CyberGhost vs Hotspot Shield 2025

Akash Deep Cybersecurity Researcher

Updated on April 11, 2025

CyberGhost is the better choice. It delivers more consistent streaming access, stronger privacy protections, and better value on long-term plans. Hotspot Shield has its advantages, like fast speeds on nearby servers and a clean, beginner-friendly interface. But overall, it couldn’t keep up with CyberGhost’s performance across our tests.

These VPNs cater to different types of users. Hotspot Shield focuses on raw speed through its proprietary Hydra protocol. CyberGhost takes a more balanced approach, offering dedicated servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. You also get strong security features and a strict no-logs policy. It’s built for users who want reliable performance across multiple devices.

To get a full picture, we tested both VPNs across 10 categories. We looked at streaming performance, gaming latency, server networks, privacy policies, and price-to-feature value. The results showed clear differences that can impact your day-to-day experience with each service. Here’s what we found.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

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Our Score: 9.9

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Streaming — CyberGhost Wins By a Narrow Margin

Streaming is one of the main reasons people use a VPN, so we tested both CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield across the most popular platforms. Both delivered smooth, high-quality playback on Disney+, Max, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services. But CyberGhost had an edge thanks to its dedicated streaming servers.

Both VPNs worked seamlessly with Netflix, and we could securely access all major libraries like the US, UK, Japan, and Germany. We could even stream content from some more obscure libraries, like Argentina, Brazil, and South Korea. The streaming quality was solid on both, but CyberGhost was a bit more consistent with less popular regions.

We tested 8 of its Netflix-optimized servers, and they all worked well

CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers make it easier to stream your favorite content in HD from anywhere. Each one is labeled by platform and location, so there’s no guessing — just click and stream. Whether it was Disney+, Max, ESPN, or BBC iPlayer, CyberGhost worked every time.

Hotspot Shield also handled most platforms well. During our tests, it worked well with Disney+, Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. However, it failed to work with Hulu — even after switching server locations.

There was no buffering as we binge-watched Good American Family

Winner

Is CyberGhost more reliable for streaming than Hotspot Shield? Yes, CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers make it easier to securely access platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer without interruptions. Hotspot Shield performs well on most services, but it struggled with Hulu and wasn’t as consistent with more obscure Netflix libraries. 

Server Network — CyberGhost Gives You Access to More Countries

CyberGhost has a much larger network, which means you're more likely to get an IP address in the exact country you need. This includes locations that Hotspot Shield doesn’t support, like Albania, Andorra, and North Macedonia. Both VPNs offer a mix of physical and virtual servers.

Beyond network reach, CyberGhost’s size helps with performance. Because there are more servers spread across more cities, nearby low-latency connections are easier to find — especially during peak hours. In comparison, Hotspot Shield’s smaller network can feel crowded in high-traffic regions, which sometimes led to slower speeds in our tests. We also noticed occasional connection delays when trying to connect from outside major metro areas.

Both VPNs offer a mix of physical and virtual servers. But CyberGhost lets you pick specific cities in many countries, which is useful when you're connecting to local gaming servers or just trying to improve ping by choosing a closer location. Hotspot Shield does offer some city-level server options, but the selection is far more limited in comparison.

Winner

Does CyberGhost have a larger server network than Hotspot Shield? Yes, CyberGhost offers a bigger network, with more city-level options and better global coverage. Hotspot Shield’s network is smaller and less diverse, which can make it harder to find specific locations or nearby low-latency servers.

Speed — CyberGhost Takes the Lead With Faster Connections

According to a report by Windscribe, 22.9% of internet users use VPNs, and in the US alone, that number rises to 42%¹. That’s a lot of people expecting fast, reliable performance for everything from streaming to online work.

So, we tested CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield from Texas, US to see how each VPN performs. We used the WireGuard protocol with CyberGhost, and Hydra with Hotspot Shield, as they were the fastest options.

On the nearby New York server, both VPNs performed well. CyberGhost lost about 6% of our base speed, while Hotspot Shield lost closer to 30%. The difference may not be noticeable for local use unless you're downloading large files or need consistently high bandwidth.

In France, CyberGhost again held strong with almost no speed loss. Hotspot Shield slowed down more but still delivered acceptable performance. The speed loss with CyberGhost was only 6% compared to 22% with Hotspot Shield.

