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146
Highlights
63
Differences
5
Reactions
0
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Hotspot Shield
vs
Proton:
146 Highlights & 63 Differences —
So, Which VPN Actually Works Better
Learn which VPN delivers superior performance to meet your speed and reliability needs.
We compared Hotspot Shield and Proton for people who care about target user, simultaneous connections, account sharing policy & deployment type and time-saving tools. Here’s what to know before committing.
Hotspot Shield vs Proton VPN: A Detailed Comparison of Two Top VPN Services
When it comes to robust VPN solutions catering to individual users and families, Hotspot Shield and Proton VPN stand out as popular choices. Both services offer cloud-based deployment with strong compliance to privacy regulations such as GDPR, support multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, and provide core features such as a kill switch, stealth mode, unlimited bandwidth, and high streaming reliability.
However, their approach to privacy, network infrastructure, and performance reveals fundamental contrasts. Hotspot Shield leans into gaming-optimized servers and extensive streaming platform support. In contrast, Proton VPN emphasizes stronger privacy mechanisms like RAM-only servers and outperforms in speed and latency, appealing to business and privacy-conscious users.
Why Hotspot Shield Shines in Gaming and Streaming Flexibility
Hotspot Shield presents a compelling choice for gamers and streamers, notably through its dedicated gaming-optimized servers that enhance gameplay experiences by reducing lag. It supports a broad array of streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, ensuring versatile content access. The platform's deployment type is cloud-based, offering ease of use for individual and family users, backed by compliance with GDPR and CCPA.
Security-wise, Hotspot Shield employs the RSA key exchange method, a widely trusted but less modern approach compared to Proton's ECDHE. The VPN includes an effective stealth mode and a proactive kill switch. However, its logging policy is more permissive, as it logs connections and metadata, which might be a concern for privacy purists. An advantage for users sharing accounts is Hotspot Shield's more permissive account-sharing policy.
In terms of performance, Hotspot Shield offers a reasonable peak speed of 150 Mbps with a latency impact of 20 ms, decent for general use but noticeably behind Proton in benchmarks. Its wide operating system compatibility extends to routers but lacks CLI or browser extensions.
Notably, the service doesn't support IoT devices or Smart TVs officially, but offers features like per-app rules and session management. Customer service includes live chat and email support with prompt responsiveness and a helpful knowledge base. For those hesitant to commit, Hotspot Shield offers a 7-day free trial and even a free tier tier at $0 at Hotspot Shield.
Proton VPN's Strength Lies in Privacy, Speed, and Business-Oriented Features
Proton VPN sets itself apart with a strong emphasis on privacy and performance. It employs the more advanced ECDHE key exchange, ensuring forward secrecy and better cryptographic protection. Its privacy standards are elevated through the usage of RAM-only servers, which destroy user data on reboot, and a strict no-logs policy that includes no connection or metadata logging. Additionally, Proton's clean legal track record builds trust for privacy-conscious and business users alike.
Proton VPN dramatically outpaces Hotspot Shield with a peak speed of 900 Mbps and a notably lower latency impact of 15 ms, making it an excellent choice for secure, fast VPN access, whether for streaming, file sharing, or business communications. Its cloud-based infrastructure is fully composed of owned servers, granting enhanced control over service integrity. While it lacks gaming-optimized nodes, Proton remains solid for cloud gaming and 4K streaming, supporting popular platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.
Proton also supports advanced device versatility, including CLI tools, browser extensions, and IoT devices, appealing to tech-savvy users and professionals. Despite no formal Smart TV support, Proton VPN provides flexibility unmatched by Hotspot Shield. It permits login history visibility for user awareness and accountability and offers similar session management and support options.
Business users appreciate Proton's longer 30-day free trial and flexible plans, alongside robust SLA-backed customer support. Plans are payable via credit card or PayPal, aligning with modern payment preferences. Proton VPN's reputation is excellent, reinforced by transparency and frequent independent audits.
