- 115+ virtual locations
- Military-grade encryption
- 5 devices with one account
- Fast speed
- 79+ global server locations
- Strict no-logs policy
- Apps for all your devices
- Lightning speeds
Choose the Best VPN Between ZenMate vs Hotspot Shield
Customer’s Choice: the Best Rated VPN Service in This Comparison
6 users answered this survey. Please help us improve this review!
When it comes to choosing a VPN, there are many different options to choose from. In this blog post, we will compare ZenMate and Hotspot Shield. These are two popular VPNs on the market, so it is important to understand the differences between them. We will discuss features, pricing, and customer service to help you decide which one is right for you.
Servers and Locations
As always, we start with the number of servers and their locations. This factor is essential because the more servers there are, the more likely you are to find one that’s fast and reliable. It means that there are more options to choose from and that you’re less likely to experience slow speeds or downtime.
In addition, a larger number of servers generally means better global coverage and a smaller chance of running into any issues while trying to connect to a specific location. For example, If you’re trying to connect to a server in a country with strict internet regulations, you’re more likely to be able to find one that works if there are multiple servers to choose from.
Moreover, if you are interested in accessing content that is only available in certain countries, you’ll need a VPN with servers in those locations. For example, if you want to watch BBC iPlayer, you’ll need a server in the UK.
- ZenMate has over 4000 servers in 80 countries. This means that they’re a very reliable VPN. In addition, their speeds are very fast. It is much more than what most people need, but it is always good to have more choices. The number of servers also means that you are less likely to encounter slow speeds or connection issues.
- Hotspot Shield has over 3000 servers in more than 80 countries. This means that you are likely to find a fast and reliable connection no matter where you are in the world. This is a good number of servers, and it is more than sufficient for most people.
When it comes to the number of servers and their locations, both ZenMate and Hotspot Shield are good choices. However, ZenMate has a slight advantage because they have more servers in more countries. However, Hotspot Shield is not far behind, and they are both very reliable VPNs.
Speed
The second metric we used to compare these two VPN providers was speed. Speed is vital for a good VPN experience because a slow connection can make streaming video or gaming frustrating. For example, if you’re trying to stream Netflix while connected to a VPN, a slow connection can cause buffering issues.
In addition, speed is important for general web browsing and downloading. A slow connection can make simple tasks like checking your email or reading the news a frustrating experience. Imagine trying to download a large file like an HD movie with a slow connection – it would take forever!
Speed usually depends on a few factors, including the distance between your location and the VPN server you’re connected to, the strength of your internet connection, and the number of users on the VPN server.
To get a sense of how these two VPN providers stack up in terms of speed, we tested both ZenMate and Hotspot Shield on a 100 Mbps connection.
We found that both ZenMate and Hotspot Shield were able to deliver decent speeds. However, Hotspot Shield was slightly faster than ZenMate in our tests. Overall, we were happy with the speeds we were able to get with both VPNs.
Here are the results of our speed tests.
ZenMate:
- Download Speed: 91.77 Mbps
- Upload Speed: 89.78 Mbps
- Ping: 11 ms
Hotspot Shield:
- Download Speed: 97.14 Mbps
- Upload Speed: 95.15 Mbps
- Ping: 12 ms
But you should remember that these results could vary depending on your location, the strength of your internet connection, and other factors. So, take these results with a grain of salt.
And if you’re looking for the fastest possible speeds, you can always connect to a nearby server.Both VPN providers offer a variety of servers to choose from, so you can always find a fast connection no matter where you are.
Connections
The third aspect we usually take a look at is the number of connections that are allowed. This one is important if you have a lot of devices that you want to protect with a single subscription. For example, you might have a phone, a tablet, and a laptop that you want to use with your VPN. In this case, you would need three connections.
Or if you have a big family and want to protect all of their devices, you might need more than five connections. Just make sure to check the number of connections that are allowed before you purchase a VPN service.
This is usually done to prevent people from sharing their accounts with others.In addition, some providers offer unlimited connections while others have a limit of five or ten. This is something you will want to take into consideration when choosing a provider.
