TunnelBear VPN
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TunnelBear VPN Review for 2024

Can an Adorable VPN Actually Be Great?

Michael Benninger

by Michael Benninger
Columnist for IT Security

digitalwelt logo

Most modern VPNs employ a similar, sleek aesthetic when it comes to their brand marketing and their software’s user interface. TunnerBear, on the other hand, takes an entirely different approach and instead embraces a playful bear-centric theme throughout the company’s website and apps.

But does the lightheartedness of this brand mean you can’t take it seriously when it comes to privacy and security? In this TunnelBear review, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.

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TunnelBear VPN
TunnelBear VPN
Review 4.8
from $4.17

What is TunnelBear?

So what is TunnelBear? TunnelBear is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider founded in Toronto, Canada, in 2011. TunnelBear stands out amid a sea of serious VPNs by making it fun and easy to protect your privacy. The interface is incredibly approachable, making it ideal for VPN virgins. And the service also provides peace of mind because the company’s privacy policy is independently audited on an annual basis.

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1 CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN
Review 5.0
from $2.19
The once-in-a-lifetime VPN software CyberGhost is one of the most well-known and fastest on the market. It is also known as the VPN software with the best connectivity to streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO and many more.
2 NordVPN
NordVPN
Review 4.9
from $3.30
NordVPN is the unbeatable #1 VPN software on the market. The company from Panama uses their local legal situation that no data has to be stored by law. They are so confident in the quality of their software that they even offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3 ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
Review 4.9
from $6.67
ExpressVPN is officially government-proof: A recent incident lead to the fact that some of the ExpressVPN servers were seized by the government, and the investigation had to come to hard stop, after intelligence officers realized that there was no data on the servers.

TunnelBear offers many things its competitors don’t, including a free tier and the ability to pay for the premium service with Bitcoin. TunnelBear also has a sibling-app, RememBear, that safely stores passwords.

In 2018, TunnelBear was acquired by McAfee, a security software giant headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Aspects of TunnelBear’s technology have been incorporated into McAfee’s suite of services, but the Canadian-based team continues to operate independently as well.

Here’s a rundown of the most important things you need to know about TunnelBear VPN:

  • Free version of includes 500MB of data transfer each month.
  • Has one of the most transparent and readable privacy policies in the industry.
  • Company is based in Toronto, Canada, but is owned by U.S.-based McAfee.
  • Works with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and some Linux distributions.
  • Browser extensions for available for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.
  • Company operates an unknown number of dedicated servers in more than 20 countries.
  • Uses AES-256 encryption on apps and AES-128 encryption on extensions.
  • One of the few VPN providers to publish annual third-party audits.
  • Uses OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec security protocols.
  • Supports up to five simultaneous connections.
  • Company offers email support and online forums but no chat or phone support.
  • Allows for the unrestricted use of P2P file sharing and torrenting programs.
  • Has a limited feature set and is compatible with fewer services than other VPNs.
  • Has far fewer international servers than other big-name VPN providers.
  • Accepts payments via Bitcoin but only for annual subscriptions.
  • Cannot be used to access Netflix outside of your region.
  • Company doesn’t offer refunds or money-back guarantees, except in special cases.

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How Safe is TunnelBear?

Privacy and security are of paramount importance when it comes to VPNs. So is TunnelBear safe? Well, not only is Tunnelbear safe, but it also has among the best privacy policies we’ve ever seen.

The company clearly spells out all of its privacy practices in plain English, stating that TunnelBear does not keep logs of user activity nor does it sell any information about customers. In a world where shady privacy policies abound, TunnelBear offers a breath of fresh air.

How to Use TunnelBear

Getting started with TunnelBear is as easy as it gets, thanks in large part to the software’s amusing illustrations of bears. To install TunnelBear, download the corresponding app for your operating system. The first time you run the app, you’ll be required to create an account using an email address.

After verifying the email address, you’re good to go with the TunnelBear Free tier. If you want unlimited data transfer, however, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid plan with a credit card or Bitcoin.

If you’re using a Chromebook, you can either download the TunnelBear Chrome extension, or you can install the Android app. Sideloading Android apps onto a Chromebook can be tricky and might violate your terms of service, but there’s a good reason to do it. The Android app masks all of your internet activity no matter which apps you’re using, whereas the Chrome extension only masks what happens in your web browser.

