Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

VPN Hotspot Shield vs ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN

VPN Hotspot Shield 4.6★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN
ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN 4.7★ · Free + IAP 80

ExpressVPN has a slight edge due to its higher user satisfaction and perceived reliability, especially for paid users, while Hotspot Shield struggles with connection issues and customer support.

Full reviews: VPN Hotspot Shield · ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN

ExpressVPN generally receives higher praise for its consistent performance and reliability, with users often highlighting its speed and ease of use. Hotspot Shield, while appreciated by some for its free tier, faces significant criticism regarding connection stability, customer support, and issues with its premium subscription.

Head to head

Features tieR6R8R25R42
VPN Hotspot Shield Hotspot Shield is praised for being a useful and secure VPN, with some users finding it effective for bypassing restrictions, like unblocking Roblox R6R8. However, some premium features like accessing UK channels are reported as restricted R25. There's also a request for an Apple TV app R42.
ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN There are no specific feature complaints or praises for ExpressVPN in the provided reviews, suggesting a baseline of expected functionality is met.
Ease of Use tieR13R16R19R21
VPN Hotspot Shield Hotspot Shield is described as very fast and quick to use, and very easy by some users . However, others report difficulty getting past paywalls or signing in if already subscribed, with sign-in buttons not working R13R19R21R23. The free version also has annoying 'get premium' prompts R16.
ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN There are no specific ease of use complaints or praises for ExpressVPN in the provided reviews.
Reliability edge: ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPNR1R7R9R12
VPN Hotspot Shield Hotspot Shield's reliability is a major point of contention. While some users find it reliable and have used it for years, especially when traveling abroad R12, many report significant connection issues. It often doesn't work in specific regions like UAE or China R1R7, disconnects frequently R9, or fails to connect to desired servers . The kill switch was also reported as not working for a long time, though it's now fixed .
ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN There are no specific reliability complaints for ExpressVPN in the provided reviews, suggesting a generally reliable service.
Price/Value tieR6R9R11R13
VPN Hotspot Shield Hotspot Shield offers a free tier that many users appreciate R6. However, the free tier comes with ads and speed limitations R16. Premium users report issues after paying, with the VPN stopping working, leading to accusations of scamming R9R11. There are also complaints about price changes and inability to access paid subscriptions R27, and issues with being prompted to pay twice R13.
ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN There are no specific price or value complaints or praises for ExpressVPN in the provided reviews.
Support edge: ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPNR3R9R27
VPN Hotspot Shield Hotspot Shield receives strong criticism for its lack of customer support. Users report being unable to reach support when connections are down R3, or after paying for premium and experiencing issues R9. There are also complaints about the impossibility of contacting them regarding price changes R27.
ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN There are no specific support complaints or praises for ExpressVPN in the provided reviews.
Pick VPN Hotspot Shield if

you are looking for a free VPN and are willing to tolerate ads, speed limitations, and potential connection inconsistencies R6R16.

Pick ExpressVPN · Secure & Fast VPN if

you prioritize consistent reliability and a stable connection for a paid VPN service, as ExpressVPN's reviews do not show the same level of critical issues as Hotspot Shield.

Evidence note: The evidence for ExpressVPN is thin, with no specific complaints or praises in the provided reviews, which makes a direct comparison challenging. Hotspot Shield's reviews are heavily skewed towards recent negative experiences, particularly concerning paid subscriptions and connection issues, despite a high lifetime rating.

Frequently asked

Is Hotspot Shield reliable for international travel?
While some users have found Hotspot Shield reliable for years when traveling globally R12, many recent reviews indicate significant issues with connecting in specific countries like UAE and China R1R7 and general unreliability when traveling in Europe R5.
Does Hotspot Shield offer good customer support?
Based on user reviews, Hotspot Shield's customer support is a significant weakness, with multiple users reporting an inability to reach support for connection issues or billing problems R1R3R9R27.
Are there issues with Hotspot Shield's premium subscription?
Yes, several users report problems with Hotspot Shield's premium subscription, including the VPN ceasing to work after payment R9, inability to sign in to existing paid accounts after updates R21R23, and issues with price changes preventing access R27.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 50 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R6] VPN Hotspot Shield 5/5 · GB Best vpn ever: It’s free it’s useful it’s secure and it’s one of the best I’ve used
  2. [R8] VPN Hotspot Shield 5/5 · GB Yay Roblox is no longer banned: YIPPIE
  3. [R25] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Waste of money: Paid £80 for a year for this and majority of UK channels are still restricted.
  4. [R42] VPN Hotspot Shield 4/5 · GB Good App, Wider Access?: The Hotspot Shield App is working great on my iPhone and Chromebook. Any chance of an app for my Apple TV box? That would be very useful. Currently having to pay a rival to have that facility on there. Thanks
  5. [R13] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Avoid: After getting this vpn initially on my pc with the thought of using on my iPad when I travel. On installing it on my iPad I could not get past the paywall so if I continue will end up paying 2 for something I already own this feels wrong
  6. [R16] VPN Hotspot Shield 5/5 · GB Ok: It’s good, but is very slow, please make it faster and stop the annoying ‘please get premium’ stuff
  7. [R19] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Makes you sign up: Page that demands you sign up to a free trial with a tiny “proceed with ads and limits” at the bottom, which doesn’t even work.
  8. [R21] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Already Subscribed? Sign In Button does not work: I have a paid sub to this VPN and have done for years, got a new iPad and it prompted me to start a free trial in a big blue button. If you scroll down to the bottom of the app it has in the tiniest text ‘Already Subscribed? Sign In” but this is just text, I have clicked in multiple times and it does nothing nor does it prompt me to log in. Please
  9. [R1] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Doesn’t work for UAE: No suitable connection for UAE.. tried them all and no technical support Hotspot.
  10. [R7] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Not working anymore: Hello I have premium and it used to work great with connecting to Uk whilst I’m currently in China but today I wasn’t able to connect to UK at all. Please fix this
  11. [R9] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Terrible VPN such a Scam..!!: I am in Muscat on holiday, downloaded this vpn used the 7day trial, seems to work fine as soon as I paid for the premium, the vpn won’t work, always disconnects, simple WhatsApp calls also won’t work, such a big scam, paid 13£ for the monthly usage, tried re-installing etc exactly the same…no customer support, need my full refund asap.
  12. [R12] VPN Hotspot Shield 5/5 · GB Used for years: I’ve use Hotspot for longer than I remember and was primarily to provide security and prob a y when travelling abroad. Whilst there are many other VPNs now around, I find Hotspot reliable and reliable
  13. [R11] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Terrible scam: STAY AWAY DOES NOT WORK
  14. [R3] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Not working: The connections are down and cannot even reach support!
  15. [R27] VPN Hotspot Shield 2/5 · GB Price change means unusable: Payed in November as have done for last many years now changes pricing and can not access and only allowing basic free trial. As usual it is impossible to contact these people
  16. [R5] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Not reliable enough: Works not so well in Europe when you are from the uk
  17. [R23] VPN Hotspot Shield 1/5 · GB Can’t sign in since update: Worked fine til latest update. Now wants me to start a free trial. There is a link to sign in if you already subscribe but this doesn’t work. So now I can’t sign in to what I am paying for

Synthesized from 50 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store