Hotspot Shield vs SaferVPN

​​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.

SaferVPN, founded in 2013 by Amit Bareket and Sagi Gidali, was headquartered in New York City and quickly gained recognition for their commitment to online security and privacy. The company offered a premium VPN service that enabled users to access the internet securely and without restrictions, boasting features such as AES-256 encryption, a no-logs policy, and Automatic Wi-Fi Security, which alerted users to unsecured networks. With over 1,300 servers in more than 50 countries, SaferVPN provided fast and reliable connections across various devices, including apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. The company was dedicated to advocating for internet freedom, partnering with organizations like Movements Advancing Human Rights to promote unrestricted access for activists in oppressive regimes. SaferVPN's user-friendly interface made them accessible for all, while their proactive security measures aimed to safeguard users from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. In 2019, SaferVPN was acquired by J2 Global and later merged into StrongVPN, marking the end of their independent operations on December 15, 2023. Although now redirected to StrongVPN, SaferVPN's legacy remains influential in the VPN industry, encouraging users to seek out secure and private online experiences.