TunnelBear Review- Free VPN Review (Updated 2023)
Although TunnelBear supports torrenting, you can only utilize it properly for p2p with the paid version . I tried downloading many small to medium-sized torrent files, and I was impressed by the overall performance. All in all, since TunnelBear previously did not support torrenting and P2P, it’s at least nice to see that they now support this feature.
TunnelBear VPN Review 2023: Browse Securely With Anonymity
TunnelBear VPN promises privacy, no DNS or WebRTC leaks, and no logging, yet it may lack speed and streaming capabilities. Read more about where this VPN wins and where it fails.
Amanda Scheldt , Author
Steph Trejos , Editor
Last updated Jun 20, 2023
Learn More
On TunnelBear’s website
- Unlimited devices with paid subscription
- Strict no-logs policy
- No Netflix access capabilities
TunnelBear is a strongly encrypted and protected VPN option for those wanting privacy while browsing online regularly. It can also be a great option for those who are often traveling or utilizing public Wi-Fi.
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Virtual private networks (VPNs) provide a lot of value when it comes to protecting your data and privacy while browsing the internet. They can also protect your local device information when you use Wi-Fi in public locations. However, not all VPNs are created equal, and many may not be secure as they appear. Aside from that, many VPN software solutions have high prices associated with them.
One VPN service that offers affordable pricing with guaranteed data protection and privacy is TunnelBear VPN. After testing this software, we feel confident that this VPN delivers on its promises of no logging, secure VPN protocols, and minimal data leaks. Although it does provide a lot of security and privacy, this VPN does not allow for proper streaming on Netflix, which could be a drawback for some users
Continue reading our TunnelBear review to learn how it measured up after the tests we conducted, as well as its privacy features that stand out among many other secure VPN options currently on the market.
In this article
TunnelBear VPN overview
Price | $3.33-$9.99/mo |
Free version | Yes |
Max number of connected devices | Unlimited with paid subscription |
Number of servers | 40+ servers |
VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
No-logs policy | No logs |
Headquarters | Canada |
Netflix access | No |
Details | Get TunnelBear |
Prices as of 6/20/2023.
Who is TunnelBear VPN best for?
- Recommended for users who want guaranteed online VPN privacy.
TunnelBear is a strongly encrypted and protected VPN option for those wanting privacy while browsing online regularly. It can also be a great option for those who are often traveling or utilizing public Wi-Fi.
This VPN can also stretch across a multitude of operating systems to provide more internet protection for you and your family. We found that this VPN provides minimal data leaks from local devices and internet protocol (IP) information, and it offers unlimited connected devices with a paid subscription.
The only real disadvantage to TunnelBear VPN is that it is slow to switch servers and can reduce internet speeds for your household. This VPN also does not work with some streaming services, such as Netflix.
TunnelBear VPN pros and cons
- Unlimited devices with paid subscription
- Strict no-logs policy
- Minimal local IP data leaks
- No Netflix access capabilities
- Slow to switch and connect to a VPN server
TunnelBear VPN features
TunnelBear VPN has a lot of notable features for those looking for better browsing security. For starters, users that opt to pay for one of the premium subscriptions are able to protect an unlimited amount of devices with this VPN. In addition to protecting your data on public Wi-Fi, it can also help you browse the web anonymously without being tracked by websites or advertisers.
Server count and countries
- Multiple servers within 47 countries
You’ll find that TunnelBear VPN has a targeted range of servers within 47 countries to use for its online anonymity. Unfortunately, TunnelBear does not publicly disclose how many direct servers are utilized within those 47 countries. As a result, TunnelBear VPN has limited server options in comparison to competitors like ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
During our testing, we did find that larger countries, such as the U.S. and Canada, had more server connections than other countries. There were 13 servers available in the U.S. and three in Canada. While it emphasizes privacy to its users, these limited servers can make your browsing experience more challenging due to slow internet speeds and high user congestion issues.
