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Hotspot Shield vs Hola VPN 2023

Table of Contents
    Rated: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Rated: 5.3/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Hotspot Shield and Hola go head-to-head in this match to find out who will be the winner. Hotspot Shield is a popular VPN provider known for its speed and reliability, as well as its Catapult Hydra protocol, which compresses data to improve connection speeds and performance. Hola is a smaller provider that operates in a unique way. Rather than hosting dedicated VPN servers, Hola is a peer-to-peer network that routes user traffic through nodes provided by other users. Although Hola claims this system improves anonymity, they have received criticism for failing to protect users from vulnerabilities and safety concerns on several occasions. On the other hand, Hola is easy to install and use, and can bypass some geoblocks on popular websites. Hotspot Shield offers a free version powered by ads as well as a paid subscription service. Hola is entirely free to use, but you have to pay for the premium service if you don’t want your server to be used as a node for other users. Read on to find out which VPN comes out on top category by category.

    Rating

    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 9.2/10
    Ease of Use 9.4/10
    Reliability & Support 8.6/10
    Features 5.3/10
    Pricing 4.0/10
    Ease of Use 6.4/10
    Reliability & Support 4.8/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Kennedy Otieno
    Kennedy Otieno

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    9.0/10

    Hotspot Shield claims its proprietary Hydra protocol makes it faster than most VPNs — but is that true? I tested HSS on my fast internet connection (it allows up to 1Gbps speeds) to discover how it does with streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Mostly, I had a seamless internet experience — watching shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video without buffering. Its 1,800 servers in 80 countries ...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    G
    George
    8.0/10
    Great Interface, easy to use and smooth/zippy.

    It just feels well put together. Turns on automatically, which is no bad thing (if you don't like that... , turn the damn thing off with a click). The speed is consistently above average, and on a couple of inadvertent occasions, the Kill Switch operated as it should. I especially like the GUI, which is really simple, solid, yet has a refined/slick feel - far superior to a few I've tried but won't name here. I see no issues with it, although the security issues pointed out in the article are a bit alarming. I'm using the 'Business' version. Nice VPN, IMO.More

    Latest negative user review
    A
    Alt
    2.0/10
    Blocked by Real-Debrid on just about every us city and nearly all countries

    Easy to connect speed pretty good multiple platforms not great from streaming.. which is where you nee... d the speed. Nord vpn and Express are both cooperative providers with real-debrid meaning no connection problems. Even if you do find a server that connects frequently this is blocked during streaming.More

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    More Info
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Ren Sayer
    Ren Sayer

    Senior Writer

    6.0/10

    Warning! Hola VPN’s “Free Unlimited VPN” is NOT a real VPN. Hola’s peer-to-peer model may be popular, but you put yourself at risk if you use it because all your personal data is exposed and your IP address can be used by other people. Since we don’t consider Hola’s free service an actual VPN, we’ve reviewed Hola’s paid Premium VPN service. However, we always recommend a reputable...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    D
    Danilo
    10.0/10
    Really good and reliable VPN client

    I am very insecure about this post and how reliable this comparison actually is. There will always be ... people that either love or hate Hola VPN, whereas, this is a very individual decision. Personally, I am rather happy with the app (i am also using it on my desktop from time to time) and i do not share the rating that is displayed on this webpage. I cannot say much about the support side but would give the rest (user functions, friendliness as well as pricing) 5 stars; why?!... because it fits my needs in a very easy and reliable manner.More

    Latest negative user review
    M
    Max Johnson
    2.0/10
    Free does not offer conf files for WireGuard client

    VPN is of little value if it cannot BOTH provide WireGuard conf files and offer residential IP address... es Because it does not BOTH provide WireGuard conf files and offer residential IP addresses it is of low value.More

    Read the full review
    More Info

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    See Plans
    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 0 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    See Plans

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Hotspot Shield is a well-known VPN provider owned by the large online security company, Anchor Free. In comparison with the relatively smaller Hola VPN, Hotspot Shield has more features, and uses a more advanced level of security and privacy. It is however important to note that this provider keeps partial logs. In order to take best advantage of its fast speeds, good prices, and solid encryption make sure you check out their great coupon deals which are available only for a limited amount of time.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Even though both Hotspot Shield and Hola VPN support torrenting, there have been some major privacy concerns with Hola VPN, which means it can be risky to use it for torrenting.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Hotspot Shield offers a user-friendly Windows app that’s more efficient, secure, and feature-rich than Hola VPN’s proxy extension. In addition, in terms of privacy, Hotspot Shield is more reliable than Hola VPN.

    Best VPN for Android

    Hotspot Shield has a full-on Android app with all the security and privacy features you would need in a VPN which is easy to download, install, and use. Hola VPN relies on a peer-to-peer sharing system for its Android app, which means users' resources are shared among them. This doesn’t sound very privacy-friendly.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Hotspot Shield's MacOS app is as reliable as its Windows and Android apps, with all the useful features you could need from a reliable VPN. If you want to use Hola VPN on MacOS, you can only use its browser extension, which is very limited compared to a full-on VPN app.

    Best VPN for iOS

    Hola's an iOS app offers the option to subscribe for the premium paid service from within the app directly, but this app still has the same privacy issues as its apps for other platforms. Hotspot Shield offers a very reliable iOS app with access to all its features and the ability to connect to any of the servers in the Hotspot Shield network.

    Best VPN for USA

    Both Hola VPN and Hotspot Shield have servers in the US. However, Hotspot Shield is capable of bypassing geoblocks to access popular streaming services including Netflix US, whereas Hola VPN can’t.

    The Bottom Line

    Final Verdict Hotspot Shield has great unblocking abilities and is easy to use, but I'm worried by its logging policy. However, I was especially impressed with the results of my streaming tests. HSS can reliably help you access big streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. But, my speeds were a little disappointing, especially since the VPN promises its Hydra protocol is super-fast. On the plus side, the server network is impressively large, and the servers seem to be protected by fairly decent security measures. Sadly, I didn't feel comfortable using the VPN after reading its privacy policy. HSS' parent company Aura, is known for its shady logging practices, which puts me off using the VPN for activities like torrenting or online banking. For it the price tag, there are definitely safer VPNs out there than HSS. Decent speeds for HD streaming Unblocks many streaming services 1,800 servers in

    More Info

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with Hotspot Shield
    Go with Hola VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is Hotspot Shield better than Hola VPN?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is better overall than Hola VPN. It has 1800 servers in 80 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between Hotspot Shield and Hola VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then Hotspot Shield may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is Hotspot Shield faster than Hola VPN?

    Yes, Hotspot Shield is faster than Hola VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do Hotspot Shield or Hola VPN offer any deals?

    Both Hotspot Shield and Hola VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    About the Author

    Technical writer with a passion for online privacy.