — Unclear Safety Methods

The VPN doesn’t make its security measures clear. Instead, it uses vague terminology like Protocol A, Protocol B. The customer service team told me that the protocols used by them are “safe enough for common use.” It’s a huge red flag that they wouldn’t specify which protocols they use.

I had no way of knowing which protocol I was using

I didn’t detect any leaks during testing, meaning that my information was secure. However, since I couldn’t find out what protocols and encryption it uses, I can’t guarantee that your connection will be completely secure.

My extensive tests show that Hotspot VPN doesn’t leak your IP

I suggest you take a look at these best VPNs for security so your information is completely safe.

Privacy — Follows Best Practices

Hotspot has excellent privacy practices. It’s registered in Panama — a country that doesn’t mandate storage of user data.

Additionally, it does not record timestamps, session details, bandwidth usage, traffic data, or IP addresses. However, it does retain website cookie data, server load statistics, billing information, and customer service records — but such storage is quite commonplace.

You can even contact customer support to request that the VPN deletes all of your data.

Torrenting — Allowed

You can use HotSpotVPN for P2P transfers. The speeds are fast enough.

However, I can’t guarantee that it's safe since the VPN’s security protocols are a mystery.

Does Hotspot VPN Work in China? Yes

The customer support team claims that it works in China. However, since Hotspot doesn’t tell you what are the security protocols it uses, it’s hard to tell if you’re safely accessing the internet behind the Great Firewall.

HotspotVPN’s support team confirmed that the VPN works in China

I suggest you take a look at these VPNs that work in China for more peace of mind.

Simultaneous Device Connections — Up to 5

You can use up to 5 devices at the same time. While the number is small, it should be enough to cover all the devices in your household.

Device Compatibility — Major Disappointment

Hotspot VPN supports iOS, Android, and macOS devices only. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an app that is compatible with Windows, browsers, routers, or gaming consoles.