There are indeed tons of VPNs out there. And they all claim to be the fastest, safest, and most effective at accessing geo-blocked services and apps.
Hotspot Shield and Surfshark are two of the most amazing companies out there, and neither is hesitant about touting the merits of their respective services.
From the exhilarating speeds of Hotspot to Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections, there’s something for everyone. One of the best aspects is that both have extremely low prices.
Both are highly regarded on our list of the best VPN services. So, how do you decide which one to go with? Let’s conduct a quick Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark comparison and find out!
Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark: Highlights!
| Surfshark | Hotspot Shield | |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot Rating: | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| Servers: | 3200+ servers in 95 countries | 1800+ servers in 80+ countries |
| Logs policy: | No logs | No logs |
| Pricing: | Starts from $2.30/month | Starts from $7.99/month |
| VPN protocols: | IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, OpenVPN, WireGuard, Shadowsocks | Catapult Hydra, IKEv2 |
| Streaming Compatibility: | Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more | BBC iPlayer, Netflix, YouTube |
| Platforms: | Linux, macOS, Windows, Firefox, Chrome, iOS, and Android | iOS, Windows, Linux, Mac, and Android |
| Simultaneous connections: | Unlimited devices | 5 devices |
| Support: | FAQs, email support, 24/7 live chat, knowledge base | FAQs, knowledge base, 24/7 live chat, email support |
Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark speed test: Which is faster?
Both VPNs are known to offer blazing-fast speeds to users. However, one definitely stands ahead of the other. We conducted a speed test of both VPNs based on the formula: 100 Mbps download speed/100 Mbps upload speed, and got the following results:
| Surfshark | Hotspot Shield | |
| WireGuard/Hydra | 83/61 Mbps | 87/56 Mbps |
| IKEv2 | 81/60 Mbps | 85/44 Mbps |
Hotspot Shield has been one of the fastest VPNs for a long time, due to the Catapult Hydra protocol. As per our testing on 100 Mbps, we saw 80-90 Mbps download speed on US servers.
That’s a lot of speed. To put it another way, if you have Hotspot Shield set on while torrenting, gaming, or streaming, then the VPN usage will be completely undetectable.
When you compare this to the 80-85 Mbps speed we got from Surfshark on WireGuard, it was clear that Hotspot Shield is miles ahead.
Final Result: Hotspot Shield is the Winner!
Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark streaming; Which unblocks more platforms?
These two VPNs have been quite evenly matched, but Surfshark takes the lead in this category. Not only did it unblock every site we tried, but it also gave us access to a couple of extra Netflix libraries.
This makes it a particularly appealing alternative for anyone who enjoys streaming, especially since there is no connection limit, allowing you to effectively view everything, wherever.
Hotspot Shield has the distinction of being able to bypass the geo-restrictions of some of the most popular streaming services, including Netflix catalogues. Many larger services, on the other hand, blocked it outright, possibly due to the high volume of traffic originating from free-tier customers.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Torrenting
When it comes to keeping you safe and secure while torrenting, Surfshark is no slouch. When it detects that you’re transferring torrent data, it connects you to a dedicated P2P server for the purpose.
Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, goes a step farther. It supports peer-to-peer (P2P) on all of its servers worldwide, whether you’re using a PC or a mobile device. That’s quite convenient, and it just means you’ll have one less thing to bother about while surfing the web.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Features overview
Whether you choose Surfshark or Hotspot Shield, you’ll have access to a vast range of features. A few prominent ones include:
Smart DNS
Surfshark offers a Smart DNS feature to users that allows you to enjoy an unrestricted access on devices that do not support VPN connections natively.
Meanwhile, Hotspot Shield doesn’t have Smart DNS, which puts it on line with other great VPNs for streaming.
Split tunneling
You’ll notice a feature called SmartVPN in Hotspot Shield, which is similar to split tunneling. Surprisingly, the VPN gives you the option of selecting not just apps but also websites, which is really useful.
Whereas, Surfshark has the benefit of allowing URL-based split tunneling, while both app and IP-based split tunneling are supported.
Malware Blocking
Surfshark offers a CleanWeb feature that prevents users from all kinds of malware and phishing attempts on their device.
Similarly, Hotspot Shield warns you when you’re about to access an infected website, preventing you from falling victim to phishing scams or malware.
Specialty servers
Surfshark offers a variety of specialty servers, including Static IP, MultiHop, and P2P servers, all of which provide reliable service to users.
However, when it comes to Hotspot Shield, then you’d have to give up on these servers as the VPN offers none.
Cybersecurity suite
You get more than just a VPN when you buy Hotspot Shield Premium. The list is as follows:
- Spam-call blocker (Robo Shield) – This is a feature on Android and iOS that marks calls from unknown sources as spam.
- Aura antivirus – A real-time antivirus is included with the Premium subscription. It is important to note, however, that it is only accessible on Windows and Mac.
- 1Password – It’s a password manager that streamlines the process of filling out online forms and remembering passwords. It’s one of the safest and most effective password managers available. It has a 1 GB document storage capacity.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark VPN: which is more secure?
Moving on to Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark security features, both VPNs are slightly different from one another. Let’s review them in detail:
Encryption and tunneling protocols
Surfshark supports the OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 protocols, all of which are fairly common. It also allows you to connect via Shadowsocks, an open-source protocol that specializes at avoiding detection by encrypting only your browser traffic, the same as a proxy server.
Hotspot Shield also has a few tricks up its sleeve, supporting IKEv2 and Hydra protocols. The latter is a separate protocol meant to allow faster connectivity over large distances.
