Hotspot Shield was developed by AnchorFree, which is in Silicon Valley, California.

AnchorFree started its business in 2005 as a free sponsored Wi-Fi hotspot provider.
They�ve grown this initial idea into apps that protect privacy and provide secure
access to the internet. Their flagship product, Hotspot Shield, is used by over 650
million people worldwide. Hotspot Shield is just one of the virtual private network
(VPN) created by AnchorFree.

Hotspot Shield supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Chrome. It uses it
propriety Catapult Hydra protocol, so there�s not a way for advanced users to set
it up manually on other platforms, routers, or smart devices using open-source
software.

We tested Hotspot Shield to see how it performed and how easy it was to use. We
also researched its cost, features, and encryption protocols to determine if it�s
worth the investment. Read on to see what we thought of the service.

Design: Only the Basics, but Easy to Use

The Hotspot Shield app is best described as minimalist. The Windows app has a
connect button, a server list, data transfer size, and the virtual address. The
Android app has all these plus settings to automatically choose the optimal server,
close apps, and delete junk files. The Android app can also be set up to start
Hotspot Shield automatically when selected apps are launched.

The Hotspot Shield app is easy to use. Just click the On and Off switch to hide
your browsing activity. It�s also easy to choose a different browsing location.
Hotspot Shield only lists countries; it�s not possible to choose a server located
inside a country.

If you want to learn how to use the Hotspot Shield VPN, you�ll find help inside the
apps. Select a help topic to display instructions or to open a web page with more
information.

Hotspot Shield uses a proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol which connects a device
to multiple servers simultaneously

Setup Process: A familiar Installation on Popular Operating Systems

Downloading and installing Hotspot Shield follows standard installation methods
from Windows installer, Google Play, and the App Store. It only takes minutes to
get up and running.

Hotspot Shield is ready to shield your privacy as soon as you turn it on. There are
only a few settings that can be customized. Hotspot Shield can be set up to
automatically launch on startup, prevent IP leaks, disconnect the VPN when there�s
no internet connection, and automatically turn on when connecting to Wi-Fi
hotspots. On Android, there�s also an option to turn off the VPN when the device is
in sleep mode.

Hotspot Shield VPN

Hotspot Shield
Performance: Good Speed, Slightly Frustrating, and a Connection Problem
One thing that seemed different about Hotspot Shield is that it�s only possible to
change countries, not servers. The app doesn�t list server locations within a
country. The reason for this is that Hotspot Shield uses a proprietary Catapult
Hydra protocol which connects a device to multiple servers simultaneously.
AnchorFree claims that this makes Hotspot Shield connections stronger and faster
over long distances.

We measured download and upload speeds with six different online bandwidth testing
tools. Upload and download speeds decreased as much as 25 percent during testing.
Although, there were times where download and upload speeds were the same when we
were connected to a VPN and not connected.

During live testing, we didn�t notice much difference in speed compared to other
VPN services. Browsing the web, sending e-mail messages, and other online tasks
were accomplished at the same speed as other VPNs.

We ran into a problem while testing Hotspot Shield on Windows. Something went
wrong, and it took more than a few seconds to fix the problem. After waiting a few
minutes, restarting the computer resolved the issue.

We also encountered connection issues on our Android tablet. During our testing, we
were unable to connect to the VPN. We clicked connected, but the button just spun
in circles. After reading through the in-app help files and performing some
troubleshooting, we determined that the problem was because another VPN app was
installed on the tablet. Removing the other VPN app resolved the problem, and we
were able to connect.

Privacy: Not As Private As It Should Be

Even though Hotspot Shield uses high-level encryption, there have been concerns of
undisclosed and unclear data sharing and traffic redirection in the free version.
In 2017, the Center for Democracy and Technology filed a complaint with the Federal
Trade Commissions about these undisclosed practices and asked that these practices
be considered unfair and deceptive. In 2018, there was another report by the
National Vulnerability Database of leaks in user data that identified the names and
locations of its users.

There have been concerns of undisclosed and unclear data sharing and traffic
redirection

After these complaints were expressed, AnchorFree updated their privacy policy.
They no longer store, log, or share users� IP addresses and they delete IP
addresses after a VPN session is closed. They also no longer share personal
information with unaffiliated third parties. However, they do share this
information with service providers they use for internal technology and business
operations.

Hotspot Shield VPN

Hotspot Shield
Price: Subscriptions Plans Offer the Best Price
Hotspot Shield offers a free plan and premium plans. The premium plans offer
significantly more benefits than the free plan. The premium plans cover up to five
devices, have access to all Virtual Locations, have unlimited data bandwidth and
access to all sites, are add-free, and come with a dedicated customer support team.
The free plan has access to U.S. locations only, supports a single device, is
limited to 500 MB bandwidth per day, is add-supported, and displays a Premium
Payment Wall when accessing streaming content such as Netflix.

The price for Hotspot Shield is comparable to other VPN service providers when you
subscribe to a one-year or three-year plan. Paying for Hotspot Shield monthly can
be expensive. The monthly price is $12.99 per month. A one year plan is $72 or $6
per month. The three-year plan is $108 or $3 per month.

Hotspot offers a 45-day money-back guarantee. Hotspot also offers a free seven-day
trial but requires a credit card or PayPal account to process the trial. The seven-
day trial automatically renews at the one month price of $12.99 and is billed
monthly after the trial. To get a better price, you�ll need to update your
subscription to either the one-year or three-year plan.
There are other VPN services available with Hotspot Shield. However, these services
come with an added price.

Device Boost adds five more devices to an account (for a total of 10 devices) and
costs an extra $8.99 each month.
Dedicated Ultra Servers provide access to dedicated servers that are only available
to limited users. These servers provide faster service and are a cool feature for
those who want a faster way to stream content. This service is also $8.99 per
month.
Competition: A Mid-Grade Competitor
Hotspot Shield is a strong contender when comparing the size of its server base to
other VPN providers. Hotspot Shield has 3,200 server locations in 70 countries
compared to NordVPN�s 5,770 servers in 60 countries. With this large number of
servers, Hotspot Shield can provide fast and stable service that compares to other
VPN services.

Hotspot Shield differs from competing VPN services in the encryption side of its
security protocol. Many of the popular VPN services use OpenVPN, IKEv2, or
L2TP/IPSec; Hotspot Shield uses its proprietary Catapult Hydra technology. Catapult
Hydra is based on TLS 1.2 with AES-128 encryption, which is as secure as the
competition. The problem with using proprietary software is that it�s not easy to
see what is going on. With OpenVPN, it�s possible to look at the programming code
to find problems and make improvements.

This isn�t as bad as it sounds. AnchorFree claims that Catapult Hydra is used by
cybersecurity companies that provide VPN services such as McAffe, Bitdefender, and
others.

Final Verdict
Speedy but not without drawbacks.

Hotspot Shield is a strong performer among VPN service providers, but our
experience with connection problems and the high prices make this VPN less than
desirable. However, if speed is your major criteria, Hotspot shield is one of the
fastest VPNs.