- ZenMate allows for five simultaneous connections at once. This means that you can connect all of your devices to the VPN at the same time and not have to worry about exceeding the limit.
- Hotspot Shield also provides users with up to five simultaneous connections. This is a generous amount and should be enough for most people. However, if you need more than that, you’re out of luck.
Both ZenMate and Hotspot Shield offer a good amount of connections, with five being the limit for each. However, if you need more than five, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Also, remember to consider the number of devices or family members that will be using the VPN service before making your decision.
Security
One of the biggest concerns when it comes to VPNs is security. It is important to make sure that your data is safe and secure, especially if you are using a public Wi-Fi connection. Otherwise, you could be at risk of having your data hacked or stolen.
Security ensures that your data is safe from prying eyes, and it is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN. Actually, this is the reason why most people use VPNs in the first place.
There are various levels of security, and each VPN provider offers different features. For example, some VPNs offer military-grade encryption, while others offer more basic levels of security. Here are a couple of things to consider when it comes to security:
- Encryption: This is the process of encoding data so that it cannot be read by anyone who does not have the key. The stronger the encryption, the more difficult it is for hackers to access your data.
- Protocols: This is the technology that a VPN uses to create a secure connection. The most common protocols are OpenVPN, PPTP, LTP, and SSTP. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it is important to choose the right one for your needs.
- Jurisdiction: This is the country where a VPN provider is based. The laws of that country will apply to the VPN, and it is important to make sure that the provider abides by them. For example, some countries have more stringent laws when it comes to data retention, while others have stricter laws against online piracy.
- Logging: This is the process of keeping records of user activity. Some VPN providers keep logs, while others do not. It is important to make sure that the provider you choose does not keep logs, as this could put your data at risk.
As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when it comes to security. Each VPN provider offers different features, so it is important to choose the right one for your needs. Now it is time to compare ZenMate and Hotspot Shield to see which one is the best.
- Encryption: ZenMate uses AES-256 bit encryption, which is the same level of encryption used by the US military. This means that your data is safe from prying eyes, and it is very difficult for hackers to access your data. Hotspot Shield also uses AES-256 bit encryption, so you can be sure that your data is safe with them.
- Protocols: ZenMate uses the OpenVPN protocol by default. This makes it a very secure VPN. It also offers such protocols as IPSec, IKEv2, and P2TP/IPSec, but we recommend using OpenVPN whenever possible. Hotspot Shield also uses the most common security protocols, such as OpenVPN and IKEv2. Moreover, it also offers Catapult Hydra, a proprietary protocol. This one is more secure than the others.
- Jurisdiction: ZenMate is based in Germany, and is a part of the 14 Eyes Alliance. [1] This means that the German government could request access to user data. Hotspot Shield is based in the US, which is also a part of the 5 Eyes Alliance. So both of these providers are not the best when it comes to jurisdiction.
- Logging policy: ZenMate has a strict no-logs policy. However, they do keep some basic logs, such as contact, payment, and transaction information. This is to be expected, as it is necessary for the VPN service to function. Most importantly, these logs are not linked to your IP address or any other personal information. Hotspot Shield keeps logs of user data, bandwidth used, and time stamps.
As you can see, there are some security differences between these two VPN providers. They both have pros and cons, so it is up to you to decide which one is the best for your needs.
UI and UX
The next thing we wanted to compare was the UI and UX of both VPNs. UI means User Interface and it is how a program or website looks. UX means User Experience and refers to how easy or hard it is to use a program or website. Comparing the UI and UX of two VPNs is important because a good UI can make a program much easier to use, while a bad UI can make even the best program frustrating to use.
Usually, the UI and UX of a VPN will be similar on different platforms, but there can be some differences. For example, the Windows version of a VPN might have a very different UI than the Android version.
In addition, some VPNs will have different UIs for their different features. For example, a VPN might have one UI for its regular VPN service and another UI for its anti-malware feature.
