That said, Hotspot Shield is still a decent pick since its secure, fast, and user-friendly.
I found that NordVPN beats Hotspot Shield overall.
They both have industry-standard security features, including.
Both NordVPN and Hotspot Shield offer full leak protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.
But I dont like that Hotspot Shields IPv6 and WebRTC leak protection is only available on Windows.
Both VPNs use perfect forward secrecy, a feature that regularly changes the encryption key for each VPN session.
But only NordVPN has RAM-only and colocated servers.
RAM-only servers wipe all data every time theyre rebooted, so the VPN cant keep any information long-term.
Each VPN also uses secure VPN protocols.
NordVPN comes with NordLynx, which is built around WireGuard, a super fast protocol.
Also, it has OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec, which are both secure.
And Hotspot Shield has Hydra, which is its proprietary protocol thats really fast.
In addition, Hotspot Shield also comes with WireGuard and IKEv2/IPSec.
NordVPN is the only one of the two that offers multi-factor authentication.
Winner (Security): Its a tie
NordVPN and Hotspot Shield are both very secure VPNs.
They also come with obfuscation.
This feature hides your VPN traffic from your internet service provider (ISP) and governments.
It is particularly useful if you want to prevent anyone from seeing your VPN usage to enjoy more privacy.
However, only NordVPN has an ad, tracker, and malware blocker, called Threat Protection Pro.
In addition, it also alerts you about outdated apps.
Winner (Extra Features):NordVPN
NordVPN is the clear winner in the extra features category.
However, only NordVPNs no-logs policy has been confirmed by an independent audit.
Thats pretty bad for your privacy.
Hotspot Shield is based in the US, which is part of that group.
Although both VPNs have a strict no-logs policy, Hotspot Shield is yet to undergo an independent audit.
I also dont like that its free users arent entirely protected by its no-logs policy.
Plus, NordVPN is located in a privacy-friendly location and accepts cryptocurrency payments.
Servers NordVPN Wins This Round
NordVPN has a better server web connection than Hotspot Shield.
I also really dont like that Hotspot Shields server availability varies across platforms.
With NordVPN, you get access to all of its servers on every OS.
But its great that both VPNs support torrenting on a lot of servers.
Both VPNs also support obfuscation across all servers.
Only NordVPN supports double VPN connections and has dedicated IP addresses.
NordVPN has more servers in more countries, supports double VPN connections, and even offers dedicated IP addresses.
I ran tests on both nearby and distant servers with the 2 providers.
Each VPN works with Netflix and can access 10+ Netflix libraries.
Torrenting NordVPN Is Better
Both NordVPN and Hotspot Shield are good for torrenting.
They work really well with top torrent clients, like Vuze, uTorrent, and BitTorrent.
Each VPN has great security features for torrenting, but NordVPN is much safer.
Plus, NordVPNs no-logs policy is also audited.
Winner (Torrenting):NordVPN
NordVPN is much safer for P2P file sharing than Hotspot Shield.
Gaming Both Are Equally Good
I had a great gaming experience with both NordVPN and Hotspot Shield.
The good news is it didnt ruin my game.
Both VPNs protect you against DDoS attacks, which force you offline.
But, I was disappointed to find out that neither VPN has anti-DDoS protection on their servers.
Im a huge fan of NordVPNs Meshnet feature, which is unique to NordVPN.
Winner (Gaming): Its a tie
NordVPN and Hotspot Shield are great VPNs for gaming.
The best option for use in restrictive countries is ExpressVPN.
it’s possible for you to also manually set them up on your router.
I like both NordVPN and Hotspot Shields Android apps theyre beginner-friendly and packed with a lot of useful features.
Their desktop apps are easy to use, too.
However, I dont like that Hotspot Shields macOS doesnt have a kill switch.
They both offer apps that are easy to use and full of features.
Also, both VPNs are great for beginners and advanced users alike.
Plans & Pricing NordVPN Provides Better Value
NordVPN has better plans than Hotspot Shield.
Although it allows fewer simultaneous connections, its cheaper and offers a lot more than Hotspot Shield.
NordVPN has 3 tier-based subscriptions, and each one has monthly and yearly plans.
Theres also thePlussubscription, which adds Threat Protection Pro and a password manager.
Finally, theres theUltimatesubscription, which adds encrypted cloud storage and protection against identity theft and cyber extortion.
Hotspot Shield has 2 tier-based monthly and yearly plans.
ThePremiumplan comes with access to all VPN features and starts at IDR112,920 / month.
Hotspot Shield also has aBasicplan, which is free.
Its decent, but I dont like that the VPN shares free users geo-location with advertisers.
But only NordVPN accepts cryptocurrencies, which is a secure way to pay for your subscription.
Both providers also accept credit/debit cards and PayPal.
I tested both, and I had no trouble getting my money back with either VPN.
Winner (Plans & Pricing):NordVPN
NordVPN is cheaper than Hotspot Shield.
It allows fewer simultaneous connections, but its plans are much more affordable and offer better value.
I like that both VPNs offer a money-back guarantee and that they accept PayPal and credit/debit card payments.
Both VPNs have excellent support centers on their websites.
NordVPNs support articles and FAQs are well-categorized and make it really easy to find what youre looking for.
Each VPNs 24/7 live chat support is pretty good.
And they both have good email support.
I was impressed by Hotspot Shields email support response speed.
The email reps got back to me in under 5 hours every time I sent them a question.
NordVPNs email reps were also fast I typically got a response within a day.
Hotspot Shield is a decent VPN, too.
It has good security and privacy features, solid streaming and P2P support, and user-friendly apps.
It also has surprisingly good customer support and a decent free plan.
What I dont like is that not all of its server locations are available on all apps.
I have no doubts about recommending both, but I still think NordVPN offers more value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hotspot Shield faster than NordVPN?
Is NordVPN safer than Hotspot Shield?
Which one is better for streaming NordVPN or Hotspot Shield?
Is NordVPN better at bypassing censorship than Hotspot Shield?
Neither VPN is good for getting around internet restrictionsin countries that ban or limit VPN use.
Thats why I recommendExpressVPNinstead, as it works really well in censorship-heavy countries.
Read more about the best VPNs in 2025
