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.
Advertising Disclosure

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 Hide My IP VPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 6.0/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Both Hotspot Shield and Hide My IP offer compelling features for your data safety. Each one guards your online traffic with high-grade encryption. However, there are some differences.

    Hotspot Shield has a more extensive server network and provides a better streaming experience. It also offers its proprietary Hydra VPN protocol, which is fast and secure, so it's good for torrenting. On the other hand, Hide My IP covers regions that most VPNs overlook, like South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Additionally, the VPN's website is translated into almost every language making for a great user experience. Plus, Hide My IP's support is very helpful and willing to use translation tools to chat with you in your native tongue. Have a look at our comparison to discover which VPN takes the lead.

    Our Score

    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 8.8/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 9.4/10
    Features 6.0/10
    Pricing 6.5/10
    Ease of Use 8.6/10
    Reliability & Support 8.6/10

    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 Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Former Managing Editor

    Our Score: 6.0/10

    When using a VPN, you shouldn’t have to rely on a browser extension with a complex setup just to get the service working. However, that was exactly what happened when I set out to try Hide My IP. I thoroughly tested the US-based VPN to see how effective it is for unblocking streaming sites, fast downloads, security, torrenting, and providing you with transparent policies. I signed up for the...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    P
    Paul
    10.0/10
    Works well and reliable

    I have been using it for at least 10 years. I also have Nordvpn. Hide my IP might not have many fancy ... features but most don't need them, a simple encrypted VPN is all we need. It's simple to use and I've never had a problem with use or speed. My Nordvpn won't connect at the moment (due to the upgrade to windows 11) but Hide my IP still works well.More

    Latest negative user review
    A
    Alex
    2.0/10
    Hide My IP cannot be trusted- do not buy it

    When you subscribe with the premium annual subscription they begin degrading your access by month 2, t... hen totally convert it to standard by months 3-4. At first we thought this was just a glitch, but after subscribing for the second time (Yes! We were naive enough to trust them again), the access limitation and account conversion to standard has happened again. While their product is good their practice is terrible. No stars for these thugs.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 $2.91/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 7 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    While Hide My IP is a decent service, especially for non-English speakers, Hotspot Shield is a clear winner. Its apps are simple to install and use, plus it has a large server network. Hotspot Shield also effectively unblocks streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Although both VPNs allow torrenting, Hotspot Shield is a better choice. It beats Hide My IP in terms of speeds thanks to its Hydra security protocol, plus it has a more reliable privacy policy. Additionally, you get more servers with Hotspot Shield, which also contributes to better download speeds.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Hotspot Shield’s app is better for Windows, as it’s suitable for both beginners and experienced users. It also has DNS leak protection and a kill switch that works well. Hide My IP, on the other hand, has very few options and is mostly unreliable.

    Best VPN for Android

    Although Hide My IP works much better on Android than on other platforms, Hotspot Shield beats it in this category too. The Hotspot Shield Android app comes with many useful features, including a spam call blocker and anti-malware protection.

    Best VPN for Mac

    There are native Mac apps for both VPNs. However, Hotspot Shield has a clean and intuitive interface, whereas Hide My IP looks cluttered and outdated. In addition to better speeds and server selection, this makes Hotspot Shield a clear winner.

    Best VPN for iOS

    These VPNs' iOS apps are stripped down to the basic features. Still, Hotspot Shield takes the lead with a much easier installation process completed within just a few clicks. To use Hide My IP on an iOS device, you need to configure it via the OpenVPN Connect app, which can be a lengthy procedure.

    Best VPN for USA

    With servers in over 27 US locations, Hotspot Shield also beats Hide My IP in this category. Additionally, its free version includes a US server for those who don't need more than 500MB of data per day. Unfortunately, you aren't able to unblock US (or any) streaming services with the free option. However, Hotspot's premium version unblocks Netflix US, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and many more US sites.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    The choice between these two is difficult. Both offer high speeds but Hide My IP is a little better for streaming services like Netflix. Hotspot is one of the best at hiding data, but Hide My IP has support for regions like South Asia, Middle East, and Africa. We can say that the winner is Hotspot Shield, as it protects data better, working as a more practical VPN. However, Hide My IP is still a great option too.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is Hotspot Shield better than Hide My IP VPN?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is better overall than Hide My IP 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 Hide My IP 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 Hide My IP VPN?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is faster than Hide My IP 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 Hide My IP VPN offer any deals?

    Both Hotspot Shield and Hide My IP 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.