- We start with Hotspot Shield. Hotspot Shield’s UI is very clean and minimalistic. The main screen only shows a connect button and a country selector. Once you connect, the main screen shows your new IP address and location. There is also a button to disconnect and a menu button. The menu gives you access to Hotspot Shield’s other features, such as their ad blocker and malware scanner. The interface is very straightforward, which is great for users who are new to VPNs. However, one downside is that there are ads displayed in the app. They’re not too intrusive, but they can be a bit annoying. Overall, though, we thought the UI and UX were very good.
- The user interface of ZenMate is very good. It is very easy to connect and disconnect from the VPN. You can also easily choose which server you want to connect to. Moreover, the user interface is also very easy to use. I like the fact that you can easily see the server load and the connection speed. Finally, I also like the fact that you can easily connect to the fastest server with just one click. However, there is one downside and that is that the user interface is a bit too simple for my taste. Nevertheless, it is still a very good user interface.
In conclusion, both VPNs have very good UI and UX. Hotspot Shield has a very clean and minimalistic interface that is easy to use. ZenMate also has a very good user interface that is available in many different languages. However, the user interface of ZenMate is a bit too simple for my taste. Nevertheless, both VPNs have very good UI and UX.
Once again, it all comes down to your personal preferences. Whichever VPN you choose, you can be sure that you’re getting a great UI and UX.
Netflix & Streaming
Another big area where people tend to use VPNs is for streaming. This can be things like trying to access Netflix content from another country or simply wanting to unblock a geo-restricted channel in your own country.
Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services in the world and as such, many VPN providers put a lot of effort into unblocking it. The reason for this is that Netflix actively tries to block VPN users. Moreover, different Netflix regions have different content. So, for example, if you’re in the US but want to watch a UK-only show on BBC iPlayer, you’ll need a VPN that can unblock both services.
So we put the two services to the test, connecting to Netflix US. We were pleased to find that both were able to unblock Netflix without any issues. However, we did notice that Hotspot Shield was a little slower than ZenMate when it came to streaming.
- ZenMate is one of the few VPNs that are able to unblock Netflix. This is thanks to the fact that it uses Smart DNS technology instead of trying to bypass the restrictions that have been put in place by Netflix. You can also access HBO easily with this VPN. It is great for people who want to be able to watch their favorite shows without any restrictions.
- You can access Netflix with the help of Hotspot Shield. In addition, Hotspot Shield offers dedicated servers for streaming. This means that you can connect to a server that is optimized for streaming and you will get a better streaming experience. However, it was not able to unlock Canadian Netflix. Hotspot Shield can unblock Hulu, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer. It is a great choice for streaming.
Speed is an important factor when it comes to streaming. If a VPN is too slow, it will buffer and you will not be able to enjoy your favorite shows. We tested the speed of both ZenMate and Hotspot Shield and we were pleased with the results. Both VPNs were able to provide fast speeds for streaming.
As you can see, both ZenMate and Hotspot Shield are great choices when it comes to streaming. However, ZenMate is the better choice if you want to be able to unblock Netflix. If you’re looking for a VPN that can offer you a great streaming experience, then Hotspot Shield is the better choice.
Torrenting
One more important thing to consider is how each VPN affects your ability to torrent. Torrenting is a great way to download large files quickly, but it can also be used to pirate copyrighted material. Because of this, many VPN providers either block torrenting outright or throttle your speeds when they detect that you’re using it.
In addition, some countries have strict laws against torrenting, and you could face legal trouble if you’re caught doing it. So it’s important to make sure that your VPN allows torrenting before you start using it.
Fortunately, both ZenMate and Hotspot Shield allow torrenting on their servers. However, there are a few key differences between the two.
- It is important to note, however, that ZenMate’s free service does not support torrenting. You’ll need to upgrade to a paid subscription in order to use this feature. ZenMate also offers unlimited bandwidth and data, which is great for torrenting. ZenMate also offers enough server locations to give you a good amount of choice for where you want your traffic to appear to be coming from.
- Hotspot Shield allows torrenting on their servers. This means that you can use this one to download large files quickly and safely. You can also be confident that your activities will not be monitored or tracked by either VPN. Moreover, Hotspot Shield does have a slight advantage over ZenMate when it comes to torrenting. This is because Hotspot Shield has special servers set up specifically for this purpose. This means that you’ll get even better speeds and performance when downloading files.
