Hotspot Shield vs SetupVPN (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, SetupVPN grades higher than Hotspot Shield: 3.0 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Hotspot Shield grades higher on features and ease of use. SetupVPN grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Hotspot Shield
VPN with a free Basic tier and its own Hydra protocol
Which one is for you
Pick Hotspot Shield if
- Fits if you want a free VPN on one device for the odd café session
- Works for putting the VPN on your TV as well as your phone and laptop, on Premium
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you stay past the first year, as Premium renews at $95.99 a year after $29
- Watch out: monthly jumps from $1.99 to $12.99, and some versions of the plan page list tiers others don't
- Tight if you stay free: one device, one location and a daily limit that phone users extend by watching ads
- Skip it if you use Linux, as the downloads list no app for it, and the TV apps need Premium
- Not for you if you buy through an app store and want the 45-day refund, which covers direct purchases only
Pick SetupVPN if
- Fits if you need a free VPN extension for occasional use
- Works for getting around a school or workplace firewall
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to know what Premium costs, as no price or feature list is published
- Not for you if you send mail over SMTP, since ports 25 and 465 are blocked
- Watch out: Linux, Opera and ChromeOS versions are marked coming soon
- Watch out: televisions and routers are not supported
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAHotspot ShieldGood | 3.0GPASetupVPNVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CPremium is $29 for the first year and then renews at $95.99, so two years cost $124.99, about $5.21 a month. That's just above the middle of what VPNs charge. Monthly starts at $1.99, then goes to $12.99. | AFree with no bandwidth restrictions on the vendor's home page. The Premium price is not published, so there is no paid cost to compare. |
| Free plan and trial | CBasic is free on one device and one virtual location. The page calls the data unlimited but also notes a daily limit, which phone users can stretch by watching ads. Fine for the odd café session, not for living on. | AA lifetime free account with no bandwidth restrictions and unlimited server changes. |
| Features | BIts own Hydra protocol, which can also get past VPN blocks, plus OpenVPN and IPSec, a kill switch, Smart VPN for choosing what bypasses it, malware and phishing warnings, Tor over VPN and 10 devices. It covers the whole job. | CFree account, 100+ locations, malware filtering and Wi-Fi protection. Mail ports 25 and 465 are blocked, and TVs and routers are not supported. |
| Ease of use | BNo App Store rating on record. It's an app you install and connect, and Basic asks for no payment, with nothing to set up first. | CNo store rating on record, and the site asks you to register. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Chrome and smart TVs, but the downloads list no Linux app. 1Password comes with Premium, but that's not an integration list or an API, so it stops at B. | BExtension, Windows, Mac, iOS and Android; Linux, Opera and ChromeOS are coming soon. |
| Best for | a $29 first year on 10 devices | an occasional free VPN extension |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Hotspot Shield and SetupVPN. How we grade
Where they differ
At a glance
| Hotspot Shield | SetupVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29 | Not published |
| Free plan | Basic covers one device and one virtual location, with help from the support center only. The page calls its data unlimited but also notes a daily limit that iOS and Android users can extend by watching ads. | Free account with no bandwidth restrictions and 100+ locations, per the vendor's home page. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Anchorfree, LLC | SetupVPN Inc |
| Price read from | hotspotshield.com | setupvpn.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Hotspot Shield
- The $29 first year and $1.99 first month are introductory; Premium then renews at $95.99 a year or $12.99 a month.
- The 45-day money-back guarantee covers subscriptions bought directly from Hotspot Shield, not through an app store.
- No Linux app is listed among the downloads, and smart TV apps need Premium.
- The plan page is shown in several versions; others list a Premium Family plan and a cheaper Plus tier that the current version does not offer.
SetupVPN
- A Premium account is mentioned on the home page and FAQ, but no price or feature list is published on the pages read.
- Ports such as 25 and 465 are blocked to limit spam, including SMTP.
- Linux, Opera and ChromeOS versions are marked as coming soon.
- The FAQ says televisions and routers are not supported.
Key features
Hotspot Shield
- Hydra protocol
- Hotspot Shield's own patented protocol, which can also disguise VPN traffic to get past VPN blocks. OpenVPN and IPSec are offered too.
- Kill switch and Smart VPN
- The kill switch cuts the internet if the VPN drops unexpectedly, and Smart VPN picks which apps or domains bypass the VPN.
- Malware and phishing protection
- Warns before you open a suspicious site, and a DNS filter blocks malicious sites and can filter harmful or inappropriate content.
- Tor over VPN and leak protection
- Reach Tor sites while connected to the VPN, with IP and DNS leak protection built in.
- 10 devices per account
- Premium links up to 10 devices, including phones, tablets, computers and TVs, across 125+ virtual locations.
- Third-party security apps
- Versions of the plan page list access to 1Password and a spam-call blocker (Robo Shield in the US and Canada, Hiya elsewhere) with Premium.
SetupVPN
- Free account
- The home page promises a lifetime free account with no bandwidth restrictions and no hidden charges.
- 100+ locations
- The site says it has over 100 locations around the world and is adding more.
- Virus and malware filtering
- The FAQ says SetupVPN filters viruses from browsing and shields you from malware on the sites you visit.
- Unlimited server changes
- You can switch servers as often as you like, with no stated limit.
- Public Wi-Fi protection
- Traffic is encrypted with SSL, which the vendor positions as protection on cafe and restaurant networks.
- Extensions and apps
- Downloads are listed for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android, Windows, macOS and iOS.
Plans
Hotspot Shield
Basic$0
One device and one virtual location, on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Chrome.
Premium, 1 year$95.99
per year at renewal, after a first year for $29
10 devices, 125+ virtual locations, smart TV apps and 24/7 live chat. The first year costs $29 as an introductory offer, then it renews each year at $95.99.
Premium, 1 month$12.99
per month at renewal, after a first month for $1.99
The same Premium plan billed monthly. The first month costs $1.99, then it renews at $12.99 a month.
SetupVPN
Free$0
Lifetime free account with no bandwidth restrictions, unlimited server changes and SSL-based encryption.
Ways to pay less
Hotspot Shield
- Other savings
First year of Premium for $29
The yearly Premium plan costs $29 for the first year as an introductory offer, then renews automatically at $95.99 a year.
- Other savings
First month of Premium for $1.99
The monthly Premium plan costs $1.99 for the first month, then renews at $12.99 a month.
SetupVPN
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Hotspot Shield or SetupVPN?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29, and SetupVPN publishes no starting price.
Which has a free plan, Hotspot Shield or SetupVPN?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Hotspot Shield and SetupVPN have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.