In the world of VPN services, the debate of ProtonVPN vs Hotspot Shield is a notable one. Both are renowned for their distinct features and strong performance. This article aims to dissect their individual strengths, weaknesses, and suitability, to help you make an informed choice between the two.
Overview
Dive into our comprehensive comparison of ProtonVPN and Hotspot Shield – two heavyweights in the world of VPNs. We’ll dissect their security measures, scrutinize their privacy policies, and test their speeds. Are you after strong encryption, strict no-logs, or swift streaming? Find out which of these VPN giants ticks all the right boxes for your online privacy and security needs. Join us as we strip down each service to its core.
ProtonVPN
Price: From $4.99/month
Trustpilot Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Refund Policy: ProtonVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Official website: www.protonvpn.com
ProtonVPN is best for individuals seeking high-level privacy and security online, including those who frequently use public Wi-Fi networks or want to keep their browsing history private.
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.
ProtonVPN, with its Swiss heritage, brings a remarkable level of precision and quality to the VPN landscape. Its focus on security and privacy is monumental, offering features such as Secure Core servers that go the extra mile in protecting user data. I have felt a sense of true online freedom and security while using this service, making it a bona fide 5-star VPN service! – Olivier
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.
ProtonVPN, backed by proven security experts, offers a secure and private VPN service, focusing on transparency and high-grade encryption. While it maintains a strong security posture, it comes at a premium price range, which might be a hurdle for some users. A reputable service warranting a 4-star review. – Hiro T.
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 segment analyzes the pros and cons of these two Virtual Private Networks.
Winner is:
ProtonVPN excels with robust privacy, zero-logs policy and Tor over VPN, while Hotspot Shield provides faster speeds and unlimited bandwidth. However, Hotspot Shield's privacy policy is concerning, storing some user data. On the other hand, ProtonVPN's strict Swiss privacy laws offer stronger protection. While Hotspot Shield may be suitable for streaming, ProtonVPN is the clear winner for those prioritizing privacy and anonymity.
ProtonVPN
Pros:
- Strong security: ProtonVPN uses strong encryption and other security features to protect your privacy.
- No logs policy: ProtonVPN does not collect or store any logs of your online activity.
- Open-source software: ProtonVPN's software is open-source, which means that it can be independently audited by security experts.
- Secure core servers: ProtonVPN has secure core servers that are located in privacy-friendly countries.
- Double VPN: ProtonVPN's double VPN feature encrypts your traffic twice, making it even more secure.
- Ad blocker: ProtonVPN's ad blocker blocks ads and trackers, making your browsing experience more private and secure.
- Split tunneling: ProtonVPN's split tunneling feature allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN and which ones use your regular internet connection.
- Free plan: ProtonVPN offers a free plan that includes limited features and bandwidth.
- Good customer support: ProtonVPN offers live chat support, email support, and a knowledge base.
Cons:
- Speed: ProtonVPN's speeds can be slow at times, especially during peak usage hours.
- Limited server network: ProtonVPN has a smaller server network than some other VPN providers.
- No dedicated IP addresses: ProtonVPN does not offer dedicated IP addresses, which can be useful for some tasks, such as torrenting.
- Not available in all countries: ProtonVPN is not available in all countries.
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 ProtonVPN vs Hotspot Shield.
ProtonVPN HQ and country of jurisdiction is Switzerland, and ProtonVPN supports Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.
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:
ProtonVPN and Hotspot Shield both offer robust security features. However, ProtonVPN stands out with its strong commitment to privacy, no-logs policy, and advanced security protocols. Hotspot Shield, while fast and user-friendly, has been criticized for its privacy practices. For those who value online anonymity and data security, ProtonVPN is the clear winner.
ProtonVPN
- Swiss privacy: ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, a country with strong privacy laws. This means that ProtonVPN is not legally required to keep any logs of its users' activity.
- No logs policy: ProtonVPN has a strict no-logs policy, which means that it does not collect or store any information about its users' online activity, including their IP addresses, browsing history, or traffic data.
- Open-source software: ProtonVPN's software is open-source, which means that it can be independently audited by security experts to ensure that it is secure.
