The Best Free Hotspot Shield AlternativesTop VPN Services and other similar apps like Hotspot Shield

The best free alternative to Hotspot Shield is Proton VPN, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Hotspot Shield and loads of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Hotspot Shield are Windscribe, Psiphon, 1.1.1.1 and RiseupVPN.

Hotspot Shield iconHotspot Shield
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Secure fast VPN to protect identity and hide location. Bypass geo-blocks to stream content globally. Offers free basic and...

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Hotspot Shield alternatives page was last updated Apr 28, 2025
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  1. Proton VPN icon

    Proton VPN

     418 likes
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    Proton VPN provides Swiss-based online security with a high-speed network, free version, and advanced features like VPN Accelerator, AES-256 encryption, a no-logs policy, and support for platforms including PCs and smartphones, enabling content access globally.

    236 Proton VPN alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Android TV
    • Flatpak
    • Fire TV
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Apple TV
    Proton VPN screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Encrypted VPN
    2.  No Logs
    3.  WireGuard
    4. Tor icon  Support for TOR
    5.  VPN Kill Switch
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  Unblock netflix
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Block Trackers
    11.  Dns leak blockage
    12.  Ad-free

    Proton VPN VS Hotspot Shield

     
    Comments about Proton VPN as an Alternative to Hotspot Shield
    kurifoxen
    Positive •Sep 7, 2023
    1

    It open source and built by a privacy focused company

    Hotspot Shield Icon
    Proton VPN icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Proton VPN is a great Hotspot Shield alternative.

    • Proton VPN is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Hotspot Shield.

    • Proton VPN is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Hotspot Shield.

    • Proton VPN is Freemium and Open SourceHotspot Shield is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Proton VPN is Privacy focused and Security-focusedHotspot Shield is not according to our users
  2. Windscribe icon

    Windscribe

     154 likes
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    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.

    221 Windscribe alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • F-Droid
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Fire TV
    • Android TV
    • Apple TV
    Windscribe screenshot 1
    Windscribe screenshot 2
    Windscribe screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Hide your IP
    2.  Block Trackers
    3.  Hide my location
    4.  No Logs
    5.  WireGuard
    6.  Split Tunneling
    7.  Anti Porn
    8.  OpenVPN
    9.  VPN Kill Switch
    10.  Bypass Censorship
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Dark Mode

    Windscribe VS Hotspot Shield

     
  4. Psiphon icon

    Psiphon

     247 likes
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    Enjoy unfiltered Internet access globally using Psiphon's open-source VPN. It offers AES-256 encryption, split tunneling, WireGuard support, and more, all without requiring user registration. Perfect for communities in censored regions and those seeking privacy-focused alternatives.

    196 Psiphon alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Psiphon screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Hide your IP
    2.  Anticensorship
    3.  Bypass Censorship
    4.  Split Tunneling
    5.  Encrypted VPN
    6.  AES-256 Encryption
    7.  No registration required
    8.  WireGuard
    9. Google Drive icon  Google Drive integration
    10.  Pdf unlock

    Psiphon VS Hotspot Shield

     
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    ZoogVPN icon
    ZoogVPN

    Experience fast, secure online browsing with ZoogVPN. Enjoy ad-free service, military-grade encryption, access to geo-restricted content, high-speed streaming, and robust privacy protection. Connect to high-speed servers in multi...

    https://zoogvpn.com
    Learn More
  6. 1.1.1.1 icon

    1.1.1.1

     88 likes
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    Designed by CloudFlare, this DNS resolver focuses on speed and privacy, ensuring no user data is sold. Mobile apps extend protections with WARP VPN, enhancing browsing security, performance, and offering anti-malware features. Aimed at tech-savvy and general audiences alike.

    69 1.1.1.1 alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    1.1.1.1 screenshot 1
    1.1.1.1 screenshot 2
    1.1.1.1 screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  DNS Server
    2.  Built-in VPN
    3.  Dns
    4.  Encrypted VPN
    5.  DNS Proxy
    6.  Block Trackers
    7.  Web filter
    8.  DNS over HTTPS
    9.  DNS-over-TLS
    10.  Built-in routing

    1.1.1.1 VS Hotspot Shield

     
  7. RiseupVPN icon

    RiseupVPN

     35 likes
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    Riseup offers Personal VPN service for censorship circumvention, location anonymization and traffic encryption. To make this possible, it sends all your internet traffic through an encrypted connection to riseup.net, where it then goes out onto the public internet.

    105 RiseupVPN alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • F-Droid
    Main
    Preferences
    About

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No Logs
    2.  No registration required
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  VPN Kill Switch
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Anonymous Proxy
    8.  OpenVPN
    9.  Encrypted VPN

    RiseupVPN VS Hotspot Shield

     
  8. TunnelBear icon

    TunnelBear

     125 likes
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    Experience private and secure browsing with this VPN. Easily access global websites, protect data from threats, bypass restrictions, and connect via 5000+ servers in over 48 countries. Offers no-logging policy, unlimited data plans, and advanced encryption.

