Looking to enhance your online security and privacy? You’re likely considering Private Internet Access (PIA) vs Hotspot Shield, two top-notch VPN services. In this article, we’ll delve into the key features, strengths, and potential drawbacks of both, aiding you in making an informed choice for your specific needs.
Overview
In this comparative review, we dive deep into two major players in the VPN market – Private Internet Access (PIA) and Hotspot Shield. We’ll pit them against each other, focusing on crucial factors like security, privacy, and speed. From PIA’s robust encryption and proven no-logs policy to Hotspot Shield‘s impressive speeds and intuitive interface, we’ll help you discern which VPN best fits your online needs. Stay tuned, and let’s find the perfect shield for your internet privacy!
Private Internet Access
Price: From $2.03/month
Trustpilot Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars
Refund Policy: Private Internet Access offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Official website: www.privateinternetaccess.com
Private Internet Access (PIA) is best for individuals who prioritize privacy and security while browsing the internet or conducting online transactions.
Hotspot Shield
Price: From $7.99/month
Trustpilot Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Refund Policy: Hotspot Shield offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Official website: www.hotspotshield.com
Hotspot Shield is best for individuals who prioritize online security and privacy, as it provides secure, encrypted internet access and protection from potential cyber threats.
PIA stands out with its robust network and unwavering commitment to user privacy. The ad and malware blocker is a testimony to its user-centric approach. I have navigated the internet waters safely and swiftly, thanks to the high-speed servers it hosts globally. It isn’t just a VPN service; it is a fortress of solitude in the bustling city of the internet, rightfully earning a 5-star rating! – Diego Rodriguez
Hotspot Shield has been a reliable companion in my online journeys, offering swift and secure connections powered by Hydra VPN protocol. The user interface is intuitive, making the setup and connection a breeze. It’s not just a VPN; it’s a reliable shield guarding my data from the prying eyes of the internet, wholeheartedly deserving a 5-star rating! – Henrik B.
PIA has stood the test of time, offering a reliable VPN service characterized by a vast network of servers and strong security features. While the user interface could use a modern update, the service remains dependable, earning a sturdy 4-star rating. – Ji-Yong
Hotspot Shield offers fast connection speeds and strong security, making it a reliable choice for many. However, the service could offer a more transparent approach to its logging policy to foster greater trust. A speedy and reliable service meriting a 4-star review. – Natalie Perez
Pros & Cons
This part scrutinizes the strong and weak points of these two VPNs.
Winner is:
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a robust choice, offering strong encryption, wide server coverage, and a strict no-logs policy. However, it falls a bit short on speed compared to Hotspot Shield. Hotspot Shield, while offering impressive speeds and user-friendly apps, has a less comprehensive no-logs policy and fewer servers. Given the trade-offs, for those prioritizing privacy and security, PIA comes out as the overall winner despite its speed disadvantage.
Private Internet Access
Pros:
- Unlimited bandwidth and connections: PIA allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices to its VPN at the same time. This is great for families or anyone who wants to use the VPN on multiple devices.
- Strong security: PIA uses strong encryption and security features to protect your privacy. These features include 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection.
- Wide server network: PIA has a large server network with over 30,000 servers in over 78 countries. This gives you plenty of options to choose when connecting to a VPN server.
- Affordable pricing: PIA is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market.
- Good customer support: PIA has a good customer support team that is available 24/7. You can contact them via live chat, email, or a support ticket.
Cons:
- Speed: PIA's speeds are not the fastest on the market. This can be a problem if you are using the VPN for streaming or gaming.
- Not all streaming platforms work: PIA does not work with all streaming platforms, such as Netflix and Hulu.
- No split tunneling: PIA does not offer split tunneling, which allows you to choose which apps use the VPN and which apps do not.
- Based in the US: PIA is based in the United States, which is a privacy-unfriendly jurisdiction.
Hotspot Shield
Pros:
- Fast speeds: Hotspot Shield is known for its fast speeds. This is important for streaming videos, downloading files, and browsing the web without any lag or buffering.
- Unblocks geo-restricted content: Hotspot Shield can help you unblock websites and streaming services that are blocked in your region. This means you can watch your favorite shows and movies no matter where you are in the world.
- Military-grade encryption: Hotspot Shield uses a military-grade encryption to protect your data hackers and other malicious actors. This means you can be confident that your personal information is safe when you're using Hotspot Shield.