No-logs policy and headquarters
- TunnelBear VPN logs policy: No logs
- TunnelBear VPN headquarters: Canada
TunnelBear prides itself on its strict no-logs policy and user anonymity with its VPN. As stated in its user help guide, ”TunnelBear does not keep logs. This means we do not collect any information regarding what you ‘bear’owse while connected to our secure and private VPN.”
Additionally, TunnelBear VPN is headquartered in Canada, which means it falls under the protections of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) developed by the European Union (EU), in addition to its privacy policy. While the GDPR provides a good deal of protection to consumers, it is important to also know that Canada is part of the Five Eyes Alliance. So, TunnelBear could be subjected to internet activity surveying for the purposes of national security efforts.
Many users often choose a VPN with a no-logs policy for privacy from their internet service provider (ISP) regarding their internet usage. If your ISP is able to detect increased browsing activity, it can also cause your internet speeds to throttle.
Being based in Canada can also better protect users in the event of government or law enforcement log requests. While TunnelBear was acquired by McAfee in 2018, the service is still transparent and dedicated to user privacy.
According to its website, “When TunnelBear receives a request from governmental authorities, law enforcement agencies or in connection with a legal proceeding, the request is reviewed by our legal counsel to verify that the request is valid and to determine the appropriate nature and scope of our response.”
Kill switch
Countless VPNs on the market offer a “kill switch” with their product. TunnelBear VPN does include a kill switch, called VigilantBear. The goal of this feature is to stop your traffic automatically if you disconnect or if the VPN connection is disrupted. This ensures your device will not revert to the default internet connection.
TunneBear also has the GhostBear feature, which allows your encryption data connection to appear as regular internet data. These features allow users to stay protected from issues such as censorship or local data leaks. It can be especially beneficial to prevent data theft if your device isn’t protected on a public Wi-Fi network.
Split tunneling
Regular VPN users often value a feature called split tunneling. This feature allows the user to have greater control over which apps are tunneled through their VPN’s secure and encrypted connection. TunnelBear does provide this feature, called SplitBear, to its Android and iOS users.
SplitBear allows you to route some web traffic to your ISP and some through an encrypted VPN tunnel. This feature is important to protect yourself from potential data leaks, but also to use on sites or applications that require your location or local IP access.
Encryption
TunnelBear utilizes multiple end-to-end encryption methods. These encryption types include AES-256 along with a secured hash algorithm (SHA) and the Diffie–Hellman (DH) key exchange for optimal encryption that is nearly unbreakable.
This combination is known to be effective and fast without requiring too much computing power. Additionally, AES-256 has been considered a “military-grade” level of encryption among the technology industries.
VPN protocol
In collaboration with the AES-256 encryption, TunnelBear’s VPN uses WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols. According to the company, the goal of the AES-256 bit encryption and the multiple protocols is for users across multiple platforms to feel secure while browsing the internet freely.
The provider website breaks down how and which operating systems utilize each VPN protocol by stating, “On Windows and iOS, you’ll use either OpenVPN or IKEv2. For macOS and Android, use OpenVPN.”
TunnelBear VPN free plan
Similar to countless other VPN providers on the market today, TunnelBear VPN also offers a free plan. The TunnelBear VPN free version is limited to 500 MB of data per month. While that may be a low amount of data, this is a great free plan to save money on a VPN if you don’t use a high amount of data for streaming.
TunnelBear VPN has also stated on its website that its free VPN plan comes with the same level of encryption that promises no data leaks or logging. However, for those wanting to use their VPN on multiple devices, we recommend purchasing one of their upgraded plans.
TunnelBear VPN test results
In order to see the best of its ability, we looked at multiple factors while testing the TunnelVPN software. For starters, we wanted to see whether or not using a VPN would throttle internet speeds for users.
We also took the time to research whether or not the claims behind this military-grade encryption were accurate. Therefore, we conducted a DNS leak test and a WebRTC leaks test to see if TunnelBear VPN was true to its claims of no data leakage.