Unique TunnelBear VPN Features

Although TunnelBear’s feature set is a bit lightweight compared to some of the most sophisticated VPNs, the service does have a handful of advanced features — each of which plays into the brand’s bear-centric theme. Here’s a look at these three features:

  • VigilantBear
    This killswitch ensures you never transmit data over an unsecured network.
  • SplitBear
    Use this split-tunneling feature to control which apps use a VPN and which don’t.
  • GhostBear
    This makes all of your internet activity look completely normal to your ISP.

TunnelBear Speed & Connectivity Review

VPN Review

4.8 out of 5

In the tests we ran while connected to TunnelBear’s servers, we witnessed seriously fast speeds on several servers. Even while we were connected to the TunnelBear free VPN, the connection speeds were far faster than other VPNs we’ve tested. There were a few moments when we observed the slightest bit of latency, but in general, we were very impressed with TunnelBear’s connection speed.

TunnelBear VPN Server Information

VPN Review

4.7 out of 5

VPN providers are often judged based on the number of servers they operate and how many countries those servers are located in. This is one area where TunnelBear falls a bit short of the competition.

In fact, despite the transparency of TunnelBear’s privacy policy, it’s not even obvious how many servers it owns. This is likely because TunnelBear has far fewer servers than many of its popular competitors.

Currently, though, it’s safe to say that TunnelBear has at least 1,000 dedicated servers in 22 countries. TunnelBear uses virtual servers in addition to physical servers, but it only uses the virtual ones when the physical ones are at capacity.

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TunnelBear VPN
TunnelBear VPN
Review 4.8
from $4.17

Is TunnelBear VPN Reliable?

VPN Review

5.0 out of 5

We spent a full week testing TunnelBear VPN, and not once did we experience any problems in terms of our connection. We were easily able to connect to servers in countries around the world, and switching between servers was nearly seamless.

How Good is TunnelBear’s Customer Support?

VPN Review

4.2 out of 5

One area where TunnelBear doesn’t quite match the best VPN providers is in the realm of customer service. Many of today’s leading VPN companies allow subscribers to chat with support representatives at any time of day. TunnelBear, on the other hand, only provides email support. However, you can always check the support forum to troubleshoot any issues you run into while using their software.

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TunnelBear VPN For Streaming

TunnelBear offers apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and certain Linux distributions. There’s also a TunnelBear browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. It’s important to note, though, that the extensions only mask your in-browser activity, whereas the apps can mask all data transfers across all apps on your device.

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TunnelBear VPN
TunnelBear VPN
Review 4.8
from $4.17

Can You Use TunnelBear For Netflix?

TunnelBear is a speedy VPN that’s useful in several different ways. Watching Netflix, sadly, isn’t one of them. TunnelBear does work with plenty of other streaming services, allowing users to access tons of geographically restricted content. Yet it doesn’t work with Netflix, which is a deal-breaker for many die-hard fans of movies and shows.

Does TunnelBear Work With Smart TVs or Firestick?

Along those same lines, TunnelBear isn’t compatible with any smart TVs or streaming sticks, nor does the service work with gaming consoles. Several competing services do offer such compatibility and even allow customers to set up VPN access directly from a router. TunnelBear, unfortunately, doesn’t support this either.

TunnelBear VPN for Torrenting

Although you won’t find much information about P2P sharing on TunnelBear’s website, their VPN service fully supports BitTorrent and other torrenting clients. So if file-sharing is important to you, TunnelBear certainly checks that box.

TunnelBear vs NordVPN

One of the most popular VPNs on the market today is NordVPN, which is based in Panama. If you’re wondering about which service prevails in a TunnelBear vs NordVPN showdown, here’s a rundown about how the two services stack up.

  • NordVPN has more than twice as many servers in twice as many countries.
  • NordVPN allows six simultaneous connections compared to five on TunnelBear.
  • TunnelBear is better for beginners, while NordVPN has settings for advanced users.
  • TunnelBear offers a free version, but NordVPN doesn’t.
  • Both NordVPN and TunnelBear offer unlimited bandwidth on paid plans.
  • Both VPNs have apps for the major operating systems and extensions for popular browsers.
  • NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee. TunnelBear doesn’t offer any refunds.
  • Unlike TunnelBear, NordVPN allows users to stream U.S. Netflix from overseas.
  • NordVPN supports double-VPN connections, whereas TunnelBear doesn’t.

Closing Thoughts – How Good is TunnelBear VPN Really?