    194 TunnelBear alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Microsoft Edge
    TunnelBear screenshot 1
    TunnelBear screenshot 2
    TunnelBear screenshot 3

    TunnelBear Features

    1.  VPN Kill Switch
    2.  No Logs
    3.  AES-256 Encryption
    4.  AES Encryption
    5.  Bypass Censorship
    6.  Fast motion
    7.  Encrypted VPN
    8.  Hide your IP

    TunnelBear VS Hotspot Shield

     
    Comments about TunnelBear as an Alternative to Hotspot Shield
    Ivan Lopez
    Positive •Aug 19, 2018
    -1

    I like this one because it's simple to use, the map tool is really useful and pretty. Even though TunnelBear has a monthly limit of megabytes, Hotspot Shield also have it, it's a really good option.

    I start using Tunnel bear because HotSpot Shield start giving me some issues, it took really long times to connect and sometimes don't even connected at all.

    Hotspot Shield Icon
    TunnelBear icon

    • Some users think TunnelBear is a great Hotspot Shield alternative, some don't.

    • TunnelBear is Freemium and ProprietaryHotspot Shield is also Freemium and Proprietary
  10. Calyx VPN icon

    Calyx VPN

     20 likes
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    Experience a completely anonymous and secure browsing session with minimal setup using this free VPN. Benefit from open source transparency, free service, no logs, and safe handling of DNS. The service cleverly circumvents censorship and ensures there are no IP or DNS leaks for enhanced privacy.

    63 Calyx VPN alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    Calyx VPN screenshot 1
    Calyx VPN screenshot 2
    Calyx VPN screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Hide your IP
    3.  No Logs
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  VPN Kill Switch
    7.  Split Tunneling
    8.  OpenVPN
    9.  Online Anonymity
    10.  Bypass Censorship
    11.  Dns leak blockage

    Calyx VPN VS Hotspot Shield

     
  11. Outline VPN icon

    Outline VPN

     23 likes
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    Journalists need safe access to information to research issues, communicate with sources, and report the news. Outline lets news organizations easily provide their network safer access to the open internet.

    186 Outline VPN alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • AppImageHub
    • Homebrew
    • F-Droid
    Outline VPN screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Encrypted VPN
    3.  Multiple languages
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Portable
    7.  OpenVPN
    8.  Shadowsocks
    9.  No Logs
    10.  AES-256 Encryption
    11.  AES Encryption

    Outline VPN VS Hotspot Shield

     
  12. UltraSurf icon

    UltraSurf

     101 likes
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    UltraSurf is a free software which enables users inside countries with heavy Internet censorship to visit any public web sites in the world safely and freely. Users in countries without internet censorship also use it to protect their internet privacy and security.

    102 UltraSurf alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Google Chrome
    UltraSurf screenshot 1
    Warning

    This app is suspected of malicious behavior, though these accusations are in dispute. The software allegedly connects to websites of financial and government institutions, and uses the PC for attacks against them. It disables SSL certificate checks and allows man-in-the-middle attacks to steal authentication credentials. It hooks into the browser and uses suspicious compression to hide parts of the program.

    UltraSurf Features

    1.  Anonymous Proxy
    2.  Bypass Censorship
    3.  Bypass Firewall
    4.  Anticensorship
    5.  Online Anonymity

    UltraSurf VS Hotspot Shield

     
  13. V2Ray icon

    V2Ray

     13 likes
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    A platform for building proxies to bypass network restrictions.

    177 V2Ray alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Go (Programming Language)
    V2Ray screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The latest version (4.31.0) was released on October 10, 2020.

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Shadowsocks
    4.  Encrypted VPN

    V2Ray VS Hotspot Shield

     
  14. Bitdefender VPN icon

    Bitdefender VPN

     2 likes
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    Bitdefender Premium VPN is a service that grants you complete online anonymity by encrypting all incoming & outgoing traffic on your PC, Mac or mobile devices. It is included in Bitdefender Antivirus solutions and with it you get:

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • RO flagRomania
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • Android
    • iPad

    Bitdefender VPN Features

    1.  Online Anonymity

    Bitdefender VPN VS Hotspot Shield

     
  15. Avira Phantom VPN icon

    Avira Phantom VPN

     3 likes
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    Offers secure encryption, web anonymity, and no logs on public WiFi. Circumvents geo-restrictions, operates fast and unobtrusively. Supports IP v4/v6, DNS leak protection, and multiple devices with user-friendly interface.

    159 Avira Phantom VPN alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Avira Phantom VPN screenshot 1
    Avira Phantom VPN screenshot 2
    Avira Phantom VPN screenshot 3

    Avira Phantom VPN Features

    1.  No Logs
    2.  Change ip
    3.  Bypass Censorship
    4.  Encrypted Connection
    5.  Dns leak blockage
    6.  Online Anonymity
    7.  Support for IPv6

    Avira Phantom VPN VS Hotspot Shield

     
12 of 117 Hotspot Shield alternatives