Both VPNs use 256-bit AES encryption and 2048-bit RSA keys, which are practically unbreakable. To put things in perspective, cracking this would take countless lifetimes without the correct decryption key.
Logging
As for Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark logging policies, Surfshark claims to simply keep your billing details and email address. Nothing else.
Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, confesses of storing additional data such as session duration, websites accessed, device hashes, and IPs. This feels more intrusive than Surfshark in several ways.
On the other hand, we appreciate that the provider is so forthright about it, going to great lengths to state that none of the data can be linked to your personal account or usage.
Kill Switch
Each service also has a kill switch, that instantly blocks your internet connectivity when you lose your VPN connection, ensuring that you never have to surf without protection.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Plans pricing
| Prices and Plans | Surfshark | Hotspot Shield |
| Periods | 1 month | Basic |
| 6 months | Premium | |
| 2 years | Premium Family | |
| Special offers and discounts | 82% off on 2 years + 2 months plan | 38% off on the Premium plan |
| Lowest price per month | $2.30/month | $7.99/month |
| Highest price per month | $12.95/mo | $11.99/mo |
There’s only a slight difference between both VPNs’ monthly plans – both are quite expensive. However, only when you check out the prolonged plans is when you see the difference. Surfshark is WAY cheaper than Hotspot Shield, and has, therefore, taken the lead.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
China and countries with restricted internet access
You’re probably aware that China restricts the amount of online content that its citizens and visitors can access. The Great Firewall, a suite of tools, is used to accomplish this. While a VPN can help you get around the restrictions, most of these services are unavailable in China.
Although the websites for Surfshark and Hotspot Shield are inaccessible, the apps themselves are fully functional. As a result, if you install these apps before landing in China, you will have unrestricted access to the internet.
Users of Hotspot Shield don’t need to do anything special and can resume browsing as usual. Customers who use Surfshark must first enable NoBorders mode (Settings > Advanced > NoBorders).
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Server locations
Surfshark has a prominent lead when it comes to servers. It offers 3200+ servers across 95 countries worldwide for users to connect to and enjoy an unrestricted connection.
Whereas, Hotspot Shield only offers 1800+ servers in 80+ countries. Even though the country count is not bad, the server count is just over half of what the former has to offer.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark device compatibility: Interface & Ease of Use
| Hotspot Shield | Surfshark | |
| OS supported | Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android | iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android |
| Other devices and operating systems | Android TVs & Fire TVs | Fire TV devices, Kodi, and Android TVs |
| Browser extensions | Chrome | Chrome & Firefox |
| Simultaneous connections | Five | Unlimited |
Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections and is compatible with various platforms. Whereas, you can use Hotspot Shield on five devices at once.
By the looks of it, Surfshark is the winner. However, we’ll only confirm which is better: Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark after reviewing their desktop and mobile apps.
Desktop apps
Both VPNs include user-friendly desktop applications. Surfshark puts your most-recently-used servers directly on the main screen for quick access, and you can also connect to the server that’s closest to you.
The servers are grouped into three categories (Static IP, Location, and MultiHop), making it simple to discover what you need. The controls are very simple to comprehend, with clear explanation and toggle switches.
Hotspot Shield’s style is more on the minimal side. On the main page of Hotspot Shield, there’s a quick-connect button, a daily data use monitor, and a server selection option, as well as a sidebar for navigating to other parts of the desktop app.
If we had one issue, it would be some of the sidebar icons are needless, although this isn’t a major flaw. There’s a lot to enjoy here, with uncomplicated server selection and easy-to-use settings pages.
Mobile apps
The mobile apps of Surfshark are pretty similar to the desktop counterparts. There are a few minor modifications, such as the sidebar being relocated to the bottom of the screen. Furthermore, unlike desktop users, mobile users are unable to perform a speed test immediately within the app.
Without the need of third-party apps, the mobile version allows you to override your phone’s GPS location. You can also switch to a different sort of encryption, which isn’t available on desktop systems.
Hotspot Shield’s mobile app, like the desktop version, has a quick connect icon and a server selection feature directly on the home screen.
Although customers cannot change protocols in the mobile app, its settings are almost the same. The only actual difference is that the sidebar has shrunk and now runs to the bottom of the screen.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Customer support
Both VPNs provide live chat and email assistance 24/7. This means that a response to your difficulties is really no more than a few minutes away.
Surfshark will answer anyone’s query, whereas Hotspot Shield exclusively offers assistance to paying subscribers only.
Otherwise, you’ll have to hope that the knowledge base has a related article. Surfshark also includes a question database, as well as an official YouTube channel with video walkthroughs.
Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!
Hotspot Shield vs Surfshark – The Winner?
Honestly, either one of these VPNs would be a great choice for daily use. Hotspot Shield is fast and dependable, with good unblocking ability, and it has a lot of features that its competitors don’t.
However, according to our testing, Surfshark is the superior option and the winner of our comparison. It covers many countries, offers fast speeds, and can unblock significantly more geo-restricted services.
This privacy-focused service also accepts crypto, keeps no logs, and allows you to connect quite so many devices as you want.
To summarise, Surfshark is a remarkable VPN that would be ideal for almost any task.
FAQs
Is Hotspot Shield good for gaming?
Yes, Hotspot Shield is a good choice for gaming. It prevents bandwidth limiting, encrypts your gaming data, lowers latency, and keeps your online profile anonymous.
Is Hotspot Shield better than NordVPN?
Well, NordVPN appeals majority of customers. This is due to the fact that it is less expensive, unblocks numerous streaming sites, and provides superior customer service. Some users, however, may prefer Hotspot Shield due to its lightning-fast download speeds.
We thoroughly reviewed the two in our Hotspot Shield vs NordVPN comparison to find out the answer.