- Secure core servers: ProtonVPN's secure core servers are located in privacy-friendly countries, such as Switzerland and Iceland. This helps to protect your privacy by preventing your traffic being intercepted by third parties.
- Double VPN: ProtonVPN's double VPN feature encrypts your traffic twice, making it even more secure.
- Kill switch: ProtonVPN's kill switch feature will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP address being exposed.
- P2P support: ProtonVPN supports P2P file sharing, so you can download and share files without fear of being tracked or monitored.
- Ad blocker: ProtonVPN's ad blocker blocks ads and trackers, making your browsing experience more private and secure.
- Split tunneling: ProtonVPN's split tunneling feature allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN and which ones use your regular internet connection.
- Easy to use: ProtonVPN is easy to use, even for beginners. It has a user-friendly interface and is available for all major platforms.
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 ProtonVPN and Hotspot Shield such as encryption methods, protocols, split tunneling, kill switch, and more.
Winner is:
ProtonVPN and Hotspot Shield both offer solid security but with distinctive features. ProtonVPN uses secure VPN protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2, provides DNS leak protection, and supports Tor over VPN and split tunneling. It also operates a strict no-logs policy and offers an automatic kill switch. Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, uses its proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol, provides IP leak protection, but lacks certain features like ad-blocking, Onion over VPN, and obfuscated servers. While both have their merits, ProtonVPN takes the win with more comprehensive security features.
ProtonVPN
- Strong encryption: ProtonVPN uses strong encryption to protect your data, including AES-256 encryption and the OpenVPN protocol.
- No logs policy: ProtonVPN does not collect or store any logs of your online activity, including your IP address, browsing history, or traffic data.
- Open-source software: ProtonVPN's software is open-source, which means that it can be independently audited by security experts to ensure that it is secure.
- Secure core servers: ProtonVPN's secure core servers are located in privacy-friendly countries, such as Switzerland and Iceland. This helps to protect your privacy by preventing your traffic being intercepted by third parties.
- Double VPN: ProtonVPN's double VPN feature encrypts your traffic twice, making it even more secure.
- Kill switch: ProtonVPN's kill switch feature will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP address being exposed.
- DNS leak protection: ProtonVPN's DNS leak protection feature prevents your DNS queries being leaked to your ISP or other third parties.
- IPv6 leak protection: ProtonVPN's IPv6 leak protection feature prevents your IPv6 traffic being leaked to your ISP or other third parties.
- Ad blocker: ProtonVPN's ad blocker blocks ads and trackers, making your browsing experience more private and secure.
- Split tunneling: ProtonVPN's split tunneling feature allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN and which ones use your regular internet connection.
- Secure handshake: ProtonVPN uses a secure handshake to authenticate the connection between your device and the VPN server. This helps to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
- Hardware security modules: ProtonVPN uses hardware security modules (HSMs) to protect its encryption keys. This helps to prevent unauthorized access to your data.
- External audits: ProtonVPN's security has been audited by independent security experts. This helps to ensure that ProtonVPN is secure and reliable.
- AES-256 encryption: ProtonVPN uses AES-256 encryption, which is considered to be one of the most secure encryption algorithms available.
- ChaCha20 encryption: ProtonVPN also supports ChaCha20 encryption, which is a newer and more efficient encryption algorithm.
- OpenVPN protocol: ProtonVPN uses the OpenVPN protocol, which is an open-source and well-respected VPN protocol.
- IKEv2/IPSec protocol: ProtonVPN also supports the IKEv2/IPSec protocol, which is another secure VPN protocol.
- WireGuard protocol: ProtonVPN recently added support for the WireGuard protocol, which is a newer and faster VPN protocol.
- Double VPN: ProtonVPN's double VPN feature encrypts your traffic twice, making it even more secure.
- Secure core servers: ProtonVPN's secure core servers are located in privacy-friendly countries, such as Switzerland and Iceland. This helps to protect your privacy by preventing your traffic being intercepted by third parties.
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 ProtonVPN in terms of country of jurisdiction (five-eyes surveillance) no-logging policy, independent auditing, and more.
