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, 3 devices |
| Trial or refund | 7-day free trial; 45-day money-back when bought direct | 7-day free trial on the monthly and yearly plans |
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 with a trial. 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
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