Speed tests
- TunnelBear VPN speed test results: Passed
While many other providers can impact your internet speed when utilizing the VPN software, TunnelBear’s VPN ultimately passed the speed test. The test was done on a Windows operating system (OS). We tested non-VPN and VPN-connected internet for North American countries and other countries. For users based in North America, there was minimal lag and a marginal reduction in overall internet speed.
Without the VPN, our internet speeds were approximately 77 Mbps for downloading and 11 Mbps for uploading. Once connected to the VPN, the speeds were reduced to approximately 70 Mbps of download and 10 Mbps of upload. While there was a reduction, the impact was minor and the lag was nearly nonexistent.
Although most of the North American-based servers did not depict a large reduction in internet speeds, this was not the same once we tested TunnelBear servers based internationally. When utilizing the same Windows OS to test the VPN internet speeds in both Australia and the United Kingdom, we saw a larger reduction in the internet speed internally. The further away your local IP address is from the server, the greater the reduction in speeds for both downloading and uploading.
TunnelBear VPN speed test results
Test type | No VPN | US to US | US to EU | US to AU |
Download speed | 77.23 Mbps | 70.73 Mbps | 55.31 Mbps | 24.10 Mbps |
Upload speed | 11.21 Mbps | 10.53 Mbps | 8.06 Mbps | 4.96 Mbps |
Latency (ping) | 12 ms | 19 ms | 126 ms | 206 ms |
Download speed % difference | N/A | 8.79% | 32.69% | 37.34% |
Upload speed % difference | N/A | 6.26% | 125% | 153.6% |
Latency % difference | N/A | 45.16% | 165.22% | 177.98% |
Test results as of 1/24/2023
TunnelBear VPN Netflix tests
- TunnelBear VPN Netflix test results: Failed
Many users like to watch Netflix on their VPN in order to stream shows available in other countries. While this practice is not completely against the terms of use for Netflix, in certain countries it is against data privacy laws to use a VPN while watching Netflix.
When testing this VPN, it originally let us stream a show while connected to a U.K.-based server. However, an alert message kept popping up stating the device was connected to a VPN. It is possible that users can still stream from the U.S. to the U.K., but that message likely will appear regularly due to it being EU-based.
Countries under the legal region of the EU and Australia have banned the use of VPNs while streaming Netflix. The following error message was received while using Canada servers, U.K. servers, and U.S. servers, and the page error was received while using Australia servers.
However, we noted that other TunnelBear users reported the VPN unblocked other streaming services, such as BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video.
TunnelBear VPN Netflix test results
US to US | US to UK | US to Canada | US to Australia | |
Did it work with Netflix? | No | No | No | No |
Test results as of 1/24/2023
DNS leak tests
- TunnelBear VPN DNS leak test results: Passed
A Domain Name System (DNS) is often the website address associated with the server IP address. A DNS leak test signifies that the VPN you are using is not using the private DNS servers provided by them. When there is a DNS leak present within VPN software, this means that the VPN is not fully protecting your information from your ISP DNS queries or from traffic monitoring that may be done on that website.
The TunnelBear VPN that was tested within this review was found to secure DNS information from leaking while using the VPN. The screenshot below shows the DNS leak test results conducted as having no leaks present.
WebRTC leak tests
- TunnelBear VPN WebRTC leak test results: Passed
Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) enables websites and web applications to capture and simultaneously stream audio and video media together or individually. WebRTC also exchanges arbitrary data between browsers without requiring an intermediary to communicate between the web server and browser effectively.
The goal of testing this WebRTC leak is to see if the VPN can provide a seamless stream of audio and video experience for the user without leaking local IP or device information. When we tested TunnelBear VPN, it was found to secure WebRTC information from leaking while using the VPN. The screenshot below shows the WebRTC leak test results were found with no WebRTC leaks present.