Winner is:
ProtonVPN and Hotspot Shield both offer robust privacy features. ProtonVPN, based in Switzerland, is outside the Five Eyes jurisdiction and has a strict no-logging policy, which is independently audited. It also supports crypto payments for added anonymity. Hotspot Shield, located in the US, adheres to a no-log policy but hasn't undergone independent auditing. Its location within the Five Eyes jurisdiction may pose a privacy concern for some users. While both ensure private browsing, ProtonVPN's comprehensive privacy features and secure location make it the superior choice for online privacy.
ProtonVPN
- No logs policy: ProtonVPN does not collect or store any logs of your online activity, including your IP address, browsing history, or traffic data. This means that ProtonVPN cannot track your online activity or share your data with third parties.
- Open-source software: ProtonVPN's software is open-source, which means that it can be independently audited by security experts to ensure that it is secure. This also means that anyone can review the code to see how it works and make sure that it is not doing anything malicious.
- Secure core servers: ProtonVPN's secure core servers are located in privacy-friendly countries, such as Switzerland and Iceland. This helps to protect your privacy by preventing your traffic being intercepted by third parties.
- Double VPN: ProtonVPN's double VPN feature encrypts your traffic twice, making it even more secure.
- Kill switch: ProtonVPN's kill switch feature will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP address being exposed.
- DNS leak protection: ProtonVPN's DNS leak protection feature prevents your DNS queries being leaked to your ISP or other third parties.
- IPv6 leak protection: ProtonVPN's IPv6 leak protection feature prevents your IPv6 traffic being leaked to your ISP or other third parties.
- Ad blocker: ProtonVPN's ad blocker blocks ads and trackers, making your browsing experience more private and secure.
- Split tunneling: ProtonVPN's split tunneling feature allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN and which ones use your regular internet connection.
- Secure handshake: ProtonVPN uses a secure handshake to authenticate the connection between your device and the VPN server. This helps to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
- Hardware security modules: ProtonVPN uses hardware security modules (HSMs) to protect its encryption keys. This helps to prevent unauthorized access to your data.
- External audits: ProtonVPN's security has been audited by independent security experts. This helps to ensure that ProtonVPN is secure and reliable.
- No connection logs: ProtonVPN does not record any information about your VPN connections, including the time and date of your connection, the IP address of the VPN server you connected to, or the amount of data you transferred.
- No traffic logs: ProtonVPN does not record any information about your online activity, including the websites you visited, the files you downloaded, or the apps you used.
- No DNS logs: ProtonVPN does not record any information about your DNS queries, which are the requests your device makes to resolve domain names into IP addresses.
- No payment logs: ProtonVPN does not store any information about your payment methods, such as your credit card number or PayPal account.
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 ProtonVPN and Hotspot Shield when it comes to server technology for download/upload speeds for streaming and torrenting.
Winner is:
ProtonVPN and Hotspot Shield both offer impressive speeds, but they perform differently. Third-party speed tests reveal that Hotspot Shield excels in download and upload speeds, particularly in the US and EU regions. However, ProtonVPN offers consistent server speed globally, which makes it more reliable for international users. In terms of streaming sites and torrenting, both do a decent job, but ProtonVPN's no-logging policy gives it an edge in privacy. Considering the overall performance, security, and privacy, ProtonVPN takes the crown as the superior VPN in terms of speed features.
ProtonVPN
- Secure core servers: ProtonVPN's secure core servers are located in privacy-friendly countries, such as Switzerland and Iceland. This helps to protect your privacy by preventing your traffic being intercepted by third parties.
- Double VPN: ProtonVPN's double VPN feature encrypts your traffic twice, by routing it through two VPN servers. This makes it even more difficult for third parties to intercept your traffic.
- P2P servers: ProtonVPN has dedicated P2P servers that are optimized for file sharing. This can help you to get faster speeds when downloading and uploading files.
- Tor over VPN: ProtonVPN supports Tor over VPN, which allows you to use the Tor anonymity network through the ProtonVPN service. This can help you to protect your privacy even further.
- Obfuscated servers: ProtonVPN has obfuscated servers that are designed to hide the fact that you are using a VPN. This can be useful in countries where VPNs are blocked or restricted.