The biggest difference showed up in Tokyo. CyberGhost’s download speed increased slightly, likely due to routing variations. Hotspot Shield dropped by 61% in downloads and over 70% in uploads — reducing its speeds to less than a third of its original connection. That kind of degradation can lead to noticeably slower loading times when connecting across continents.

Here’s a quick summary of our results:

Winner

Is CyberGhost faster than Hotspot Shield for everyday use? Yes, CyberGhost delivered more consistent speeds across nearby and distant servers in our tests. While Hotspot Shield handled local connections well, CyberGhost was more reliable overall, especially when connecting across regions.

Gaming — CyberGhost Offers Lower Latency and a Smoother Experience

Low ping is essential for competitive gaming, especially in fast-paced titles like Warzone, Fortnite, and Valorant. We tested both VPNs across nearby, mid-range, and distant servers while playing online games to see how they handled real-time responsiveness. CyberGhost came out ahead, thanks to its lower latency and specialized gaming servers.

On servers in New York, both VPNs kept latency low enough for smooth, responsive gameplay. Hotspot Shield hovered around 47 ms, which worked well for matches in Rocket League and Fortnite. CyberGhost was slightly faster at 44 ms. When we connected to its optimized gaming server, our ping dropped even further to 37 ms, making high-skill moments feel more responsive.

Connect to the closest server to you for the best gaming performance

In France, CyberGhost outperformed Hotspot Shield by a small margin, clocking in at 110 ms versus HSS’s 117 ms. While neither connection is perfect for competitive play, both were usable for casual rounds of League of Legends and CS2.

In Tokyo, the two VPNs were nearly identical — CyberGhost hit 142 ms, and Hotspot Shield came in at 144 ms. These connections were fine for non-competitive gaming, but we noticed input delay in Overwatch 2 when playing on Japanese servers. However, we’ve never come across a VPN that works for competitive gaming at these distances.

Winner

Is CyberGhost or Hotspot Shield better for low ping while gaming? CyberGhost is better for lag-free gaming. Its specialized gaming servers and more consistent latency gave us smoother performance across all regions. Hotspot Shield is a solid option too, but CyberGhost was more responsive during fast-paced online play.

Torrenting — CyberGhost Makes P2P Easier and Safer

Both CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield support torrenting, but CyberGhost makes the process much smoother. It offers dedicated torrenting servers labeled clearly in the app, so you know exactly where to connect for fast, stable P2P downloads.

We tested it by downloading a 5 GB Linux image file on one of CyberGhost’s US torrenting servers, and it finished in under 4 minutes. Speeds remained steady, and the whole experience was effortless. Hotspot Shield also handled the same file well, but the download took over 4.5 minutes to complete.

Both VPNs are equipped with the features needed to torrent safely. However, CyberGhost offers stronger privacy overall, which is especially important for P2P activity. We’ll dive into the specifics of that in the privacy section.

Winner

Is CyberGhost better than Hotspot Shield for torrenting? Yes. CyberGhost offers dedicated torrenting servers and a more privacy-focused setup, making it easier and safer to use for file sharing. Hotspot Shield works, but it lacks the same level of privacy and ease of use.

Security — CyberGhost Offers More Control and Useful Extras

Security isn't just about features on paper — weak implementations can be a real risk. According to ZScaler, 56% of organizations reported cyberattacks that exploited VPN vulnerabilities in 2024². That’s why we closely examined how CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield protect your data, not just with encryption, but also through kill switches, leak protection, and secure protocols.

CyberGhost includes Smart rules that let you automate how and when the VPN connects. You can set it to launch for certain apps or trigger on specific WiFi networks. This can be helpful if you regularly switch between tasks or locations. Its kill switch is always active, and we confirmed zero leaks during our tests across multiple countries.

The kill switch only activated once, and it worked seamlessly to prevent data leaks

Hotspot Shield also kept our data protected. Its kill switch is enabled by default and runs in the background across apps, though Windows users have the option to turn it on or off. Does Hotspot Shield hide your IP? Yes, we ran extensive tests and it never leaked our real IP address.

Plus, its Hydra protocol obfuscates traffic, which can be useful on restricted networks. It also includes a built-in malicious website blocker, though it doesn’t block trackers like CyberGhost.

Both VPNs use AES 256-bit encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy and support fast, secure protocols like WireGuard. But CyberGhost offers more control over protocol selection and adds extras like a dedicated IP option, which gives it the edge if you want to fine-tune your security setup.

