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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.

Surfshark vs Hotspot Shield 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.3/10
    %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

    Surfshark is a new VPN service, while AnchorFree’s Hotspot Shield has been popular with users all over the world for years. Yet Surfshark doesn’t have the shortcomings we usually see in when we put new vendors to the test. For starters, it’s based in the British Virgin Islands, which doesn’t have any strict data retention laws. This advantageous location, along with a transparent zero-logs policy, makes it ideal for privacy-conscious users. In addition, by keeping a low profile, Surfshark keeps its 3,200+ servers uncrowded, so they’re fast and reliable for securely streaming in HD without buffering. Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, has a few drawbacks when it comes to privacy. Its stance on data logging is intentionally vague, and the US-based parent company can be easily reached by government agencies seeking user information. That company, AnchorFree, is also guilty of using tracking codes to gather (and sell) user data from its various services, even including the Hotspot Shield free version. Where performance is concerned, however, Hotspot Shield competes like the established provider that it is. With 1,800+ servers worldwide, great speeds, and the fact that it works with plenty of streaming services, this VPN is very capable where it counts. Another plus is an excellent user interface across all major platforms. There’s a lot more you need to know about Surfshark and Hotspot Shield. So let’s take a deeper look, category by category.

    Our Score

    Features 9.3/10
    Pricing 8.7/10
    Ease of Use 9.4/10
    Reliability & Support 9.8/10
    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 Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Former Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.3/10

    With VPNs, you tend to get what you pay for. So when I saw Surfshark’s low prices, I was skeptical about its rave reviews. To see if it could actually live up to these claims, the team and I tested every aspect of Surfshark, including its speeds, security features, streaming abilities, network reliability, and device compatibility. I also took a closer look at Surfshark’s privacy policy to...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    L
    Lucas Pinto Ricardo
    10.0/10
    Fast, reliable and unlimited

    This VPN is fast and reliable. It has a lot of servers in different countries and can be used in an un... limited amount of devices (it supports Linux, which is something very important for me). The software and app get updated regularly: note that I experienced some bugs with the auto-connect feature on Android that have been solved since then. With this competitive pricing, I would definitely recommend it. IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not including the customer support in this review, because I never had to use it. If I use it in the future, I will update this review with my experience. I recommend you to see other reviews that include it if it is important for you.More

    Latest negative user review
    T
    Tim S.
    2.0/10
    Don't waste your money on dedicated IP

    While the generic Surfshark servers work well, the dedicated IP is worse than useless. With it, I get ... constant captchas and some websites refuse to connect at all. All is fine once I reconnect to a generic or even free VPN. Support is friendly but hopelessly incompetent at getting the problem fixed. So the dedicated IP works exactly opposite as what is advertised, all while vacuuming money out of your wallet. Stay away.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 $1.99/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

    Surfshark has everything a top-shelf VPN should have, along with a couple of extras you won’t find in AnchorFree’s popular Hotspot Shield VPN, like live chat support. Hotspot Shield is impressive with its big server network and elegant clients, but we can’t overlook a flawed privacy policy and the shortcomings of the Mac app.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    While both VPNs allow P2P traffic, Hotspot Shield is based in the US, where torrenting is severely restricted. Furthermore, Hotspot Shield doesn’t offer any torrent-specific features. Surfshark, however, explicitly states that P2P is permitted with the VPN, and maintains a list of torrenting websites and clients that work well with the service.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Both providers focus on ease of use in their Windows clients, along with essential features like quick connect and a kill switch. Surfshark takes things further, however, with split tunneling, obfuscation settings, and DNS leak protection. However, you may prefer Hotspot Shield if you want more server options from your VPN.

    Best VPN for Android

    Surfshark performs very well on Android, with an intuitive app running the IKEv2 protocol. Notable features include WhiteLister (split tunneling) and DNS leak protection, but there is no kill switch. Meanwhile, Hotspot Shield offers a very solid, minimalist Android app. It’s easy to use and looks great, but there aren’t many special features or settings.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Apple users will be happy to know that Surfshark offers the same excellent features for Mac as it does in its Windows version. The only difference is that it runs the IKEv2 protocol by default instead of OpenVPN. Hotspot Shield’s MacOS client looks rather basic compared to what you get on Windows, and there’s no kill switch. It's much too apparent that Hotspot Shield was developed for Windows and later adapted for Mac.

    Best VPN for iOS

    Surfshark’s iOS app is identical to the Android client, meaning you get plenty of features and fast, stable connections. You’re also allowed to connect as many devices as you want with this VPN – not only rare, but incredibly useful. On the other hand, Hotspot Shield offers the standard five simultaneous connections and an iOS app that gets the job done well, with access to a farther-reaching server network.

    Best VPN for USA

    Despite its smaller server presence in the USA, Surfshark was the faster VPN in our tests. My collegue in the US tested it and had no trouble streaming popular services like Netflix and Hulu with no interruptions. That said, Hotspot Shield also has a large global server network, especially in the US, and works well with popular streaming services.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    Hotspot Shield’s proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol and stylish clients have helped to make it a popular service worldwide for a variety of VPN uses. However, Surfshark is a very impressive all-purpose VPN in its own right, for casual and advanced users alike. It’s a powerful and affordable service with helpful live chat support. Most importantly, it comes from a provider that takes your privacy seriously, with user protection policies that don’t leave room for second guessing. This is a rare case of the student showing the old master how it’s done, and we believe Surfshark is only going to get better. Still, Hotspot Shield remains a great pick for users interested in server variety and dependable connections. If you want to get the full range of features, just make sure you’re running it on Windows.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is Surfshark better than Hotspot Shield?

    Yes, Surfshark is better overall than Hotspot Shield. It has 3200 servers in 100 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $1.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between Surfshark 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 Surfshark may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is Surfshark faster than Hotspot Shield?

    Yes, Surfshark 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 Surfshark or Hotspot Shield offer any deals?

    Both Surfshark 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.