TunnelBear VPN from U.S. to Canadian servers WebRTC leak results
TunnelBear VPN compatibility
VPNs provide consumer data and privacy protection. Some of the best VPN vendors offer those security measures across multiple platforms. With TunnelBear VPN, its software is optimized to run efficiently on macOS and Windows, as well as on Android and iOS with the TunnelBear app. It also includes browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
TunnelBear VPN customer support
TunnelBear VPN offers a variety of customer support options. If you are looking for general information about the product or some of its features, you can search for your questions on the TunnelBear help forum. This user support site is also a convenient place to search for answers regarding common technical, account management, or billing issues.
These online user guides are helpful and easy to navigate for the majority of users. In addition to the support pages, they also offer email support for both free and paid users.
TunnelBear VPN prices and subscriptions
TunnelBear offers a free VPN tier that is capped at 500 MB of data per month for all connected devices. They also have upgraded paid tiers that offer unlimited data, devices, and more dedicated customer support. There is a 1-year plan for personal users priced at $4.99/mo, or $39.99 for the first year. For the best cost savings for this VPN provider, we recommend purchasing a 3-year plan for $3.33/mo, which comes out to a $120.00 bill every three years.
Compared to other VPN providers, TunnelBear VPN’s free version provides a lot of data security for no cost. Its paid subscription choices are also around the same price as longer subscriptions from other notable VPN vendors, such as Surfshark or NordVPN. However, where this VPN is pricier is in the month-to-month option for users. For this reason, we recommend a multi-year plan for greater cost savings and ease of payment options.
TunnelBear only takes Google or Apple Pay and most major credit cards as its payment options. Users wanting to use other payment sources, such as PayPal and bitcoin, will not be able to do so directly with TunnelBear.
TunnelBear VPN cost
Best Value
Prices as of 6/20/2023.
TunnelBear does provide a free version for up to 500 MBs of data per month for one device. As stated by its return policy, “returns are offered on a case-by-case basis,” so there is no official money-back guarantee.
TunnelBear VPN plan comparison
Features | Free | Unlimited |
Server count | 40+ servers | 40+ servers |
# of devices | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Device-level encryption | ||
Unlimited data | ||
No-logs policy | ||
Details | Learn More | Learn More |
The free version does not have a device limit. However, data is capped at 500 MB per month for all of your connected devices.
TunnelBear VPN FAQs
Is TunnelBear safe?
Yes, TunnelBear VPN is safe and effective to use for those wanting guaranteed data privacy and security.
Is there a TunnelBear browser extension?
Yes, TunnelBear offers browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
Is NordVPN better than TunnelBear?
Each of these VPNs has pros and cons. NordVPN overall can be more affordable than TunnelBear VPN and it can have a quicker response time when connecting to international VPN servers. For more information to compare these two, we recommend reading our review of NordVPN.
Bottom line: Is TunnelBear a good VPN?
Overall, TunnelBear VPN has a lot to offer users. If you want to have tried and tested privacy and security while browsing online freely, then this VPN is great for that. The free version offers a reliable VPN that gives you all the tools you need to enjoy a safe and secure browsing experience. The only drawback to the free version is the limited data capability.
If you want more features, including more country-specific servers and greater support for all major platforms and devices, then upgrading to the paid version is worth it. While there may be limited server locations, the test results guarantee no logging or data leaks.
Compared to other VPN vendors on the market, what TunnelBear VPN may be lacking with slower connectivity and internet speeds, it makes up for with robust encryption and data security. If you are looking for speed and features, you can always test out another VPN provider like Surfshark, which we have previously tested as well.
TunnelBear Review- Free VPN Review (Updated 2023)
TunnelBear Free VPN is hugely popular among the free VPN community. But is the paid version any better or worth paying the hefty $4.17/mo price? Find out about the pros and cons of TunnelBear in this 2023 review.
- Updated: September 12, 2023
- 8 User Reviews
- Gerald Hunt
Based in | Canada [UNSAFE] |
Price | $4.17/mo |
Servers | Servers (23 Countries) |
Logs | No Logs |
Multi-login | 5 Devices |
Refund | No |
Recommended | Yes |
Website | TunnelBear.com |
TunnelBear is a fairly renowned VPN service provider, yet it’s not because of its paid version that people use this VPN service. In fact, if you’re looking to purchase this VPN service, I highly suggest you stick with the free version.
