NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield: which VPN is better?
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Both NordVPN and Hotspot Shield are strong contenders in the VPN market. NordVPN earns praise for its robust security and consistent reliability, while Hotspot Shield impresses with exceptionally fast speeds. Overall, both offer compelling options depending on what you value most in a VPN.
To compare them fairly, I evaluated features such as security protocols, streaming support, connection speed, device compatibility, and overall user experience. In my testing, I aimed to highlight where each provider excels and where they fall short.
Keep reading this NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield comparison to see how they stack up in key areas and which one might be the better fit for your needs.
NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield: overview
NordVPN is widely regarded as one of the best VPNs, known for its strong security and reliable performance. Hotspot Shield, while secure and easy to use, prioritizes speed over advanced features, making it a different option depending on your needs.
| NordVPN | Hotspot Shield | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #1 out of #41 | #26 out of #41 |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 9,500+ servers in 149 countries | 1,800+ servers in 80 countries |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs | Keeps logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $3.49/month | From $2.99/month |
| 🔥 Coupons: | NordVPN coupon 75% OFF | Cybernews VPN coupons |
| 🔒 VPN protocols: | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper | Hydra, IKEv2, Wireguard |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu, and more |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and Chrome |
| 📥 Simultaneous connections: | 10 | Up to 10 |
| 💁🏻 Support: | Knowledge base, email, 24/7 live chat | Knowledge base, FAQs, email, 24/7 live chat |
We spare no effort to test the products & their features. All information is gathered by our in-house research team & fact-checked by our team of experts. Discover the ins and outs of our testing procedures.
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Key differences between NordVPN and Hotspot Shield
VPN providers vary in features, performance, and pricing, so choosing the right one depends on your priorities. Below is a quick overview of what each provider is best for.
Choose NordVPN if:
- Privacy and security are your top priority. NordVPN is based in Panama, keeps no logs, and has undergone six independent audits.
- You want the best streaming experience. It unblocks Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, and more, with SmartDNS support for devices that don’t allow VPN apps.
- You need versatile features. Specialized servers (Double VPN, P2P, Onion over VPN), split tunneling, Threat Protection Pro, Dark Web Monitor, and wide device compatibility make it highly flexible.
- You want strong customer support. 24/7 live chat is available even for non-subscribers.
To get the full picture, take a look at our NordVPN review.
Choose Hotspot Shield if:
- You prefer an easy-to-use interface. Hotspot Shield is straightforward, with apps for all major platforms and built-in split tunneling called Smart VPN.
- You want extra bundled tools. Premium plans include Aura antivirus, 1Password, and Robo Shield for spam-call protection.
- You need a free plan for light use. Although limited to one server location, it’s suitable for casual browsing.
For a thorough breakdown, check out our Hotspot Shield review.
Speed, performance, and streaming: NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield
In most VPN comparisons, NordVPN is usually the winner in the speed section. However, this time, I encountered a couple of surprises - maybe because, just like NordVPN, Hotspot Shield offers a proprietary protocol that puts all of its efforts into speed.
So, which hand-crafted protocol is the faster one - NordLynx or Catapult Hydra? Let’s take a look.
- Baseline: 1 ms/900Mbps download/900Mbps upload
| NordLynx/Hydra | NordVPN | Hotspot Shield |
| Download average | 784Mbps | 290Mbps |
| Upload average | 286Mbps | 164Mbps |
Here, we can see that NordVPN's NordLynx is taking the lead in terms of download speed. In fact, the dropdowns in speed were sometimes as minimal as 0.8% - an incredible feat to achieve for a VPN.
Meanwhile, Hydra's download speeds are very much behind.
Interestingly, however, NordLynx’s upload speed left me wanting more. While the speeds were still faster compared to Hydra, the upload retention rate was 32%.
Winner
Netflix and streaming
NordVPN and Hotspot Shield both support Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and YouTube. However, only NordVPN allows access to HBO Max , while Hotspot Shield lacks support for this service.
| NordVPN | Hotspot Shield | |
| Netflix | ✅ | ✅ |
| Amazon Prime Video | ✅ | ✅ |
| Hulu | ✅ | ✅ |
| HBO Max | ✅ | ❌ |
| Disney+ | ✅ | ✅ |
| BBC iPlayer | ✅ | ✅ |
| YouTube | ✅ | ✅ |
NordVPN is capable of unblocking any streaming platform out there, be it Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or HBO Max. With NordVPN there are no buffering issues, and you are usually able to reach movie libraries from multiple countries, not only the US or the UK. It's important to mention that NordVPN is perfect for Netflix, as it unblocks multiple international libraries.