- High availability: ProtonVPN has a large network of servers that are located in over 60 countries. This ensures that you will always be able to find a server that is close to you and that is not overloaded.
- No IP leaks: ProtonVPN uses a number of features to prevent IP leaks, such as DNS leak protection and IPv6 leak protection. This helps to ensure that your real IP address is never exposed.
- VPN Accelerator: ProtonVPN's VPN Accelerator is a technology that can improve the speed of your VPN connection by up to 400%. It does this by optimizing the way your data is routed through the VPN network.
- Fast servers: ProtonVPN has a large network of fast servers located in over 60 countries. This gives you a lot of options when choosing a server location, which can help to improve your connection speed.
- Automatic server selection: ProtonVPN's automatic server selection feature will automatically connect you to the fastest server available. This can help to ensure that you are always getting the best possible speed.
- WireGuard protocol: ProtonVPN recently added support for the WireGuard protocol, which is a newer and faster VPN protocol. WireGuard is still under development, but it has been shown to be significantly faster than other VPN protocols.
- No bandwidth or data caps: ProtonVPN does not apply any bandwidth or data caps to any of its plans. This means that you can use ProtonVPN as much as you want without worrying about your speed being throttled.
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 ProtonVPN 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:
ProtonVPN excels in security features and supports torrenting on certain servers, but struggles with unblocking popular streaming services. Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, provides fast speeds, supports torrenting on all servers, and reliably unblocks major streaming platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. However, its privacy policy isn't as robust as ProtonVPN. If streaming and torrenting are your priorities, Hotspot Shield emerges as the winner. However, for stronger privacy features, you may want to consider ProtonVPN.
ProtonVPN
- Streaming-optimized servers: ProtonVPN has a number of streaming-optimized servers that are designed to unblock streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
- No bandwidth or data caps: ProtonVPN does not apply any bandwidth or data caps to any of its plans. This means that you can use ProtonVPN to stream as much as you want without worrying about your speed being throttled.
- Kill switch: ProtonVPN's kill switch feature will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP address being exposed.
- DNS leak protection: ProtonVPN's DNS leak protection feature prevents your DNS queries being leaked to your ISP or other third parties.
- IPv6 leak protection: ProtonVPN's IPv6 leak protection feature prevents your IPv6 traffic being leaked to your ISP or other third parties.
- P2P servers: ProtonVPN has dedicated P2P servers that are optimized for file sharing. This can help you to get faster speeds when downloading and uploading files.
- No bandwidth or data caps: ProtonVPN does not apply any bandwidth or data caps to any of its plans. This means that you can use ProtonVPN to torrent as much as you want without worrying about your speed being throttled.
- Kill switch: ProtonVPN's kill switch feature will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP address being exposed.
- DNS leak protection: ProtonVPN's DNS leak protection feature prevents your DNS queries being leaked to your ISP or other third parties.
- IPv6 leak protection: ProtonVPN's IPv6 leak protection feature prevents your IPv6 traffic being leaked to your ISP or other third parties.
- No logs policy: ProtonVPN does not collect or store any logs of your P2P activity, including the files you download or the IP addresses of the peers you connect to.
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 ProtonVPN.
Winner is:
ProtonVPN offers extensive customer support with detailed guides, FAQs, and an email ticketing system. Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, provides live chat, but its response times can be inconsistent. Effective customer support is crucial for solving technical issues and ensuring seamless VPN usage. Considering the comprehensive support and reliability, ProtonVPN is the clear winner in providing the best support.
ProtonVPN
- Live chat: ProtonVPN offers live chat support, which is available 24/7. This is a good option if you need help quickly.
- Email support: ProtonVPN also offers email support. This is a good option if you have a more complex issue that requires a longer response time.
- Knowledge base: ProtonVPN has a comprehensive knowledge base that covers a wide range of topics. This is a good option if you can find the answer to your question yourself.
- Support forum: ProtonVPN also has a support forum where you can ask questions and get help other users. This is a good option if you want to get help other users who have had similar problems.
- Help center: ProtonVPN has a help center that provides information on a variety of topics, such as how to set up ProtonVPN, how to use the different features, and how to troubleshoot problems.
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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