Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Hotspot Shield VS ZenMate

Compare Hotspot Shield VS ZenMate and see what are their differences

Hotspot Shield logo Hotspot Shield

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

ZenMate logo ZenMate

At ZenMate VPN we strive towards providing users around the world with a free and anonymous Internet experience.
  • Hotspot Shield Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17
  • ZenMate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-03

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.

ZenMate features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    ZenMate offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all technical levels.
  • Multiple Device Support
    ZenMate supports a wide range of devices and platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera.
  • Affordable Pricing
    ZenMate is often considered a budget-friendly VPN service with competitive pricing plans, especially when opting for long-term subscriptions.
  • Unlimited Bandwidth
    ZenMate provides unlimited bandwidth, allowing users to browse, stream, and download without worrying about data caps.
  • Decent Server Network
    ZenMate has a reasonably large server network, with over 3500 servers in more than 79 countries, ensuring good global coverage for unblocking content.

Possible disadvantages of ZenMate

  • Inconsistent Speeds
    Although ZenMate offers unlimited bandwidth, users may experience varying speeds depending on the server and time of day.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to other VPNs, ZenMate lacks some advanced features like split tunneling, multi-hop, and advanced customization options.
  • Questionable Privacy Policies
    ZenMate is headquartered in Germany, which is part of the 14 Eyes alliance, raising concerns about data privacy and logging policies.
  • Mixed Performance with Streaming Services
    While ZenMate can unblock various streaming services, users have reported mixed results with some popular platforms like Netflix and Hulu.
  • No Free Plan
    ZenMate does not offer a completely free plan. Instead, it provides a limited 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, which may not be sufficient for some users to fully evaluate the service.

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

ZenMate videos

Zenmate VPN Review - Which Tier is It?

More videos:

  • Tutorial - ZenMate Review & Tutorial
  • Review - Cómo VER SERIES ONLINE de todo el mundo con ZenMate VPN | ChicaGeek

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Hotspot Shield and ZenMate)
VPN
77 77%
23% 23
Cloud VPN
74 74%
26% 26
Security & Privacy
79 79%
21% 21
Security
72 72%
28% 28

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 ZenMate

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.

ZenMate Reviews

8 Similar Apps like Psiphon that are Actually Better
ZenMate VPN is a popular choice for professional hackers (at least for the ones I met with). While the consumer base isn’t too big. But, hackers know their way of tracking information, and hence they recommend this to keep yourself in check.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ZenMate seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

ZenMate mentions (1)

  • Premium Browser Extension
    You can also try https://zenmate.com/. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Hotspot Shield and ZenMate, 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.

Psiphon - Psiphon is circumvention software for Windows and Mobile platforms that provides uncensored access to Internet content. Read more about Psiphon.

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.

NordVPN - NordVPN offers VPN technology that encrypts data twice.