ExpressVPN vs. Hotspot Shield – At a Glance
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a premium VPN provider, making it an attractive option for users in search of a top-notch VPN service. The provider’s connections are well-protected by banking-grade encryption, as well as other technologies. It boasts a large global server network and support for most popular connected devices.
Streaming fans will appreciate ExpressVPN’s fast download speeds, as well as its ability to unblock numerous streaming services around the globe.
Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield boasts a large global server network that does a decent job of unblocking content from Netflix and a few other streamers.
The provider performs well in the connection speed and privacy and security departments, while also scoring well in the device support arena.
How to Choose a VPN
When you’re considering a VPN provider to protect and enhance your online activities you never want to make a knee-jerk decision. Instead, you should carefully consider every service offered by any VPN that you consider.
Don’t always opt for the lowest-priced VPN. While a VPN may offer a pocketbook-friendly price, it might also not offer the features you need, such as fast connections or a large global server network.
In this article, I’ll take a close look at two well-known VPN providers (ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield) pitting them against each other in each service category to determine which of the two providers is your best bet for quality VPN services.
I’ll give both VPNs a rating in each category that should be considered when making a VPN buying decision.
I’ll include information on how well each provider performed in each service category and then declare a victor in each category. At the end of the article, I’ll add up the scores and declare who the winner is.
Overall, this article should provide you with more than enough information to make an informed VPN buying decision.
Features
In this section, I’ll provide information about the various important VPN features you should consider before making a subscription decision.
Connection Speeds
Today’s internet is a content-heavy place and a fast connection is the only way to keep up. Whether you’re streaming your favorite movie or music, playing a fast-moving online game, or just attending a boring video meeting, a fast connection is a requirement.
Here at Pixel Privacy, we perform regular connection speed tests on all of the VPNs we cover. The speed tests are performed as follows:
- We use a Windows server connected to a gigabit Ethernet connection, based in North America.
- We connect to VPN servers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Hong Kong, connecting at three different times of day over the course of three days.
- We use the Windows version of the VPN providers’ app, and the apps are configured to use the OpenVPN UDP connection protocol when available.
- When a connection is made to a VPN server location, we run the Speedtest.net app to perform connection speed testing. The Speedtest app is shutdown between each test.
Before I share my results, it should be noted that you’ll likely see different speeds than we did. Your results will depend on your ISP-provided connection speeds, where you’re located, and which VPN server location you select.
Both ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield performed well during our testing, although one provider definitely outperformed the other.
ExpressVPN’s download speeds were blazingly fast, averaging in at 474.8 Mbps. Its download speeds make it an excellent option for gaming, file sharing, streaming, and any other popular online activity.
Hotspot Shield’s download speeds, while less impressive, still performed quite well, averaging in at just 128.1 Mbps. While these speeds will cause you to wait a bit longer while downloading or sharing files, they are more than enough for your favorite online pastimes.
Average Connection Speed Winner: ExpressVPN
| Provider | Avg. Connection Speed | Link |
| ExpressVPN | 474.8 Mbps | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 128.1 Mbps | Visit Site |
Pricing
While I will always advise you to never make a VPN buying decision solely on a low price, I realize that in today’s economy, pricing is an important factor for many users.
However, you should never settle for a low-priced VPN that skimps on features or performance.
ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield run neck and neck when it comes to pricing. While neither provider could be mistaken for a budget-priced VPN provider, both provide excellent services for their asking price.
ExpressVPN scores the win in this head-to-head battle, with an average price a little bit more than $1.00 less than that of Hotspot Shield.
Please note that I don’t include actual prices in my roundups, as most providers change their pricing on a regular basis, while also periodically offering special deals. Visit the providers’ websites for their current pricing schedule.
Pricing Winner: ExpressVPN
| Provider | Money-Back Guarantee Period | Link |
| ExpressVPN | 30 Days | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 45 Days | Visit Site |
Privacy
There are several groups of people that would absolutely love to know what you’ve been up to online. This includes advertisers, the government, law enforcement, hackers, and even your Internet Service Provider. That’s why you should never consider any VPN provider that doesn’t offer comprehensive privacy protection.
When researching a VPN service’s privacy protections, I consider the following (and you should too):
- Is the provider located in a country that respects privacy?
- Does the provider save user activity logs?
- Does the provider accept Bitcoin or other privacy-protecting types of payment?
ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands, which respects its citizens’ online privacy. The provider takes full advantage of the BVI’s respectful data retention laws, keeping no user activity logs of any kind. Pay with Bitcoin and use a disposable email address to keep your subscription identity totally undercover.
ExpressVPN also protects its customers’ privacy by running all of its servers 100% from volatile RAM, writing no data of any kind to an SSD or physical hard drive. This ensures that all data is securely wiped when any of the provider’s servers are rebooted, shut down, or unplugged.
Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango, which is based in the United States, and does not collect or log traffic data or browsing activity from individual users connected to their VPN. Unfortunately, the provider does not accept Bitcoin.
Privacy Winner: ExpressVPN
| Provider | Privacy Ranking | Site |
| ExpressVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 4.0 | Visit Site |
Online Security
If you’re online, someone is likely interested in where you’re going and what you’re doing. This makes it important to use a VPN to keep your online travels incognito, while also keeping your personal and business-related information safe from prying eyes.
ExpressVPN also uses banking-grade encryption, kill switch protection, and DNS leak and IPv6 leak prevention. VPN protocols in the provider’s apps include OpenVPN, Lightway, IKEv2, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec.
Hotspot Shield also uses military-grade encryption, with OpenVPN, Wireguard, and IKEv2 (IPSec) when available. (Available protocols can vary, depending on the platform you’re using the VPN on.). The provider also offers kill switch protection on its Windows app.
