Hotspot Shield / TunnelBear compared
Same criteria, same rules. You see where they diverge.
No winner on this page. vpn-matrix.com assigns no points and makes no recommendations.
Differences (79)
Criteria where the values diverge.
| Hotspot Shield | TunnelBear | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal company name | Anchorfree, LLC / Pango GmbH (product under Point Wild / formerly Pango Group)provider claim | TunnelBear LLCprovider claim |
| Trademark holder, if different | Point Wild (HotSpot Shield brand)provider claim | McAfee (acquired TunnelBear Inc. in 2018)confirmed |
| Year founded | 2008confirmed | 2011confirmed |
| Headquarters (country) | USprovider claim | CAconfirmed |
| Other relevant jurisdictions | United States (Redwood City, California); Pango/Point Wild operatorconfirmed | Kanada (Team und Betrieb in Toronto), USA (Mutterkonzern McAfee)confirmed |
| Parent group / holding | Point Wildconfirmed | McAfeeconfirmed |
| Leadership team publicly named | yesprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Sister VPN brands in the group | Betternet, Ultra VPN / UltraAV, VPN360, Touch VPN (per Point Wild / Pango portfolio disclosures)provider claim | McAfee Safe Connectconfirmed |
| Group owns VPN review and comparison sites | Comparitech (listed among Point Wild brands)provider claim | none known from fetched official pagesprovider claim |
| YouTube and influencer sponsoring | occasionalprovider claim | unknownprovider claim |
| Documented misleading advertising claims | 'Military-grade' encryption wording appears on download/marketing pages; Hydra marketed as '#1 for speed'provider claim | ? |
| Acquisition history / former name | AnchorFree → Pango; Aura/Pango era; Dec 2024 Pango Group merged with Total Security and rebranded Point Wildprovider claim | 2018 von McAfee übernommen, Bekanntgabe am 08.03.2018; Kaufpreis nicht offengelegtconfirmed |
| Core statement of the logging policy | Does not store VPN browsing activity tied to a user; logs session duration, bandwidth, anonymized domains, device hashes; source IP encrypted then deleted at session endconfirmed | Die Richtlinie führt vier Datenarten auf, die ausdrücklich nicht erhoben werden: IP-Adressen beim Websitebesuch, IP-Adressen beim Verbindungsaufbau, DNS-Anfragen während der Verbindung und Angaben zu genutzten Anwendungen, Diensten oder Websites.provider claim |
| Connection logs | per sessionconfirmed | noneprovider claim |
| Storage of the real IP address | transient onlyconfirmed | not storedprovider claim |
| Precision of stored timestamps | to the secondprovider claim | unclearprovider claim |
| Enforcement of the device limit | Premium links up to 10 devices per accountprovider claim | Unlimited devices; no simultaneous-connection cap statedprovider claim |
| Minimum account data required | Device hashes for free products without account; paid/account flows collect additional account data per general policyprovider claim | E-Mail-Adresseprovider claim |
| Telemetry in the apps | cannot be disabledprovider claim | on by defaultprovider claim |
| Trackers and SDKs in the Android app | Free versions: Google advertising ID (AAID) to Google for personalized adsprovider claim | Website uses Google Analytics cookies (_ga, _gaid, _gat); mobile SDK list not separately published on fetched privacy pageprovider claim |
| Trackers in the iOS app | Free versions: IDFA to Google for personalized adsprovider claim | Website uses Google Analytics; mobile SDK list not separately published on fetched privacy pageprovider claim |
| Trackers and cookies on the website | Cookies for analytics, personalization, and targeted advertising (site cookie banner)provider claim | Google Analytics, laut Richtlinie mit kürzest möglicher Aufbewahrungsfrist und ohne Speicherung von IP-Adressen; der Cookie-Hinweis der Startseite nennt zusätzlich Analyse- und Marketing-Cookies nach Zustimmung.provider claim |
| Data shared with third parties | Free VPN versions: Google for personalized ads (AAID/IDFA); paid versions do not send to ad partners. Domain names logged anonymized/aggregated.provider claim | Stripe und PayPal (Zahlungsabwicklung), Google Analytics, Anbieter für Kundensupport, E-Mail-Versand, Hosting und DDoS-Abwehrprovider claim |
| Retention periods stated in the policy | Source IP collected for VPN session then deleted at session end; domains aggregated ~monthly; device hashes retained for analyticsprovider claim | Kontodaten werden gelöscht, je nachdem was früher eintritt: 30 Tage nach Kündigung des Abonnements oder auf Löschverlangen über das Privacy Center.provider claim |
| EU representative named under GDPR | yesprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| No-logs audit details | Aon technical assessment for Pango Group, report dated 2023-08-25; free and paid tiers; client+server; concluded policy assertions fairly representedconfirmed | Annual independent security audits of apps; 7th annual audit published; marketed as only consumer VPN with regular published auditsprovider claim |
