Compare speeds, free options, subscription prices and renewal terms to see which VPN fits your needs.
| Speed | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Paid · Download | No data | 656.08 Mbps |
| Paid · Upload | No data | 747.34 Mbps |
| Free · Download | 448.18 Mbps | Not applicable |
| Free · Upload | 252.95 Mbps | Not applicable |
No speed history available.
| Free options | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free options | Free Basic offers unlimited traffic, one connection and one virtual location on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS; ads may appear. A 7-day trial is also offered with an annual subscription. It converts to paid access unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the trial ends. | There is no free VPN plan or free trial. |
| Pricing | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Paid plan | Premium | StrongVPN |
| 1 month | 1 month / $1.99 $1.99 per month At renewal: 1 month / $12.99 $12.99 per month (+553%) | 1 month / $11.99 $11.99 per month At renewal: 1 month / $11.99 $11.99 per month (Same monthly price) |
| 1 year | 1 year / $29.00 $2.42 per month At renewal: 1 year / $95.99 $8.00 per month (+231%) | 12 months / $47.69 $3.97 per month At renewal: 12 months / $89.99 $7.50 per month (+89%) |
Direct purchases only. Monthly equivalents include bonus time; the full amount is charged upfront. Taxes and eligibility may differ.
| Managing your subscription | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic renewal | Subscriptions purchased through the VPN website, App Store, and Google PlayRenews automatically. | Subscriptions purchased through the VPN website and App StoreCredit card, Debit card and PayPal Renews automatically. Subscriptions purchased through the VPN websiteAlipay No automatic renewal. Another paid period requires a manual payment. The same article describes paying an invoice at renewal, but also says manual renewal is unavailable. We could not confirm how to continue an Alipay subscription. |
| How to turn off renewal | Subscriptions purchased through the VPN websiteIn your VPN account or Through support In your VPN account
Through support
After your paid period ends, your account returns to Basic. Canceling your subscription does not automatically request a refund. Subscriptions purchased through App Store and Google Play If you purchased through the App Store or Google Play, open the subscription settings in that store, select the VPN and cancel the subscription. | Subscriptions purchased through the VPN websiteCredit card, Debit card and PayPal In your VPN account
Canceling your PayPal billing agreement does not cancel the subscription. Submit a cancellation request in your Customer Area. Subscriptions purchased through App Store and Google Play If you purchased through the App Store or Google Play, open the subscription settings in that store, select the VPN and cancel the subscription. |
| When to cancel | Subscriptions purchased through the VPN websiteIn your VPN account: At least 24 hours before the next charge. | The exact cancellation deadline is not specified. Cancel well before the next renewal charge to avoid being charged again. |
| Access after cancellation | Subscriptions purchased through the VPN website, App Store, and Google PlayAvailable until the paid period ends. | Subscriptions purchased through the VPN websiteCredit card, Debit card and PayPal Available until the paid period ends. Subscriptions purchased through App StoreRemaining access after cancellation is not established. |
| Removing a card from your VPN account | It is unknown whether the saved card can be removed. | You can remove the card in your VPN account. |
| Refund conditions | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| What can be refunded and under what conditions | Purchases on the VPN websiteThe provider’s refund guarantee applies subject to conditions. Within 45 days Starting from your initial purchase Refund amount & fees The website advertises a full refund within the guarantee window. How to request a refund
App Store & Google Play purchasesIf you paid through the App Store or Google Play, you can request a refund through that store. Requests are assessed under the store’s rules; approval is not guaranteed. | Purchases on the VPN website12 months The provider’s refund guarantee applies subject to conditions. Within 30 days Starting from your initial purchase Important limitations Gift-card refunds may be unavailable. Conditions Choosing On renewal does not request a refund. How to request a refund
App Store & Google Play purchasesIf you paid through the App Store or Google Play, you can request a refund through that store. Requests are assessed under the store’s rules; approval is not guaranteed. |
| What is not covered by refunds | Purchases on the VPN websiteRenewal payments after the initial 45-day guarantee period are not covered by the money-back guarantee. Purchases through resellers have separate refund terms. | Purchases on the VPN website12 months Renewal payments are not covered by the provider’s guarantee. 1 month The provider’s refund guarantee does not apply to this purchase. |
| Ownership & jurisdiction | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs the VPN? | The legal documents name Anchorfree, LLC and Pango Gmbh as possible service operators, but we could not confirm which company provides your subscription. Terms name either Anchorfree, LLC or Pango Gmbh depending on purchase location; the exact mapping was not established. | Strong Technology, LLC (registered in United States) is the company named as providing the VPN service. Named operator in indexed terms for new signups; complete market/channel applicability not established. Ziff Davis, Inc. is identified as controlling Strong Technology, LLC. |
| Which laws apply? | The terms specify New York law while preserving mandatory consumer protections. The company may be registered elsewhere. | The terms available through search specify Florida law and Orange County as the venue for disputes. We could not verify the terms shown at checkout. |
Each audit covers particular systems and a particular point in time. A provider announcement is distinct from a publicly available audit report.
