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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Hotspot Shield vs BTGuard VPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 5.5/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Hotspot Shield and BTGuard both offer industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption and the OpenVPN protocol. Plus, each one allows torrenting on their servers. However, there’s no doubt about Hotspot Shield’s dominance over BTGuard when comparing their server locations. While Hotspot Shield has a large network of 1,800 servers in 80 countries, BTGuard covers only Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore. BTGuard is also more expensive than many VPNs, although it's lacking a kill switch feature and doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee.

    Our Score

    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 8.8/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 9.4/10
    Features 5.5/10
    Pricing 6.0/10
    Ease of Use 8.6/10
    Reliability & Support 8.5/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Lawrence Wachira
    Lawrence Wachira

    Editor

    Our Score: 9.1/10

    Hotspot Shield is a VPN that’s undergone many changes recently. After dealing with several controversies, it overhauled its logging policy and is under new management. So, has it gotten better? My global team and I tested everything it offers to see if Hotspot Shield (HSS) is safe. We fully explored its logging policy and found out if its security features can prevent data leaks. We also tes...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    H
    Howard Rosenbrook
    10.0/10
    Had for 3 years no problem

    Kept cable providers off my ass just dont like that you cant pay a week or so early and dont like the ... auto renewal i should beable to pay my bill on my own when i want as long as im not late it shouldnt be a problem with your companyMore

    Latest negative user review
    A
    Alt
    2.0/10
    Blocked by Real-Debrid on just about every us city and nearly all countries

    Easy to connect speed pretty good multiple platforms not great from streaming.. which is where you nee... d the speed. Nord vpn and Express are both cooperative providers with real-debrid meaning no connection problems. Even if you do find a server that connects frequently this is blocked during streaming.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Anneke van Aswegen
    Anneke van Aswegen

    Content Manager

    Our Score: 5.5/10

    BitTorrentGuard — aka BTGuard — is a VPN and BitTorrent proxy provider. It is specifically designed for P2P fans at a time when most tiptoe around the subject of torrenting. You can use it on as many computers as you like without worrying about bandwidth, which is great for file sharing. Another significant aspect of the VPN is that its speeds are consistent. However, it does have some drawba...

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    Latest positive user review
    A
    Anonymously
    10.0/10
    Works for me for years

    Not sure why seen so much bad feedback here. Using BTGuard for more than 8 years. I ran into problems ... about 3 times. Figured out it was a software upgrade. Following their setup instructions for PCs/Linux phones works.More

    Latest negative user review
    R
    Raymond Stevens
    2.0/10
    Terrible customer service

    I used them for several years without too many problems beyond when I actually had a question I needed...  to be answered by this outfit they never bothered to respond to my emails. One day, while connected to BTGuard, my IP was leaked to my ISP and I received a notice from Cox that I was in violation of their user agreement. I questioned BTGuard about this and I was immediately suspended and my account was closed. What the hell kind of treatment is this? And of course, they didn't bother to respond to my question as to why on earth I was suspended. At this point, I moved to TorGuard and never looked back. I've used TorGuard for 7 years. They offer a reasonable price and excellent service and outstanding customer support. I see BTGuard is still in business despite their lousy customer service and their limited functionality as discussed by the author of this article and there don't care attitude about their customers. Makes me wonder how they have any.More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $3.33/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    Starting price $7.5/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 0 Days
    Number of devices per license 1 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Hotspot Shield is a clear winner. It has many server locations and offers additional features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection. Unlike BTGuard, Hotspot Shield also provides native apps that are easy to install and use, as well as a money-back guarantee.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    With P2P support and reliable data leak protection Hotspot Shield is a winner. Although BTGuard allows servers on all its servers, there’s no kill switch or DNS/IP leak protection, so it’s not the safest option for torrenting.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Hotspot Shield is better for Windows. Its minimalistic and straightforward interface allows you to connect to a server with 2 clicks. Plus, you get many customization options in its general settings menu. It also has a reliable kill switch and 24/7 live chat support, which isn’t the case with BTGuard. Additionally, you need to manually configure BtGuard, since it doesn’t have a dedicated app of its own.

    Best VPN for Android

    Just like for Windows, Hotspot Shield comes on top with a clean and simple-to-use app for Android. A kill switch is included, unlike with BTGuard, which also doesn’t have native apps for Android devices.

    Best VPN for Mac

    The Hotspot Shield’s Mac app has a huge advantage over BTGuard. You can download it in a few clicks, easily navigate its interface packed with useful features, and connect to one of its many servers. On the other hand, BTGuard can be installed on a Mac device only via OpenVPN or PPTP manual setup.

    Best VPN for iOS

    Hotspot Shield takes the lead with its easy installation and simplistic interface. It also offers its proprietary Hydra VPN protocol. BTGuard can be installed on iOS, but you have to do it manually, through OpenVPN or PPTP.

    Best VPN for USA

    With servers across 27 locations in the US, Hotspot Shield comes forward as a great VPN for unblocking Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+. Since BTGuard has no servers in the US, it can’t unblock any US streaming service, so it’s not recommended for US users.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    It is easy to say that Hotspot Shield is a more practical VPN, which actually hides your information better but doesn't give reports of your usage. However, BTGuard offers the opportunity for both Open VPN and PPTP connections, but with a lot fewer locations than Hotspot Shield, which offers more than 30 countries. On the other hand, BTGuard is relatively expensive and Hotspot Shield is very affordable, while also helping you use better-encrypted IP from more locations, making it a better option than BTGuard. Hotspot Shield is the clear winner.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with Hotspot Shield
    Go with BTGuard VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is Hotspot Shield better than BTGuard VPN?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is better overall than BTGuard VPN. It has 1800 servers in 80 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $3.33 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between Hotspot Shield and BTGuard VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then Hotspot Shield may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is Hotspot Shield faster than BTGuard VPN?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is faster than BTGuard VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do Hotspot Shield or BTGuard VPN offer any deals?

    Both Hotspot Shield and BTGuard VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 82% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Technical writer with a passion for online privacy.