Disclosure: VPNFin is reader-supported. If you buy a VPN through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects our ratings — here’s our full disclosure.
Hotspot Shield price options span a free plan, Premium and Premium Family. Security.org lists Premium at $12.99 a month or $7.99 a month billed yearly, and Premium Family at $19.99 a month or $11.99 a month yearly. Top10VPN quotes Premium from $2.99 a month over 36 months, and Gizmodo describes a cheap opening year followed by a costly renewal. A 45-day money-back guarantee and a seven-day trial help you test first. Our guide to VPN Family Plans covers separate accounts or one shared account.
This guide covers each plan, the renewal question and how it compares.
The Plans
Free: one location, adverts on mobile, unlimited data, Top10VPN notes. Premium: all locations and features, $12.99 monthly or $7.99 a month yearly. Premium Family: more devices for a household, $19.99 monthly or $11.99 a month yearly. Device counts differ by source, five or ten for Premium, so check the plan page.
Long Plans and Renewal
Top10VPN’s lowest price, $2.99 a month, applies to a 36-month term, and Gizmodo quotes $2.42 a month for an opening year. Gizmodo also flags a costly renewal. Plan for the renewal price, and set a reminder before the first term ends. Our renewal price guide explains how first-term deals compare.
Trying Before You Pay
The free plan needs no card. A seven-day Premium trial needs payment details and bills automatically unless cancelled, as our Hotspot Shield free trial guide explains. The 45-day guarantee covers paid plans.
What the Money Buys
Premium unlocks Hydra, all locations and streaming servers. Security.org reached Netflix, Max, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and Crunchyroll, though not Disney+. PCWelt found the kill switch works only with Hydra. There is no port forwarding, our port forwarding guide notes.
How Hotspot Shield Price Compares
Our renewal table lists CyberGhost at $56.94 a year, Surfshark at about $79 and NordVPN Basic at $139.08 after the first term. Hotspot Shield’s yearly Premium at $7.99 a month works out to about $96 a year. NordVPN and Surfshark share an owner, Nord Security.
| Provider | Renewal price | Per month | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $139.08/yr | ~$11.59 | Basic |
| Surfshark | ~$79/yr | ~$6.58 | Starter |
| ExpressVPN | $99.95/yr | ~$8.33 | Basic |
| CyberGhost | $56.94/yr | ~$4.75 | 2-year |
| PureVPN | $47.95/yr | ~$4.00 | Standard, 2-year (1-year renews $57.95) |
| IPVanish | $89.99/yr | ~$7.50 | Essential |
| Windscribe | ~$69/yr | ~$5.75 | Pro |
| Proton VPN | ~$83.88/yr | ~$6.99 | VPN Plus |
| Mullvad | ~$65/yr | ~$5.40 | flat, no tiers |
| Norton VPN | $79.99/yr | ~$6.67 | Standard |
| Hotspot Shield | ~$95.99/yr | ~$8.00 | Premium annual |
| Astrill | $300 every 2 yrs | ~$12.50 | 2-year, same at renewal |
Hotspot Shield Price for Families
Premium Family costs $19.99 a month or $11.99 a month yearly, Security.org lists, for more devices in a household. If you only need a few devices, Premium is cheaper; count yours first.
Monthly or Long Term?
Monthly Premium at $12.99 suits a short trip. Anyone staying longer pays far less per month on yearly or 36-month terms, as long as the renewal price is acceptable. The 45-day guarantee covers longer plans too.
Free Plan Value
The free plan offers one location and adverts on mobile, with unlimited data, Top10VPN notes. It suits light privacy use; our Hotspot Shield free guide covers the limits.
Seasonal Deals
Sales mostly lower the first-term price, not the renewal. Our VPN Black Friday guide covers timing. Check the renewal line on any deal.
Is the Hotspot Shield Price Worth It?
For fast Hydra connections and streaming beyond Disney+, the Hotspot Shield price is reasonable on a long first term. Month to month, $12.99 is high, and the renewal needs watching. Weigh the missing port forwarding if you torrent.
Payment and Refunds
Buy on Hotspot Shield’s site so the 45-day guarantee applies; app store purchases follow the store’s rules. Keep the order email until the guarantee period passes. Our guide to cancelling and refunds covers the steps.
Hotspot Shield Price vs Value
Gizmodo’s October 2026 round found Prime Video, Netflix Japan, ITV and HBO Max blocked Hotspot Shield. If one service matters most, check it during the trial or guarantee before committing to a long term.
Devices per Plan
Sources disagree on Premium’s device count: Gizmodo lists 10, Impulsec’s table five. Check the current plan page before buying for a household, or choose Premium Family.
Quick Check
At checkout, note three numbers: the first-term price, the renewal price and the renewal date. Those decide what the Hotspot Shield price really is over two or three years.
Cancelling Auto-Renewal
Turn off auto-renewal in your account soon after buying if you want to decide later, then turn it back on if you stay. That avoids an unexpected renewal at the higher price.
Alternatives on Price
Our NordVPN vs Hotspot Shield and Surfshark vs Hotspot Shield pages compare two rivals on price and features.
Currency and Taxes
Prices above are in US dollars before local taxes. Checkout may show a different currency or add VAT where you live, so compare the final total.
Gift and Business Plans
Check Hotspot Shield’s site for any business or gift options; this guide covers personal plans only.
Who Pays Least
Those willing to commit to 36 months pay least per month. Short-term users pay most, so the trial and free plan matter for them. For a head-to-head, see our IPVanish vs Hotspot Shield comparison.
Hotspot Shield’s Record
Hotspot Shield belongs to Point Wild. Sources disagree on its audits: Security.org describes its no-logs policy as audited, while our table records an audit of its protocol. Our Hotspot Shield review covers the details.
How We Research
This page draws on Security.org’s, Top10VPN’s and Gizmodo’s 2026 Hotspot Shield coverage, PCWelt, Capterra and our renewal and refund tables. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 7 October 2026. The main source we relied on is Top10VPN’s Hotspot Shield review. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Hotspot Shield Price FAQ
Premium is $12.99 a month or $7.99 a month yearly, per Security.org.
Top10VPN quotes $2.99 a month over 36 months.
$19.99 a month or $11.99 a month yearly, per Security.org.
Yes, 45 days on paid plans.
Yes, with one location and adverts on mobile.
The Verdict
Hotspot Shield price is low on long first terms and high month to month, with a renewal to watch. Use the free plan or trial first, and set a renewal reminder.