Quick Take
Hotspot Shield is best suited for gamers and streaming enthusiasts looking for optimized servers and broad platform support, plus flexible account sharing. Proton VPN excels for users who prioritize top-tier privacy, lightning-fast connection speeds, and professional-grade features like command line and IoT compatibility.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, Proton VPN delivers unmatched privacy protections, superior performance, and advanced device support for users with business or privacy-focused needs. Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, remains a strong contender for casual users attracted to gaming enhancements and diverse streaming services. Choose Proton for secure, blazing-fast VPN access or Hotspot Shield for gaming and entertainment-focused flexibility.
Verdict
Winner: Proton VPN - For its superior privacy controls, outstanding peak performance, and enhanced device compatibility, making it ideal for professionals and security-minded users.
Runner-up: Hotspot Shield - For gamers and streamers who value specialized server optimizations and wider account sharing policies at no cost.
Hotspot Shield allows account sharing, whereas Proton has a restricted account sharing policy. For users needing flexible account sharing, Hotspot Shield is the better option.
Defines rules around sharing accounts.
In the battle of Account Sharing Policy,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
better than
Proton ◉
, delivering
higher
45 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Account Sharing Policy on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Both Hotspot Shield and Proton comply with GDPR. Hotspot Shield additionally complies with CCPA. If compliance with multiple regulations is important, Hotspot Shield offers more extensive regulatory coverage.
Stated compliance with data protection regulations.
In the battle of Regulatory Compliance Statement,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
10 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Regulatory Compliance Statement on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
68
Proton
0Votes
Individual, Family, Team, Business
vs
Target User
Hotspot Shield targets Individuals and Families, while Proton supports Individuals, Families, Teams, and Businesses. Proton offers a broader range of target users, making it more suitable for diverse user groups including business teams.
Identifies the primary audience.
In the battle of Target User,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
11 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Target User on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
56
Proton
0Votes
Privacy, Security, Streaming, P2P, Business
vs
Intended Use
Hotspot Shield is intended for privacy, streaming, gaming, and P2P, while Proton focuses on privacy, security, streaming, P2P, and business use. Proton's inclusion of business use makes it ideal for corporate security needs.
Describes the main use cases supported.
In the battle of Intended Use,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
9 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Intended Use on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Release Year
When was this VPN first released?
22
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
2005
86
Proton
0Votes
2017
Year the VPN service was first released.
In the battle of Release Year,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
64 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Release Year on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Both Hotspot Shield and Proton offer third-party audit availability, ensuring external validation of their security practices. This builds trust for users concerned about audit transparency.
Availability of external audit reports.
In the battle of Third-Party Audit Availability,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Third-Party Audit Availability on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Hotspot Shield uses RSA for key exchange, whereas Proton opts for the more modern ECDHE method. Proton's ECDHE offers stronger forward secrecy, making it preferable for enhanced security.
Describes how encryption keys are securely exchanged.
In the battle of Key Exchange Method,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
25 score
measurement.
Based on community votes for Key Exchange Method,
Hotspot Shield ◉ earned
0 votes,
less than
Proton ◉,
which got 1 votes.
Both services provide a kill switch, which is essential to prevent data leaks when the VPN connection drops. This feature is equally robust in Hotspot Shield and Proton.
Blocks traffic if VPN connection drops.
In the battle of Kill Switch,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Kill Switch on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Audit frequency for both Hotspot Shield and Proton is periodic, reflecting ongoing commitment to security maintenance. Users valuing consistent auditing will find both comparable.
How often audits are performed.
In the battle of Audit Frequency,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
5 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Audit Frequency on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Encryption Standard
What encryption standard is used?
62
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
AES
72
Proton
0Votes
AES, ChaCha20
Hotspot Shield
Encryption standard is AES, a widely adopted cipher family commonly used for VPN tunnel encryption.
Proton
Encryption standards used are AES and ChaCha20, both of which are considered highly secure and reliable for protecting data.
Specifies the primary encryption algorithms used.
In the battle of Encryption Standard,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
10 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Encryption Standard on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
VPN Protocols Supported
Which VPN protocols are supported?
