AVG Secure VPN vs Hotspot Shield

AVG Secure VPN, developed by AVG Technologies, a subsidiary of Avast Software, offers a range of features designed to enhance online privacy and security. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in the Czech Republic, AVG has built a reputation for providing robust cybersecurity solutions9. AVG Secure VPN is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, and supports up to 10 simultaneous connections19.
The VPN service employs advanced encryption protocols such as AES-256, OpenVPN, WireGuard, and Mimic, ensuring secure data transmission. It also includes features like a kill switch to protect user data during connection drops and split tunneling for selective routing of internet traffic35. Despite these strengths, AVG Secure VPN has a limited server network compared to competitors, which may impact connection speeds and access to regional content19. Customer feedback highlights the user-friendly interface and strong security measures but notes concerns about the VPN's logging policy and limited server count29. AVG Secure VPN is priced competitively at around $4.39-$4.49 per month. While they offer some streaming support and torrenting capabilities, they lack support for certain devices like Firestick and Linux.

​​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.