- Kill switch: The kill switch is a very important feature for any VPN. It will automatically disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP address being exposed.
- Split tunneling: Split tunneling is a useful feature that allows you to choose which apps and websites will use the VPN and which ones will use your regular internet connection. This can be helpful if you want to use a VPN for some tasks but not others.
- Malware protection: Hotspot Shield can detect and block malicious websites and ads, helping to protect your device malware infections.
- DNS leak protection: DNS leak protection is another important feature for any VPN. It prevents your DNS queries leaking to your ISP, further protecting your privacy.
- Easy to use: Hotspot Shield is very easy to use. The app is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices.
- Affordable: Hotspot Shield offers a variety of pricing plans to fit your budget. There is even a free plan that you can use to test out the service.
- Free trial: Hotspot Shield offers a free trial that you can use to test out the service before you commit to a paid plan.
Cons:
- Not as fast as some other VPNs: Hotspot Shield is known for its fast speeds, but it is not as fast as some other VPNs. This is because the VPN has a large number of users, which can sometimes slow down the network.
- Has been criticized for its privacy policies in the past: Hotspot Shield has been criticized for its privacy policies in the past. In 2018, the company was accused of collecting user data without their consent. However, Hotspot Shield has since updated its privacy policy and claims to no longer collect any user data.
- Some users have reported slow speeds with certain servers: Some users have reported slow speeds with certain Hotspot Shield servers. This is likely due to the fact that the servers are located in different parts of the world and may not be as well-optimized as others.
- Not as user-friendly as some other VPNs: Hotspot Shield is not as user-friendly as some other VPNs. The interface can be a bit confusing, and it can be difficult to find the settings that you need.
- Limited simultaneous connections: Hotspot Shield only allows up to five simultaneous connections per account. This means that if you have multiple devices that you want to use the VPN with, you may need to upgrade to a more expensive plan.
Key Features
This section compares the overall features of Private Internet Access (PIA) vs Hotspot Shield.
Private Internet Access (PIA) HQ and country of jurisdiction is United States, and Private Internet Access (PIA) supports Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS platforms. In addition, it also supports OpenVPN, routers, and has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.
Hotspot Shield HQ and country of jurisdiction is United States, and Hotspot Shield supports Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and also offers a Chrome browser extension.
Winner is:
Private Internet Access (PIA) edges out Hotspot Shield due to its exceptional privacy policy, robust security features, and larger network of servers. PIA offers a no-logging policy and supports P2P, which is ideal for torrenting. Hotspot Shield has faster speeds, but its privacy policy is less transparent. Overall, for a balance of security, privacy, and performance, PIA is the superior choice.
Private Internet Access
- Unlimited bandwidth and connections: PIA allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices to its VPN at the same time. This is great for families or anyone who wants to use the VPN on multiple devices.
- Strong security: PIA uses strong encryption and security features to protect your privacy. These features include 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection.
- Wide server network: PIA has a large server network with over 30,000 servers in over 78 countries. This gives you plenty of options to choose when connecting to a VPN server.
- Affordable pricing: PIA is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market.
- Good customer support: PIA has a good customer support team that is available 24/7. You can contact them via live chat, email, or a support ticket.
- Open-source apps: PIA's apps are open source, which means that anyone can inspect the code to make sure that it is not doing anything malicious.
- No logs policy: PIA does not keep any logs of your online activity. This means that your ISP, government, or anyone else cannot track what you do online.
- Ad blocker: PIA includes an ad blocker in its VPN apps. This blocks ads, trackers, and malware, which can improve your browsing experience and protect your privacy.
- Split tunneling: PIA allows you to choose which apps use the VPN and which apps do not. This can be useful if you want to use a streaming service that does not work with VPNs.
Hotspot Shield
- Unblock geo-restricted content: Hotspot Shield can help you unblock websites and streaming services that are blocked in your region. This means you can watch your favorite shows and movies no matter where you are in the world.
- Protect your privacy: Hotspot Shield encrypts your internet traffic, making it impossible for anyone to track your online activity. This is important for protecting your privacy, especially when using public Wi-Fi.
- Keep your data safe: Hotspot Shield uses a military-grade encryption to protect your data hackers and other malicious actors. This means you can be confident that your personal information is safe when you're using Hotspot Shield.
- Fast speeds: Hotspot Shield is known for its fast speeds. This means you can stream videos, download files, and browse the web without any lag or buffering.
- Easy to use: Hotspot Shield is very easy to use. The app is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices.