Winner

Which VPN is more secure — CyberGhost or Hotspot Shield? Both are secure, but CyberGhost gives you more control. It includes extra tools like Smart rules and dedicated IPs that make it easier to customize your protection. Hotspot Shield keeps things simple and effective, but CyberGhost offers more flexibility overall.

Privacy — CyberGhost Is More Trustworthy Than Hotspot Shield

CyberGhost follows a strict no-logs policy. It doesn’t store your IP address, browsing activity, or any information that could identify you. While it does collect some anonymized diagnostic data, it’s used for statistical purposes and can’t be tied to your account. The company also runs a fully RAM-based server network, meaning no data is ever written to physical disks.

The VPN is based in Romania — an EU country that has refused to enforce EU-wide data retention laws. That makes it a surprisingly privacy-friendly location for a VPN. Is CyberGhost a Russian company? No, it’s owned by Kape Technologies, which is a UK-based company owned by an Israeli businessman.

The company has received criticism in the past for its ad tech origins. However, since rebranding and acquiring major VPNs like ExpressVPN and PIA, Kape has invested heavily in transparency. CyberGhost now undergoes third-party audits and publishes regular transparency reports.

Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, logs far more data. It records your originating IP address (even during sessions), connection timestamps, device info, and bandwidth usage. Some of this data is aggregated, but it’s still more than what we would consider acceptable.

It’s also owned by Aura, a US-based company. The US isn’t a great jurisdiction for privacy due to its aggressive surveillance laws and its role in the Five Eyes alliance — take a look at our guide to these intelligence networks for more information. On top of that, Hotspot Shield hasn’t released a transparency report since 2019.

Can Hotspot Shield be trusted? Not entirely. Hotspot Shield has taken steps to improve its privacy policy under new ownership, but past issues continue to cast a shadow.

Winner

Which VPN is more private — CyberGhost or Hotspot Shield? CyberGhost offers far more privacy protection. It collects minimal data, is based in a privacy-friendly country, and regularly undergoes independent audits. Hotspot Shield logs more information and hasn’t published a transparency report in years.

Works in China — Hotspot Shield Might Work, But Not Guaranteed

Most VPNs struggle to work in China due to the country’s aggressive internet censorship and advanced VPN-blocking technology. Services without reliable obfuscation often fail to connect at all.

CyberGhost may work in China, but it’s not likely. Its support team confirms that while some users have success, the VPN isn’t optimized for heavily restricted networks and doesn't offer built-in obfuscation to hide VPN traffic from detection.

Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, is more likely to work. Its proprietary Hydra protocol includes obfuscation features that help mask VPN usage, which makes it a more practical choice for bypassing internet restrictions in places like China. Again, reliability may still vary depending on your location and the current state of government blocks.

If you need options, check out our roundup of the best VPNs for China.

Winner

Does CyberGhost or Hotspot Shield work better in China? Hotspot Shield has a better chance of working thanks to its Hydra protocol, which includes obfuscation features that give it a better chance of bypassing restrictions. CyberGhost lacks obfuscation and may not connect at all.

Installation and Ease of Use — CyberGhost Is More User-Friendly

Both VPNs are easy to install and work well out of the box, but CyberGhost offers a more intuitive experience with better feature visibility and control. It’s ideal if you want something simple to use, but still packed with functionality.

CyberGhost’s desktop apps are clean and logically laid out. You get one-click access to specialized servers for streaming, gaming, and torrenting — no need to guess which server is best. Each category is clearly labeled, and you can filter by country or server load.

Both its Windows app and macOS app have a similar feel

Hotspot Shield’s apps are also easy to install and quick to connect, and they all have a streamlined interface. You’ll see a large power button and a location selector on launch, making it simple for beginners. However, its features are more hidden. It has streaming servers, but they’re not dedicated to certain platforms like CyberGhost’s. It also lacks servers for torrenting or gaming, so choosing the best option takes more trial and error.

Both VPNs support major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. CyberGhost’s feature set is more consistent across devices. Hotspot Shield varies more by platform. For example, the kill switch is enabled by default on most devices and can’t be disabled.

CyberGhost also gives you more customization, like the ability to launch the VPN with specific apps, trigger auto-connect on certain networks, or even set up a dedicated IP.

