HideMyAss vs Hotspot Shield

HideMyAss (HMA) VPN, founded in 2005 and headquartered in the United Kingdom, is a well-established player in the VPN industry. Originally created to help users bypass online restrictions, HMA has grown into a comprehensive VPN provider with a global presence, offering over 1,100 servers in more than 290 locations across 190 countries. This extensive network allows users to enjoy fast, secure connections while accessing region-locked content. HMA’s standout features include military-grade AES-256 encryption, an automatic kill switch, IP shuffle for added privacy, and support for protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec. Their service also caters to multiple devices, supporting up to ten simultaneous connections on their family plans and offering scalable business solutions. Customer feedback is mixed, with users praising HMA’s ease of use, broad server network, and reliable speeds, while some raise concerns about occasional connection stability and customer support. HMA’s no-logs policy, independently audited, ensures that user activity remains private, even in its UK jurisdiction. Additionally, HMA provides valuable privacy tools like IP checker, WebRTC test, and DDoS protection. Overall, HMA appeals to users seeking a user-friendly VPN solution with broad server coverage, privacy-focused features, and flexible plans for both individuals and businesses. Read on to explore their full offerings.

​​Hotspot Shield, developed by Pango (formerly AnchorFree Inc.), is a prominent VPN service headquartered in Redwood City, California, with additional offices in Boston and Ukraine. Founded in 2005 by David Gorodyansky and Eugene Malobrodsky, the company has grown significantly, boasting over 3,200 servers across over 80 countries. This extensive server network allows users to bypass geo-restrictions and access region-locked content, enhancing privacy and security online. Hotspot Shield offers both free and premium plans. The free version includes limited server access and a daily data cap, while the premium version provides faster speeds, a broader server selection, and additional features like antivirus protection. A standout feature of Hotspot Shield is their proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol, which aims to deliver enhanced speed and security compared to traditional VPN protocols. Despite their strengths, Hotspot Shield has faced criticism for not conducting third-party audits to verify their no-logging policy. However, they maintain a strict no-logging policy to protect user privacy. The service is available on multiple platforms, including iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. As of December 31, 2024, Hotspot Shield will discontinue support for router-based VPN configurations.