Pricing, Ease of Use & Safety

TunnelBear’s distinctive, bear-themed method to its VPN service units it other than the extra technical and standardized implementations of different VPNs. TunnelBear is obtainable on Home windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox and Edge, providing 5,000+ servers, limitless system connections and a subscription possibility for groups and organizations.

Regardless of its enjoyable design and accessibility, TunnelBear’s slower speeds and buggy app are causes for concern. As well as, its server fleet solely spans 47 international locations.

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TunnelBear VPN pricing

TunnelBear presents TunnelBear Limitless at a reduced price of $3.33 per 30 days. When you go for the TunnelBear Limitless paid plan, this discounted annual price is a steal. Nonetheless, as a result of it is a sale provide, costs might differ sooner or later.

I might recommend attempting TunnelBear’s free model earlier than buying a subscription. Whereas information is capped at 2GB and a few options are omitted, the free model lets you get a really feel for TunnelBear’s desktop VPN implementation.

For enterprise house owners, TunnelBear Groups is a sensible possibility. You get all of TunnelBear’s paid options along with extra team-based add-ons, equivalent to centralized billing and account supervisor instruments.

TunnelBear VPN free model

One in all TunnelBear’s standout options is having a devoted free model of its VPN. These concerned about attempting the service don’t have to fret about offering fee info.

Nonetheless, there are notable variations between the free and paid variations. The free model has a 2GB information cap that resets each month. So, realistically talking, free customers will solely have the ability to check out the VPN for round a day or two earlier than information runs out.

As well as, solely paid customers will have the ability to choose city-designated servers on TunnelBear’s community. Free customers are solely ready to select from accessible international locations (Determine A).

Determine A

Regardless of this, TunnelBear states that their free and paid variations don’t have any distinction performance-wise, making the free model a viable method to take a look at if the VPN is best for you.

Safety and privateness: Is TunnelBear VPN safe?

Specs-wise, TunnelBear has all of the requisites wanted for a contemporary VPN to be thought-about safe. It has OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 — the three industry-standard safety protocols we wish in a VPN. It additionally makes use of AES 256 encryption, features a kill change (VigilantBear) and break up tunneling (SplitBear).

TunnelBear has a no-logs coverage, which states that it doesn’t gather any consumer’s searching info, IP addresses, DNS queries and functions used whereas related to the VPN.

TunnelBear additionally has a formidable monitor document of present process annual unbiased testing. Since 2016, TunnelBear has accomplished 5 annual unbiased safety audits. The newest third-party audit was finished in 2021 by Cure53. This dedication to annual testing is a particular plus for customers who worth a VPN that’s clear and keen to be audited.

On the flipside, there are two potential causes of concern with TunnelBear VPN. The primary is that throughout the fifth annual audit, Cure53 found ” … 4 low, 9 medium, three excessive, and three critical-risk vulnerabilities.” TunnelBear stated their group was capable of rapidly resolve the vulnerabilities after Cure53’s report — and I personally admire their candidness on the matter.

Some individuals can also be cautious of TunnelBear being primarily based in Canada, one of many members of the 5 Eyes intelligence alliance, together with Australia, New Zealand, the U.Okay. and the U.S. If authorities intervention is one thing you’re attempting to keep away from, TunnelBear might not be for you.

General, TunnelBear’s security measures, transparency and annual unbiased testing make it a safe and reliable VPN in 2023.

Key options of TunnelBear VPN

TunnelBear has just a few key options that set it other than different VPNs. Let’s take a look at 4 specifically that it’s best to find out about.

Newbie-friendly interface

In comparison with different VPNs, TunnelBear has a really user-friendly, bear-themed interface. Servers are represented by tunnels, and while you join or change to a brand new tunnel, a bear will pop up (Determine B) from contained in the tunnel — therefore the identify, TunnelBear.

Determine B

The bear theme is enjoyable and foregoes the very technical method that almost all safety software program often have. If that is your first VPN, this whimsy consumer interface might make studying the software program much less complicated. The navigation expertise itself can also be very intuitive, with most options or choices being positioned the place you’d anticipate them.

For customers which are solely beginning to discover VPNs and desire a much less daunting expertise, TunnelBear generally is a good decide.

TunnelBear Groups

TunnelBear Groups (Determine C) is their model of group accounts for his or her VPN subscription. It nets customers the paid service and extra options tailor-made to companies equivalent to centralized group billing; the flexibility so as to add/take away customers and edit billing data from an admin account; and an auto-join function that routinely enrolls customers with a particular electronic mail tackle.

Determine C

When you’re a small enterprise fascinated by getting a VPN to your workflow, TunnelBear Groups presents a handy possibility that reduces a variety of legwork usually related to establishing a VPN for a company or enterprise.

Limitless system connections

TunnelBear VPN permits for an infinite variety of simultaneous system connections to at least one subscription. Which means any mixture of computer systems, smartphones or browsers might be protected by way of a TunnelBear server at no further value.

This can be a significant function on condition that a few of the high VPN suppliers solely provide round 5 to eight simultaneous connections with one account. The power to attach an infinite variety of gadgets offers customers with added worth, eliminating the necessity to buy further connections.

Velocity and efficiency: How briskly is TunnelBear VPN?

Efficiency-wise, my expertise with TunnelBear wasn’t nice. Throughout my first day of testing the VPN, I couldn’t set up a connection utilizing TunnelBear’s “quickest” server connection possibility (Determine D). It was irritating because the VPN was capable of finding the server closest to me — however was nonetheless not ready to hook up with it reliably.

