IVPN vs Hotspot Shield

IIVPN7.9Visit Hotspot Shield7.9Visit

I IVPN #6 in VPNs for Iran 7.9/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit IVPN

vs

Hotspot Shield #8 in VPNs for Iran 7.9/10 Free plan · paid from $6.99/mo (annual) · 7-day trial Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Hotspot Shield

• IVPN fits best

  Privacy-focused users needing obfuscation

• Hotspot Shield fits best

  Established VPN users who want a free tier

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Side by side

Feature	IIVPN 7.9/10 Visit ↗	Hotspot Shield 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.9	7.9
Ranking	#6 in VPNs for Iran	#8 in VPNs for Iran
Best for	Privacy-focused users needing obfuscation	Established VPN users who want a free tier
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Not published	$6.99/mo
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Money-back guarantee	30 days	45 days
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support	Email, Docs	Live chat, Email, Docs · 24/7
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features IVPN 0/3 · Hotspot Shield 0/3
Obfuscated traffic	Not published	Not published
Stealth protocol	Not published	Not published
No-logs policy	Not published	Not published
Specs
Simultaneous devices	Not published	Not published
Server locations	Not published	Not published
Our review
Pros	V2Ray and obfs4 obfuscation protocols Multi-hop routing, kill switch, and DNS leak protection Open-source apps for desktop and mobile platforms	Basic offers secure browsing with 500 MB of daily data at no cost Paid plans add unlimited data and access to 115+ locations Apps cover desktop, mobile and browser extension platforms
Cons	No dedicated streaming servers or guaranteed streaming access No free plan; listed annual prices cover only Standard and Plus Dedicated no-logs audit was conducted in March 2019	Basic is limited to 1 U.S. virtual location and speeds up to 2 Mbps Iran-specific censorship obfuscation is not specified The $6.99 monthly rate is tied to annual billing
Our verdict	IVPN is a paid VPN service for people who prioritize privacy and need obfuscation options. Its apps cover Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, with WireGuard and OpenVPN connections. V2Ray and obfs4 obfuscation are particularly… Read the review →	Hotspot Shield is a consumer VPN for people who want to encrypt internet traffic, hide their IP address and connect through virtual locations. Its Basic plan gives established VPN users a no-cost way to try the service, while paid tiers… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• IVPN — where it wins

  • V2Ray and obfs4 obfuscation protocols
  • Multi-hop routing, kill switch, and DNS leak protection
  • Open-source apps for desktop and mobile platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • No dedicated streaming servers or guaranteed streaming access
  • No free plan; listed annual prices cover only Standard and Plus
  • Dedicated no-logs audit was conducted in March 2019

• Hotspot Shield — where it wins

  • Basic offers secure browsing with 500 MB of daily data at no cost
  • Paid plans add unlimited data and access to 115+ locations
  • Apps cover desktop, mobile and browser extension platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • Basic is limited to 1 U.S. virtual location and speeds up to 2 Mbps
  • Iran-specific censorship obfuscation is not specified
  • The $6.99 monthly rate is tied to annual billing

• IIVPN7.9/10 · Paid

  A privacy-oriented VPN with V2Ray and obfs4 obfuscation, but no streaming guarantee.

  Visit IVPNFull verdict →
• Hotspot Shield7.9/10 · Free plan · paid from $6.99/mo (annual) · 7-day trial

  A general-purpose VPN with a limited free tier and more capable paid plans.

  Visit Hotspot ShieldFull verdict →