VPN Hotspot Shield: Secure VPN

Hotspot Shield is the grizzled veteran of this list, live since 2011 and still leaning on AnchorFree's patented Hydra protocol to chase the fastest-VPN crown. In practice the one-tap connect and automatic fastest-server routing make it genuinely frictionless, and the free tier ships with unlimited bandwidth, a rarity worth noting. The trade is advertising, which peppers the free experience, and a premium tier that does most of the heavy lifting across 80-plus countries. With 356K ratings at 4.57 it remains a dependable name, even if newer rivals have closed the speed gap it once owned outright.

The speed pedigree

AnchorFree built its reputation on throughput, and the proprietary Hydra protocol still posts respectable numbers, especially on long-haul connections where generic OpenVPN setups sag. Auto-connect with IKEv2 and specialized modes for gaming, browsing and streaming mean you rarely think about configuration. Unlimited free bandwidth is the standout: many rivals throttle or cap, while Hotspot Shield lets the meter run, which alone justifies giving it a look.

Living with the ads

Free comes wrapped in advertising here, and it is more intrusive than the polished store copy suggests. Expect interstitials around connection and a steady nudge toward the subscription. The patented-protocol approach is also closed source, so you are trusting AnchorFree's word on the no-logs promise rather than an external audit. At 162 MB the install is on the larger side for something you reach for daily.

Free user or subscriber

As a free safety net for coffee-shop Wi-Fi it works and never cuts your data, which is the main thing. But the full location list, the ad-free experience, 1 Gbps servers and ten-device support all sit behind the paywall, and the 45-day money-back window signals the app really wants you there. Casual users stay free; anyone using it every day will feel the pull to upgrade.