NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield – Which VPN is better?
NordVPN vs. Hotspot Shield: both VPNs have their strengths. We show you which provider has the edge in speed, security and streaming.
Our winner
NordVPN
In this head-to-head comparison NordVPN delivers the better overall performance.
See NordVPN deal →Comparison table
Speed – NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield
NordVPN impresses with 92 Mbit/s download speed and a 18 ms ping. Hotspot Shield reaches 86 Mbit/s – sufficient for most use cases.
Security – NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield
Both VPN services encrypt with AES-256 and keep no logs. NordVPN has a slight edge with 4 security features.
- No-logs policy
- AES-256 Encryption
- Kill Switch
- DNS Leak Protection
- No-logs policy (Premium)
- AES-256 Encryption
- Kill Switch
- Catapult Hydra protocol
Streaming – which VPN works better?
In the streaming comparison NordVPN scores with broader platform coverage. Both VPNs unblock the most common services – NordVPN is just a bit more consistent.
NordVPN
Hotspot Shield
Pricing
Hotspot Shield
from 2,99 €/month
3-year subscription - Free tariff available
See Hotspot Shield dealWhich VPN is better for…
Streaming
NordVPN
NordVPN unblocks streaming services slightly more reliably.
Security
NordVPN
More security functions and features.
Value for money
Hotspot Shield
Lower price with comparable performance.
Our verdict – NordVPN or Hotspot Shield?
In the head-to-head comparison NordVPN comes out ahead – on speed, security and the overall package. Hotspot Shield remains a good alternative, especially when price matters most.
FAQ – NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield
Is NordVPN or Hotspot Shield faster? +
NordVPN is a bit faster on average (92 Mbit/s vs 86 Mbit/s). Both deliver good speeds for streaming and downloads.
Which VPN is cheaper – NordVPN or Hotspot Shield? +
Hotspot Shield is cheaper (from 2,99 €/month). NordVPN starts at 3,49 €/month.
Which VPN is more secure? +
Both offer AES-256 encryption and no-logs policies. NordVPN packs a few more security features.
Which VPN is better for streaming? +
NordVPN unblocks streaming services slightly more reliably in our test. Both VPNs work with Netflix and other platforms.
Is Hotspot Shield still worth it? +
Yes. Hotspot Shield is a solid VPN service with its own strengths. Depending on your use case Hotspot Shield can be the better pick.
