IPVanish vs Hotspot Shield – At a Glance
IPVanish
IPVanish is a long-established VPN provider that offers blazingly fast, well-protected connections from a large global server network. While IPVanish allows BitTorrenting on its entire network, its streaming support could be much better.
Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield’s fast connections are also well-protected, keeping your online activities undercover. A large global server network provides reliable access to content around the globe. The provider’s comprehensive privacy protections prevent outsiders from seeing your browsing history.
Choosing a VPN
Before committing to a particular VPN provider, always take a close look at how well a VPN provider performs in various VPN categories.
In this article, I’ll be taking a look at how well two VPN providers, IPVanish and Hotspot Shield, perform in various VPN service categories. I’ll declare a victor in each category, add up the final scores, and then name an overall champion.
By the end of this article, you’ll have more than enough information to make an informed VPN buying decision.
IPVanish vs Hotspot Shield – Features
In the following sections, I’ll take a look at the VPN features you should always carefully consider before making a purchasing decision.
Connection Speeds
A fast internet connection makes all of your online activities more enjoyable (well, most online activities, we can’t do anything about paying bills or taxes online).
My VPN connection speed tests are performed on a regular basis.
Here’s how I conduct the connection speed tests:
- I perform all speed tests on a North America-based Windows server boasting a gigabit Ethernet connection.
- I make connections to three different VPN server locations – London, New York City, and Hong Kong – at three different times of the day.
- I use the Windows version of the VPN providers’ apps, configured to connect using the Wireguard protocol when available.
- I run the Speedtest app after connecting to each VPN server location. The Speedtest app is shutdown and restarted between each test.
Both providers delivered connection speeds that can easily handle your favorite online activities, including video streaming, gaming, and more. However, one provider outperformed its competitor by a ratio of almost 2:1.
IPVanish’s average download speeds came in at an impressive 251.6 Mbps.
Hotspot Shield’s download speeds measured at 128.1 Mbps.
If you run your own tests, you’ll find that your connection speeds will differ from mine. This is because your speed test results will depend on your usual unprotected connection speeds, where you’re located, and the location of the VPN server you use for testing.
Average Connection Speed Winner: IPVanish
| Provider | Avg. Connection Speed | Link |
| Hotspot Shield | 128.1 Mbps | Visit Site |
| IPVanish | 251.6 Mbps | Visit Site |
Pricing
Everything is more expensive these days. This means you may be looking to save money whenever you can. However, you should not depend on bargain basement VPNs (and free VPNs) to protect your online activities, as they don’t always provide all of the protection and other features that you require.
IPVanish is a reasonably-priced VPN. A one-year subscription works out to cost somewhere around the price of one gallon of gas in California. The provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. (You get a seven-day free trial when you subscribe using the iOS or Android apps.)
As for Hotspot Shield, its monthly fee will cost you just about the same price as a medium burger combo at your favorite hamburger joint when you opt for a one-year subscription. The provider offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.
It should be noted that Hotspot Shield offers a free tier of VPN service, which is limited to one device and one location, and doesn’t offer a streaming or gaming mode.
I don’t post exact VPN pricing in these articles, because VPNs change their pricing and also offer discount deals on a regular basis. Visit a VPN provider’s website to determine its current pricing.
Pricing Winner: IPVanish
| Provider | Money-Back Guarantee Period | Link |
| IPVanish | 30 Days, 7 Day free trial on iOS and Android Signups | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 45 Days | Visit Site |
Privacy
When you’re online, you leave evidence behind, allowing outsiders to see what you’ve been up to. Use a VPN’s privacy features to keep this from happening.
Always consider the following when weighing a VPN’s privacy protections:
- Is the provider based in a privacy-respecting country?
- Does the provider save user logs on its servers?
- Does the provider accept cryptocurrency as subscription payment?
IPVanish is located in the United States. Although U.S.-based VPNs are allowed (even encouraged) by the government to save user logs, this provider follows a self-imposed “no logs” policy. Unfortunately, there is no cryptocurrency subscription payment option.
Hotspot Shield is also owned by U.S. company, Pango. While the provider is also allowed to collect or log user traffic data and browsing activity, it does not collect and log either of those. No cryptocurrency payment option to be found here.
Privacy Winner: It’s a tie
| Provider | Privacy Ranking | Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 4.5 | Visit Site |
| IPVanish | 4.5 | Visit Site |
Security
A VPN protects you in real-time, keeping your online travels undercover from outsiders while you’re online. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, while also temporarily assigning a new IP address to your device.
IPVanish uses banking-grade encryption, along with the WireGuard, OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec connection protocols to protect your internet connection. Kill switch protection is available, along with IPv6 leak and DNS leak protection. The provider’s “scramble” option disguises your VPN traffic as normal internet traffic.
Hotspot Shield keeps its users’ online antics undercover by using military-grade encryption. Its available connection protocols include OpenVPN, Wireguard, and IKEv2 (IPSec). Protocol availability varies, depending on which device you’re using. A kill switch protection feature is available on the provider’s Windows app.
Security Winner: It’s a tie
| Provider | Overall Security Score | Link |
| Hotspot Shield | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| IPVanish | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Simultaneous Connections
I’d venture to say that most of us have more than one connected device and that you have used more than one of those devices at once. This is why finding a VPN provider with a large simultaneous connections allowance is important.