| Audit report published | summary onlyconfirmed | full reportconfirmed |
| App and client audits | none published on fetched pagesprovider claim | Cure53 prüfte im White-Box-Verfahren die Clients für Windows, macOS, iOS und Android sowie die Browser-Erweiterungen für Chrome, Firefox und Edge; der Bericht zum Test 10-11.2023 trägt die Kennung TB-11.confirmed |
| Infrastructure and server audits | none published on fetched pagesprovider claim | Der Cure53-Test 10-11.2023 umfasste neben den Clients die VPN-Infrastruktur, das PolarBear-Backend, die AWS-Infrastruktur, die Komponenten Overseer und Geneva sowie die öffentlichen Websites.confirmed |
| Audit frequency | irregularprovider claim | annualconfirmed |
| Tested in court or by authorities | none documented on fetched official pagesprovider claim | Laut Transparenzbericht vom 08.11.2023 gingen zwischen 2021 und 2023 insgesamt 70 behördliche Anfragen ein (29 in 2021, 30 in 2022, 11 in 2023). In zwei Fällen wurde das Bestehen eines Kontos bestätigt, Browsing-Daten wurden nach Anbieterangabe in keinem Fall herausgegeben.provider claim |
| Security incidents and data leaks | 2017 CDT complaint to FTC alleging undisclosed data sharing/traffic redirection on Hotspot Shield Free (per Wikipedia)confirmed | ? |
| Bug bounty programme | none published on fetched Hotspot Shield/Pango pagesprovider claim | none published on fetched TunnelBear pagesprovider claim |
| Handling of reported vulnerabilities | none disclosed on fetched pagesprovider claim | Am 09.05.2024 veröffentlichte der Anbieter eine plattformweise Bewertung der am 06.05.2024 publik gewordenen Schwachstelle TunnelVision und stufte die Apps für macOS und iOS als betroffen ein, Windows, Android und die Browser-Erweiterung als nicht betroffen.provider claim |
| Listings by independent bodies | Cited Speedtest/Ookla fastest VPN; TechRadar, CNET, ZDNet, PCWorld quotes on marketing pagesprovider claim | Wirecutter (NYT) quoted recommending TunnelBear after researching 53 VPNsprovider claim |
| WireGuard | noprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Proprietary protocol | Hydra (developed internally by Pango)confirmed | none (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 selectable); GhostBear obfuscation featureprovider claim |
| Legacy protocols still offered | Proprietary Hydra primary; OpenVPN/WireGuard not advertised as primary on fetched product pagesprovider claim | none advertised; protocol selection lists WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2provider claim |
| Default data cipher | AES-256confirmed | AES 256 Bit laut Anbieterangabeprovider claim |
| Key exchange and authentication | Catapult Hydra proprietary protocolprovider claim | Depends on selected protocol (WireGuard / OpenVPN / IKEv2)provider claim |
| Perfect forward secrecy | ? | yesprovider claim |
| Own DNS resolvers | yesprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| DNS leak protection | ? | yesprovider claim |
| Obfuscation methods | Hydra proprietary protocol marketed for speed/security; censorship circumvention history (Arab Spring) per Wikipediaprovider claim | GhostBear, laut Anbieter 'Make your encrypted VPN data less detectable to governments, businesses and ISPs'provider claim |
| Kill switch | not availableprovider claim | system-wideprovider claim |
| Permanent lockdown | noprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Split tunneling | not offered on Hotspot Shield select-plan/feature lists fetchedprovider claim | SplitBear, laut Anbieter Auswahl, welche Apps und Websites durch den Tunnel laufenprovider claim |
| Ad and tracker filtering in DNS | fixed listprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Malware and phishing filter | yesprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Auto connect rules | noprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Traffic analysis defence | Proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol; historical circumvention useprovider claim | GhostBear obfuscation to make VPN traffic less detectableprovider claim |
| Number of servers | 1,800 Serverprovider claim | 8,000 Serverprovider claim |
| Number of countries | 80 Laenderprovider claim | 47 Laenderprovider claim |
| Number of cities | 35 Staedteprovider claim | ? |
| Virtual locations | not labelledprovider claim | no virtual locationsprovider claim |
| Hardware ownership | rentedprovider claim | mixedprovider claim |
| P2P and file sharing | entire networkprovider claim | dedicated locationsprovider claim |
| Known upstream hosting providers | Third-party infrastructure providers (unnamed); Pango states it would leave any provider requiring activity loggingprovider claim | Third-party infrastructure providers (unnamed) per privacy policyprovider claim |
| Android TV app | native appprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Fire TV app | native appprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Browser extension | not availableprovider claim | own extensionprovider claim |
| Type of browser extension | no extensionprovider claim | standalone browser proxyprovider claim |
