TunnelBear VPN at a Glance
TunnelBear is one of the few VPN providers that offers a truly free service, which is helpful if you’re looking to test them out before committing to a paid subscription. Its user-friendly interface makes it a great option for VPN beginners or those who aren’t tech-savvy.
The company also seems to value privacy and transparency very highly and publishes annual transparency reports and audits on its website.
You can connect up to five devices to TunnelBear on a personal plan, which is on the low end for the industry. However, the company does offer plans for businesses that allow for more devices.
Pricing is as follows:
- Free for up to 500 MB of data (personal VPN)*
- $4.99 per user, per month ($59.88 billed annually) during current 50% off promotion
- $3.33 per user, per month ($120 billed every three years) during current 67% off promotion
*The free plan allows for a minimum of 500 MB of data per month. If you tweet about TunnelBear, you can earn an extra 1 GB of data.
User-friendly Interface
The TunnelBear apps for both iOS and Android are both very user-friendly and top-rated, making this a great option for those new to using a VPN. (And who doesn’t like bears with lasers coming out of their eyes?)
Transparency and Audits
TunnelBear is excellent at providing transparency into how data is collected and how it’s been used in real-life legal scenarios. On its blog, it publishes detailed annual reports on how many inquiries were made by law enforcement to provide data and what kind of data was handed over. Few companies do not provide this level of insight into how they handle customer information.
Additionally, the company undergoes an annual security audit from an outside agency to ensure it’s maintaining the highest possible standards of service. Links to these audits can also be found on the company’s blog.
Other Benefits
TunnelBear offers a kill switch feature, called VigilantBear, which prevents your data from being exposed should your connection be disrupted. Another feature, GhostBear, aims to circumvent censorship by disguising your browsing as normal browsing. However, GhostBear should be used sparingly, as it slows down your browsing significantly.
Related: Best VPN
Fine Print
TunnelBear lacks some of the advanced features found in competing systems. For example, split tunneling is available, but only on Android devices. Static or dedicated IP addresses aren’t available—even as add-ons. You also can’t configure your connection manually, which gives you less control. Since manual connections aren’t supported, TunnelBear does not support router configuration either.
Finally, while the latest version of TunnelBear lets you torrent, its speeds are reportedly lacking.
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Private Internet Access
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How TunnelBear Stacks Up
| TunnelBear | TorGuard | Avast SecureLine | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Plan costs
|
$39.99 per year (for the first year, then $119.88 thereafter during current promotion)
|
$59.99 per year
|
$55.08 per year
|
|
Number of servers
|
5,000+
|
3,000+
|
50+
|
|
Maximum number of devices
|
5 | 8 | 10 |
|
Read Reviews
|
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|
TunnelBear isn’t the most advanced VPN out there, but it’s comparable to other simple options like Avast SecureLine. They share similar pricing, but TunnelBear excels in server count whereas Avast SecureLine allows for more devices.
TorGuard, however, offers a dedicated IP address add-on and allows router configuration. It also has over three times as many server options and more device connections for a similar price.
Compare TunnelBear With TorGuard
TunnelBear
Price
Free version available, with paid plans starting at $39.99 per year
Encryption
AES with 256
bit keys
Number of servers
1,000+
Free version available, with paid plans starting at $39.99 per year
AES with 256
bit keys
1,000+
- Offers a generous free plan
- User-friendly interface
- Provides detailed annual transparency reports
- Undergoes annual security audits
- Business tier available
- Browser extension available
- Split tunneling only available on Android
- Slower speeds
- No manual configuration
- Does not support router connections
- No dedicated IP address add-on (even for business plan)
- Limited customer service
TorGuard
Starting price
$9.99 per month
Simultaneous connections
Eight to 30 devices
Number of servers
More than 3,000
$9.99 per month
Eight to 30 devices
More than 3,000
- Multiple security protocols
- Lots of DNS leak protection options
- Highly customizable subscriptions
- Works in China
- Seven-day free trial
- First month is free on all premium plans
- Nonintuitive user interface
- Android-only split tunneling
- Streaming on its Standard plan requires a dedicated IP address
- Only seven-day money-back guarantee
- No public audits
- Under the Five Eyes alliance
Is TunnelBear Right for You or Your Business?
TunnelBear is suitable for both personal and business use. Individuals can choose from the free or unlimited plans and businesses can opt for the “Teams” plan, which allows for easy management and billing.
However, both types of plans are lacking some mainstay features included in our ranking methodology, thus keeping TunnelBear from top-tier status.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the benefits of using a VPN?
VPNs help you browse the Internet more securely by anonymizing your connection. Hackers, advertisers and government agencies won’t be able to see your online activity or personal information. Read our guide to learn more reasons to use a VPN.
Why are VPN company transparency reports so important?
It’s important to choose a VPN that provides transparency into the data they collect from you so that you understand what kind of information is being monitored when you use their service. The more detailed the reports are, the more insight you’ll have into how any data collected can be used to identify you.
How do I contact TunnelBear’s customer service team?
TunnelBear has a form on its website where you can reach its support “bears” or you can reach them via Twitter.
Is TunnelBear owned by McAfee?
TunnelBear was an independent company for its first several years but was purchased by McAfee in 2018. However, it has not been rebranded and continues to live as a separate product from the well-known McAfee Antivirus software.
How do I connect to a VPN?
The process for connecting to a VPN varies, depending on your device and operating system. Generally, you need to download the VPN’s app or software, enter your username and password and select a server. For more detailed instructions, check out the VPN’s website or contact customer service.
Is a VPN really secure?
A VPN can mask your identity and prevent your ISP from tracking your online activity, so yes. However, if you’ve allowed sites access to your data, a VPN can’t protect you from that sort of tracking. The type of VPN protocols used also contribute to how secure your VPN is as outdated protocols have multiple known exploits.
