Hotspot Shield vs. NordVPN

Looking for a VPN? Good idea. A virtual private network keeps you safe from hackers and government surveillance by encrypting your data, routing your internet signal through a remote server, and assigning you an untraceable IP address. How do you decide which VPN is right for you though? You like NordVPN’s commercials, for instance, but something about that Hotspot Shield logo really draws you in.

You should probably dig a little deeper and consider things like connection speeds, encryption methods, and safety features, but who has the time for all that research?

We do. And if you take just a few minutes to read this, you’ll find everything you need to make an informed decision. It’s fast, it’s painless, and it’s informative. Let’s get started.

Similarities

Confused about whether to go with Hotspot Shield or NordVPN? We were, too, when we first took a look at these two VPNs. That’s because they have a lot in common, particularly when it comes to the most important elements of any good VPN: security and convenience. Here’s a list of the most important similarities these two VPNs share.

• AES-256 encryption: Both VPNs use AES-256 encryption, which is the same encryption the U.S. military uses.
• Strict privacy policies: Both companies refer to themselves as “no-log” VPNs, which means they collect as little personal information about you as possible — just enough to keep their businesses running. The company keeps nothing when it comes to your browsing activities, your IP addresses, and your time stamps, so it’s impossible for anyone to get their hands on your data.
• Tons of servers in various locations: More servers in more locations means you get access to more content from around the globe. It’s also easier to find a nearby connection with light traffic. NordVPN maintains over 5,300 servers. Not to be outdone, Hotspot Shield has servers in over 80 countries.
• Fast speeds: All VPNs slow down your computer, but these two slow it down as little as possible.
• Kill switch: A kill switch ensures no one can see what you’re up to online, even if you lose your VPN connection. Both of these VPNs have one.
• Split tunneling: This is a handy feature offered by both VPNs that allows you to log on to the regular internet at the same time you’re logged on to the VPN. Using it can save you bandwidth.
• Access to streaming services: Hotspot Shield and NordVPN both allow you to access the most popular streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Max. Log on to these services using an IP address from another country to get access to bonus streaming content.

Speed Tests

How do these two VPNs stack up in terms of upload and download speeds? Compare the percentage changes when devices are running the software versus when they’re not.

Differences

There’s not much daylight between Hotspot Shield and NordVPN, and their few differences aren’t hugely significant. Still, it’s worth considering what sets these two VPNs apart from each other.

Hotspot Shield

What does Hotspot Shield offer that you can’t get from NordVPN?

• Free version: We like free. Doesn’t everyone? Hotspot Shield offers an entirely free version of its VPN, and it’s so good that we put it at the top of our list of the best free VPNs. NordVPN doesn’t have a free version at all. The free Hotspot Shield VPN has some limitations, including a limit of 500 Mb per day and that you can use it on only one device. Still, all due credit to Hotspot Shield for making the effort.
• Hydra protocol: Another thing we like is companies that innovate. That’s why we were impressed when we learned that Hotspot Shield recently developed its own proprietary protocol called Hydra. Hydra hasn’t been around for long, so it isn’t as well tested as the gold-standard protocol, OpenVPN. It’s fast, though, and it could eventually prove to be just as secure as OpenVPN.
• Bonus features: Many VPNs have begun offering bonus products, and Hotspot Shield is no exception. The company offers a suite of malware-protection software, as well as 1 full TB of free cloud storage.

NordVPN

Turnabout is fair play, so what does NordVPN have that Hotspot Shield doesn’t?

• Headquarters in Panama: We don’t know much about Panama, so why have we bothered to mention it here? Because the one thing we know is that it’s outside the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes surveillance alliances. Alliance countries can force VPNs to turn over customer information. Nonmember countries? Not so much. Hotspot Shield is based in the U.S., the Five Eyes ringleader. The company has a strict privacy policy that promises it doesn’t hang on to customer data, but companies in Five Eyes territory make us a little nervous. We prefer a Panama headquarters.
• OpenVPN: We praised Hotspot Shield for developing its Hydra protocol, but so far no protocol has proven to be as secure as OpenVPN. NordVPN offers it; Hotspot Shield doesn’t.
• Multihop: NordVPN also offers the security of multihop technology. A VPN with multihop routes your internet connection through not one but two or more external servers. Since each server provides encryption, your data is doubly protected.
• Bonus features: Not to be outdone, NordVPN offers its own bonus products, including malware detection, a dark web monitor, and remote file access through Meshnet.

Pricing

With so much in common, the difference between these two VPNs really comes down to price. If you’re going to get roughly the same level of quality and the same features, what else can you do but make your decision based on what the two services cost?

If you’re looking at a month-to-month plan, the Hotspot Shield price is exactly the same as NordVPN’s price. NordVPN bests Hotspot Shield at every other subscription option though. Its annual plan is a full $3 cheaper per month, and Hotspot Shield doesn’t even offer a two-year plan.

Hotspot has a free plan, though, and NordVPN doesn’t. If that’s what you’re looking for, Hotspot is really the only choice — just don’t expect much from a free VPN.

Recap

We like Hotspot Shield well enough, but it just can’t compete with NordVPN head to head. Yes, Hotspot Shield has it where it counts: It has a strict privacy policy, lightning-fast speeds, military-level encryption, and the ability to access all the best streaming services. The thing is, NordVPN offers all that too.

NordVPN also offers multihop and a location beyond the reach of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes surveillance organizations. As if those extras weren’t enough to sway you, you can get NordVPN for significantly less than Hotspot Shield if you sign up for more than a month at a time.

Hotspot Shield offers a free version and NordVPN has nothing comparable, but otherwise you just can’t beat NordVPN’s combination of quality and price.

Buy NordVPN if you’re looking for:

• The added security of multihop
• The best price on annual and multiyear subscriptions
• A VPN that’s beyond the reach of Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes

Buy Hotspot Shield if you’re looking for:

• A free VPN
• The Hydra protocol
• Bonus cloud storage