Hotspot Shield review 2026: fast and free, with privacy trade-offs
Fast speeds on its own protocol and a well-known free plan. Read what its privacy policy says it collects before you choose it.
- Fast speeds on its own Hydra protocol
- A well-known free plan to try it
- Simple, easy apps
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Hotspot Shield at a glance
Who runs Hotspot Shield, and what backs its claims
Anchorfree, LLC, according to its site footer. (source)
The Pango group, part of Point Wild, which also owns free VPN apps such as Betternet and VPN360. (source)
No published independent audit of its no-logs policy. It says it commissioned an independent security audit, without naming the firm on its page. (source)
Says it does not link your identity to your VPN activity, but collects device and diagnostic data and an approximate location from your IP address. Its free apps include ad tools that receive your IP address and device IDs. (source)
The latest report on its site dates from 2018. (source)
Algeria, Egypt, UAE. (source)
We checked these facts on the companies' official pages on 2 November 2026, with the source next to each one. What their pages did not confirm, we left out. Who owns every VPN we review is in who owns which VPN.
Hotspot Shield pros and cons
- Fast speeds on its own Hydra protocol
- A well-known free plan to try it
- Simple, easy apps
- Based in the United States
- No published independent no-logs audit
- The free plan is limited and shows ads
Hotspot Shield is known for speed through its own Hydra protocol and for a well-known free plan. It belongs to the Pango group, part of Point Wild, which also owns free VPN apps such as Betternet and VPN360, and its site footer names Anchorfree, LLC. It has no published independent audit of a no-logs policy.
Who is Hotspot Shield for?
- You want high speed, a simple experience and a free plan for light browsing.
- Privacy is your top priority: choose a provider with a published, independent no-logs audit.
Hotspot Shield speed, apps and safety
Hotspot Shield's own Hydra protocol, built on OpenSSL, is known for high speeds, especially over long-distance connections, browsing and streaming. As a proprietary protocol it is less transparent than the open-source protocols some people prefer. OpenVPN and IPSec are also available, and it lists traffic obfuscation for restrictive networks.
Simple apps on the main platforms, with a kill switch on both the free Basic and paid Premium plans. Premium covers up to 10 devices. The free plan is limited and ad-supported.
Hotspot Shield says it does not link your identity to your activity inside the VPN, but its privacy policy says it collects device and diagnostic data and an approximate location from your IP address, and that its free apps carry ad tools that receive your IP address and device IDs. There is no published independent no-logs audit, and the latest transparency report on its site dates from 2018.
Hotspot Shield price and plans
Every plan, the first payment and the renewal price are in the table below, read on Hotspot Shield's pricing page on 2 November 2026. Prices change with offers and may include tax in your country.
Hotspot Shield plans and prices
| Plan | Per month | First payment | Renews at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium, 1 year | about $2.42 | $29 for the first year | $95.99 a year |
Read on Hotspot Shield's pricing page on 2 November 2026, in US dollars unless stated. Offers change, and tax may apply in your country.
How we score VPNs
We score every VPN on these four criteria from its published specs, independent audits and documented facts, not on tests of our own. What we check, and where it comes from, is in how we review.
Our verdict
Hotspot Shield scores 8.2 out of 10 in our independent review, our pick as speed and a free plan. Try it with the money-back guarantee before committing, to make sure it suits how you use it.
For the full ranking for Gulf users, see the best VPN in the UAE, or compare all seven.
Hotspot Shield: frequently asked questions
Short answers to what readers ask most. Question not here? Write to us.
There is a free Basic plan with limits and ads, and a paid Premium plan at $29 for the first year, then $95.99 a year.
Its privacy policy says the free apps carry ad tools that receive your IP address and device IDs, and there is no published independent no-logs audit. For a free plan without ads, we recommend Proton VPN's.
Its own Hydra protocol is known for high speeds, especially over long distances. It is proprietary, so less transparent than open-source protocols.
It lists a UAE server location and traffic obfuscation. Read what UAE law and the TDRA say before using any VPN for calls.
The Pango group, part of Point Wild, which also owns Betternet and VPN360. Its site footer names Anchorfree, LLC.
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