Both VPNs offer a great service for torrenting. However, Hotspot Shield has a slight advantage over ZenMate. So if you’re looking for the best VPN for torrenting, Hotspot Shield is the better choice.
Note: torrenting is illegal in many countries and can result in fines or jail time. Be sure to check your local laws before torrenting.
Customer Support
Finally, we come to customer support. It should be taken into account because it is important to be able to get help when you need it, especially if you are not a technical person. For example, if you have a problem with the installation or configuration of the VPN, you will need to be able to contact customer support so that they can help you solve the problem.
Usually, there are two ways to contact customer support: through a ticketing system or live chat. The former is usually slower because you have to wait for someone to answer your ticket, while the latter is faster since you can talk to someone in real time. Some providers also offer phone support, but this is usually not necessary since most problems can be solved via ticketing or live chat.
- ZenMate has excellent customer support. You can contact them through their live chat feature on their website or through their email support system. They are always willing to help and they are very efficient. However, sometimes I was not able to contact them through their live chat feature because it was not available. [1]
- Hotspot Shield offers 24/7 live chat support, as well as email support. I contacted their customer support team via live chat and found them to be friendly and helpful. Moreover, they were able to answer all my questions quickly and satisfactorily.
In conclusion, both ZenMate and Hotspot Shield offer excellent customer support. However, Hotspot Shield seems to be slightly better in this regard since they offer 24/7 live chat support. So if you often experience problems or have questions, Hotspot Shield is the better option.
FAQ
How can I get unlimited Hotspot Shield premium for free?
There are a few ways to get a Hotspot Shield premium for free. You can either find a website that offers a free trial, or you can use a VPN service that provides a free trial. Hotspot Shield also has a paid subscription option that gives you unlimited access to their servers.
How do I cancel Hotspot Shield?
If you want to cancel Hotspot Shield, you can do so by going to their website and clicking on the “Cancel Subscription” link. You will then be asked to confirm your cancellation. Once you have confirmed, your subscription will be canceled and you will no longer be charged.
Why is Hotspot Shield so slow?
There are a few reasons why Hotspot Shield might be slow. One reason could be that you are using a free trial and the servers are overloaded. Another reason could be that your internet connection is not fast enough to handle the VPN traffic. Lastly, it is possible that Hotspot Shield’s servers are down or experiencing technical difficulties.
I can’t connect to Hotspot Shield. What should I do?
If you are having trouble connecting to Hotspot Shield, the first thing you should do is check your internet connection. If your connection is good, then try restarting Hotspot Shield. If that doesn’t work, you can try contacting their customer support.
Why are some VPNs free?
There are a few reasons why some VPNs are free. One reason could be that the VPN is supported by ads. Another reason could be that the VPN is provided by a company that wants to promote its product. Lastly, it is possible that the VPN is provided by a government organization or institution.
Useful Video: Zenmate VPN Review – Which Tier is It?
Final Thoughts
Both ZenMate and Hotspot Shield are great VPN providers. However, there are some key differences that you should take into account before making your decision. Here is a quick overview of the main differences between ZenMate and Hotspot Shield:
- ZenMate is based in Germany, while Hotspot Shield is based in the US.
- ZenMate offers a free version with limited features, while Hotspot Shield does not have a free version.
- ZenMate offers more server locations than Hotspot Shield.
- Hotspot Shield is faster than ZenMate.
So, which VPN provider is right for you? If you are looking for a fast and reliable VPN service, then Hotspot Shield is a great option. However, if you are looking for a VPN service with more features and server locations, then ZenMate is a better option. Whichever VPN provider you choose, we are sure that you will be happy with your decision! Thanks for reading and have a great day!
So, there you have it! Our ZenMate vs Hotspot Shield comparison. We hope you found it helpful in making your decision between the two VPN providers. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Until next time!
References:
- https://www.wizcase.com/reviews/zenmate-vpn/
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