Psiphon vs Hotspot Shield

Psiphon8.7Visit Hotspot Shield7.9Visit

Higher score Psiphon #2 in VPNs for Iran 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Psiphon

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

• Psiphon fits best

  Users seeking automatic server discovery

• Hotspot Shield fits best

  Established VPN users who want a free tier

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Side by side

Feature	Psiphon 8.7/10 Visit ↗	Hotspot Shield 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	7.9
Ranking	#2 in VPNs for Iran	#8 in VPNs for Iran
Best for	Users seeking automatic server discovery	Established VPN users who want a free tier
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Not published	$6.99/mo
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support	Email, Docs	Live chat, Email, Docs · 24/7
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Psiphon 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	Combines VPN, SSH, and HTTP/SOCKS proxy connections Obfuscates traffic to resist censorship and protocol blocking Offers Android split tunneling and per-app VPN selection	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	Primarily a circumvention tool, not a conventional VPN Paid subscription prices may vary by region and app store The published security assessment was not a dedicated no-logs audit	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	Psiphon is open-source censorship-circumvention software for people trying to reach content blocked by governments, institutions, or networks. It combines VPN, SSH, and HTTP/SOCKS proxy connectivity with encryption and traffic obfuscation.… 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

• Psiphon — where it wins

  • Combines VPN, SSH, and HTTP/SOCKS proxy connections
  • Obfuscates traffic to resist censorship and protocol blocking
  • Offers Android split tunneling and per-app VPN selection

  Where it doesn't

  • Primarily a circumvention tool, not a conventional VPN
  • Paid subscription prices may vary by region and app store
  • The published security assessment was not a dedicated no-logs audit

• 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

• Psiphon8.7/10 · Free plan

  A free circumvention tool with multiple connection methods and automatic server discovery.

  Visit PsiphonFull 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 →