Even though TunnelBear offers servers in 23 countries, is compatible with iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and browsers, offers 256-bit encryption, and supports various payment methods, it’s still not as good as some other VPN services like ExpressVPN.
TunnelBear is an interactive free VPN for Italy For American Users, having servers in 48+ countries. It allows unlimited device connections at once to help you stream content on as many devices as you want in Italy. It lets you browse and stream content securely, privately, and anonymously on public Wi-Fi.
Not only is TunnelBear incapable of unblocking Netflix, but it’s also headquartered in an unsafe jurisdiction of Canada, is quite expensive, has a sketchy no-logs policy, and works quite slow while torrenting. Overall, after compiling this TunnelBear review, I have given this VPN service 3.4/5.0 stars. checkout more top VPN ratings.
If you wish to check out other VPNs that are free, please check out our list of best free VPN services For American Users.
My Rating Criteria – TunnelBear Review
To test out TunnelBear, I used my 9 step rating criteria mentioned below:
- Jurisdiction – Where is TunnelBear located?
- Security – Is TunnelBear safe?
- Leaks – Does TunnelBear leak IP, DNS & WebRTC?
- Servers– Where are TunnelBear servers located?
- Speed – Is TunnelBear fast?
- Streaming – Does TunnelBear work on Netflix?
- Compatibility– Which devices can I use TunnelBear with?
- Pricing – How much does TunnelBear cost?
- Trustworthiness – Trustpilot Ratings, Reddit Reviews, Support & Audit Report
Jurisdiction – Where is TunnelBear located ?
TunnelBear is unfortunately located in Toronto, Canada’s unsafe jurisdiction, which just so happens to be a member of the much-hated five-eye alliance. If you don’t know, five eyes is an alliance that conducts and shares surveillance information on everyday folks like you and me. To know about the consequences of choosing a VPN located in five eyes, nine eyes, and 14 eyes territories, read our exclusive guide.
Jurisdiction is an essential factor that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Government agencies force many tech companies in Canada to hand over user data, which violates users’ right to privacy. However, if you put aside jurisdiction for a moment, TunnelBear is indeed a quality VPN provider that can go toe-to-toe against top-class VPN providers such as CyberGhost.
So if the jurisdiction doesn’t matter for you much, you can think about getting TunnelBear. We recently compared the two VPN providers. Check out CyberGhost VS TunnelBear comparison for further details.
Security – Is TunnelBear safe ?
Yes, TunnelBear is safe to use . In fact, on the security front, TunnelBear offers a decent array of features. To start, TunnelBear offers 256-military grade encryption. TunnelBear also offers a comprehensive list of tunneling protocols like OpenVPN, IPsec, and IKEv2, which is seriously impressive. Personally, I recommend TunnelBear’s OpenVPN protocol as it is the most secure option you can use.
Does TunnelBear keep logs ?
Yes, TunnelBear actually stores connection logs despite claiming to be a no logs VPN service. Here’s some of the information that TunnelBear keeps logs of:
- Operating system version
- TunnelBear app version
- Active this month
- Total data used this month
However, TunnelBear’s privacy policy is unambiguous, unlike other VPNs. You can see this compared between TunnelBear and Private Internet Access, where PIA has a vague privacy policy that is hard to understand. To know more about different logging and VPN services’ logging policies, read this dedicated guide.
Complies with GDPR
TunnelBear is fully GDPR compliant. In fact, TunnelBear quickly updated its privacy policy in compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation that rolled out on May 25th, 2018. You can read more about it here.
Additional Security Features
Aside from encryption and protocols, TunnelBear also offers a few extra features as well. Let’s start with the Kill Switch, or as TunnelBear likes to call it – VigilantBear:
TunnelBear VigilantBear – (Kill Switch)
This feature works as a Kill Switch and kills your connection to protect your sensitive information. TunnelBear calls this feature VigilantBear. Aside from killing your connection in case of a leak, the VigilantBear feature is also designed to detect IPv6 and DNS leaks. This feature is available on Windows, macOS, and Android.
