Alternatives to Hotspot Shield

It can be so frustrating when you want to watch a video on YouTube, only to receive a notice saying viewing is region-restricted for your country. The same goes foraccessing sites available only to certain countries.

Hotspot Shield is a great little tool that creates a Virtual Private Network (VPN) andallows access to geo-restricted websites.

If you’re interested in viewing sites from countries other than the US or are even just looking for a comparable alternative to Hotspot Shield, never fear. Here are some great tools that let you view the content you want, no matter where you are.

Cyberghost VPN

Cyberghost VPN is a nice alternative that lets you access region-limited online services, as well as browse anonymously online. There is a free VPN package available for download on the developer’s website that includes up to 1 GB of traffic per month, as well as access to free servers. There are also other monthly paid plans if you want less wait time and more server availability.

UltraSurf

UltraSurf is well-known as a tool to browse the web anonymously. It can also help you view sites that are otherwise restricted based on your location. Simple to install and use, UltraSurf works automatically on Internet Explorer upon start-up. You can also use it on Firefox, thanks to the handy UltraSurf Firefox Tool.

TunnelBear

Much like Hotspot Shield, TunnelBear enables users to view region-restricted web content securely. By creating an encrypted connection between your computer and a server in the country you want to connect to, TunnelBear essentially lets you experience content on the internet as if you were viewing it from another country. TunnelBear is available in three pricing plans, one of which is free and gives you up to 500MB of free data per month via thedeveloper’s website.

ExPat Shield

ExPat Shield is essentially Hotspot Shield for users who want access to UK-specific content from outside of the United Kingdom. It does this by connecting your IP address to a UK IP. Installation of ExPat Shield can be a bit arduous, but the surfing speed is pretty impressive. In addition to offering simple VPN connectivity, ExPat Shield also has an anonymous browsing option.

Do you have a different favorite program? Let us know in the comments below!