Hotspot Shield Free
- Free data
- “Unlimited”their site; reviews report a daily cap
- Devices
- 1
- Locations
- USonly
- Ads
- Yes
Teal Free
- Free data
- 500 MBevery day, written down
- Devices
- 2
- Locations
- 1Lithuania
- Ads
- None
Pick Hotspot Shield Free if
You specifically need a free US address and do not mind ads.
Pick Teal Free if
No ads, two devices, and a limit that is written down.
Side by side
Teal VPN figures are the plan as sold on 13 October 2026; the other column is taken from the other company’s own website or Google Play listing on the same day, with the pages listed under References. Free plans change; if you see a difference, tell us at support@tealvpn.com and we will correct it.
| Feature | Hotspot Shield Free | Teal Free |
|---|---|---|
| Ads | Yes: “We’re ad supported” | None |
| Free data | Hotspot Shield’s site says “unlimited bandwidth” for Basic; independent reviews report a daily limit and a speed cap, which the site does not state | 500 MB a day, resets every day |
| Locations on the free plan | US-based servers | One location: Lithuania |
| Choose your location | No | No (one location on Free; every location on Pro) |
| Devices | 1 | 2 |
| Browsing logs | “Doesn’t log your browsing activity”; last transparency report on the page dated 2018 | No browsing logs, no stored connection IP; transparency page kept current |
| Wi‑Fi that filters VPNs | Proprietary protocol | Teal Secure obfuscation plus automatic route switching |
| Apps | Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Chrome, TV, routers | Android, Android TV, Windows, Mac, Linux; iPhone in testing |
| Paid plan | Premium: $1.99 a month to start, renews at $12.99 a month; 10 devices, 80+ countries | Pro: $7.99 a month, $24 for 6 months, $36 a year; every Teal location, 10 devices on the yearly plan |
| Trial or refund | 7-day free trial; 45-day money-back when bought direct | 30-day money-back guarantee, and the free plan has no time limit |
Where Teal Free is the better choice
No ads. Hotspot Shield says plainly that its free plan is paid for by ads; Teal is paid for by Pro subscribers.
Two devices instead of one.
A stated, honest limit. 500 MB a day, written on every page, instead of “unlimited” on the site and a cap reported by reviewers.
Networks that filter VPN traffic: obfuscation and automatic route switching are the core of the app, on the free plan too.
A current transparency page that lists what the account keeps.
Where Hotspot Shield Free is the better choice
A US address for free. Hotspot Shield’s free servers are in the United States, which is what some people want a free VPN for. Teal Free exits in Lithuania; US locations are on Teal Pro.
More platforms today: iPhone, a Chrome extension and router support. Hotspot Shield has been around since 2008 and belongs to a large company, Aura.
Where they are the same
Both say they do not log browsing. Both have a free plan you can use indefinitely and a paid plan. Both run on Android, Windows, Mac and TV.
Neither makes you anonymous or protects an account you sign into.
How to pick
Choose Hotspot Shield Free if you specifically need a free US address and do not mind ads.
Choose Teal Free if you want no ads, two devices and a limit that is written down.
If you pay: Hotspot Shield Premium renews at $12.99 a month after the introductory price; Teal Pro is $7.99 month to month or $3 a month on the yearly plan.
Keep reading
References
- Hotspot Shield: Free VPN page (ad supported, US-based servers, 1 device, Premium $1.99 then $12.99 a month), read 13 October 2026
- Hotspot Shield on Google Play (ad-supported free version, 7-day Premium trial, 10 devices, 80+ countries), read 13 October 2026
- Tom’s Guide: Hotspot Shield review (reports a 500 MB daily limit, a 2 Mbps cap and one US location on the free plan)
- Teal VPN: the Free plan
- Teal VPN: what we keep and what we do not
Need help with Teal? Contact support.