TunnelBear VPN quick informationOur score: 3.1 stars out of 5
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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 accessible on Home windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. It gives 5,000+ servers, limitless machine 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 nations.
How a lot does TunnelBear VPN value?
TunnelBear’s beginning paid plan prices $3.33 per 30 days through its TunnelBear Limitless. It has three subscription tiers: Free, Limitless, and Groups. Solely TunnelBear Limitless has the choice to decide on between a month-to-month, one-year, and three-year subscription.
| Plan | TunnelBear Free | TunnelBear Limitless | TunnelBear Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yr | Free | $3.33 per 30 days (billed $39.99 for the primary yr) | $5.75 per person, per 30 days |
| 3 years | Free | $3.33 ($120 billed as soon as) | N/A |
| Month-to-month | Free | $9.99 per 30 days | N/A |
| Characteristic variations |
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Apparently, the month-to-month and three-year plans are solely obtainable to view after you click on the “Get began” button for TunnelBear Limitless subscription possibility priced at $3.33. Personally, I hope TunnelBear makes their extra contract choices extra accessible to view or at the very least have it on the high of its pricing web page.
When it comes to particular person pricing, TunnelBear’s Limitless subscription is at a reduced fee of $3.33 per 30 days for the one-year plan. When you go for the TunnelBear Limitless paid plan, this discounted annual fee is a steal. Nevertheless, as a result of it is a sale supply, costs might fluctuate sooner or later.
I might counsel 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 means that you can get a really feel for TunnelBear’s desktop VPN implementation.
For enterprise homeowners, TunnelBear Groups is a sensible possibility. You get all of TunnelBear’s paid options along with extra team-based add-ons, akin to centralized billing and account supervisor instruments.
Does TunnelBear VPN have a free model?
Sure, TunnelBear has a devoted free model of its VPN. These inquisitive about attempting the service don’t have to fret about offering fee info, as you’ll be able to simply obtain it with no strings hooked up.
Nevertheless, there are notable limitations with TunnelBear VPN’s free model in comparison with its paid plan. The free model has a 2GB information cap that resets each month. So, realistically talking, free customers will solely be capable to check out the VPN for round a day or two earlier than information runs out.
As well as, solely paid customers will be capable to choose city-designated servers on TunnelBear’s community. Free customers are solely in a position to select from obtainable nations (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 solution to take a look at if the VPN is best for you.
SEE: TunnelBear VPN Free vs Paid: Which Plan Is Proper for You? (TechRepublic)
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 acquire any person’s shopping info, IP addresses, DNS queries, and purposes used whereas related to the VPN.
TunnelBear additionally has a powerful monitor file of present process annual unbiased testing. Since 2016, TunnelBear has accomplished seven annual unbiased safety audits. The newest third-party audit was accomplished in October 2023 by Cure53.
In that 2023 audit, Cure53 discovered a complete of “13 points this yr, with solely 7 thought-about to be of medium threat or greater.” Fortuitously, TunnelBear has stated that “12 out of the 13 recognized points have been mounted or mitigated.” Personally, I give main props to the TunnelBear crew for persevering with to have its VPN examined through third-party audits. This reveals a powerful dedication to transparency and is an effective way to construct belief amongst its customers.
On the flip aspect, some folks might 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.Ok., and the U.S. If authorities intervention is one thing you’re attempting to keep away from, TunnelBear will not be for you.
Total, TunnelBear’s security measures, transparency, and annual unbiased testing make it a safe and reliable VPN in 2024.
Key options of TunnelBear VPN
TunnelBear has a couple of key options that set it other than different VPNs. Let’s take a look at 4 particularly that you must learn about.
Newbie-friendly interface
In comparison with different VPNs, TunnelBear has a really user-friendly, bear-themed interface. Servers are represented by tunnels, and once 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 person interface might make studying the software program much less complicated. The navigation expertise itself can be very intuitive, with most options or choices being positioned the place you’d count on them.
For customers which might be solely beginning to discover VPNs and desire a much less daunting expertise, TunnelBear is usually a good decide.
TunnelBear Groups
TunnelBear Groups (Determine C) is their model of crew accounts for his or her VPN subscription. It nets customers the paid service and extra options tailor-made to companies, akin to centralized crew billing; the power so as to add/take away customers and edit billing data from an admin account; and an auto-join function that robotically enrolls customers with a selected e mail deal with.
Determine C
When you’re a small enterprise occupied with getting a VPN to your workflow, TunnelBear Groups gives a handy possibility that reduces loads of legwork usually related to establishing a VPN for a company or enterprise.
Limitless machine connections
TunnelBear VPN permits for a limiteless variety of simultaneous machine connections to 1 subscription. Which means any mixture of computer systems, smartphones, or browsers could be protected through a TunnelBear server at no extra value.