72
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
OpenVPN
82
Proton
0Votes
OpenVPN, WireGuard
Hotspot Shield
Primary supported protocol is OpenVPN, a widely used option known for balance between security and compatibility.
Proton
Supports multiple VPN protocols including OpenVPN and WireGuard, catering to different user needs for security and compatibility.
Lists all supported VPN protocols.
In the battle of VPN Protocols Supported,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
10 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
VPN Protocols Supported on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
IPv6 Leak Protection
Is IPv6 leak protection supported?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Hotspot Shield
IPv6 leak protection is active, which helps prevent your IPv6 address from being exposed outside the VPN tunnel.
Prevents IPv6 traffic leaks.
In the battle of IPv6 Leak Protection,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
IPv6 Leak Protection on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Encryption Strength
What encryption strength is used?
82
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
AES-256
90
Proton
0Votes
AES-256,ChaCha20
Level and type of encryption used to secure data.
In the battle of Encryption Strength,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
8 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Encryption Strength on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
In the battle of Authentication Method,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
30 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Authentication Method on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Perfect Forward Secrecy
Is perfect forward secrecy supported?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Ensures past sessions remain secure if keys are compromised.
In the battle of Perfect Forward Secrecy,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Perfect Forward Secrecy on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Default Protocol
What protocol is used by default?
72
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
OpenVPN
97
Proton
0Votes
WireGuard
Protocol used by default.
In the battle of Default Protocol,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
25 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Default Protocol on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
DNS Leak Protection
Is DNS leak protection included?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Prevents DNS requests from leaking outside the tunnel.
In the battle of DNS Leak Protection,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
DNS Leak Protection on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
WebRTC Leak Protection
Is WebRTC leak protection available?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Prevents IP leaks via WebRTC.
In the battle of WebRTC Leak Protection,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
WebRTC Leak Protection on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Firewall Integration
Does it integrate with a firewall?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Integrates firewall rules for traffic control.
In the battle of Firewall Integration,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Firewall Integration on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Obfuscation Technology
Is traffic obfuscation supported?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Masks VPN traffic to bypass censorship.
In the battle of Obfuscation Technology,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Obfuscation Technology on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Stealth Mode
Is stealth mode available?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
vs
Stealth Mode
Both Hotspot Shield and Proton support stealth mode, enhancing user privacy by obfuscating VPN traffic. Users seeking stealth VPN solutions can opt for either.
Hides VPN usage from detection systems.
In the battle of Stealth Mode,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Stealth Mode on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Multi-Hop VPN
Is multi-hop VPN supported?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Routes traffic through multiple servers.
In the battle of Multi-Hop VPN,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Multi-Hop VPN on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Double VPN
Is double VPN available?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Encrypts traffic twice via two servers.
In the battle of Double VPN,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Double VPN on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Onion over VPN
Is Onion over VPN supported?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Allows Tor network over VPN.
In the battle of Onion over VPN,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Onion over VPN on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Dedicated IP Option
Is a dedicated IP offered?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
No
0Votes
Proton
Provides exclusive IP addresses.
In the battle of Dedicated IP Option,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
same as
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Dedicated IP Option on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Shared IP Pool
Does it use shared IP pools?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Uses shared IPs for anonymity.
In the battle of Shared IP Pool,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Shared IP Pool on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Encryption Customization
Can encryption be customized?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
No
0Votes
Proton
Allows users to adjust encryption settings.
In the battle of Encryption Customization,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
same as
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Encryption Customization on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Post-Quantum Readiness
Is it post-quantum ready?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Indicates preparedness for quantum threats.
In the battle of Post-Quantum Readiness,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Post-Quantum Readiness on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Both services implement a no-logs policy, prioritizing user privacy by not recording activity logs. This makes either service strong for privacy-focused users.
Describes the overall logging stance.
In the battle of Logging Policy Type,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
5 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Logging Policy Type on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Hotspot Shield logs connection data, whereas Proton does not log connection details. Proton is the better choice for users strictly avoiding connection logs.