| Router support | Router mentioned as connectable device under Premium (up to 10 devices)provider claim | not offered on fetched download/features pagesprovider claim |
| Simultaneous devices | 10provider claim | unbegrenztprovider claim |
| PayPal | noprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Monthly price | €11.99provider claim | €3.33provider claim |
| Effective price on the longest term | €7.99provider claim | €3.33provider claim |
| Free tier and its limits | Free VPN products (Hotspot Shield free) supported by third-party in-app ads (Unity, ironSource, Digital Turbine, InMobi)confirmed | Gratistarif mit 2 GB Datenvolumenprovider claim |
| Money-back window | 45 Tageprovider claim | 30 Tageprovider claim |
| P2P policy in the terms of service | entire networkprovider claim | dedicated locationsprovider claim |
| Netflix regions reported | Marketing claims Netflix, YouTube, Prime, Disney+ worldwide; no audited region list on fetched pagesprovider claim | ? |
| Other streaming services | Netflix, YouTube, Prime, Disney+provider claim | ? |
| Data cap | Basic free: 500 MB/day; Premium: unlimitedprovider claim | Gratistarif 2 GB; kostenpflichtige Tarife werden als 'Unlimited secure browsing' beworben.provider claim |
| Speed measurement references | Claims up to 2.2x faster than competitionprovider claim | ? |
| Official support in restrictive countries | Historically used for censorship circumvention (Arab Spring); Hydra marketed for accessprovider claim | GhostBear for VPN-blocking networksprovider claim |
| German-language support | yesprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Tracker load of the website | Essential + analytics/personalization/targeted advertising cookies disclosed on siteprovider claim | Privacy policy describes account/session data including IP at payment for fraud preventionprovider claim |
| Length and readability of the legal documents | Long formal ToS with commercial/cancellation sections; not specially simplifiedprovider claim | High — marketed as terms/privacy 'you can actually understand'provider claim |
| Marketing claims contradicting the provider's own terms | Markets 'world's fastest VPN' via Speedtest; 2017 CDT/FTC complaint about free-tier data sharing (Wikipedia)confirmed | Features claim 8000+ servers in 46+ countries with city-level selection on Unlimitedprovider claim |
All sourced criteria (152)
| Hotspot Shield | TunnelBear | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal company name | Anchorfree, LLC / Pango GmbH (product under Point Wild / formerly Pango Group)provider claim | TunnelBear LLCprovider claim |
| Trademark holder, if different | Point Wild (HotSpot Shield brand)provider claim | McAfee (acquired TunnelBear Inc. in 2018)confirmed |
| Year founded | 2008confirmed | 2011confirmed |
| Headquarters (country) | USprovider claim | CAconfirmed |
| Other relevant jurisdictions | United States (Redwood City, California); Pango/Point Wild operatorconfirmed | Kanada (Team und Betrieb in Toronto), USA (Mutterkonzern McAfee)confirmed |
| Intelligence alliance of the home country | Five Eyesconfirmed | Five Eyesprovider claim |
| Parent group / holding | Point Wildconfirmed | McAfeeconfirmed |
| Beneficial owners publicly known | partly knownprovider claim | partly knownprovider claim |
| Ownership structure | private equityprovider claim | private equityprovider claim |
| Leadership team publicly named | yesprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Verifiable postal address for legal service | yesconfirmed | yesconfirmed |
| Sister VPN brands in the group | Betternet, Ultra VPN / UltraAV, VPN360, Touch VPN (per Point Wild / Pango portfolio disclosures)provider claim | McAfee Safe Connectconfirmed |
| Group owns VPN review and comparison sites | Comparitech (listed among Point Wild brands)provider claim | none known from fetched official pagesprovider claim |
| Runs an affiliate programme | yesprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| YouTube and influencer sponsoring | occasionalprovider claim | unknownprovider claim |
| Documented misleading advertising claims | 'Military-grade' encryption wording appears on download/marketing pages; Hydra marketed as '#1 for speed'provider claim | ? |
| Acquisition history / former name | AnchorFree → Pango; Aura/Pango era; Dec 2024 Pango Group merged with Total Security and rebranded Point Wildprovider claim | 2018 von McAfee übernommen, Bekanntgabe am 08.03.2018; Kaufpreis nicht offengelegtconfirmed |
| Operating status | activeconfirmed | activeprovider claim |
| Core statement of the logging policy | Does not store VPN browsing activity tied to a user; logs session duration, bandwidth, anonymized domains, device hashes; source IP encrypted then deleted at session endconfirmed | Die Richtlinie führt vier Datenarten auf, die ausdrücklich nicht erhoben werden: IP-Adressen beim Websitebesuch, IP-Adressen beim Verbindungsaufbau, DNS-Anfragen während der Verbindung und Angaben zu genutzten Anwendungen, Diensten oder Websites.provider claim |