| Audits | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| No-logs policy | No-logs review Aon · 2023 What was checked: Logging behaviour in free and paid clients and a development server node. Findings: The review found no browsing activity traceable to an individual and no plaintext IP-address logging in the examined setup. Limitations: This privacy review did not assess the security of data storage or hosting. Read the auditor’s summary | No independent audit found for this area. |
| App security | No independent audit found for this area. | No independent audit found for this area. |
| Infrastructure security | No independent audit found for this area. | No independent audit found for this area. |
| Apps, protocols & servers | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Computers & mobile devices | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chromebook |
| TV devices | PaidAndroid TV, Fire TV FreeNot supported | PaidFire TV FreeNot applicable |
| Browser extensions | Chrome | Not supported |
| Manual setup | Not supported | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Routers, Raspberry Pi, NAS |
| Apps, protocols & servers | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous connections | Paid10 Free1 | Paid12 FreeNot applicable |
| WireGuard | Supported | Supported |
| OpenVPN | Supported | Supported |
| IKEv2/IPsec | Supported | Supported |
| SSTP | Not supported | Supported |
| L2TP/IPsec | Not supported | Supported |
| PPTP | Not supported | Supported |
| Provider-specific technologies | Hydra | — |
| Apps, protocols & servers | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Servers | No data | 950+ |
| Countries | Paid85 Free3 | Paid42 FreeNot applicable |
| Locations | 1 | 67 |
| Features | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-connect | Supported | Supported |
| Kill Switch | Supported | Supported |
| Split tunneling | Supported (Smart VPN) | Supported (Android app only) |
| VPN traffic obfuscation | Supported (Hydra) | Supported (Scramble) |
| Multi-hop | Supported (Android app only) | Not supported |
| Tor over VPN | Supported | Not supported |
| P2P / torrenting | Supported | Supported |
| Ad blocking | Not supported | Not supported |
| Tracker blocking | Not supported | Not supported |
| Malicious website blocking | Supported | Not supported |
| Port forwarding | Not supported | Not supported |
| Dedicated IP | Not supported | Not supported |
| Shared static IP | Not supported | Not supported |
| Automatic IP rotation | Not supported | Not supported |
Based on providers’ published information. “Not supported” means the service was not listed in the reviewed materials; playback has not been tested.
| Features | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Supported | Not supported |
| Amazon Prime Video | Supported | Not supported |
| Disney+ | Supported | Not supported |
| Hulu | Supported | Not supported |
| Features | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| HBO Max | Not supported | Not supported |
| Paramount+ | Not supported | Not supported |
| Apple TV+ | Not supported | Not supported |
| Peacock | Not supported | Not supported |
| Crunchyroll | Not supported | Not supported |
| YouTube TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| BBC iPlayer | Not supported | Not supported |
| iQIYI | Not supported | Not supported |
| WeTV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Viki | Not supported | Not supported |
| DAZN | Not supported | Not supported |
| ESPN+ | Not supported | Not supported |
| F1 TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| beIN Sports | Not supported | Not supported |
| fuboTV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Kayo Sports | Not supported | Not supported |
| JioHotstar | Not supported | Not supported |
| ZEE5 | Not supported | Not supported |
| SonyLIV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Vidio | Not supported | Not supported |
| Canal+ | Not supported | Not supported |
| ITVX | Not supported | Not supported |
| Channel 4 | Not supported | Not supported |
| NOW TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| France.tv | Not supported | Not supported |
| TF1+ | Not supported | Not supported |
| RTL+ | Not supported | Not supported |
| Joyn | Not supported | Not supported |
| ARD | Not supported | Not supported |
| ZDF | Not supported | Not supported |
| RaiPlay | Not supported | Not supported |
| Mediaset Infinity | Not supported | Not supported |
| Movistar Plus+ | Not supported | Not supported |
| RTVE Play | Not supported | Not supported |
| Viaplay | Not supported | Not supported |
| U-next | Not supported | Not supported |
| TVING | Not supported | Not supported |
| Coupang Play | Not supported | Not supported |
| Wavve | Not supported | Not supported |
| FPT Play | Not supported | Not supported |
| VieON | Not supported | Not supported |
| VTV Go | Not supported | Not supported |
| Vision+ | Not supported | Not supported |
| RCTI+ | Not supported | Not supported |
| Exxen | Not supported | Not supported |
| puhutv | Not supported | Not supported |
| M6+ | Not supported | Not supported |
| Videoland | Not supported | Not supported |
| NPO Start | Not supported | Not supported |
| Ziggo Go | Not supported | Not supported |
| RTÉ Player | Not supported | Not supported |
| RTBF Auvio | Not supported | Not supported |
Relevant mainly where VPN services are blocked
If you are in the US, a European country, or elsewhere and VPN services are not blocked on your network, these results need not rule this VPN out of your purchase decision. A failed test under blocking in Russia does not, by itself, mean the VPN is poor quality or will not work where you live. Consider its speed, features and price for your needs.
| Censorship | Hotspot Shield | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Does it work on restricted networks? | In our tests in Russia, the free plan bypassed VPN blocking and allowed data transfer. We could not establish a working connection with data transfer on the paid plan. | In our tests in Russia, this VPN bypassed VPN blocking: we successfully connected to a VPN server and transferred data through the connection. |