Indicates logging of connection metadata.
In the battle of Connection Logs,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
higher
47 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Connection Logs on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Hotspot Shield does not use RAM-only servers, while Proton does. RAM-only servers enhance privacy by preventing data retention on physical drives, making Proton superior in this aspect.
Indicates use of volatile memory servers.
In the battle of RAM-Only Servers,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
RAM-Only Servers on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Data Retention Period
How long is data retained?
0
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
Indefinite
97
Proton
0Votes
No Logs
Hotspot Shield
Data retention is listed as 45 Days, meaning certain logs or records may be kept for that period before deletion.
Proton
This VPN follows a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not store any user activity or connection data, enhancing privacy.
Length of time user data is retained.
In the battle of Data Retention Period,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
97 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Data Retention Period on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Bandwidth Usage Logging
Is bandwidth usage logged?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
No
0Votes
Proton
Hotspot Shield
Bandwidth usage logging is enabled; this may record aggregate transfer amounts which could be relevant for support or compliance.
Indicates logging of bandwidth usage.
In the battle of Bandwidth Usage Logging,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
higher
47 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Bandwidth Usage Logging on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Privacy Policy Clarity
How clear is the privacy policy?
92
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
Clear
97
Proton
0Votes
Clear
Proton
The privacy policy is clear, providing transparency and easy understanding of data handling procedures.
Describes how understandable the policy is.
In the battle of Privacy Policy Clarity,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
5 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Privacy Policy Clarity on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Privacy Certification
Does it have privacy certifications?
0
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
None
0
Proton
0Votes
None
Hotspot Shield
The provider lists None for privacy certifications, indicating there are no publicly stated third-party privacy attestations.
Privacy or security certifications held by the provider.
In the battle of Privacy Certification,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
same as
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Privacy Certification on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Activity Logs
Are activity logs stored?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
No
0Votes
Proton
Indicates whether user activity is logged.
In the battle of Activity Logs,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Activity Logs on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Metadata Logs
Are metadata logs collected?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
No
0Votes
Proton
vs
Metadata Logs
Hotspot Shield logs metadata, while Proton does not. Proton's metadata log avoidance strengthens privacy protections over Hotspot Shield.
Indicates logging of metadata beyond traffic.
In the battle of Metadata Logs,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
higher
47 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Metadata Logs on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
IP Address Logging
Are IP addresses logged?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
No
0Votes
Proton
Indicates whether IP addresses are logged.
In the battle of IP Address Logging,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
IP Address Logging on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Timestamp Logging
Are timestamps logged?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
No
0Votes
Proton
Indicates logging of session timestamps.
In the battle of Timestamp Logging,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
higher
47 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Timestamp Logging on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Jurisdiction Country
Which country is the jurisdiction?
82
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
United States
77
Proton
0Votes
Switzerland
Country where the VPN company is legally registered.
In the battle of Jurisdiction Country,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
better than
Proton ◉
, delivering
higher
5 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Jurisdiction Country on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Warrant Canary
Is a warrant canary published?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Indicates presence of a warrant canary.
In the battle of Warrant Canary,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Warrant Canary on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Transparency Report
Are transparency reports published?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Indicates publication of transparency reports.
In the battle of Transparency Report,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Transparency Report on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
GDPR Compliance
Is GDPR compliance stated?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Indicates compliance with GDPR.
In the battle of GDPR Compliance,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
GDPR Compliance on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
CCPA Compliance
Is CCPA compliance stated?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Indicates compliance with CCPA.
In the battle of CCPA Compliance,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
CCPA Compliance on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
User Data Deletion Policy
Can users delete their data?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
vs
User Data Deletion Policy
Both Hotspot Shield and Proton have a user data deletion policy, enabling users to request deletion of personal data. This is an important privacy feature both services support equally.
Indicates if users can request data deletion.
In the battle of User Data Deletion Policy,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
User Data Deletion Policy on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Anonymous Account
Are anonymous accounts supported?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Allows account creation without personal info.
