TunnelBear’s distinctive, bear-themed strategy to its VPN service units it aside from 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 gadget connections and a subscription choice 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.

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TunnelBear VPN pricing

TunnelBear affords TunnelBear Limitless at a reduced fee of $3.33 monthly. 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 provide, costs could range sooner or later.

I’d counsel making an attempt TunnelBear’s free model earlier than buying a subscription. Whereas information is capped at 2GB and a few options are omitted, the free model permits you to get a really feel for TunnelBear’s desktop VPN implementation.

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

TunnelBear VPN free model

One among TunnelBear’s standout options is having a devoted free model of its VPN. These fascinated with making an attempt the service don’t have to fret about offering cost info.

Nevertheless, 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 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 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 of safe. It has OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 — the three industry-standard safety protocols we would like 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 consumer’s searching info, IP addresses, DNS queries and functions used whereas related to the VPN.

TunnelBear additionally has a powerful monitor document of present process annual unbiased testing. Since 2016, TunnelBear has accomplished 5 annual unbiased safety audits. The newest third-party audit was completed in 2021 by Cure53. This dedication to annual testing is a particular plus for shoppers 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 in the course of the fifth annual audit, Cure53 found ” … 4 low, 9 medium, three excessive, and three critical-risk vulnerabilities.” TunnelBear stated their workforce was capable of rapidly resolve the vulnerabilities after Cure53’s report — and I personally respect their candidness on the matter.

Some individuals can also be cautious of TunnelBear being based mostly 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 making an attempt to keep away from, TunnelBear is probably not for you.

Total, 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 aside from different VPNs. Let’s take a look at 4 particularly that it is best to 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 whenever you join or change to a brand new tunnel, a bear will pop up (Determine B) from contained in the tunnel — therefore the title, TunnelBear.

Determine B

The bear theme is enjoyable and foregoes the very technical strategy that almost all safety software program often have. If that is your first VPN, this whimsy consumer interface could 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 can be 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 workforce accounts for his or her VPN subscription. It nets customers the paid service and extra options tailor-made to companies resembling centralized workforce billing; the power so as to add/take away customers and edit billing information from an admin account; and an auto-join function that routinely enrolls customers with a selected e-mail handle.

Determine C

When you’re a small enterprise interested by getting a VPN on your workflow, TunnelBear Groups affords a handy choice that reduces numerous legwork usually related to establishing a VPN for a company or enterprise.

Limitless gadget connections

TunnelBear VPN permits for a vast variety of simultaneous gadget connections to 1 subscription. Because of this any mixture of computer systems, smartphones or browsers could be protected by way of a TunnelBear server at no extra value.

It is a significant function on condition that a number of the prime VPN suppliers solely provide round 5 to eight simultaneous connections with one account. The power to attach a vast variety of units gives customers with added worth, eliminating the necessity to buy extra connections.

Pace 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 choice (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 hook up with it reliably.

Determine D

Even after I uninstalled and reinstalled the VPN, the problem remained. Once I was capable of join, it took virtually three minutes to take action; and once I disconnected, it was virtually not possible to re-establish the connection. What’s bizarre is that once 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 resembling 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 problem appeared to have resolved itself. I used to be in a position to hook up with the server nearest to my location and disconnect/reconnect with none challenge. 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 quicker speeds I’ve recorded in comparison with different VPNs.

TunnelBear additionally carried out nicely on the DNS leak safety entrance. After a number of rounds of testing via a public DNS leak device, I obtained zero leaks even whereas I used completely different places.

In fact, VPN velocity and efficiency will range relying on components resembling your location, your web service supplier, server visitors and your machine. Nevertheless, my testing confirmed that TunnelBear could offer you a buggy and slower expertise in comparison with different VPN suppliers obtainable in the present day.

TunnelBear VPN servers and places

TunnelBear affords round 5,000+ servers from 47 nations 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 selection.

Whereas TunnelBear’s server depend 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 in case you’re particularly searching for a VPN to unblock geo-restricted content material, TunnelBear is probably not the optimum selection.

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

Customer support

Customer support (Determine E) is one other side the place TunnelBear may see some enchancment. Specifically, I imagine TunnelBear ought to provide 24/7 stay chat. As a result of VPNs can have surprising technical points, most of the prime suppliers provide a service for answering questions and troubleshooting.

Determine E

TunnelBear’s Help Web page. Picture: TunnelBear

For the time being, TunnelBear has an online type 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 capable of present pretty useful solutions once I requested just a few questions.

TunnelBear VPN professionals

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

TunnelBear VPN cons

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

Who’s TunnelBear greatest for?

TunnelBear is greatest 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 in case you’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 selection for small companies who need a simple method to handle a single VPN for his or her workforce.

Sadly, TunnelBear VPN’s lower than very best efficiency and velocity forestall it from being a prime suggestion for individuals who fall exterior these classes.

If TunnelBear VPN isn’t very best for you, take a look at these alternate options

When you discover that TunnelBear isn’t the perfect match, we’ve listed comparable VPNs that might provide a greater expertise.

ExpressVPN

When you’re searching for a VPN with an easy-to-use interface and quick efficiency, ExpressVPN is likely one of the greatest choices out there. It has sturdy security measures, servers throughout 90 nations, and a password supervisor included at no extra value.

Proton VPN

Proton VPN is a superb decide in case you’re searching 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 provide an extra layer of safety to your information. Proton VPN additionally has a free model with no information cap.

Non-public Web Entry

Customers who desire a huge 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 in case you plan to make use of a VPN to unblock content material. Its Home windows app can be one of many extra customizable VPN functions obtainable in the present day.

Assessment methodology

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

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

Lastly, I scored TunnelBear VPN on numerous components, together with its safety protocols and value, based mostly 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 out there in the present day.

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