| Activity and traffic logs | noneprovider claim | noneprovider claim |
| Connection logs | per sessionconfirmed | noneprovider claim |
| Storage of the real IP address | transient onlyconfirmed | not storedprovider claim |
| Storage of the assigned VPN IP | not storedprovider claim | not storedprovider claim |
| Precision of stored timestamps | to the secondprovider claim | unclearprovider claim |
| Recording of transferred data volume | per accountconfirmed | per accountprovider claim |
| Enforcement of the device limit | Premium links up to 10 devices per accountprovider claim | Unlimited devices; no simultaneous-connection cap statedprovider claim |
| Minimum account data required | Device hashes for free products without account; paid/account flows collect additional account data per general policyprovider claim | E-Mail-Adresseprovider claim |
| Telemetry in the apps | cannot be disabledprovider claim | on by defaultprovider claim |
| Trackers and SDKs in the Android app | Free versions: Google advertising ID (AAID) to Google for personalized adsprovider claim | Website uses Google Analytics cookies (_ga, _gaid, _gat); mobile SDK list not separately published on fetched privacy pageprovider claim |
| Trackers in the iOS app | Free versions: IDFA to Google for personalized adsprovider claim | Website uses Google Analytics; mobile SDK list not separately published on fetched privacy pageprovider claim |
| Trackers and cookies on the website | Cookies for analytics, personalization, and targeted advertising (site cookie banner)provider claim | Google Analytics, laut Richtlinie mit kürzest möglicher Aufbewahrungsfrist und ohne Speicherung von IP-Adressen; der Cookie-Hinweis der Startseite nennt zusätzlich Analyse- und Marketing-Cookies nach Zustimmung.provider claim |
| Data shared with third parties | Free VPN versions: Google for personalized ads (AAID/IDFA); paid versions do not send to ad partners. Domain names logged anonymized/aggregated.provider claim | Stripe und PayPal (Zahlungsabwicklung), Google Analytics, Anbieter für Kundensupport, E-Mail-Versand, Hosting und DDoS-Abwehrprovider claim |
| Retention periods stated in the policy | Source IP collected for VPN session then deleted at session end; domains aggregated ~monthly; device hashes retained for analyticsprovider claim | Kontodaten werden gelöscht, je nachdem was früher eintritt: 30 Tage nach Kündigung des Abonnements oder auf Löschverlangen über das Privacy Center.provider claim |
| EU representative named under GDPR | yesprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Independent no-logs audit | yesconfirmed | yesprovider claim |
| No-logs audit details | Aon technical assessment for Pango Group, report dated 2023-08-25; free and paid tiers; client+server; concluded policy assertions fairly representedconfirmed | Annual independent security audits of apps; 7th annual audit published; marketed as only consumer VPN with regular published auditsprovider claim |
| Audit report published | summary onlyconfirmed | full reportconfirmed |
| App and client audits | none published on fetched pagesprovider claim | Cure53 prüfte im White-Box-Verfahren die Clients für Windows, macOS, iOS und Android sowie die Browser-Erweiterungen für Chrome, Firefox und Edge; der Bericht zum Test 10-11.2023 trägt die Kennung TB-11.confirmed |
| Infrastructure and server audits | none published on fetched pagesprovider claim | Der Cure53-Test 10-11.2023 umfasste neben den Clients die VPN-Infrastruktur, das PolarBear-Backend, die AWS-Infrastruktur, die Komponenten Overseer und Geneva sowie die öffentlichen Websites.confirmed |
| Audit frequency | irregularprovider claim | annualconfirmed |
| Tested in court or by authorities | none documented on fetched official pagesprovider claim | Laut Transparenzbericht vom 08.11.2023 gingen zwischen 2021 und 2023 insgesamt 70 behördliche Anfragen ein (29 in 2021, 30 in 2022, 11 in 2023). In zwei Fällen wurde das Bestehen eines Kontos bestätigt, Browsing-Daten wurden nach Anbieterangabe in keinem Fall herausgegeben.provider claim |
| Transparency report | occasionalprovider claim | occasionalprovider claim |
| Warrant canary | noneprovider claim | noneprovider claim |
| Security incidents and data leaks | 2017 CDT complaint to FTC alleging undisclosed data sharing/traffic redirection on Hotspot Shield Free (per Wikipedia)confirmed | ? |
| Bug bounty programme | none published on fetched Hotspot Shield/Pango pagesprovider claim | none published on fetched TunnelBear pagesprovider claim |
| Handling of reported vulnerabilities | none disclosed on fetched pagesprovider claim | Am 09.05.2024 veröffentlichte der Anbieter eine plattformweise Bewertung der am 06.05.2024 publik gewordenen Schwachstelle TunnelVision und stufte die Apps für macOS und iOS als betroffen ein, Windows, Android und die Browser-Erweiterung als nicht betroffen.provider claim |
| Open source clients | noneprovider claim | noneprovider claim |