Hotspot Shield is also a good VPN for streaming. In fact, it can unblock a few different platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer. However, the list ends here - I couldn’t reach HBO Max while the VPN was in use.
Also, NordVPN offers the SmartDNS feature that allows you to stream content even on devices that don’t support VPN connections.
So, in conclusion, NordVPN is a better tool for streaming.
Torrenting
Both NordVPN and Hotspot Shield are suitable choices for torrenting. However, if you torrent a lot, I suggest choosing NordVPN as your go-to service. Let me explain why.
While Hotspot Shield allows torrenting on all of its servers, NordVPN is a better option for torrenting due to its specialized servers optimized for P2P connections. Additionally, NordVPN offers Onion over VPN servers, which provide an extra layer of security for users.
Finally, NordVPN offers an integrated SOCKS5 proxy, which you can use with a variety of torrenting clients.
Plans and pricing
When comparing the pricing of NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield, it’s easy to see which one is cheaper. While both services use the same subscription model - the longer your commitment, the lower the monthly payment - Hotspot Shield offers the lowest price of the two.
Of course, let’s not ignore Hotspot Shield’s free plan, too - this is something that NordVPN lacks. However, keep in mind that the free subscription is limited to one virtual server location, which is only enough for occasional browsing.
| Plan | NordVPN | Hotspot Shield |
| Free | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Monthly | $14.99 | $12.99 |
| 1-year | $5.49/month | $2.99/month |
| 2-years | $3.49/month | - |
| 3-years | - | $2.99/month |
| Check Pricing | Check Pricing |
Too expensive? Check out our exclusive VPN coupons for NordVPN and Hotspot Shield.
Keep in mind that both VPNs offer a money-back guarantee. NordVPN gives you 30 days to make up your mind about the service, while Hotspot Shield allows you to spend 45 days deciding whether to keep the service or not.
Server locations
This is the category where Hotspot Shield VPN shines, as its country selection is outstanding – you can pick from more than 80 different countries to unblock the content you need.
| NordVPN | Hotspot Shield | |
| Servers | 9,500 | 1,800 |
| Countries | 149 | 80 |
| Americas | 28 | 15 |
| Europe | 47 | 42 |
| Asia Pacific | 27 | 23 |
| Middle East & Africa | 28 | 5 |
However, the server fleet of Hotspot Shield is much smaller than the one of NordVPN. Which means that NordVPN’s servers are less likely to be crowded.
Also, Hotspot Shield doesn’t offer specialized servers of any kind. Meanwhile, NordVPN spoils us with lots of different kinds of servers: Double VPN, P2P servers, obfuscated servers, and Onion over VPN.
Features overview
It’s difficult to determine a winner in this section. On the one hand, NordVPN offers more features as a stand-alone VPN. Hotspot Shield, while functional, can’t quite match the versatility offered by NordVPN.
Split tunneling
Split tunneling is one of the features offered by both NordVPN and Hotspot Shield. And it’s a very useful one - it allows you to use the VPN connection on specific applications, making all the other traffic go unmasked. This way, you don’t need to constantly turn the VPN on and off.
So, in NordVPN’s case, this feature is very configurable. You can either include or exclude certain applications from the VPN connection on both Windows and Android.
When using Hotspot Shield, you’ll find a feature called Smart VPN on Windows and Android - and it’s essentially just standard split tunneling. Interestingly, this VPN allows you to choose not only apps but also specific websites, which is pretty convenient. A similar website-based bypass feature, also referred to as split tunneling, is available on Mac and iOS as well.
Malware blocking
Interestingly, some VPNs can protect you not just from snoopers, but also from malware. For this task, NordVPN implements a feature called Threat Protection Pro. It blocks malicious ads and websites, not letting your computer get infected in the first place.
