Netflix: Check out the Netflix ISP Speed Index report to see what to expect speed-wise, on average, from the various internet service providers around the world, or use Fast.com to test your Netflix speed right now. Hotspot Shield also delivers on its promise of excellent download and upload speeds, which is ideal for P2P file sharing. The test then measures how fast the file is downloaded over a certain amount of time to pinpoint your download speed. There’s are two other issues to be aware of concerning Hotspot Shield’s safety: In 2017, the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) filed a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), claiming “undisclosed and unclear data sharing and traffic redirection occurring in Hotspot Shield Free VPN.”. Comment must be shorter than 5000 characters, Rating: In fact, the website claims it is the #1 grossing app for productivity in the US App Store. During testing I was able to unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video globally. Even Microsoft implemented the feature in Windows 10. Speedify can bond any combination of 2 or more Internet connections and will intelligently distribute your online traffic between them for optimal performance. You shouldn’t see a drastic difference between the two, but if you do here are some steps you can take: Streaming traffic is more important nowadays, with all live streaming, remote work and learning happening. When we tested for IP and DNS leaks with the Chrome browser extension, the results weren’t as great: Although our real location and IP address in the US weren’t leaked, the browser extension was leaking multiple DNS addresses to the websites we visited. Hotspot Shield offers four premium subscription plans. This speed test also saves your result history for future reference and has a user-friendly design. This speed is particularly impressive, because connection speeds tend to drop as your physical distance from the server increases. However, after switching to another compatible server the issue was resolved, and I was able to stream content seamlessly. The MAC version is worse than the Windows version. All of this can lead to poor hotspot performance leaving you unable to complete the task you needed the hotspot for. This is an impressive speed, especially for the distance from our physical location. While vpnMentor may receive commissions when a purchase is made using our links, this has no influence on the reviews content or on the reviewed products/services. Your review must be at least 200 characters long. 9.9 / 10, Rating: The VPN’s unique Catapult Hydra protocol was designed to fix some of the latency issues in the IPsec and OpenVPN protocols that can reduce connection speeds. Paid subscriptions also come with a generous 45-day, money-back guarantee. We also found the connections to be stable and reliable over time. The reviews published on vpnMentor are written by experts that examine the products according to our strict reviewing standards. Hotspot Shield claims to be the fastest VPN on the market. Real IP address (deleted at the end of each session). Hotspot Shield’s Refund Policy. [SOLVED] Internet Randomly Disconnects - Why and How to Fix. The 3-year subscription is very affordable, while a month-to-month subscription will cost you more. Despite its strengths, we have concerns about this VPN’s ability to protect your security, privacy, and anonymity. These are excellent connection speeds across the board. You can do so by heading to speedtest.net – test your speed both on the hotspot host device and on the device you are connecting to the hotspot. VPN speed test results will always vary since they depend on a lot of factors e.g. Fix It! All service plans allow for unlimited data usage without high-speed throttling or high-speed data caps, giving you the ability to use the service at home or on-the-go! Hotspot Shield is headquartered in the US, one of the founding members of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance. Can't Watch Because Twitch Stream Keeps Buffering? We found that Hotspot Shield indeed delivered fast speeds and unblocked most popular streaming sites. You can also test your network speed for a clear control. Most newer devices come with hotspot capabilities out of the box. Hotspot Shield also delivers great user experience with attractive native apps that are easy to navigate, but their privacy practices could use some fine tuning. These features all functioned as expected during our tests. However, it collects plenty of other information. Not recommended at all. You can share a Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or cellular data connection. In that case, Hotspot Shield may share the following information with third-party advertisers: The amount of information that Hotspot Shield collects could potentially be enough to identify you as an individual—the opposite of what you want if you’re concerned about maintaining anonymity. Hotspot Shield is a good VPN for torrenting. The website’s Help Center has many useful resources, including device-specific troubleshooting guides, FAQs, and a searchable Help database. Whether you need other devices connected for work or you just want to share your internet with your friends, there is no denying a hotspot is a great feature to have. Speedify uses a technology known as Channel Bonding. The icon in the top-left corner opens the settings. How to Turn On or Off