It is a significant function provided that a few of the high VPN suppliers solely supply round 5 to eight simultaneous connections with one account. The flexibility to attach a limiteless variety of gadgets offers customers with added worth, eliminating the necessity to buy extra 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 in a position to connect with it reliably.
Determine D
Even after I uninstalled and reinstalled the VPN, the difficulty remained. Once I was in a position to join, it took nearly three minutes to take action; and after I disconnected, it was nearly unattainable 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 had been slower in comparison with different VPNs. Throughout my testing, I used TunnelBear primarily to do work in Google Workspace apps akin 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 in a position to connect 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 mounted.
SEE: Easy methods to use TunnelBear VPN (Step-by-Step Tutorial) (TechRepublic)
TunnelBear carried out decently when it comes to 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 quicker speeds I’ve recorded in comparison with different VPNs.
TunnelBear additionally carried out properly on the DNS leak safety entrance. After a number of rounds of testing by means of a public DNS leak software, I bought zero leaks even whereas I used totally different places.
After all, VPN velocity and efficiency will fluctuate relying on elements akin to your location, your web service supplier, server site visitors, and your machine. Nevertheless, my testing confirmed that TunnelBear might provide you with a buggy and slower expertise in comparison with different VPN suppliers obtainable at present.
TunnelBear VPN servers and places
TunnelBear gives round 5,000+ servers from 47 nations worldwide, placing TunnelBear’s server fleet within the low-to-middle vary in opposition to the competitors. As compared, ExpressVPN gives servers from 105 nations, whereas Non-public Web Entry has servers throughout 91 nations.
Whereas TunnelBear’s server rely is on the upper finish, I would like a extra geographically numerous community. At 47 nations, TunnelBear has some catching as much as do as different VPNs are providing round 60 to even 100+ nations of their server unfold. So when you’re particularly on the lookout for a VPN to unblock geo-restricted content material, TunnelBear will not be the optimum selection.
I like that TunnelBear options P2P-friendly servers particularly optimized for duties akin to torrenting and file sharing.
TunnelBear VPN Customer support
Customer support (Determine E) is one other side the place TunnelBear might see some enchancment. Specifically, I imagine TunnelBear ought to supply 24/7 stay chat. As a result of VPNs can have surprising technical points, most of the high suppliers supply a service for answering questions and troubleshooting.
Determine E
In the intervening time, TunnelBear has an online kind and e mail, on-line guides, and an AI chatbot (Determine F) known as RoboCub for buyer assist.
Determine F
In equity to TunnelBear, RoboCub was in a position to present pretty useful solutions after I requested a couple of questions.
SEE: Easy methods to Create an Efficient Cybersecurity Consciousness Program (TechRepublic Premium)
TunnelBear VPN execs
- Newbie-friendly UI.
- Free model.
- Inexpensive one-year plan (fall sale).
- Annual unbiased audits.
- Limitless machine connections.
- TunnelBear Groups for companies.
TunnelBear VPN cons
- Buggy app expertise.
- Gradual real-world velocity.
- Connection could be unstable.
- Smaller nation rely for its servers.
- Hidden contract size choices in pricing web page.
ExpressVPN
When you’re on the lookout for a VPN with an easy-to-use interface and quick efficiency, ExpressVPN is without doubt one of the finest choices available on the market. It has sturdy security measures, servers throughout 105 nations, and a password supervisor included at no extra value.
To study extra, verify our full ExpressVPN evaluation.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is a superb decide when you’re on the lookout for a VPN that operates in a privacy-friendly nation. Based mostly in Switzerland, it complies with the nation’s sturdy privateness legal guidelines that supply a further layer of safety to your information. Proton VPN additionally has a free model with no information cap.
To search out out extra, verify our full Proton VPN evaluation.
Non-public Web Entry
Customers who desire a large server suite ought to contemplate Non-public Web Entry VPN. PIA reportedly has round 10,000 to 35,000 servers throughout 91 counties, making it a wise selection when you plan to make use of a VPN to unblock content material. Its Home windows app can be one of many extra customizable VPN purposes obtainable at present.
To study extra, verify our full Non-public Web Entry VPN evaluation.
Evaluate methodology
My evaluation 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 means of its free Home windows software, and I supplemented my findings with person testimonials and respected evaluations.
For obtain and add speeds, I ran TunnelBear by means of Ookla’s public Speedtest. For DNS leak safety, I examined TunnelBear a number of instances utilizing DNSLeakTest.
Lastly, I scored TunnelBear VPN on varied parts, together with its safety protocols and value, primarily based on an inside algorithm to get a score of three.1 out of 5 stars. I checked out TunnelBear VPN each by itself and in relation to different VPN options available on the market at present.