Similarly, Hotspot Shield notifies you when you’re about to visit an infected or phishing website, thus preventing threats like phishing scams or viruses.
Specialty servers
Unlike Hotspot Shield, NordVPN offers a bunch of specialized servers that will help you customize your VPN connection even more. So, these are:
- Onion over VPN. These servers are extremely secure, as your connection also goes through the Tor network.
- Double VPN. Available with the NordLynx and Open VPN protocols, this option will connect you through two different servers at once.
- Obfuscated servers. These servers can be extremely useful in oppressive countries, as they make the VPN traffic seem like regular traffic, bypassing various restrictions. This only works with OpenVPN.
- P2P servers. Optimized for P2P connections, these servers will allow you to torrent at really good speeds.
SmartDNS
SmartDNS is a NordVPN feature that allows you to stream Netflix and other platforms on devices that don’t support VPN connections, like gaming consoles or certain smart TVs. However, remember one thing –your connection won’t be encrypted; you’ll only be using a foreign IP address.
Cybersecurity suite
When buying the Premium version of Hotspot Shield, a VPN is not the only thing you’ll get. Here’s what you’ll receive:
- Aura antivirus. That’s right - the Premium package includes a full-fledged antivirus tool with real-time protection. However, keep in mind that it’s only compatible with Windows and macOS.
- 1Password. One of the best and safest password managers out there, 1Password will fill out online forms and passwords for you. It includes 1GB of secure document storage.
- Spam-call blocker (Robo Shield). This is a feature for iOS and Android devices that will tag calls as spam if they come from suspicious numbers.
NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield: which is more secure?
Security is possibly the most important aspect of a VPN, even if the only thing you care about is unblocking Netflix. Having your personal data leaked is no joke!
Encryption and tunneling protocols
As a standard, VPNs use the AES-256 cipher for encryption. This is also the case for NordVPN. However, Hotspot Shield opted for AES-128, a slightly less secure, but also a virtually uncrackable variant of AES encryption.
This is because using a less complex configuration can lead to improved speeds, which aligns with Hotspot Shield's focus on delivering fast performance.
Now, when it comes to tunneling protocols, NordVPN gives you more choices than Hotspot Shield. You can pick among OpenVPN TCP, OpenVPN UDP, IKEv2, NordWhisper, and NordLynx. However, you’ll end up using NordLynx most of the time, which is a modified version of WireGuard. That’s because it delivers the best speeds and security.
In terms of Hotspot Shield, you can use three protocols: Catapult Hydra, WireGuard, and IKEv2. The former is a proprietary tunneling protocol based on OpenSSL that is optimized for speed.
Logging
When it comes to the jurisdiction of NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield, NordVPNhas a clear advantage here. That’s because NordVPN is based in Panama, a privacy-friendly country. On the other hand, Hotspot Shield is based in the US, where laws do give authorities more leeway in terms of violating privacy. -
There’s also a stark difference when it comes to logging. NordVPN doesn’t keep any user logs, and its privacy policy has been independently audited six times. Meanwhile, the privacy policy of Hotspot Shield’s no-logs policy was audited once.
Also, Hotspot Shield keeps your approximate city-level location in order to suggest you the fastest servers available. This might not be optimal for most privacy-oriented users. NordVPN collects anonymized information about your city, country, time zone, and device identifiers.
Kill switch
A kill switch is an extremely important feature of any VPN. That’s because it shuts down the internet connection when the VPN connection malfunctions. This prevents your real IP address from leaking out into the world.
During our tests, the kill switch of NordVPN functioned properly. It’s also worth mentioning that it is customizable - you can either choose to shut down the internet for the whole device or for specific apps only.
Hotspot Shield VPN also boasts a good kill switch - it passed our tests with flying colors. However, it’s only system-wide - you can’t select specific applications like in the case of NordVPN.
Dark web monitoring
NordVPN has a Dark Web Monitor feature that scans the dark web for your leaked emails, passwords, credit cards, national IDs, Social Security numbers, and phone numbers. Once it detects a leak, you're immediately alerted. I also like that NordVPN has a special free widget on the website that lets you check if your email is on the dark web. Hotspot Shield VPN doesn't have a similar feature.