Determine D

Even after I uninstalled and reinstalled the VPN, the difficulty remained. Once I was capable of join, it took virtually three minutes to take action; and after I disconnected, it was virtually inconceivable to re-establish the connection. What’s bizarre is that after I related to a server farther away from my location, I had no points.

Once I was related, the speeds have been slower in comparison with different VPNs. Throughout my testing, I used TunnelBear primarily to do work in Google Workspace apps equivalent to Drive and Docs, browse social media and analysis with a number of tabs open. Webpages appeared to take a bit extra time to load and the connection was unstable. 1080p YouTube movies additionally had extra buffering time than anticipated whereas related to the VPN.

A day after my horrible expertise with TunnelBear’s quickest server function, the difficulty appeared to have resolved itself. I used to be ready to hook up with the server nearest to my location and disconnect/reconnect with none subject. The slower speeds, nevertheless, endured even when the connection bug appeared to have been fastened.

TunnelBear carried out decently by way of uploads and obtain speeds. In my velocity take a look at, TunnelBear had a lower of 38.46% for downloads and 11.64% for uploads — with the add velocity being one of many sooner speeds I’ve recorded in comparison with different VPNs.

TunnelBear additionally carried out effectively on the DNS leak safety entrance. After a number of rounds of testing by way of a public DNS leak device, I received zero leaks even whereas I used completely different areas.

In fact, VPN velocity and efficiency will differ relying on elements equivalent to your location, your web service supplier, server site visitors and your machine. Nonetheless, my testing confirmed that TunnelBear might provide you with a buggy and slower expertise in comparison with different VPN suppliers accessible right this moment.

TunnelBear VPN servers and areas

TunnelBear presents round 5,000+ servers from 47 international locations worldwide, placing TunnelBear’s server fleet within the middle-to-upper vary in opposition to the competitors. That is helpful for many who need flexibility by way of server alternative.

Whereas TunnelBear’s server depend is on the upper finish, I would favor a extra geographically numerous community. At 47 international locations, TunnelBear has some catching as much as do as different VPNs are providing round 60 to even 100+ international locations of their server unfold. So if you happen to’re particularly on the lookout for a VPN to unblock geo-restricted content material, TunnelBear might not be the optimum alternative.

I like that TunnelBear options P2P-friendly servers particularly optimized for duties equivalent to torrenting and file sharing.

Customer support

Customer support (Determine E) is one other facet the place TunnelBear might see some enchancment. Particularly, I consider TunnelBear ought to provide 24/7 dwell chat. As a result of VPNs can have surprising technical points, lots of the high suppliers provide a service for answering questions and troubleshooting.

Determine E

TunnelBear’s Assist Web page. Picture: TunnelBear

For the time being, TunnelBear has an online kind and electronic mail, on-line guides, and an AI chatbot (Determine F) referred to as RoboCub for buyer assist.

Determine F

In equity to TunnelBear, RoboCub was capable of present pretty useful solutions after I requested just a few questions.

TunnelBear VPN execs

• Newbie-friendly UI.
• Free model.
• Reasonably priced one-year plan (fall sale).
• Annual unbiased audits.
• Limitless system connections.
• TunnelBear Groups for companies.

TunnelBear VPN cons

• Buggy app expertise.
• Sluggish real-world velocity.
• Connection might be unstable.
• Smaller nation depend for its servers.
• Vulnerabilities in most up-to-date audit.

Who’s TunnelBear finest for?

TunnelBear is finest for customers who desire a beginner-friendly VPN that doesn’t have an uber-technical interface. Its bear-themed UI is a enjoyable tackle a VPN desktop app, particularly if you happen to’re not a tech-savvy consumer or are simply beginning to get acquainted with VPNs. Its devoted free model additionally offers customers entry to the service with out having to spend any cash.

As well as, TunnelBear’s Groups subscription generally is a sensible alternative for small companies who need a simple method to handle a single VPN for his or her group.

Sadly, TunnelBear VPN’s lower than preferrred efficiency and velocity forestall it from being a high suggestion for individuals who fall outdoors these classes.

If TunnelBear VPN isn’t preferrred for you, take a look at these options

When you discover that TunnelBear isn’t one of the best match, we’ve listed comparable VPNs that would provide a greater expertise.

ExpressVPN

When you’re on the lookout for a VPN with an easy-to-use interface and quick efficiency, ExpressVPN is among the finest choices out there. It has robust security measures, servers throughout 90 international locations, and a password supervisor included at no further value.

Proton VPN

Proton VPN is a superb decide if you happen to’re on the lookout for a VPN that operates in a privacy-friendly nation. Primarily based in Switzerland, it complies with the nation’s robust privateness legal guidelines that supply a further layer of safety to your information. Proton VPN additionally has a free model with no information cap.

Personal Web Entry

Customers who desire a huge server suite ought to contemplate Personal Web Entry VPN. PIA reportedly has round 10,000 to 35,000 servers throughout 91 counties, making it a wise alternative if you happen to plan to make use of a VPN to unblock content material. Its Home windows app can also be one of many extra customizable VPN functions accessible right this moment.

Evaluation methodology

My overview of TunnelBear VPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its security measures, value and real-world efficiency. I had hands-on expertise with TunnelBear by way of its free Home windows software, and I supplemented my findings with consumer testimonials and respected critiques.

For obtain and add speeds, I ran TunnelBear by way of Ookla’s public Speedtest. For DNS leak safety, I examined TunnelBear a number of occasions utilizing DNSLeakTest.

Lastly, I scored TunnelBear VPN on numerous parts, together with its safety protocols and value, primarily based on an inside algorithm to get a ranking of three.1 out of 5 stars. I checked out TunnelBear VPN each by itself and in relation to different VPN options out there right this moment.

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