Winner

Which VPN is easier to use — CyberGhost or Hotspot Shield? CyberGhost is easier to use overall. Its apps are more organized, with dedicated tabs for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Hotspot Shield keeps things simple, but CyberGhost gives you more control without complicating the setup.

Reliability and Support — Both Are Responsive, but CyberGhost Offers More Depth

Good customer support can save you time and frustration when something goes wrong. Both CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield offer fast, responsive support. However, CyberGhost goes a step further with more in-depth resources and multi-language assistance.

CyberGhost’s live chat is available 24/7, and in our tests, we always connected to an agent within a minute. Answers were accurate and detailed, especially when we asked about complex topics like router setup and subscription policies. The only minor drawback was a slight delay between replies during longer conversations — nothing major, just a few extra seconds here and there.

Its email support was just as reliable. We received clear answers to our questions about security features within 3 hours. What really stood out was its multilingual support — CyberGhost provides assistance in several languages, which is rare in the VPN space.

Hotspot Shield also performed well. Its live chat was consistently fast, even during weekends. We appreciated that chat histories were saved in the app and automatically emailed to us — a small detail that made it easy to refer back to past conversations. The only downside is that we had to go through a chatbot first.

Both VPNs offer strong self-help resources. Hotspot Shield’s knowledge base is easy to navigate and covers common setup and troubleshooting topics. CyberGhost's Help Center feels more comprehensive overall, with better structure, helpful screenshots, and clearer walkthroughs for more advanced setups.

Winner

Who offers better support — CyberGhost or Hotspot Shield? CyberGhost offers better support overall. Both VPNs respond quickly, but CyberGhost stands out with multilingual assistance, more detailed guides, and slightly deeper live chat responses. That said, Hotspot Shield isn’t a bad option either.

Pricing

	CyberGhost	Hotspot Shield
Lowest Starting Price	$2.03/month for the 2-year offer, including 4 free months	$6.66/month for the 3-year plan
Price (On Renewal)	$56.94 per year (subject to change)	$79.99 per year (subject to change)
Money Back Guarantee (Days)	45 days	45 days
Number of Devices Per License	7	10
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Manual setup	No

Both VPNs offer multiple pricing tiers, but CyberGhost gives you significantly more value, especially if you're purchasing a long-term deal. It’s one of the most affordable premium VPNs available, while Hotspot Shield is on the pricier side, even on its best plan.

CyberGhost offers monthly, 6-month, and 2-year initial purchases, and it then renews monthly or yearly. Its best deal is $2.03/month on the longest purchase, and you still get access to all advanced features. It also accepts cryptocurrency, which is useful for anonymous payments.

Hotspot Shield has a free version, but it’s heavily restricted. Its paid plans include a monthly and yearly option, but even the annual plan starts at $6.66/month, which is significantly more than CyberGhost. Despite the higher cost, its performance doesn’t match that of CyberGhost.

Both VPNs offer a money-back guarantee, so you can try them risk-free.

Winner

Which VPN is more affordable — CyberGhost or Hotspot Shield? CyberGhost is more affordable. Its long-term purchase costs less per month, and all features are included regardless of which offer you choose. Hotspot Shield’s pricing is higher, even on annual plans, and its free version is too limited for regular use.

Our Methodology for Testing CyberGhost vs Hotspot Shield

To compare CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield, we tested both VPNs across key categories including speed, streaming, gaming, torrenting, security, and privacy. We tried each one with popular platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu. Speed tests were run on both nearby and long-distance servers. We also evaluated each VPN’s P2P capabilities by downloading large files and monitoring connection stability during gameplay across multiple regions.

Security testing included IP/DNS leak checks, kill switch behavior, and protocol analysis. We explored each VPN’s apps on desktop and mobile to assess ease of use, feature availability, and customization. Finally, we reviewed each provider’s privacy policy, logging practices, and ownership history to understand how they handle user data. For more details about our testing process, check out our VPN testing methodology page.

CyberGhost vs Hotspot Shield — Reddit Opinions

Reddit users generally have a more favorable view of CyberGhost than Hotspot Shield. It’s often recommended as a budget-friendly alternative to more expensive VPNs, particularly if you’re looking for a good streaming VPN.

Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, gets mixed reviews. While some users like its fast speeds and simplicity, concerns about its logging practices and US jurisdiction come up frequently. Several threads mention that its privacy policy feels too invasive for a premium VPN. Others point to its history of past controversies as a reason to look elsewhere.