Platforms, interface, and ease of use
NordVPN and Hotspot Shield are compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. NordVPN supports additional platforms like Kodi, Android TVs, and Fire devices, while Hotspot Shield is limited to Android TVs and Fire devices. Both providers allow up to 10 simultaneous connections. Both offer browser extensions for Chrome.
| NordVPN | Hotspot Shield | |
| Supported OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Other software and devices | Kodi, Android TVs, Fire devices | Android TVs, Fire devices |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Chrome, Edge |
| Simultaneous connections | 10 | 10 |
Desktop apps
NordVPN and Hotspot Shield take different approaches, but both deliver polished and user-friendly interfaces. Let’s begin with NordVPN.
So, its Windows and macOS applications look very similar. They both have a map, which is a convenient addition to a VPN interface. If you’re a beginner, you won’t have trouble using either NordVPN app. Even for Linux, NordVPN offers a graphical user interface, making it easy to use.
In this regard, Hotspot Shield is similar as it offers great and easy-to-use applications for Windows and macOS while giving no graphical interface for Linux users.
Mobile apps
No matter whether you use an Android or iOS device, you’ll be satisfied with NordVPN’s mobile applications. However, despite the almost identical design, there are some differences in features. For example, only the Android app includes Call Protection to detect spam calls and a Smart Troubleshooting Wizard to help resolve basic VPN issues.
In the case of Hotspot Shield VPN, the mobile apps are not identical to one another, especially in terms of features. Visually, they’re akin to the desktop app, and both are pretty feature-rich, although the Android app has slightly more functionalities.
Customer support
There’s one huge difference between Hotspot Shield's customer support and NordVPN’s: Hotspot Shield's live chat is hidden behind a paywall. You need to be a paid user to get any of that sweet human contact. Fortunately, free users can at least submit a ticket or read the troubleshooting guides.
Meanwhile, NordVPN allows any person to use its 24/7 live chat - you can write to them even if you don’t have a NordVPN account. Aside from that, you can also send an email or read through the FAQ section.
NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield – which one wins?
NordVPN shines in privacy, security, and versatility, offering specialized servers, SmartDNS, and broader streaming access. Hotspot Shield offers a simpler interface, making it appealing for users prioritizing raw performance.
Overall, NordVPN takes the lead due to its stronger security features, better streaming support, and more accessible customer service. For those seeking top-tier privacy and value, NordVPN is the smarter choice, while Hotspot Shield remains a solid option for speed-focused users.
| Feature | NordVPN | Hotspot Shield | Verdict |
| Pricing | NordVPN provides better value with more pricing options and no need for long-term commitments. | ||
| Speed | NordVPN was significantly faster in both download and upload speeds. | ||
| Privacy | NordVPN’s no-logs policy and Panama jurisdiction give it a clear privacy advantage. | ||
| Features | NordVPN offers more versatile and advanced features, including specialized servers and Threat Protection. | ||
| Streaming | NordVPN unblocks more platforms, including HBO Max, offering superior streaming options. | ||
| Torrenting | NordVPN’s P2P-optimized and Onion over VPN servers make it better for torrenting. | ||
| Support | NordVPN provides accessible 24/7 live chat even for non-subscribers, surpassing Hotspot Shield. |
FAQ
Is NordVPN better than Hotspot Shield?
Yes, NordVPN is better than Hotspot Shield. It provides better speeds, stronger privacy, and works flawlessly for streaming.
Is Hotspot Shield faster than NordVPN?
No, Hotspot Shield isn't faster than NordVPN. It maintained only 32% of the download speed on average, compared to NordVPN, which maintained 87%.
Is Hotspot Shield a strong VPN?
Yes, Hotspot Shield is a strong VPN solution. It offers amazing speeds, good security, and a huge list of countries to choose from. It also unblocks Netflix.
Is there a better VPN than Hotspot Shield?
Yes, there are at least a few VPNs better than Hotspot Shield in the market. NordVPN is the best one, though, as it offers strong security features and better performance in streaming, torrenting, and other activities.
Is Hotspot Shield safe?
Hotspot Shield can be considered safe because it has a system-wide kill switch. However, it is based in the US, which is considered less favorable for privacy. This makes it less favored than NordVPN or other top players in the VPN market.
