ZeroToVPN
VPN Comparison 2026

Hotspot Shield vs Urban VPN

Comprehensive comparison of features, pricing, speed, and security to help you choose the best VPN for your needs.

Hotspot Shield

Rating: 3.8/5
Winner
Best Price:$7.99/mo
Servers:3,200+
Countries:80
Speed Score:92%

Urban VPN

Rating: 2.5/5
Best Price:$0/mo
Servers:80+
Countries:81
Speed Score:60%

Based on our comprehensive testing, Hotspot Shield comes out ahead overall.

Last updated: mars 2026

Detailed Feature Comparison

Feature
Hotspot Shield
Urban VPN
Overall Rating
3.8/5
2.5/5
Monthly Price
$12.99/mo
$0/mo
Best Price (2yr plan)
$7.99/mo
$0/mo
Money-Back Guarantee
45 days
0 days
Free Tier
Total Servers
3,200+
80+
Countries
80
81
Simultaneous Devices
10
Unlimited
Speed Score
92%
60%
Security Score
80%
55%
Streaming Score
85%
50%
Protocols
HydraOpenVPNIKEv2
OpenVPN
Encryption
AES-256
AES-256
Kill Switch
No-Logs Policy
Netflix Support
Torrenting Support
Get Started
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Pros and Cons

Hotspot Shield

Pros

  • Very fast speeds (Hydra protocol)
  • Free tier available
  • 45-day money-back guarantee
  • Good for streaming
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Logs some connection data
  • Based in the US
  • Free tier has ads
  • Privacy concerns in past

Urban VPN

Pros

  • Completely free
  • No registration required
  • Available in many countries
  • Unlimited data
  • Simple to use

Cons

  • Uses P2P network (your IP shared)
  • Very slow speeds
  • Privacy concerns
  • No advanced features

Final Verdict

Hotspot Shield comes out ahead in this comparison with a higher overall rating of 3.8/5 compared to Urban VPN's 2.5/5. Fast VPN with proprietary Hydra protocol and free tier.

Choose Hotspot Shield if:

  • You prioritize faster speeds (92%)
  • You need stronger security (80%)
  • You want more server options (3,200+ servers)

Choose Urban VPN if:

  • You're looking for better value ($0/mo)

Hotspot Shield

3.8/5 Rating$7.99/mo
Read Full Review

Urban VPN

2.5/5 Rating$0/mo
Read Full Review

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hotspot Shield better than Urban VPN?+
Hotspot Shield is rated higher overall with a score of 3.8/5 compared to Urban VPN's 2.5/5. Hotspot Shield Fast VPN with proprietary Hydra protocol and free tier. However, both VPNs have their strengths, so your best choice depends on your specific needs.
Which is cheaper, Hotspot Shield or Urban VPN?+
Urban VPN is the more affordable option at $0/mo on a 2-year plan, compared to Hotspot Shield at $7.99/mo. Urban VPN offers better value on long-term plans, though both services frequently run promotional discounts.
Which is faster, Hotspot Shield or Urban VPN?+
Hotspot Shield achieves a higher speed score of 92% in our tests, compared to Urban VPN's 60%. Hotspot Shield uses modern VPN protocols that minimize speed loss, making it the better choice for bandwidth-heavy activities like 4K streaming and large file downloads.
Does Hotspot Shield or Urban VPN have more servers?+
Hotspot Shield has a larger server network with 3,200+ servers, compared to Urban VPN's 80+ servers. More servers generally means less congestion and more location choices, giving you better connection reliability and more options for bypassing geo-restrictions.
Which VPN is better for streaming, Hotspot Shield or Urban VPN?+
Hotspot Shield scores higher for streaming at 85% compared to Urban VPN's 50%. Hotspot Shield reliably unblocks popular streaming platforms and maintains fast enough speeds for HD and 4K content without buffering.

Compare More VPNs

Not sure yet? Check out our full VPN comparison tool or read detailed reviews of each service.