TunnelBear GhostBear Feature
Now you might be wondering, what is GhostBear in TunnelBear? Well, this feature might sound gimmicky. However, it’s actually quite useful. It basically obfuscates your encrypted VPN connection making it undetectable to governments and ISPs. These features can be beneficial in countries like China or the Middle East, where there is strict online censorship. GhostBear is available for Windows, macOS, and Android, but not for iOS.
Auto Tunnel
The Auto Tunnel feature is designed to automatically connect users to a server location with the lowest pings. This ensures that your data travels through a short distance which in turn offers you fast connection speeds.
SplitBear
SplitBear is a new feature that currently works on Android devices and is essentially a split tunneling feature. This feature lets users control which apps are allowed to pass through TunnelBear’s secure and encrypted tunnel.
TunnelBear Blocker
In addition to the VPN extension, the brand also offers a blocker for Google Chrome. This tool is not a simple adblocker. In fact, it halts many forms of tracking, including Email tracking, Ultrasonic tracking, and fingerprinting. It also allows you to manage your flash player with more efficiency.
Leaks – Does TunnelBear leak IP, DNS & WebRTC?
TunnelBear is actually a leak-proof VPN service. IP leaks can be detrimental to your online security. VPN leaks can give away your location, making your VPN virtually useless.
IP Leak Test
In my test for IP leaks, TunnelBear passed without any issues. Here’s a screenshot showing a Romanian IP address instead of my true IP address.
DNS Leak Test
As for the DNS leak test, I connected to a US server this time. From the screenshot below, you can see that my original IP address is nowhere to be seen:
WebRTC Leak Test
Lastly, I also checked for WebRTC leaks using the US server, and TunnelBear passed without leaking. Check out the screenshot:
Bonus: App File Check
Although TunnelBear passed all my leaks tests without any issues, I wanted to see whether the TunnelBear apps contained any hidden malware. Luckily, the results of the test came up clean. No surprise since TunnelBear is actually owned by the Antivirus giant – McAfee.
For more information about IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks, read our VPN leak test guide.
Servers – Where are TunnelBear servers located?
TunnelBear servers are located across 23 countries around the world. Some of the locations include the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, Australia, France, Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Hong Kong, and many more.
Is TunnelBear good for Torrenting?
Although TunnelBear supports torrenting, you can only utilize it properly for p2p with the paid version . I tried downloading many small to medium-sized torrent files, and I was impressed by the overall performance. All in all, since TunnelBear previously did not support torrenting and P2P, it’s at least nice to see that they now support this feature.
Does TunnelBear work in China?
Yes, at the moment, TunnelBear works in China . Not only does TunnelBear offer a server in Hong Kong that can be used to access Chinese content, but it also supports the GhostBear obfuscation feature to bypass the Great Firewall (GFW). That being said, there’s no telling whether the service will continue to work in the future or not as The People’s Republic of China has some of the harshest censorship regulations.
Speed – Is TunnelBear fast?
When it comes to speeds, TunnelBear is quite fast. When conducting my TunnelBear speed test, I was quite surprised by the speed test results. Here’s a brief table with all the speed test results compiled for your convenience.
Server location | Download speed | Upload speed | Pings |
---|---|---|---|
Australia | 75.5 Mbps | 69.8 Mbps | 233 ms |
Canada | 67 Mbps | 74.44 Mbps | 301 ms |
France | 66.2 Mbps | 82.9 Mbps | 296 ms |
India | 72.6 Mbps | 83.77 Mbps | 372 ms |
Netherlands | 75.89 Mbps | 80.4 Mbps | 310 ms |
Singapore | 67.2 Mbps | 73.3 Mbps | 122 ms |
Switzerland | 52 Mbps | 72.3 Mbps | 314 ms |
United Kingdom | 72.45 Mbps | 79 Mbps | 277 ms |
United States | 78.45 Mbps | 81.5 Mbps | 286 ms |
Streaming – Does TunnelBear work on Netflix ?
