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 Tor VPN, Windscribe, 1.1.1.1 and Psiphon.

filter to find the best alternatives

Hotspot Shield alternatives are mainly VPN Services, but if you're looking for VPN Clients or Proxy Services you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Linux, Free, Opera and Linux + Free. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Hotspot Shield.
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Alternatives list

  1. Proton VPN icon

    Proton VPN

     482 likes

    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.

    234 Proton VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Apple TV
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Android TV
    • Flatpak
    • Fire TV
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Proton VPN screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Proton VPN as an Alternative to Hotspot Shield
    kurifoxen
    Positive
    1

    It open source and built by a privacy focused company

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

    Tor VPN

     49 likes

    A VPN that grants network-level privacy on mobile by routing app traffic through Tor, assigns each app a separate circuit for improved separation, bypasses app-level censorship, features per-app routing, security via Rust-based implementation, and awaits early adopter feedback.

    56 Tor VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Tor VPN screenshot 1
     
  4. Windscribe icon

    Windscribe

     172 likes

    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.

    219 Windscribe alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Apple TV
    • F-Droid
    • Android TV
    • Fire TV
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    Windscribe screenshot 1
     
  5. Ad
  6. 1.1.1.1 icon

    1.1.1.1

     99 likes

    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.

    76 1.1.1.1 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    1.1.1.1 screenshot 1
     
  7. Psiphon icon

    Psiphon

     250 likes

    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.

    194 Psiphon alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Psiphon screenshot 1
     
  8. RiseupVPN icon

    RiseupVPN

     40 likes

    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.

    118 RiseupVPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • F-Droid
    • Snapcraft
    Main
     
  10. TunnelBear icon

    TunnelBear

     127 likes

    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.

    196 TunnelBear alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Mozilla Firefox
    TunnelBear screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Comments about TunnelBear as an Alternative to Hotspot Shield
    Ivan Lopez
    Positive
    -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.

    TunnelBear icon
    TunnelBear icon
    • TunnelBear is Freemium and ProprietaryHotspot Shield is also Freemium and Proprietary
  11. Outline VPN icon

    Outline VPN

     29 likes

    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.

    190 Outline VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    Calyx VPN

     22 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    Calyx VPN screenshot 1
     
  13. UltraSurf icon

    UltraSurf

     102 likes

    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.

    97 UltraSurf alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Warning

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Google Chrome
    UltraSurf screenshot 1
     
  14. V2Ray icon

    V2Ray

     13 likes

    A platform for building proxies to bypass network restrictions.

    174 V2Ray alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Go (Programming Language)
    V2Ray screenshot 1
     
  15. Bitmask icon

    Bitmask

     25 likes

    Bitmask is an open source application to provide easy and secure encrypted communication with a VPN. You can choose among different providers or start your own.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    Main
     
12 of 117 Hotspot Shield alternatives