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Hotspot Shield alternatives · VPNs

Open-source alternatives to Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield is not described as open source on its own site. 20 of the 50 other VPNs in this directory are open source, according to their own sites.

Hotspot Shield has a free plan. Paid plans start at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29. 11 of them are free or have a free plan.

20 tools · Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

The 12 closest to Hotspot Shield

  1. Windscribe

    VPN with a 10GB free plan and pay-per-location pricing

    • Windscribe starts at $3 per month for 3 locations (Build A Plan). Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Only Windscribe lists a Linux app.
    • Windscribe is open source, according to its own site.
    • Windscribe also covers ad and tracker blocking.
    Windscribe vs Hotspot ShieldWindscribe pricing and details

  2. Proton VPN

    Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap

    • Proton VPN starts at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88. Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Only Proton VPN lists a Linux app.
    • Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
    • Proton VPN also covers ad and tracker blocking.
    Proton VPN vs Hotspot ShieldProton VPN pricing and details

  3. Mullvad VPN

    Flat-rate Swedish VPN with anonymous numbered accounts

    • Mullvad VPN starts at €5 per month, the same rate for any length paid ahead. Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Hotspot Shield has a free plan. Mullvad VPN does not.
    • Only Mullvad VPN lists a Linux app.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists a browser extension.
    Mullvad VPN pricing and details

  4. Private Internet Access

    Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states

    • Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal). Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Hotspot Shield has a free plan. Private Internet Access does not.
    • Only Private Internet Access lists a Linux app.
    • Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
    Private Internet Access pricing and details

  5. IVPN

    Privacy-focused VPN with no-email signup and open-source apps

    • IVPN starts at $60 per year (Standard), also sold at $6 a month or $2 a week. Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Hotspot Shield has a free plan. IVPN does not.
    • Only IVPN lists a Linux app.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists a browser extension.
    IVPN pricing and details

  6. Mozilla VPN

    Firefox maker's WireGuard VPN, run on Mullvad's servers

    • Mozilla VPN starts at $59.88 per year (Annual plan, $4.99 a month), plus tax. Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Hotspot Shield has a free plan. Mozilla VPN does not.
    • Only Mozilla VPN lists a Linux app.
    • Mozilla VPN is open source, according to its own site.
    Mozilla VPN pricing and details

  7. AirVPN

    VPN service with Eddie, its open-source client for desktop and Android

    • Hotspot Shield has a free plan. AirVPN does not.
    • Only AirVPN lists a Linux app.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists an iOS app.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists a browser extension.
    AirVPN pricing and details

  8. Lantern

    Nonprofit, open-source VPN built to get past censorship

    • Lantern starts at $3.63 per month on the 2-year Pro plan, billed every 2 years. Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Only Lantern lists a Linux app.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists a browser extension.
    • Lantern is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    Lantern pricing and details

  9. Psiphon

    Free, open-source circumvention VPN with an ad-free paid tier

    • Psiphon starts at $2.88 per month and up for Psiphon Plus; the billing term is not stated. Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists a macOS app.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists a browser extension.
    • Psiphon is open source, according to its own site.
    Psiphon pricing and details

  10. NymVPN

    Swiss VPN with a decentralized WireGuard mode and a mixnet mode

    • NymVPN starts at $4.00 per month on the 1-year plan, $48 billed yearly. Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Hotspot Shield has a free plan. NymVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only NymVPN lists a Linux app.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists a browser extension.
    NymVPN pricing and details

  11. Outline VPN

    Open-source software for running your own VPN server

    • Outline VPN is free. Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Only Outline VPN lists a Linux app.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists a browser extension.
    • Outline VPN is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    Outline VPN pricing and details

  12. Orbot

    Free, open-source Tor VPN for Android and iPhone

    • Orbot is free. Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists macOS and Windows apps.
    • Only Hotspot Shield lists a browser extension.
    • Orbot is open source, according to its own site.
    Orbot pricing and details

8 more that are open source

All 20 in one table

Common questions

Is there an open-source alternative to Hotspot Shield?

Yes. Windscribe, Proton VPN, Mullvad VPN, Private Internet Access, IVPN, Mozilla VPN, AirVPN, Lantern and 12 more are open source, according to their own sites.

Is Hotspot Shield open source?

Hotspot Shield is not described as open source on its own site. The listing was checked on Oct 17, 2026 against the pages it cites.

Which of these VPNs are free?

Windscribe, Proton VPN, Lantern, Psiphon, Outline VPN, Orbot, WireGuard, OpenVPN and 3 more are free or have a free plan.

When was this checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Hotspot Shield: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.