Mullvad VPN vs Hotspot Shield

Mullvad VPN7.9Visit Hotspot Shield7.9Visit

Mullvad VPN #7 in VPNs for Iran 7.9/10 From €5/mo ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Mullvad VPN

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

• Mullvad VPN fits best

  Users who value anonymity and circumvention tools

• Hotspot Shield fits best

  Established VPN users who want a free tier

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Side by side

Feature	Mullvad VPN 7.9/10 Visit ↗	Hotspot Shield 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.9	7.9
Ranking	#7 in VPNs for Iran	#8 in VPNs for Iran
Best for	Users who value anonymity and circumvention tools	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	14 days	45 days
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms	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, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Mullvad VPN 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	Create a numbered account without providing an email address. QUIC, Shadowsocks, and UDP-over-TCP offer circumvention options. Kill switch is enabled by default; multihop and WireGuard are supported.	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 Iran stealth protocol is established by the published features. Netflix guidance routes Netflix outside the VPN tunnel using split tunneling. Port forwarding is no longer supported.	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	Mullvad VPN is a paid VPN service for people seeking encrypted internet access, IP-address masking, and account creation without an email address. It has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, with use on up to five devices. For… 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

• Mullvad VPN — where it wins

  • Create a numbered account without providing an email address.
  • QUIC, Shadowsocks, and UDP-over-TCP offer circumvention options.
  • Kill switch is enabled by default; multihop and WireGuard are supported.

  Where it doesn't

  • No dedicated Iran stealth protocol is established by the published features.
  • Netflix guidance routes Netflix outside the VPN tunnel using split tunneling.
  • Port forwarding is no longer supported.

• 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

• Mullvad VPN7.9/10 · From €5/mo

  A flat €5 monthly VPN with no-email accounts and several censorship-circumvention methods.

  Visit Mullvad VPNFull 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 →