Security Winner: It’s a tie.
| Provider | Overall Security Score | Link |
| ExpressVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Simultaneous Connections
It’s quite likely that you own multiple internet-connected devices. Your smartphone, tablet, computer, streaming box, and even your new bathroom mirror, is connected to the internet. This makes a VPN provider’s simultaneous connections allowance an important thing to consider.
ExpressVPN allows users to simultaneously connect up to five devices to their servers.
Hotspot Shield also allows its users to connect five devices at once to its servers.
Simultaneous Connections Winner: It’s a Tie
| Provider | Simultaneous Connections Allowed | Link |
| Hotspot Shield | 5 | Visit Site |
| ExpressVPN | 5 | Visit Site |
Streaming Support
Quick, name all of the streaming services that are available today! It’s tough to do, right? It seems like a new streaming service debuts every day.
Most streaming services restrict access to their content on a country-by-country basis, meaning you may not have access to the content you usually enjoy if you’re traveling or working abroad.
Luckily, a VPN can temporarily provide an IP address located in another country, which provides access to streaming content that might normally be unavailable in your location. So, a quality VPN provides more bang for the buck from your streaming subscriptions.
ExpressVPN delivers reliable access to numerous streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Sling TV, DAZ, ITV, Showtime, Hotstar, Channel 4, CBC, CTV, 9 Now, Hallmark Movies, Sky, Fubo, and multiple other streaming services.
Hotspot Shield also delivers access to multiple streaming services, including Netflix US, Netflix UK, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Twitch, and other streamers.
Streaming Support Winner: ExpressVPN (Thanks to its larger server network)
| Provider | # of U.S. Streaming Services VPN Unblocks | # of International Services VPN Unblocks | Link |
| ExpressVPN | 20+ | 5+ | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 6+ | 5+ | Visit Site |
BitTorrent Support
File sharing via BitTorrent is arguably one of the most popular online activities today. While file sharing itself is not illegal – several companies and other organizations use P2P-based file sharing technology – it is illegal to share copyrighted materials, including movies, music, and games.
Unfortunately, pressure from copyright holders has led some ISPs to play it safe, meaning they will throttle or shut down your internet connection if they discover that you’re sharing any files via P2P, even if they’re legal! Luckily, a VPN hides your P2P activity by encrypting your internet connection.
ExpressVPN allows P2P activity on every server in its entire global server network. The provider also offers a P2P how-to guide on its website.
Hotspot Shield allows BitTorrenting activity on its network, but doesn’t mention file sharing on its website, likely to avoid ticking off copyright holders.
BitTorrenting Winner: It’s a tie.
| Provider | # of Countries Where VPN Allows BitTorrents | Link |
| ExpressVPN | All of them | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | All of them | Visit Site |
Global Server Coverage
The larger a VPN’s global server network, the better your access to geo-fenced content around the globe. You should also consider the number of servers a provider has in each country it serves. The more servers, the less chance there is of a single server being overloaded by too many users.
Hotspot Shield has an impressive global server network, with 1,800+ servers distributed among 80+ countries around the world.
ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers stationed in 94+ countries around the globe.
Global Server Coverage Winner: ExpressVPN, although both providers’ networks are impressive
| Provider | Server Count | Countries | Link |
| ExpressVPN | 3,000+ | 94 | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 1,800+ | 80+ | Visit Site |
Multi-Platform Support
If you’re like me, you have multiple internet-connected devices. I have two smartphones, a couple of tablets, multiple computers, and other devices. That’s why any VPN provider worth consideration should offer app support for popular device platforms.
ExpressVPN offers native app support for Windows, macOS (includes native M1/M2 Mac support), iOS, Android, Android TV, Linux, Chrome OS, and Amazon Fire TV device platforms. Browser extensions are available for the Chrome, Edge, and Firefox platforms.
The provider also offers a custom firmware for select routers, while offering setup instructions for other routers. A pre-configured “Aircove” router is available from ExpressVPN that is ready to go with the provider right out of the box.
Hotspot Shield’s device support is competitive with ExpressVPN, only coming up a bit short in the browser support column. It offers app options for iOS, macOS, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire, Linux, and Windows device platforms. The provider can be set up on some routers, but only if you pay extra for Hotspot Premium. Support is also available for the Chrome browser platform.
Multi-Platform Support Winner: ExpressVPN
| Provider | Platforms Supported | Browser Extensions? | Router Support? |
Link |
| ExpressVPN | 8 | Yes (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) | Yes – Offers firmware for select routers, Flashrouter options, and Aircove router. | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 7 | Yes (Chrome) | Yes – Manual setup, only on Hotspot Premium. | Visit Site |
Customer Support
While ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield both offer easy-to-use and reliable VPN services, you may still have an occasional question or two.
ExpressVPN offers comprehensive customer support around-the-clock, with always-available live support chat, email support, and an easy-to-search support library.
Hotspot Shield offers 24/7 live chat, email support, a “contact us” form, searchable tutorials, an FAQs section, and a searchable support library.
Customer Support Winner: It’s a tie
| Provider | Customer Support Rating | Link |
| ExpressVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| Hotspot Shield | 5.0 | Visit Site |
And The Winner Is…
As we’ve seen, both providers offer comprehensive VPN protection. However, only one provider can be named the victor.
ExpressVPN is the winner in this one-on-one championship, proving that it is tops in the connection speed, pricing, privacy, security, streaming, global server coverage, and multi-platform support categories.
While Hotspot Shield did not score best in any category, it did earn a tie in the online security, simultaneous connections, BitTorrent support, and customer support service categories.
For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit ExpressVPN.