- Affordable: Hotspot Shield offers a variety of pricing plans to fit your budget. There is even a free plan that you can use to test out the service.
Security Features
This section looks at important security features of Private Internet Access (PIA) and Hotspot Shield such as encryption methods, protocols, split tunneling, kill switch, and more.
Winner is:
Private Internet Access (PIA) and Hotspot Shield both offer robust security features. PIA employs the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols, ensuring top-tier encryption. With ad blocking, IP and DNS leak protection, no-logs policy, Split Tunneling, and a Kill Switch, PIA provides comprehensive security. Hotspot Shield uses its proprietary Hydra protocol, offers a Kill Switch, and IP leak protection, but lacks the advanced features of PIA, like adblocking, private DNS, Onion over VPN, obfuscated servers, and Double VPN. Given the breadth of security features, Private Internet Access (PIA) is the clear winner.
Private Internet Access
- 256-bit encryption: PIA uses 256-bit encryption, which is the strongest encryption available. This means that your data is scrambled into gibberish that cannot be read by anyone, not even PIA.
- Kill switch: The kill switch is a feature that cuts off your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This prevents your real IP address being exposed.
- DNS leak protection: DNS leak protection prevents your DNS queries being leaked to your ISP or other third parties. This ensures that your browsing activity remains anonymous.
- No logs policy: PIA does not keep any logs of your online activity. This means that your ISP, government, or anyone else cannot track what you do online.
- Open-source apps: PIA's apps are open source, which means that anyone can inspect the code to make sure that it is not doing anything malicious.
- Ad blocker: PIA includes an ad blocker in its VPN apps. This blocks ads, trackers, and malware, which can improve your browsing experience and protect your privacy.
- Split tunneling: PIA allows you to choose which apps use the VPN and which apps do not. This can be useful if you want to use a streaming service that does not work with VPNs.
- Encryption protocol: PIA supports two encryption protocols: OpenVPN and WireGuard. OpenVPN is a more mature and established protocol, while WireGuard is newer and faster.
- Encryption cipher: PIA uses the AES-256-GCM cipher, which is the strongest cipher available. This means that your data is scrambled into gibberish that cannot be read by anyone, not even PIA.
- Handshake: PIA uses the RSA-4096 handshake, which is the strongest handshake available. This ensures that your connection to the VPN server is secure.
- Data authentication: PIA uses the GCM authentication method, which ensures that your data is not tampered with during transit.
Hotspot Shield
- 256-bit AES encryption: Hotspot Shield uses 256-bit AES encryption, which is considered to be military-grade encryption. This means that your data is encrypted with a key that is 256 bits long, which is very difficult to crack.
- Kill switch: The kill switch is a feature that will automatically disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This prevents your real IP address being exposed if the VPN connection fails.
- Split tunneling: Split tunneling allows you to choose which apps and websites will use the VPN and which ones will use your regular internet connection. This can be helpful if you want to use a VPN for some tasks but not others.
- DNS leak protection: DNS leak protection prevents your DNS queries leaking to your ISP. This means that your ISP cannot track the websites that you visit.
- Malware protection: Hotspot Shield has a built-in malware protection feature that can help to protect your device malware infections.
- No logs policy: Hotspot Shield has a strict no-logs policy. This means that the company does not collect any data about your online activity.
- 256-bit AES encryption: This is the standard encryption for your data when using Hotspot Shield. It is considered to be military-grade encryption and is very difficult to crack.
- OpenVPN protocol: Hotspot Shield uses the OpenVPN protocol, which is considered to be one of the most secure VPN protocols.
- IKEv2/IPSec protocol: Hotspot Shield also supports the IKEv2/IPSec protocol, which is another secure VPN protocol.
- Double VPN: Hotspot Shield offers a double VPN feature that encrypts your traffic twice, making it even more secure.
- Obfuscated servers: Hotspot Shield offers obfuscated servers that can be used to bypass VPN blocking in countries with strict internet censorship.
Privacy Features
This section looks at the privacy features of Hotspot Shield vs Private Internet Access (PIA) in terms of country of jurisdiction (five-eyes surveillance) no-logging policy, independent auditing, and more.
Winner is:
Private Internet Access (PIA) and Hotspot Shield both offer a 'no log' policy, but PIA has a more robust, independently audited policy. PIA also supports crypto payments and features private browsing. While Hotspot Shield is headquartered in a Five Eyes country, PIA isn't. This means PIA offers better data jurisdiction. Therefore, for its comprehensive privacy features and stronger data protection practices, Private Internet Access (PIA) is the clear winner.