In the battle of Anonymous Account,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Anonymous Account on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Both Hotspot Shield and Proton operate data centers at Tier III level, providing high uptime and reliability. Infrastructure quality is similar for both services.
Indicates data center reliability level.
In the battle of Data Center Tier,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
5 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Data Center Tier on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Hotspot Shield offers gaming optimized servers, but Proton does not provide this feature. Gamers looking for optimized performance should prefer Hotspot Shield.
Servers optimized for low-latency gaming.
In the battle of Gaming Optimized Servers,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
better than
Proton ◉
, delivering
higher
33 score
measurement.
Based on community votes for Gaming Optimized Servers,
Hotspot Shield ◉ earned
1 votes,
more than
Proton ◉,
which got 0 votes.
Hotspot Shield uses a hybrid server ownership model, while Proton fully owns its servers. Proton's ownership offers potentially higher control and security over the infrastructure.
Describes who controls the servers.
In the battle of Server Ownership,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
25 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Server Ownership on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Total Server Count
How many servers are available?
92
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
3000+
97
Proton
0Votes
3000+
Hotspot Shield
Total server count is 3000+, which helps with load distribution and offers many connection endpoints globally.
Proton
This VPN offers a large network with more than 3000+ servers, providing extensive options for connectivity and optimal performance.
Approximate total number of servers available.
In the battle of Total Server Count,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
5 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Total Server Count on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Total Country Coverage
How many countries are covered?
92
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
90+
97
Proton
0Votes
90+
Hotspot Shield
Coverage is listed as 90+, offering broad geographic access for content unblocking and routing.
Number of countries with server presence.
In the battle of Total Country Coverage,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
5 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Total Country Coverage on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Hotspot Shield has a latency impact of 20 ms, slightly higher than Proton's 15 ms. Proton's lower latency gives it an edge for latency-sensitive applications like gaming or streaming.
Additional latency introduced by the VPN.
In the battle of Latency Impact,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
higher
5.0 ms
measurement.
Based on community votes for Latency Impact,
Hotspot Shield ◉ earned
0 votes,
less than
Proton ◉,
which got 1 votes.
Hotspot Shield offers a peak speed performance of 150 Mbps, while Proton delivers an impressive 900 Mbps. Users requiring very high speeds will find Proton more suitable.
Maximum achievable speed under ideal conditions.
In the battle of Peak Speed Performance,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
750.0 Mbps
measurement.
Based on community votes for Peak Speed Performance,
Hotspot Shield ◉ earned
0 votes,
less than
Proton ◉,
which got 1 votes.
Both Hotspot Shield and Proton support smart routing, which intelligently directs traffic for optimal speed and security. This feature equally benefits users of both VPNs.
Routes traffic through optimal paths.
In the battle of Smart Routing,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Smart Routing on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Neither Hotspot Shield nor Proton provide performance analytics. Users seeking detailed speed and usage metrics will need third-party tools or alternate services.
Provides performance monitoring insights.
In the battle of Performance Analytics,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
same as
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Performance Analytics on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Average Download Speed
What is the average download speed?
85
Mbps
0Votes
300
Mbps
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Average download speed is reported as 85 Mbps under typical usage conditions.
Proton
The average download speed is approximately 300 Mbps, sufficient for demanding tasks like HD streaming and gaming.
Typical downstream speed when connected to the VPN.
In the battle of Average Download Speed,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
215.0 Mbps
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Average Download Speed on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Speed Consistency
How consistent are the speeds?
92
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
High
97
Proton
0Votes
High
Hotspot Shield
The service reports High speed consistency, indicating stable throughput across sessions and fewer large speed fluctuations.
Proton
Speed consistency is high, meaning users experience stable speeds without significant fluctuations during use.
Stability of speeds over time.
In the battle of Speed Consistency,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
5 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Speed Consistency on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Average Upload Speed
What is the average upload speed?
45
Mbps
0Votes
250
Mbps
0Votes
Proton
The average upload speed is around 250 Mbps, sufficient for smooth video calls, gaming, and file uploading.
