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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.

IPVanish VPN vs Hotspot Shield 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.2/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kate Richards
    Kate Richards

    Former Managing Editor

    Hotspot Shield and IPVanish are among the biggest VPNs on the market and are well respected for providing large networks of servers. Both providers are great for unblocking Netflix and many other US service providers, and both have apps for all major mobile and desktop platforms. It’s worth noting up front that both Hotspot Shield and IPVanish are based in the US and have been investigated in the past for violating their stated privacy policies by collecting user data logs. IPVanish is known to have provided information to US law enforcement on at least one occasion. The main difference between these two VPNs is that while Hotspot Shield prohibits torrenting on its servers, IPVanish does not restrict P2P file-sharing activities. Another key distinction is that Hotspot Shield offers a free version alongside its paid plans, whereas IPVanish focuses wholly on providing a premium VPN service. Hotspot Shield also has built-in malware protection, which is absent in IPVanish’s service. IPVanish, however, offers a network of over 1,000 servers in 60+ countries, while Hotspot Shield has around 2,500 in 25+ countries. Keep on reading to see which VPN takes the prize in multiple categories. NOTE: This comparison is for the paid Hotspot Shield plan, Hotspot Shield Elite.

    Our Score

    Features 9.2/10
    Pricing 9.2/10
    Ease of Use 9.0/10
    Reliability & Support 9.3/10
    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 8.8/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 9.4/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image James Everard
    James Everard

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.2/10

    IPVanish offers high-speed connections and an impressive list of advanced security features at a budget-friendly price. Over the years I’ve been working with this VPN, it’s continued to stand out as a reliable option for several different use cases. My team and I carefully studied its privacy policy and tested its speeds, security features, and streaming capabilities. We also looked into i...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    S
    Stu Taylor
    10.0/10
    Very, very satisfied

    I am into my third year of using IPVanish. I am extremely happy with the speed, reliability, features ... and reliability. The fact that I have used it for this long without trying the competition speaks volumes. I am never going to try anything else because I am completely happy with what I have. Why risk it?More

    Latest negative user review
    B
    Beth Gray
    2.0/10
    Misleading, false advertising, don't honor guarantee. BEWARE

    IP address and region not effectively blocked on most sites. Streaming sites do NOT work with their se... rvices, but they do not disclose that anywhere on their website. The support team had no idea in terms of technical knowledge. They claim that their 30-day guarantee is unconditional and there is no risk, but they have so many exclusions buried in their fine print that the average user would have huge difficulty finding. They advertise on many streaming how-to websites where they KNOW their services do not work. COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY. If I could give less than one star I would. SO unethical.More

    Read the full review
    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

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.19/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    Starting price $3.33/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    IPVanish provides a very reliable VPN, with very fast servers in more countries than Hotspot Shield and user-friendly apps across all major platforms. Hotspot Shield also offers a reliable service with a large network of servers, a free limited version of the VPN, and a wide array of security features. Additionally, this provider constantly updates its coupons page with deals you wouldn't want to miss.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    IPVanish is a far more reliable VPN for torrenting, as it supports P2P file-sharing on its servers and also uses a SOCKS5 proxy to keep you anonymous as you download. Hotspot Shield is far from ideal VPN for torrents, as it actually prohibits P2P activities on its servers. It does offer unlimited bandwidth for regular downloads, however.

    Best VPN for Windows

    IPVanish’s dedicated Windows app is easy to use, features access to over 40,000 IP addresses, and supports the IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec VPN protocols. By offering a dedicated app with a kill switch and its unique Catapult Hydra VPN technology that optimizes multiple servers for stronger, faster connections over long distances, Hotspot Shield also offers a very powerful service for Windows.

    Best VPN for Android

    IPVanish provides a dedicated Android app that features a unique OpenVPN scrambler and access to its entire network of over 1,000 servers in 60+ countries. Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, has a dedicated Android app that has been reviewed over one million times on Play Store and features military-grade encryption and access to dedicated live support.

    Best VPN for Mac

    IPVanish has a dedicated MacOS app that features unlimited server switching, LAN blocking, and tracking protection. Meanwhile, Hotspot Shield offers a really robust MacOS app with malware protection as well as well as useful features like wi-fi protection and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

    Best VPN for iOS

    Hotspot Shield only offers support for five simultaneous connections, but its dedicated iOS app features wi-fi protection and military-grade encryption, and comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee. IPVanish also offers a dedicated iOS app that features a SOCKS5 web proxy, 256-bit encryption, and a very neat user interface that’s ideal for VPN newbies.

    Best VPN for USA

    By offering hundreds of US servers that allow you unblock Netflix and other US-based websites, IPVanish offers a very reliable VPN for the USA. Hotspot Shield also has dedicated US servers that flawlessly bypasses restrictions on hundreds of US streaming platforms, including Netflix.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    By offering servers in more locations and including more features in its apps, IPVanish provides a more complete VPN service overall than Hotspot Shield. Its servers are also pretty fast – though not as fast as those of top VPNs like ExpressVPN – and capable of streaming without buffer. Although Hotspot Shield offers a very competitive 45-day money-back guarantee, IPVanish’s 7-day guarantee should be sufficient to find out if the service is right for you. Its support for up to 10 simultaneous device connections means that it provides more value for your money if you have a large family or use a lot of different gadgets.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is IPVanish VPN better than Hotspot Shield?

    Yes, IPVanish VPN is better overall than Hotspot Shield. It has 2400 servers in 130 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.19 a month.

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

    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 IPVanish VPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is IPVanish VPN faster than Hotspot Shield?

    Yes, IPVanish VPN is faster than Hotspot Shield. 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 IPVanish VPN or Hotspot Shield offer any deals?

    Both IPVanish VPN and Hotspot Shield 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

    Kate is a former Managing Editor at vpnMentor. Kate promoted the use of VPNs as a means to achieve unhindered access to the internet, as she strongly believes in online freedom for everyone.