Private Internet Access
- No logs policy: PIA does not keep any logs of your online activity. This means that your ISP, government, or anyone else cannot track what you do online.
- Open-source apps: PIA's apps are open source, which means that anyone can inspect the code to make sure that it is not doing anything malicious.
- Kill switch: The kill switch is a feature that cuts off your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This prevents your real IP address being exposed.
- DNS leak protection: DNS leak protection prevents your DNS queries being leaked to your ISP or other third parties. This ensures that your browsing activity remains anonymous.
- Split tunneling: PIA allows you to choose which apps use the VPN and which apps do not. This can be useful if you want to use a streaming service that does not work with VPNs.
- Ad blocker: PIA includes an ad blocker in its VPN apps. This blocks ads, trackers, and malware, which can improve your browsing experience and protect your privacy.
- Torrenting: PIA allows torrenting on all of its servers. This means that you can download and upload files anonymously without fear of being tracked.
- Double VPN: PIA offers a double VPN feature that encrypts your traffic twice. This provides an extra layer of security and privacy.
- Tor over VPN: PIA allows you to connect to the Tor network through its VPN. This can help you to further anonymize your traffic and protect your privacy.
- No connection logs: PIA does not keep any logs of your VPN connections. This means that they cannot see which servers you connect to, how long you are connected for, or what websites you visit.
- No traffic logs: PIA does not keep any logs of your internet traffic. This means that they cannot see what websites you visit, what files you download, or what data you send and receive.
- No DNS logs: PIA does not keep any logs of your DNS queries. This means that they cannot see which websites you try to visit.
- No payment logs: PIA does not keep any logs of your payment information. This means that they cannot see how you paid for your subscription or your credit card number.
Hotspot Shield
- No logs policy: Hotspot Shield has a strict no-logs policy. This means that the company does not collect any data about your online activity, including your IP address, browsing history, or traffic.
- Kill switch: The kill switch is a feature that will automatically disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This prevents your real IP address being exposed if the VPN connection fails.
- Split tunneling: Split tunneling allows you to choose which apps and websites will use the VPN and which ones will use your regular internet connection. This can be helpful if you want to use a VPN for some tasks but not others.
- DNS leak protection: DNS leak protection prevents your DNS queries leaking to your ISP. This means that your ISP cannot track the websites that you visit.
- Malware protection: Hotspot Shield has a built-in malware protection feature that can help to protect your device malware infections.
- Secure DNS: Hotspot Shield uses its own secure DNS servers to prevent DNS leaks.
- Double VPN: Hotspot Shield offers a double VPN feature that encrypts your traffic twice, making it even more secure.
- Obfuscated servers: Hotspot Shield offers obfuscated servers that can be used to bypass VPN blocking in countries with strict internet censorship.
- No IP logs: Hotspot Shield does not log your IP address, which is the unique identifier for your device on the internet. This means that Hotspot Shield cannot track your online activity or see what websites you visit.
- No browsing history: Hotspot Shield does not log your browsing history, which is a record of the websites that you have visited. This means that Hotspot Shield cannot track your online activity or see what websites you have visited.
- No traffic logs: Hotspot Shield does not log your traffic data, which is a record of the data that you send and receive over the internet. This means that Hotspot Shield cannot see what websites you visit or what files you download.
- No DNS logs: Hotspot Shield does not log your DNS queries, which are the requests that your device makes to a DNS server to resolve domain names into IP addresses. This means that Hotspot Shield cannot see what websites you visit.
- No session logs: Hotspot Shield does not log your session logs, which are records of the times that you connect to and disconnect the VPN. This means that Hotspot Shield cannot track how long you are using the VPN.
Speed Features
This section explores the speed features of Private Internet Access (PIA) and Hotspot Shield when it comes to server technology for download/upload speeds for streaming and torrenting.
Winner is:
Private Internet Access (PIA) and Hotspot Shield both offer impressive speed features. Third-party speed tests show that Hotspot Shield provides higher download speeds, but PIA offers better upload speeds and more consistent server speed. Both VPNs handle streaming sites and torrenting effectively. However, PIA's superior server speed consistency gives it a slight edge. While Hotspot Shield may be faster in certain locations, PIA's consistent performance across all servers makes it the overall winner in terms of speed features.
