Encrypt.me vs Hotspot Shield

Encrypt.me, founded in 2011 and based in Seattle, Washington, was a security-focused VPN service designed to protect users on both private and public Wi-Fi networks. They offered strong encryption, Auto-Secure (kill switch), split tunneling for Android, and dedicated IP options for families and teams. Their unlimited device connections made them a flexible choice for individuals and businesses alike. While Encrypt.me was easy to use and had a transparent policy, it had some drawbacks. Being based in the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance also raised privacy concerns. Pricing was flexible, offering one-time passes (weekly, monthly, yearly) and recurring subscriptions (monthly or annual plans). They also provided family and team plans for multiple users. A 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee allowed users to test the service risk-free. In 2021, Encrypt.me merged with StrongVPN, discontinuing their standalone service. Users were transitioned to StrongVPN, which retained some of Encrypt.me’s features while expanding their global reach and security options.

​​Hotspot Shield, developed by Pango (formerly AnchorFree Inc.), is a prominent VPN service headquartered in Redwood City, California, with additional offices in Boston and Ukraine. Founded in 2005 by David Gorodyansky and Eugene Malobrodsky, the company has grown significantly, boasting over 3,200 servers across over 80 countries. This extensive server network allows users to bypass geo-restrictions and access region-locked content, enhancing privacy and security online. Hotspot Shield offers both free and premium plans. The free version includes limited server access and a daily data cap, while the premium version provides faster speeds, a broader server selection, and additional features like antivirus protection. A standout feature of Hotspot Shield is their proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol, which aims to deliver enhanced speed and security compared to traditional VPN protocols. Despite their strengths, Hotspot Shield has faced criticism for not conducting third-party audits to verify their no-logging policy. However, they maintain a strict no-logging policy to protect user privacy. The service is available on multiple platforms, including iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. As of December 31, 2024, Hotspot Shield will discontinue support for router-based VPN configurations.