| Open source server side | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Reproducible builds | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Available on F-Droid | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Listings by independent bodies | Cited Speedtest/Ookla fastest VPN; TechRadar, CNET, ZDNet, PCWorld quotes on marketing pagesprovider claim | Wirecutter (NYT) quoted recommending TunnelBear after researching 53 VPNsprovider claim |
| WireGuard | noprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| OpenVPN over UDP | yesconfirmed | yesprovider claim |
| OpenVPN over TCP | yesprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| IKEv2/IPsec | yesconfirmed | yesprovider claim |
| Proprietary protocol | Hydra (developed internally by Pango)confirmed | none (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 selectable); GhostBear obfuscation featureprovider claim |
| Legacy protocols still offered | Proprietary Hydra primary; OpenVPN/WireGuard not advertised as primary on fetched product pagesprovider claim | none advertised; protocol selection lists WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2provider claim |
| Default data cipher | AES-256confirmed | AES 256 Bit laut Anbieterangabeprovider claim |
| Weakest accepted cipher | AES-256provider claim | AES-256provider claim |
| Key exchange and authentication | Catapult Hydra proprietary protocolprovider claim | Depends on selected protocol (WireGuard / OpenVPN / IKEv2)provider claim |
| Perfect forward secrecy | ? | yesprovider claim |
| Post-quantum key exchange | not availableprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Own DNS resolvers | yesprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| DNS leak protection | ? | yesprovider claim |
| IPv6 handling | unclearprovider claim | unclearprovider claim |
| WebRTC protection or guidance | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Obfuscation methods | Hydra proprietary protocol marketed for speed/security; censorship circumvention history (Arab Spring) per Wikipediaprovider claim | GhostBear, laut Anbieter 'Make your encrypted VPN data less detectable to governments, businesses and ISPs'provider claim |
| Usability behind the Great Firewall | per user reportsconfirmed | per user reportsprovider claim |
| Kill switch | not availableprovider claim | system-wideprovider claim |
| Permanent lockdown | noprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Split tunneling | not offered on Hotspot Shield select-plan/feature lists fetchedprovider claim | SplitBear, laut Anbieter Auswahl, welche Apps und Websites durch den Tunnel laufenprovider claim |
| Multihop | not availableprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Tor integration (Onion over VPN) | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Port forwarding | not availableprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| SOCKS5 proxy | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| HTTP proxy | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Smart DNS | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Ad and tracker filtering in DNS | fixed listprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Malware and phishing filter | yesprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Custom DNS servers allowed | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Local network access toggle | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Auto connect rules | noprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Private device network (mesh) | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| GPS location override (Android) | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Traffic analysis defence | Proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol; historical circumvention useprovider claim | GhostBear obfuscation to make VPN traffic less detectableprovider claim |
| IPv6 inside the tunnel | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Obfuscation without configuration | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Number of servers | 1,800 Serverprovider claim | 8,000 Serverprovider claim |
| Number of countries | 80 Laenderprovider claim | 47 Laenderprovider claim |
| Number of cities | 35 Staedteprovider claim | ? |
| Virtual locations | not labelledprovider claim | no virtual locationsprovider claim |
| RAM-only servers (diskless) | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Hardware ownership | rentedprovider claim | mixedprovider claim |
| Own AS (autonomous system) | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| 10 Gbps ports | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| P2P and file sharing | entire networkprovider claim | dedicated locationsprovider claim |
| Public server list | yesprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Public status page | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Known upstream hosting providers | Third-party infrastructure providers (unnamed); Pango states it would leave any provider requiring activity loggingprovider claim | Third-party infrastructure providers (unnamed) per privacy policyprovider claim |
| Windows app | native appconfirmed | native appprovider claim |