Private Internet Access
- Over 35,000 servers: PIA has over 35,000 servers in over 78 countries. This gives you plenty of options to choose when connecting to a VPN server.
- P2P-optimized servers: PIA has dedicated P2P-optimized servers for torrenting. These servers are designed to provide fast and reliable connections for torrenting.
- Dedicated streaming servers: PIA has dedicated streaming servers for popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. These servers are designed to bypass geo-blocks and provide you with access to your favorite content.
- Obfuscated servers: PIA has obfuscated servers that hide the fact that you are using a VPN. This can be useful in countries where VPNs are blocked or restricted.
- Tor over VPN servers: PIA allows you to connect to the Tor network through its VPN. This can help you to further anonymize your traffic and protect your privacy.
- Double VPN servers: PIA offers double VPN servers that encrypt your traffic twice. This provides an extra layer of security and privacy.
- 10 Gbps servers: PIA's servers are all equipped with 10 Gbps connections, which means that they have the potential to offer very fast speeds.
- Multiple protocols: PIA supports multiple VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPsec. Each protocol has its own strengths and weaknesses in terms of speed.
- Automatic server selection: PIA's automatic server selection feature can help you to connect to the fastest server available.
- Bandwidth throttling protection: PIA's bandwidth throttling protection feature prevents your ISP throttling your VPN connection.
- No data caps: PIA does not have any data caps on its VPN service. This means that you can use as much data as you want without having to worry about being throttled or charged extra.
Hotspot Shield
- 3,200+ VPN servers in 70+ countries: Hotspot Shield has a large network of VPN servers, which means that you can connect to a server that is close to your location for the best possible speeds.
- P2P-optimized servers: Hotspot Shield has dedicated P2P-optimized servers that are designed for file sharing. This is important for users who want to download or upload large files without any throttling.
- Streaming-optimized servers: Hotspot Shield has dedicated streaming-optimized servers that are designed for streaming video and audio content. This is important for users who want to watch their favorite movies and shows without any buffering.
- Obfuscated servers: Hotspot Shield has obfuscated servers that are designed to hide the fact that you are using a VPN. This can be useful in countries with strict internet censorship.
- Dedicated IP addresses: Hotspot Shield offers dedicated IP addresses for users who need a static IP address. This is important for users who want to use the VPN for gaming or for businesses that need a dedicated IP address for their website.
- Double VPN: Hotspot Shield offers a double VPN feature that encrypts your traffic twice, making it even more secure.
- Fast speeds: Hotspot Shield is known for its fast speeds. This is important for streaming videos, downloading files, and browsing the web without any lag or buffering.
- Split tunneling: Split tunneling allows you to choose which apps and websites will use the VPN and which ones will use your regular internet connection. This can help to boost your speed since all your internet traffic doesn't go through a VPN tunnel.
- Servers in 80+ countries: Hotspot Shield has servers in over 80 countries, which means that you can connect to a server that is close to your location for the best possible speeds.
- Optimized for streaming: Hotspot Shield has optimized its servers for streaming, so you can watch your favorite movies and shows without any buffering.
- No speed caps: Hotspot Shield does not have any speed caps, so you can enjoy unlimited bandwidth and speeds.
Streaming & Torrenting Features
This section compares the streaming and torrenting features and capabilities provided by Private Internet Access (PIA) versus Hotspot Shield.
Popular Streaming Services
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime
- Disney+
- HBO Max
- Paramount+
- Hulu
- Apple TV
- Starz
- ESPN+
- Peacock
- Canal Plus
- Discovery Plus
Winner is:
Private Internet Access (PIA) and Hotspot Shield both unblock streaming services efficiently. PIA allows for torrenting on all servers, providing a kill switch for security. Hotspot Shield also supports torrenting, but only on certain servers. However, Hotspot Shield offers superior speeds, ideal for streaming. PIA offers more servers and maintains a strict no-logs policy, which Hotspot Shield lacks. Considering all factors, for streaming and torrenting, PIA stands out due to its comprehensive server coverage, commitment to privacy, and overall reliability.
Private Internet Access
- Works with popular streaming platforms: PIA works with popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. This means that you can use PIA to bypass geo-blocks and access your favorite content anywhere in the world.
- Dedicated streaming servers: PIA has dedicated streaming servers for popular streaming platforms. These servers are optimized for streaming and can help you to get the best possible streaming experience.
- No bandwidth caps: PIA does not have any bandwidth caps on its VPN service. This means that you can stream as much as you want without having to worry about being throttled or charged extra.