Mobile Hotspot in Windows 10 You can turn your Windows 10 PC into a mobile hotspot by sharing your Internet connection with other devices over Wi-Fi. The macOS, iOS, and Android apps lack a kill switch. Unfortunately, the kill switch is exclusively available for Windows. This VPN’s biggest selling point is its lightning-fast connection speeds, thanks to the proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol. Private VPN is far better and a hell of a lot cheaper so I advise you to try them. You can do so by heading to speedtest.net – test your speed both on the hotspot host device and on the device you are connecting to the hotspot. Some users are able to use Hotspot Shield in China without a problem, while others can’t use the VPN at all. Internet Keeps Dropping? Based on your connection’s speed, Network Speed Test will tell you what activities you might be able to do, such as stream music or video calls. But is Hotspot Shield as fast as the vendor claims? Another VPN is much faster I now use an alternative which is giving around 12 to 14. Also, this VPN turns itself on automatically without me knowing thereby wasting all of the 500MB daily allowance so have to wait for the next day to make use of it! This can artificially increase your test speed or even prevent the test from completing. Hotspot Shield impressed us with its lightning-fast speeds and excellent customer service. Adding details really helps people understand what you like or don't about this VPN. When we connected to a server in Germany, our download speed was 65 Mbps: Across the world in Hong Kong, we got a download speed of 68 Mbps. But can Hotspot Shield Premium compete with top VPNs on the market? There’s also a completely free version that works well, but only allows limited data, server locations, and streaming. Get Hotspot Shield for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and more. So who wins the Internet speed test? If you’re using the Windows native app, you’ll also be protected by an automatic kill switch that keeps your data safe, even if your VPN connection suddenly drops. Using a hotspot is a great way to provide an internet connection to other devices, especially on the go. You’ll get the best value for money with a longer subscription plan. GlocalMe U3 Black Mobile Hotspot, Worldwide High Speed WiFi Hotspot with US 8GB & Global 1GB Data, No SIM Card Roaming Charges International Pocket WiFi Hotspot MIFI Device 4.1 out of 5 stars 150 $119.99 Yes, Hotspot Shield has a completely free version: There are a few limitations compared to the premium version (see below). The only way to use the VPN is through a dedicated app, so Hotspot Shield is not compatible with Linux, routers, gaming systems, smart TVs, and other devices. Drastically speed up your Android phone's hotspot with this simple setting. For example, the only options available in the macOS version are turning on push notifications and enabling auto-start. Each comes with the same features and differs only in plan length and cost. You can pay using major credit cards, PayPal, or anonymous gift cards; hundreds of major-brand gift cards are accepted. You can download Hotspot Shield Free without creating an account or choosing a subscription. If you’re looking for a secure VPN that’s great for streaming, torrenting, and protecting your anonymity, check out our list of top VPNs. If you look at some providers over a longer period of time you’ll see that their speeds fluctuate over time. If you want to see your upload speed and latency, click the "Show More Info" button. This can let websites know that you’re using a VPN. Try a different wireless adapter if you have one handy – as mentioned before, it could be the week hardware you are using to host the hotspot. Speedify is a fast bonding VPN that allows you to bond multiple different connections into one and get the combined speed of both! When you use Speedify, you don’t only get a smoother, faster, and a more reliable connection, but also all of your data is encrypted. The VPN will mask your IP address and hide your P2P activity from your ISP. Remember to use your high-speed hotspot data wisely, especially if you rely on hotspot internet as your main connection to the world wide web. You can also submit a ticket request through the website. To test your upload speed, we run the download speed test in reverse. Linux can naively share the Speedify connection. This ensures that even if your session’s current encryption key is somehow compromised, the rest of your data remains secure. You will then have the option to upgrade to Hotspot Shield Premium within the app. Supports all platforms. We didn’t experience any speed loss or dropped connections during our tests. We were impressed with the results of our speed test with Hotspot Shield Free: A tip: While the premium service is not free, you can take advantage of the 7-day free trial to check it out. V-SPEED Speed Test If you are looking for a customizable speed test to suit your needs, V-SPEED is the choice for you. (When we checked the App Store source, it actually indicated #8, which is still an impressive ranking.). Network Speed Test measures your network delay, download speed and upload speed. You can quickly connect to a server with a single click. Each time you connect to the VPN, you’ll see a map with your current location, the length of your session, and the amount of data downloaded and uploaded during the session.