The Hotspot Shield Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Hotspot Shield in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Hotspot Shield
The Insider’s Guide
VPN with a free Basic tier and its own Hydra protocol
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among VPNs, read from Hotspot Shield’s own pages.
Made by Anchorfree, LLC · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Hotspot Shield’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Hotspot Shield’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 10 of the 16 other VPNs we grade
Hotspot Shield is a VPN from Anchorfree, LLC with apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone and iPad, Android, Chrome and smart TVs. A free Basic plan covers one device and one virtual location, and Premium opens 125+ locations on up to 10 devices. Connections run over the company's own Hydra protocol, with OpenVPN and IPSec as alternatives.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Hotspot Shield, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's an app you install and connect, and Basic asks for no payment, with nothing to set up first.
- 1
Best for a cheap first year on 10 devices
The free plan gives you one location and a daily limit, which phone users can stretch by watching ads.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
- 3
There is a 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.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
macOS, Windows, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 10 of 16
That is against the other VPNs we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Hotspot Shield you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Hotspot Shield at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Anchorfree, LLC
- Category
- VPNs
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a cheap first year on 10 devices
Hotspot Shield has a free plan for one device and a cheap first paid year: $29 for Premium, with 10 devices, 125+ locations and smart TV apps. The second year is the catch, at $95.99. The free plan gives you one location and a daily limit, which phone users can stretch by watching ads.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Premium 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. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Basic 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. |
| Features | B | Its 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Hotspot Shield is for
- Great if you want a free VPN on one device for café Wi-Fi now and then
- Handy when you want the VPN on a smart TV as well as your phone and laptop
- Good for anyone happy to pay $29 for a year and shop around before renewal
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you stay past the first year, as Premium renews at $95.99 a year
- Skip it if you use Linux, as the downloads list no app for it
- Not for you if you subscribe through an app store and want the 45-day refund, which covers direct purchases only
Good to know
Good for
- Occasional users who want a free VPN on one device
- People who want the VPN on a smart TV as well as phone and laptop
- Buyers who want a cheap first year before deciding to stay
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Hotspot Shield has a free plan. Paid plans start at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29.
That's just above the middle of what VPNs charge.
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.
The 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.
Read from hotspotshield.com on Oct 17, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on hotspotshield.comOther 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.
Stated on hotspotshield.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Browser extension
VPN with a free Basic tier and its own Hydra protocol. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: vPN, malware protection.
Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Chrome and smart TVs, but the downloads list no Linux app.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
- 1Password
Hotspot Shield is made by Anchorfree, LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
10/16
Other VPNs it is graded above
Hotspot Shield's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 10 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 6 of 16) and worst on value for money (C, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $8 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 12 of the 15 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 17 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. Hotspot Shield’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 1 of 16
- CFree plan and trialAbove 11 of 16
- BFeaturesAbove 5 of 16
- BEase of useAbove 6 of 16
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 16
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 16 VPNs. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Hotspot Shield is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Hotspot Shield you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $95.99 a year.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Hotspot Shield’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
TunnelBear, Windscribe, Proton VPN, NordVPN and ExpressVPN
The 5 tools Hotspot Shield is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
TunnelBear
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
McAfee-owned VPN with a 2GB free plan and pay-once multi-year plans.
- Hotspot Shield also covers malware protection.
- TunnelBear also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.6GPA
Windscribe
Free plan · from $3/mo
VPN with a 10GB free plan and pay-per-location pricing.
- Only Windscribe lists a Linux app.
- Windscribe is open source, according to its own site.
- Hotspot Shield also covers malware protection.
- 2.8GPA
Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap.
- Only Proton VPN lists a Linux app.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
- Hotspot Shield also covers malware protection.
- 2.4GPA
NordVPN
Free trial · from $139.08/yr
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links.
- Hotspot Shield has a free plan. NordVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only NordVPN lists a Linux app.
- Hotspot Shield also covers malware protection.
- 2.4GPA
ExpressVPN
Free trial · from $99.95/yr
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers.
- Hotspot Shield has a free plan. ExpressVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ExpressVPN lists a Linux app.
- Hotspot Shield also covers malware protection.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Hotspot Shield free?
Hotspot Shield has a free plan. Basic covers one device and one virtual location, with help from the support center only.
How much does Hotspot Shield cost?
Hotspot Shield lists 3 plans. Basic: $0.
What platforms does Hotspot Shield work on?
Hotspot Shield is available on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does Hotspot Shield offer any discounts?
Hotspot Shield publicly lists the following: First year of Premium for $29; First month of Premium for $1.99.
Does Hotspot Shield have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Hotspot Shield is listed for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is Hotspot Shield open source?
Hotspot Shield is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
What does Hotspot Shield integrate with?
Hotspot Shield's listing names 1Password. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Hotspot Shield?
Hotspot Shield is made by Anchorfree, LLC.
What are the alternatives to Hotspot Shield?
The closest alternatives to Hotspot Shield in our directory are TunnelBear, Windscribe, Proton VPN, NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
How does Hotspot Shield compare with other VPNs?
Hotspot Shield's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 10 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 2.
Is Hotspot Shield good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Hotspot Shield C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 12 of the 15 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Hotspot Shield?
To replace Hotspot Shield you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Hotspot Shield’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Hotspot Shield's own pages on 17 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Anchorfree, LLC. Prices change, so check hotspotshield.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,858
Tools graded, in 46 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,858
tools graded
46
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Hotspot Shield, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/hotspot-shield
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Hotspot Shield: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/hotspot-shield
Know someone choosing between VPNs?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/hotspot-shield/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded VPNs after Hotspot Shield, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- VPNs Insider's GuideEvery one of the 17 VPNs we grade, compared
- hide.me Insider's GuideMalaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices3.0 GPA
- PrivadoVPN Insider's GuideVPN with a 10GB free plan and ad blocking on paid plans2.8 GPA
- Proton VPN Insider's GuideOpen-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Hotspot Shield’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. Hotspot Shield is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Anchorfree, LLC. Prices and plans change: check hotspotshield.com before you buy.