- No buffering: PIA's VPN servers are designed to provide fast and reliable connections. This means that you should not experience any buffering when streaming videos.
- Easy to use: PIA's VPN apps are easy to use and have a simple interface. This makes it easy to connect to a streaming server and start watching your favorite content.
- Allows torrenting on all servers: PIA allows torrenting on all of its servers. This means that you can download and upload files anonymously without fear of being tracked.
- P2P-optimized servers: PIA has dedicated P2P-optimized servers for torrenting. These servers are designed to provide fast and reliable connections for torrenting.
- No bandwidth caps: PIA does not have any bandwidth caps on its VPN service. This means that you can torrent as much as you want without having to worry about being throttled or charged extra.
- No IP leaks: PIA has a strict no-logs policy and does not keep any records of your torrenting activity. This means that your IP address is never exposed, even if there is a leak.
- Kill switch: PIA's kill switch is a feature that cuts off your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This prevents your real IP address being exposed.
- Ad blocker: PIA includes an ad blocker in its VPN apps. This blocks ads, trackers, and malware, which can improve your torrenting experience and protect your privacy.
Hotspot Shield
- Streaming-optimized servers: Hotspot Shield has dedicated streaming-optimized servers that are designed for streaming video and audio content. This is important for users who want to watch their favorite movies and shows without any buffering.
- Unblocks geo-restricted content: Hotspot Shield can help you unblock geo-restricted content, such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. This means that you can watch your favorite shows and movies no matter where you are in the world.
- Fast speeds: Hotspot Shield is known for its fast speeds, which is important for streaming videos and audio without any lag or buffering.
- No bandwidth caps: Hotspot Shield does not have any bandwidth caps, so you can enjoy unlimited streaming without worrying about your data usage.
- Easy to use: Hotspot Shield is very easy to use, and the app is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices.
- Supports P2P traffic: Hotspot Shield supports P2P traffic, which is the type of traffic used for file sharing. This means that you can use the VPN to download and upload torrents without any problems.
- Fast speeds: Hotspot Shield is known for its fast speeds, which is important for torrenting. This is because the VPN does not throttle P2P traffic, so you can get the most out of your bandwidth.
- No bandwidth caps: Hotspot Shield does not have any bandwidth caps, so you can torrent as much as you want without worrying about your data usage.
- Secure and private: Hotspot Shield uses strong encryption to protect your data, so you can be confident that your torrenting activity is secure and private.
- Easy to use: Hotspot Shield is very easy to use, and the app is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. This makes it a good option for users who are not familiar with VPNs or who do not want to spend a lot of time configuring their VPN settings.
Support Features
This section looks at what kind of customer support you can expect from Hotspot Shield versus Private Internet Access (PIA).
Winner is:
Private Internet Access (PIA) offers 24/7 live chat support and an extensive knowledge base, providing prompt and reliable assistance. In comparison, Hotspot Shield also offers 24/7 live support but has fewer support articles. While both provide decent customer service, the breadth and depth of PIA's knowledge base, alongside their prompt and efficient live chat, make it the winner. Support is crucial in a VPN service for addressing technical issues and ensuring uninterrupted, secure browsing.
Private Internet Access
- 24/7 live chat: PIA offers 24/7 live chat support. This means that you can get help a real person at any time of day or night.
- Email support: PIA also offers email support. This is a good option if you have a question that is not urgent.
- Knowledge base: PIA has a comprehensive knowledge base that covers a wide range of topics. This is a good place to start if you have a simple question.
- Social media: PIA is also active on social media. You can reach out to them on Twitter, Facebook, or Reddit.
- Forum: PIA has a forum where users can help each other. This is a good option if you are looking for help someone who has been in your shoes.
Hotspot Shield
- 24/7 live chat: Hotspot Shield offers 24/7 live chat support, which is available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese. This means that you can always get help a customer support representative, no matter what time it is.
- Email support: Hotspot Shield also offers email support, which is available in all languages. This is a good option if you do not want to wait in a live chat queue.
- Knowledge base: Hotspot Shield has a comprehensive knowledge base that covers a wide range of topics, such as how to install and use the VPN, troubleshooting tips, and frequently asked questions. This is a good option if you can find the answer to your question on your own.
- Social media support: Hotspot Shield also offers support on social media, such as Twitter and Facebook. This is a good option if you want to get help a customer support representative quickly.
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