Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Hotspot Shield VS Psiphon

Compare Hotspot Shield VS Psiphon and see what are their differences

Hotspot Shield logo Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield is a software application developed by AnchorFree, Inc.

Psiphon logo Psiphon

Psiphon is circumvention software for Windows and Mobile platforms that provides uncensored access to Internet content. Read more about Psiphon.
  • Hotspot Shield Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17
  • Psiphon Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-16

Hotspot Shield features and specs

  • High-Speed Performance
    Hotspot Shield is known for its high-speed connections, making it ideal for streaming, large downloads, and gaming.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The application is designed with a simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy for both technical and non-technical users to operate.
  • Large Server Network
    Hotspot Shield provides access to a large number of servers in various locations around the world, which can help bypass geo-restrictions.
  • Strong Security Features
    It offers robust encryption and security features such as malware protection, which enhance user privacy and data security.
  • Free Version Available
    A free version of Hotspot Shield is available, allowing users to try the service before committing to a paid subscription.

Possible disadvantages of Hotspot Shield

  • Logging Policy
    Hotspot Shield’s privacy policy has been criticized for potential logging of user data, which raises concerns for privacy-conscious users.
  • Ads in Free Version
    The free version of Hotspot Shield includes advertisements, which can be intrusive and disrupt the browsing experience.
  • Limited Features in Free Version
    The free version offers a limited set of features compared to the premium version, which may not meet all user needs.
  • Cost of Premium Version
    The premium subscription can be relatively expensive, which may not be affordable for all users.
  • Inconsistent Performance
    Some users have reported inconsistent performance, such as occasional slowdowns or interruptions depending on the server or location.

Psiphon features and specs

  • Open Source
    Psiphon is an open-source tool, allowing security experts and users to examine the code for vulnerabilities or backdoors.
  • Easy to Use
    Psiphon offers a user-friendly interface which makes it accessible for people who are not tech-savvy.
  • Multiple Platform Support
    It is available for Windows, Android, and iOS, which makes it versatile and usable across different devices.
  • Effective Censorship Circumvention
    Psiphon is effective at bypassing various forms of internet censorship, making it popular in regions with heavy internet restrictions.
  • Free Version Available
    Psiphon offers a free version with basic features, making it accessible to users without financial means.
  • Automatic Protocol Selection
    Psiphon automatically selects the best available protocol to ensure users can bypass censorship effectively.

Possible disadvantages of Psiphon

  • Speed Limitations
    The free version has limited speed, which may not be suitable for bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming or gaming.
  • Data Usage Logging
    Psiphon logs some data usage information on their servers. While not personal data, this could still be a concern for privacy-focused users.
  • Ads in Free Version
    The free version contains ads, which may interrupt the user experience or turn off potential users.
  • Not a Full VPN
    Psiphon is primarily a circumvention tool rather than a full-fledged VPN, lacking some security features found in dedicated VPN services.
  • Limited Server Locations
    Psiphon has fewer server locations compared to leading VPNs, which may affect connection speeds and access to geographically restricted content.

Hotspot Shield videos

Hotspot Shield Review - Brutally Honest Review in 2019

More videos:

  • Review - Hotspot Shield VPN Review
  • Review - Hotspot Shield review: Should you get it? | VPNpro

Psiphon videos

Psiphon 3 Review!

More videos:

  • Review - UNLIMITED INTERNET NEW SET UP PSIPHON PRO VPN WORKING TO ALL NETWORK

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Hotspot Shield and Psiphon)
VPN
50 50%
50% 50
Cloud VPN
48 48%
52% 52
Security & Privacy
56 56%
44% 44
Security
40 40%
60% 60