TunnelBear worked with US Netflix. We didn’t have much luck with other regional libraries, but on our second attempt, we could unblock Netflix US with TunnelBear.
TunnelBear previously didn’t work with Netflix US, but now it works. Although you might have to try a few servers before getting access.
For more information, see our guide on TunnelBear for Netflix.
Does TunnelBear work with Hulu & Other Streaming Services?
As for BBC iPlayer and other geo-restricted streaming services like Hulu and Disney plus, TunnelBear did manage to unblock these services. However, the performance was quite laggy and below average.
Compatibility – Which devices can I use with TunnelBear ?
In terms of compatibility, TunnelBear supports only a handful of devices. From TunnelBear’s official website, you can only use TunnelBear on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and browsers (Chrome, Firefox & Opera). It’s a great free VPN for PC and is also one of the best free VPNs for UK For American Users users as well.. TunnelBear currently doesn’t support Kindle/eReaders, Windows mobile phones, Apple TV, Android TV, gaming consoles, and even modems/routers.
You can set up TunnelBear for Kodi or use it with Roku devices (through manual configuration). This can come in handy if you desire to use the VPN while using these apps/devices.
If you’re having problems with the VPN, you can find some easy fixes in this TunnelBear not working guide.
TunnelBear for Windows
The TunnelBear Windows client is attractive and can be navigated without any difficulty. It is uncomplicated and gets the job done without any complex menus or configurations.
The client allows you to connect with different server locations through its map. You can access servers from 23 different countries by simply clicking on their respective tunnels.
The client allows you to toggle between GhostBear, VigilantBear, and other security features. It does not confuse you with a plethora of options but does allow you to configure the software as per your liking.
TunnelBear for macOS
Similar to the Windows app, the macOS app of TunnelBear is just as good. Server selection is quite snappy, and everything just works effortlessly. Here’s how the user interface looks like:
TunnelBear for Android
As I have explained above, this VPN has a sleek app for Android OS. I used the app myself, and my experience was enjoyable.
Like the Windows app, the Android app of TunnelBear allows you to easily select different servers by navigating through a simple and intuitive map.
TunnelBear for iOS
The iOS version of TunnelBear is quite good. The app is lightweight and works without any glitches. Not only that, but I also really like the subtle animations throughout the app.
Pricing – How much does TunnelBear cost ?
TunnelBear charges $4.17/mo for a 2-year plan which is rather expensive. In comparison, Surfshark’s 24-month plan only costs $1.99/mo.
At present, it offers three paid plans and one absolutely free plan, which more or less works as a TunnelBear Free Trial:
- 1-Month – ($9.99/mo)
- 1-Year – ($4.99/mo)
- 2-Year ($4.17/mo)
Although quite expensive, all paid subscription plans allow you to secure five devices simultaneously, which is still somewhat good. However, there is no refund policy, so if you want to cancel TunnelBear, there’s no guarantee you will get your money back. This is why it would be wise to use the free version first and only proceed with the paid subscription if you’re delighted with it.
Not a clear money-back policy is a big drawback as most of the top-tier VPN provider like NordVPN clearly state the money-back policy on their websites, which increase the trust level of the potential customers. However, despite this drawback, TunnelBear still performs toe-to-toe with the likes of NordVPN in many different VPN factors. You can view its performance in our TunnelBear VS NordVPN.
Payment Methods
TunnelBear accepts all major payment methods except for PayPal. You can purchase TunnelBear through either VISA, Master Card, American Express, or Bitcoin.
Is TunnelBear really free?
Yes, TunnelBear is actually free. You don’t need to provide any credit card details and still use the service for free. Nevertheless, TunnelBear free plan has some limitations. You only get 500 MB of data per month, which is enough for casual browsing but will run out quickly if you stream movies or download torrents. That said, you can get an additional 1 GB of data free if you just Tweet about TunnelBear.
