Get the world’s fastest VPN experience
The results are in...Hotspot Shield was named the world’s fastest VPN. Find out why experts say Hotspot Shield may defy physics and increase your connection speed.
Speedtest names Hotspot Shield “World’s Fastest VPN”
In October 2019, the experts at Ookla’s Speedtest.net conducted an independent study, pitting the leading VPN providers against each other to find out which service is the fastest. In both short and long-distance connection testing, Hotspot Shield came out on top, proving that under all circumstances tested it remains by far the fastest VPN on the market.
Speedtest comparison results
1.4x faster over short distances
Over short-distance connections, such as when you connect to a server located close to you, Hotspot Shield was more than 1.4x faster than the nearest competitor.
2.2x faster over long distances
Over long-distance connections, such as when you are located in San Francisco but connect to a server in London (a common requirement for VPN users who travel abroad or want to access content from other countries), Hotspot Shield was more than 2.2x faster than its closest competitor.
26% increase in download speed
Hotspot Shield was not only faster than the competition, but it actually increased download speeds by 26.2% compared to a VPN-less connection. All other VPN providers decreased download speeds by at least 42.5%.
Many of today’s VPN providers use antiquated technology first developed when Netflix only shipped DVDs and before Apple even invented the iPhone. Back then, VPN protocols such as OpenVPN were designed to put the security of business networks ahead of speed and performance. In today’s world — where we stream, download, share, and communicate online — that compromise no longer works. That’s why Hotspot Shield developed its own proprietary protocol named Hydra that delivers no compromises when it comes to industry-leading security and performance. Hydra is Hotspot Shield’s ‘secret sauce’. It delivers a truly enhanced VPN experience optimized for the modern world, providing speeds considerably faster than any other provider along with unparalleled protection against today’s online threats. Faster download speeds, especially over long distances Cutting edge ‘no-compromise’ tech that increases both security and performance Reduced latency due to patented “DNS acceleration” technology Quicker connection rates due to enhanced SSL connections Auto selects the optimum server for improved VPN speeds Advanced ability to disguise VPN traffic to look like regular web traffic A VPN protocol determines the set of rules used to negotiate the connection between the VPN app you’re using and the VPN server you’re connecting to. When that connection establishes, the data gets shuttled across the connection in packets. Inevitably, especially over long-distance connections, some of those packets will get lost. When that happens, your generic VPN protocol will typically slow your bandwidth and sometimes even try to restore those same packets. That all takes time, and it’s why most VPNs will make your internet considerably slower. Hydra works differently. The Hydra protocol can differentiate between different types of packet losses, and ignore packet losses when it’s not due to legitimate congestion. This means that Hydra won’t overreact to packet losses and unnecessarily slow your bandwidth, delivering faster, more consistent connection speeds that, in some cases, can actually increase your download speed compared to when you’re not using a VPN.What makes Hotspot Shield the fastest VPN?
Benefits of Hydra
Faster speeds
Improved security
Reduced latency
Quicker connections
Optimized servers
Better unblocking
How Hydra works
Make your VPN even faster
Increase your internet speed
It doesn’t matter how fast your VPN is if you have a slow internet connection from your ISP
Select a server close to where you are
Generally, the closer you are located to the server you're connected to, the faster your connection is
Beware of firewalls
Firewalls and antivirus software can affect the way your VPN runs and slow down your connection
Choose a provider with lots of servers
If you select a company with minimal servers, you may find that those servers will be congested
What is the fastest free VPN?
Hotspot Shield’s free VPN uses the same Hydra technology as our Premium version. However, you are limited in functionality. For example, with Hotspot Shield Basic, you can only stream in SD and you are capped at 500mb of data. You also only have access to one server location (United States).
To get the fastest VPN, you’ll need to upgrade to Hotspot Shield Premium. Not only will you get unlimited bandwidth and access to 80+ countries and 35+ city servers, but you’ll also enjoy speeds 4x faster than Basic so you can stream in full HD quality and never experience buffering or lag. You also get 24/7 support and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Hotspot Shield is more than just a fast VPN
Military-grade encryption
Get fast, secure internet connections with advanced encryption technology.
No browsing activity logs
We do not record your VPN browsing activities in any way that can be associated back to you.
Global internet access
With 115+ virtual locations in 80+ countries and 35+ cities around the world—it’s never been easier to access the content you want.
Unlimited bandwidth
Stream as much content as you want. With unlimited bandwidth for Premium members, you never have to stop.
Connect all your devices
Hotspot Shield Premium users can connect up to five devices under one account, keeping you and your family secure.
All major platforms supported
No matter what device you use, we’ve got you covered. Get Hotspot Shield for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, TV, and Chrome.
Ready to download the world’s fastest VPN? Get Premium now
One of the most trusted and secure VPNs
Mask your IP address, browse anonymously, establish an encrypted connection, and secure public Wi-Fi hotspots.
— Abir M.
Always dependable
I like how user friendly it is, and how it works silently in the background, without slowing down my laptop.
— Linda G.
Essential for peace of mind
With all the online security concerns today, this is one app everyone should have on every device connected to the internet!
— Rick B.