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Hotspot Shield and Psiphon

Hotspot Shield Reviews

The Best Top 10 VPNs for Spotify 2025
Hotspot Shield is a popular VPN solution for Spotify users, offering fast and secure connections to its vast network of servers. With a user-friendly interface and 24/7 customer support, Hotspot Shield is perfect for music lovers.
Turbo VPN Alternatives – Best Free VPN Apps For Android in 2022
Hotspot Shield is the best and most popular VPN proxy application for Android smartphones. It takes security and privacy very seriously. Since it’s a VPN app, it can be used to unlock geo-restricted websites and content.
Source: techviral.net
112 Best Chrome Extensions You Should Try (2021 List)
Hotspot Shield extension is a freemium security tool. It uses WebRTC technologies to hide your IP and uses military-grade encryption to protect your data. Yes! it offers both free and paid plans, but as free, it only connects to one location and provides primary security. But premium subscription plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. However, for beginners, the free...
8 Best Turbo VPN Alternatives for Android and iOS
HotSpot Shield is yet another VPN that offers unlimited data just like Turbo VPN. It does not throttle the speed and the servers are always up which translates to excellent performance. However, bear in mind, under the free service, you have servers only from the US region which could be a bummer for some. Nevertheless, the best part about Hotspot Shield is that it offers...
Source: beebom.com
8 Similar Apps like Psiphon that are Actually Better
Hotspot Shield VPN is yet another incredible app like Psiphon. However, it does require you to subscribe to a plan to be able to utilize the VPN service. The pricing plans are similar to the ones offered by other VPN providers.

Psiphon Reviews

Best Top 20 OpenVPN Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Psiphon is free and open-source software that is compatible with Windows, iOS, and Android devices.
Best 5 Psiphon Alternatives in 2023
Why, when Psiphon is already deemed as one of the best VPNs out there, would you want to look for alternatives? There could honestly be a million reasons why you might not be satisfied with a specific service but when it comes to choosing a good VPN client, it all boils down to speed, privacy, and pricing. While Psiphon is known for offering top-tier security and good...
Turbo VPN Alternatives – Best Free VPN Apps For Android in 2022
If we talk about the features, Psiphon Pro has a global network featuring thousands of servers and diverse entry points. You don’t need to register any account or link your debit card; just download the app, and you can connect for free.
Source: techviral.net
10 Best Free Android VPN Apps For Your Smartphone In 2021
Psiphon Pro is an open-source, peer-reviewed and trustworthy VPN Android app, which will open access to everything on the Internet. Unlike other VPN apps for Android, Psiphon gives users options like always-on VPN and excludes selected apps from using VPN. By using these features you can always turn-on VPN by default and omit apps like banking and other payment apps by...
Source: techlog360.com
8 Best Turbo VPN Alternatives for Android and iOS
Psiphon Pro is one of the most transparent and secure VPNs out there, hence it’s a suitable alternative to Turbo VPN. It started as a proxy system at the University of Toronto, but now has evolved into a full-fledged VPN. The best part is that it’s completely open-source and does not log any user data, unlike Turbo VPN. Psiphon Pro utilizes multiple technologies like...
Source: beebom.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Psiphon seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 27 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Hotspot Shield mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Hotspot Shield yet. Tracking of Hotspot Shield recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Psiphon mentions (27)

  • Fortiguard workaround?
    These should be able bypass FortiGuard. Speeds will be slow though. 1. Psiphon. 2. Your Freedom VPN. 3. Puffin Browser. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Mullvad is completely blocked in Russia
    Psiphon should work and it is free but they have limits on speed. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Youtube slow buffering in Converge
    Free: https://psiphon.ca/ Paid: Too many to list here. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • What is a cheaper/easier method for VPN Torrenting?
    I have Xfinity and I've been using this for years after I saw ppl talk about it on my site's forums. The devs are always updating it weekly. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Bypassing University Internet Restrictions for Legal Purposes (to access my homeservers/raspberry Pis/VPS)
    The only thing that has worked for me so far is Psiphon VPN (https://psiphon.ca/), which has allowed me to access the normally blocked websites. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I'm interested in finding out if there's a way to replicate it. Thanks in advance for any answers or advice. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Hotspot Shield and Psiphon, you can also consider the following products

ProtonVPN - ProtonVPN is a security focused FREE VPN service, developed by CERN and MIT scientists. Use the web anonymously, unblock websites & encrypt your connection.

OpenVPN - OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN

TunnelBear - Really simple VPN to browse the web privately & anonymously.

Windscribe - Windscribe is a desktop application and browser extension that work together to block ads and trackers, restore access to blocked content and help you safeguard your privacy online.

Tor Browser - Tor is free software for enabling anonymous communication.

NordVPN - NordVPN offers VPN technology that encrypts data twice.