One amazing feature about TunnelBear’s free version is that it offers similar server access to both premium and free users. For example, on its free version, you get access to servers in France, the US, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, and even Singapore. Therefore, it’s one of the best free VPN for Singapore.
Refund Policy
TunnelBear does not offer any refunds . Unlike ExpressVPN or even Surfshark, as of that matter that offers 30-days refunds, TunnelBear offers no designated money-back guarantee. That being said, TunnelBear may offer refunds on a certain basis. However, it’s not clear what these basics are. If you’re just looking to try out TunnelBear, I highly suggest trying the free version rather than purchasing the premium subscription.
Trustworthiness – Trustpilot Ratings, Reddit Reviews, Customer Support & Audit Report
On Trustpilot, TunnelBear has an average 2.8 rating. Out of 59 user reviews, 27% of users have rated the service as excellent, and 44% of users have rated TunnelBear as bad. From Trustpilot reviews, it’s clear that people generally don’t like this VPN service.
TunnelBear Review Reddit
Although the paid version of TunnelBear is not for me, I still wanted to see what Reddit has to say about TunnelBear. Here are a couple of comments praising TunnelBear VPN:
Customer Support
When I reviewed TunnelBear, I found its customer support system to be weak. There’s no live chat support option at all, which is a major disappointment. At present, TunnelBear is handing all user queries through their “Help” section.
The help page consists of various subcategories, which I found to be quite extensive.
- Announcements
- Getting Started
- Billing & Payments
- Troubleshooting
- TunnelBear for Teams
- Contact Us
Audit Report
Unlike many other VPNs, TunnelBear is extremely forthcoming about its business. This is the reason why the VPN organizes an independent audit of its service by a third party.
One must commend the providers for taking this extra step to bring their userbase into confidence. You can read the 2018 audit report right here.
Comparison between ExpressVPN and TunnelBear
So far in this TunnelBear review, I’m not satisfied with the service. If you’re like me and want something else, here’s a brief comparison between ExpressVPN and Tunnelbear:
Features | ExpressVPN | TunnelBear |
---|---|---|
Price | $6.67/mo (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan) | $4.17/mo |
Servers | 3000+ in 94 Countries | Servers in 23 Countries |
Compatibility | All Devices | Windows, Android & iOS |
Jurisdiction | The British Virgin Islands | Canada |
Logging Policy | Zero Log | Does not keep logs |
Customer Support | Live Chat & Email Support | Forum & Email Ticketing |
Trust Pilot Score | 4.6 | 2.8 |
Website | EXPRESSVPN | TUNNELBEAR |
Alternatives to TunnelBear
- Avast VPN Review
- ExpressVPN Review
- Private Internet Access Review
- PureVPN Review
- Windscribe Review
- AVG VPN Review
- NordVPN Review
- Opera VPN review
Do I Recommend TunnelBear?
Yes, but only the free version of TunnelBear .
After concluding this TunnelBear, It’s clear that the service is good but not flawless. Even though TunnelBear works with Hulu and Torrenting, offers decent security features, and doesn’t leak, I would suggest opting for ExpressVPN rather than TunnelBear.
Let’s not forget that Tunnelbear is one of the recommended free VPNs in the world. It is the best free VPN in the Philippines For American Users and in many other countries.
Well, for one, TunnelBear is quite expensive. Not only that, but Tunnelbear is also headquartered in an unsafe jurisdiction, stores logs, offers no refunds and live chat, supports a handful of devices, and has an average Trustpilot rating. Overall, I have given this VPN service a 3.4/5.0 stars rating in this TunnelBear review.
If you want to know about VPNs other than TunnelBear Review, check out our unbiased VPN reviews.
Gerald Hunt
Gerald Hunt’s Biography :
Gerald is a steadfast believer in the inviolable right of every citizen to freedom of expression. Writing about online privacy and security without any regard for political correctness is his way to counter the instruments threatening our liberty. In his spare time, he loves to binge watch Netflix, anime and play video games.
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