If you’re new to the world of VPNs, TunnelBear is — without a doubt — one of the best tools to get started with. The software is extremely approachable and includes many of the same features as its competitors. More importantly, though, the company has a clear and concise privacy policy that truly protects users.

So if you simply seek a speedy VPN — and you don’t care about streaming Netflix — there’s a good chance TunnelBear is perfect for you.

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TunnelBear VPN
TunnelBear VPN
Review 4.8
from $4.17


Michael Benninger

by Michael Benninger
Columnist for IT Security

digitalwelt logo

Michael Benninger is a writer, editor, and IT journalist specializing in internet privacy and security. Michael has been writing about all areas of consumer technology for more than 15 years and continues to cover the latest advancements in mobile and personal computing.


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Advertisement: Sponsored Listings
1 CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN
Review 5.0
from $2.19
The once-in-a-lifetime VPN software CyberGhost is one of the most well-known and fastest on the market. It is also known as the VPN software with the best connectivity to streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO and many more.
2 NordVPN
NordVPN
Review 4.9
from $3.30
NordVPN is the unbeatable #1 VPN software on the market. The company from Panama uses their local legal situation that no data has to be stored by law. They are so confident in the quality of their software that they even offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3 ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
Review 4.9
from $6.67
ExpressVPN is officially government-proof: A recent incident lead to the fact that some of the ExpressVPN servers were seized by the government, and the investigation had to come to hard stop, after intelligence officers realized that there was no data on the servers.
4 RUSVPN
RUSVPN
Review 4.8
from $1.99
Among a sea of VPN provider, RUSVPN emerged offering a reliable, unlimited, and incredibly cheap VPN service that is totally secure. Compatible with most devices and with a network that covers 5 continents, is RUSVPN the best choice for you? We took a closer look.
5 TunnelBear VPN
TunnelBear VPN
Review 4.8
from $4.17
Started in Canada in 2011, TunnelBear stands out amid a sea of serious VPNs with a fun & easy to use interface, free tiered options, and the ability to pay with Bitcoin.
6 Proton VPN
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The Swiss company Proton Technologies was already famous for its software ProtonMail. The more reason to have a closer look to to their new flagship ProtonVPN that suddenly began to win over lots of new fans in 2024.
7 IPVanish VPN
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Review 4.7
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IPVanish VPN is one of the rare VPN tools that are in fact made in the U.S.A. It's owned by an IT company located in Seattle which makes this software one of the most advanced and reliable in the industry.
8 Surfshark VPN
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Surfshark VPN is one of the most affordable VPN tools in 2024. At the same time, the VPN tool offers one of the most diverse technologies in the VPN market. We have tested one of the best VPN tool newcomers in July 2024.
9 Hide My Ass VPN
Hide My Ass VPN
Review 4.6
from $2.99
What few people know: Hide My Ass is one of the best VPN providers on the market from the company AVG - the largest manufacturer of antivirus software. No wonder their VPN software is of such high quality.
10 vypr vpn
vypr vpn
Review 4.6
from $1.67
Vypr VPN is one of the companies based in Switzerland, where users have high expectations in terms of data protection and privacy. In addition, Vypr VPN was initially created for one purpose only: To outsmart the NSA's surveillance program called Room 641A. Curious, yet?
11 Avast SecureLine VPN
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SecureLine VPN from the renowned manufacturer Avast is one of the oldest manufacturers of security software and one of the largest security companies in the world. They've been around since 1988, so it's no surprise they offer one of the best VPN's on the market.
12 Avira Phantom VPN
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13 ZenMate VPN
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Since launching in 2013, there are now over 47 million people worldwide that use ZenMate VPN, and their Google Chrome extension is the #1 VPN extension in the Chrome Web Store.
14 Pure VPN
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Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Hong Kong, PureVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) provider owned and operated by GZ Systems Ltd., a company that develops Android apps.
15 Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield
Review 4.5
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Among the longest-standing VPNs on the market, Hotspot Shield was created in 2005 by a privacy and security company called Anchorfree until 2019 when the company became part of Pango, a new privacy and security company that also owns 1Password and other privacy-focused apps.
16 VPN Unlimited
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VPN Unlimited may not be a household name, but this affordable VPN service might be a good fit for you — if you can overlook the company’s questionable privacy policy.
17 hide.me VPN
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hide.me has been helping users mask their internet activity since 2011 and is a speedy & secure VPN provider that ticks all the boxes for most power users.

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