IPVanish places a limit of 10 on simultaneous connections to its servers.
Hotspot Shield users are allowed to connect up to five devices to its servers at once. (Up to 25 devices, five for each family member, are allowed with a subscription to its Premium Family tier.)
While some users could find the providers’ connection restrictions a bit limiting, most users will likely find the allowances to be sufficient for their needs.
Simultaneous Connections Winner: IPVanish
| Provider | Simultaneous Connections Allowed | Link |
| Hotspot Shield | 5 | Visit Site |
| IPVanish | 10 | Visit Site |
Streaming Support
It seems that there are streaming services for every taste these days. No matter which services you subscribe to, you’re still not getting all that you could be from your subscriptions. This is because streamers put geographic restrictions on their streaming content.
However, you can use a VPN to open up access to streaming services most anywhere around the globe. This is possible because a VPN temporarily assigns a fresh IP address to your connected device. This makes it appear to the rest of the internet that you and your device are located in another country. This provides access to streaming content you might normally be geo-fenced from viewing.
IPVanish has limited streaming content unblocking powers. While I was able to connect to a U.S.-based IPVanish server and was able to watch Netflix and HBO Max content. However, the provider failed to provide access to BBC iPlayer or Netflix UK content when connected to a UK server.
Hotspot Shield provides reliable access to Netflix US, Netflix UK, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Twitch, Disney+, and other popular streaming services.
Streaming Support Winner: Hotspot Shield
| Provider | # of U.S. Streaming Services VPN Unblocks | # of International Services VPN Unblocks | Link |
| IPVanish | 2 | 0 | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 6+ | 5+ | Visit Site |
BitTorrent Support
BitTorrent is a popular method for sharing files with other internet users. While P2P file sharing is legal in most countries, many ISPs will immediately throttle or block their users’ internet connections when they detect any type of P2P activity.
ISPs do this due to the pressure that movie and music industries put on ISPs to block file sharing. (It is illegal to share copyrighted files, such as video or music content.)
A VPN helps you avoid virtual roadblocks like this by encrypting your internet connection to keep your online activities undercover, while also temporarily assigning a new IP address to your device. This prevents anyone from tracking your online antics back to you.
Hotspot Shield allows BitTorrenting on its entire server network.
IPVanish also allows file sharing on all of its servers.
BitTorrenting Winner: It’s a tie
| Provider | # of Countries Where VPN Allows BitTorrents | Link |
| Hotspot Shield | All of them | Visit Site |
| IPVanish | All of them | Visit Site |
Global Server Coverage
If you’re looking for a way to access content around the globe, a VPN provider’s global server coverage is important. If you’re simply looking for a way to keep your online activities undercover, a smaller server network may be acceptable.
You should also pay attention to how many servers a provider has in each country. This helps ensure that any one server won’t be overrun by too many connections at once.
Hotspot Shield’s server network includes 1,800+ servers stationed in 80+ countries around the globe.
IPVanish has more than 2,000 servers located in 75+ countries around the globe.
Global Server Coverage Winner: Hotspot Shield
| Provider | Server Count | Countries | Link |
| Hotspot Shield | 1,800+ | 80+ | Visit Site |
| IPVanish | 2,000+ | 75+ | Visit Site |
Multi-Platform Support
If you own more than one device, it’s possible that your various devices all run different operating systems.
IPVanish offers native app options for the Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV device platforms. Instructions for setting up a VPN on Linux, Chrome OS machines, and select routers are also available. (Pre-configured routers through Flashrouters.com.)
Hotspot Shield offers apps for iOS, macOS, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire, Linux, and Windows devices. The provider does support select routers, but only if you spring for Hotspot Premium. (You can also purchase pre-configured routers through Flashrouters.com.) A Chrome browser extension is also available.
Multi-Platform Support Winner: Hotspot Shield
| Provider | Platforms Supported | Browser Extensions? | Router Support? |
Link |
| Hotspot Shield | 7 | Yes (Chrome) | Yes – Manual setup, only on Hotspot Premium. Routers available through Flashrouters.com | Visit Site |
| IPVanish | 7 | No | Yes – Manual setup, routers available through Flashrouters.com | Visit Site |
Customer Support
Both IPVanish and Hotspot Shield provide reliable, easy-to-use protection. However, you may still occasionally have a question.
Hotspot Shield’s customer service department is available round-the-clock, with 24/7 live chat, email support, a contact form, an FAQs section, and searchable tutorials and support library.
IPVanish’s support options include an online trouble ticket submission form and an easy-to-search support library. The provider’s website includes a system status page, as well as a support “bot” chat feature.
Customer Support Winner: Hotspot Shield
| Provider | Customer Support Rating | Link |
| Hotspot Shield | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| IPVanish | 4.5 | Visit Site |
And The Winner Is…
Both Hotspot Shield and IPVanish provide comprehensive, easy-to-use VPN services. However, one of the VPNs offered a slight edge.
Hotspot Shield is the overall winner in this tight competition, thanks to being tops in the Streaming Support, Multi-Platform Support, Global Server Coverage, and Customer Support departments.
IPVanish performed the best when it came to Connection Speeds, Pricing, and Simultaneous Connections support.
It was a tie in the Privacy, Security, and BitTorrent arenas.
For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit Hotspot Shield.