Typical upstream speed when using the VPN.
In the battle of Average Upload Speed,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
205.0 Mbps
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Average Upload Speed on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Speed Throttling
Is speed throttling applied?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
No
0Votes
Proton
Indicates whether speeds are artificially limited.
In the battle of Speed Throttling,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
same as
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Speed Throttling on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Protocol Speed Optimization
Are protocols optimized for speed?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Optimizes protocol choice for speed.
In the battle of Protocol Speed Optimization,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Protocol Speed Optimization on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Auto Server Selection Speed
Does it auto-select the fastest server?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Automatically selects fastest servers.
In the battle of Auto Server Selection Speed,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Auto Server Selection Speed on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Speed Test Tool
Is there a built-in speed test?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
No
0Votes
Proton
Built-in tool for measuring VPN speed.
In the battle of Speed Test Tool,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
same as
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Speed Test Tool on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Regional Speed Optimization
Is regional speed optimization supported?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
vs
Regional Speed Optimization
Regional speed optimization is available from both Hotspot Shield and Proton, allowing enhanced performance tailored to geographic locations. This benefits users in various regions equally with both services.
Optimizes speeds by geographic region.
In the battle of Regional Speed Optimization,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Regional Speed Optimization on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Congestion Handling
How is congestion handled?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Manages performance during peak loads.
In the battle of Congestion Handling,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Congestion Handling on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Performance Transparency
Are performance metrics transparent?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Indicates disclosure of performance metrics.
In the battle of Performance Transparency,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Performance Transparency on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Hotspot Shield supports a wider range of OS versions including routers, while Proton supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android only. Hotspot Shield is better for router users.
Operating systems and platforms supported.
In the battle of OS Version Compatibility,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
13 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
OS Version Compatibility on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Proton supports IoT device compatibility, but Hotspot Shield does not. Proton is preferable for those wanting VPN protection across Internet of Things devices.
Indicates compatibility with IoT devices.
In the battle of IoT Device Compatibility,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
IoT Device Compatibility on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Gaming Console
Are gaming consoles supported?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
No
0Votes
Proton
Indicates compatibility with gaming consoles.
In the battle of Gaming Console,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
same as
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Gaming Console on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Browser Types Supported
Which browsers are supported?
83
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
Chrome, Firefox, Edge
91
Proton
0Votes
Chrome, Firefox
Lists supported browser types.
In the battle of Browser Types Supported,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
8 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Browser Types Supported on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Manual Configuration
Is manual configuration supported?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Allows manual VPN setup.
In the battle of Manual Configuration,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Manual Configuration on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
CLI Support
Is CLI support available?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
vs
CLI Support
Hotspot Shield does not support CLI, whereas Proton offers CLI support for advanced users who prefer command-line VPN management. Proton is better for technical users.
Indicates command-line interface availability.
In the battle of CLI Support,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
CLI Support on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
App Interface Consistency
Is the app interface consistent?
92
Hotspot Shield
0Votes
Consistent
97
Proton
0Votes
Consistent
Consistency of UI across platforms.
In the battle of App Interface Consistency,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
5 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
App Interface Consistency on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Device Management Dashboard
Is there a device management dashboard?
No
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Centralized device management interface.
In the battle of Device Management Dashboard,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Device Management Dashboard on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
ARM Architecture
Are ARM devices supported?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Indicates support for ARM-based devices.
In the battle of ARM Architecture,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
ARM Architecture on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Virtual Machine
Is virtual machine usage supported?
Yes
0Votes
Hotspot Shield
Yes
0Votes
Proton
Indicates usability in virtual machines.
In the battle of Virtual Machine,
Hotspot Shield ◉ is
worse than
Proton ◉
, delivering
lower
7 score
measurement.
Don’t keep it to yourself — be the first to react and review the
Virtual Machine on Hotspot Shield ◉
vs Proton ◉ and help others decide!
Supermod
Moderator
0
Cartling
