Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield has built its reputation on raw speed, powered by the proprietary Hydra protocol developed by its parent company, Pango. In independent testing, download speeds dropped by just 3% — an almost negligible impact that makes Hotspot Shield one of the fastest VPNs available. The Hydra protocol is specifically designed for speed, using a unique approach to encryption that maintains security while minimising overhead.

For UK users, Hotspot Shield provides reliable access to BBC iPlayer, Netflix UK, and Disney+. The interface is clean and straightforward, making it suitable for users who want a simple, fast VPN without having to navigate complex settings. A free tier is available, though it is limited to a single server location and lower speeds.

At £2.99/month on the two-year plan, Hotspot Shield sits in the mid-range for pricing. The 45-day money-back guarantee matches CyberGhost's industry-leading offering. However, it is worth noting that while download speeds are excellent, upload speeds can suffer — dropping by up to 80% in some tests.

For users primarily focused on downloading, streaming, and browsing, this may not be an issue, but those who upload frequently should consider alternatives.