| macOS app | native appconfirmed | native appprovider claim |
| Linux app with GUI | not availableprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Linux command line | not availableprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Android app | native appconfirmed | native appprovider claim |
| iOS app | native appconfirmed | native appprovider claim |
| Android TV app | native appprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Apple TV app | not availableprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Fire TV app | native appprovider claim | not availableprovider claim |
| Browser extension | not availableprovider claim | own extensionprovider claim |
| Type of browser extension | no extensionprovider claim | standalone browser proxyprovider claim |
| Router support | Router mentioned as connectable device under Premium (up to 10 devices)provider claim | not offered on fetched download/features pagesprovider claim |
| Native build for Apple Silicon | yesprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Command line documented | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Simultaneous devices | 10provider claim | unbegrenztprovider claim |
| Usable without an account | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Data required at signup | any email addressprovider claim | any email addressprovider claim |
| Account model | email as loginprovider claim | email as loginprovider claim |
| Cash by mail | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Monero | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Bitcoin | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Lightning | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Retail gift cards | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| PayPal | noprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Credit and debit card | yesprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| SEPA payment | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Monthly price | €11.99provider claim | €3.33provider claim |
| Effective price on the longest term | €7.99provider claim | €3.33provider claim |
| Price change at renewal | moderate increaseprovider claim | moderate increaseprovider claim |
| Flat pricing without permanent discounts | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Free tier and its limits | Free VPN products (Hotspot Shield free) supported by third-party in-app ads (Unity, ironSource, Digital Turbine, InMobi)confirmed | Gratistarif mit 2 GB Datenvolumenprovider claim |
| Money-back window | 45 Tageprovider claim | 30 Tageprovider claim |
| Cancellation path | cancel in accountconfirmed | cancel in accountprovider claim |
| P2P policy in the terms of service | entire networkprovider claim | dedicated locationsprovider claim |
| Streaming unblocking officially advertised | yesprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Netflix regions reported | Marketing claims Netflix, YouTube, Prime, Disney+ worldwide; no audited region list on fetched pagesprovider claim | ? |
| Other streaming services | Netflix, YouTube, Prime, Disney+provider claim | ? |
| Bandwidth cap | cappedprovider claim | cappedprovider claim |
| Data cap | Basic free: 500 MB/day; Premium: unlimitedprovider claim | Gratistarif 2 GB; kostenpflichtige Tarife werden als 'Unlimited secure browsing' beworben.provider claim |
| Speed measurement references | Claims up to 2.2x faster than competitionprovider claim | ? |
| Official support in restrictive countries | Historically used for censorship circumvention (Arab Spring); Hydra marketed for accessprovider claim | GhostBear for VPN-blocking networksprovider claim |
| 24/7 live chat | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Email or ticket support | yesprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| Telephone support | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| German-language support | yesprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Documentation assessment | workableprovider claim | workableprovider claim |
| Self-hosted chat widget | noprovider claim | noprovider claim |
| Self-service account deletion | yesprovider claim | yesprovider claim |
| SSL Labs grade of the website | A+confirmed | A+confirmed |
| Tracker load of the website | Essential + analytics/personalization/targeted advertising cookies disclosed on siteprovider claim | Privacy policy describes account/session data including IP at payment for fraud preventionprovider claim |
| URL of the warrant canary | none foundprovider claim | none foundprovider claim |
| Length and readability of the legal documents | Long formal ToS with commercial/cancellation sections; not specially simplifiedprovider claim | High — marketed as terms/privacy 'you can actually understand'provider claim |
| Marketing claims contradicting the provider's own terms | Markets 'world's fastest VPN' via Speedtest; 2017 CDT/FTC complaint about free-tier data sharing (Wikipedia)confirmed | Features claim 8000+ servers in 46+ countries with city-level selection on Unlimitedprovider claim |