C
Hotspot Shield vs Windscribe
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
H
Choose Hotspot Shield if…
- you work on Windows, macOS, iOS
- you're in its core audience: streamers, gamers
W
Choose Windscribe if…
- you're in its core audience: privacy-conscious individuals, budget-minded vpn users
Side by side
Feature Hotspot Shield Windscribe
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting price——
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
PlatformsWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome—
CompanyAnchorfree, LLC—
Full feature lists
H Hotspot Shield
- Proprietary Hydra VPN protocol
- 115+ virtual locations in 80+ countries
- Up to 10 devices per account
- No logs of data tied to users
- Supports streaming, gaming, downloading and P2P
- Apps for smart TVs and Chrome
- 45-day money-back guarantee on direct purchases
W Windscribe
- Free tier with up to 10GB of data a month
- Free servers in about 11 countries
- Pro plan with unlimited data and all locations
- Build a Plan option priced per location
- R.O.B.E.R.T. domain and ad blocker
What you'd pay
The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.
Hotspot Shield
Freemium. Plan details aren't published.
Windscribe
FreeFree
ProSee vendor site
Build a PlanPer location
Strengths and limitations
Hotspot Shield
- 45-day money-back guarantee on direct purchases
- One account covers 10 devices
- Servers in 80+ countries
- Free VPN download offered
- No pricing details on the home page
- Subscriptions renew automatically unless you turn it off
- Linux app not listed
Windscribe
- Free plan with up to 10GB of data a month
- Build a Plan lets you pay only for the locations you need
- Paid tiers include unlimited data
- Free plan is limited to about 11 countries
- Free data drops to 2GB a month without a confirmed email
More comparisons
Other options to consider
C
Paid
E
EE
Paid
N
N
From $2.99/mo
S
SS
Paid
B
BFree VPN app with optional Premium for streaming, gaming and private browsing
Free, from $6/mo
B
Free, from $6/mo
T
TFree and premium VPN for streaming, gaming and private browsing on any device
Free, from $3.33/mo
T
Free, from $3.33/mo
Facts from each vendor's public pages. Editorial policy