TunnelBear VPN Review 2024: User-Friendly VPN with Solid Security Features

TunnelBear is a well-known VPN service, especially among casual users. With its playful bear-themed interface, it offers a simple way to secure your online activities. But is TunnelBear still competitive in 2024 with all its recent updates? In this review, we’ll look at its features, pricing, performance, and whether it’s worth your money.

Whether you’re looking to secure your browsing or stream your favorite shows, TunnelBear has a lot to offer. However, it’s essential to understand its limitations before jumping in. So, is TunnelBear the right VPN for you this year?

TunnelBear VPN Features

Ease of Use

TunnelBear’s biggest strength is its user-friendly interface. Whether you’re using it on a desktop or mobile, the layout is intuitive. With just a single click, you can connect to the fastest server available. The whimsical bear design may be cute, but it doesn’t take away from the service’s functionality.

You don’t need to be tech-savvy to operate it, making it ideal for beginners. Plus, TunnelBear’s apps are consistent across all platforms. Whether you use Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android, you’ll find the same simplicity.

Server Locations

TunnelBear operates servers in 47 countries, which is decent but not as extensive as some competitors. While its network covers key regions in North America, Europe, and Asia, it lacks options in places like Africa and South America.

It has also removed servers in India and Ukraine for privacy and ethical reasons. This shows its commitment to safeguarding user privacy. However, unlike other VPNs, it doesn’t provide city-level server selections outside of Canada and the U.S., limiting your flexibility.

Streaming and Torrenting

If you’re looking to stream content, TunnelBear performs reasonably well on platforms like Disney+, Amazon Prime, and ITVX. However, it struggles with popular services like BBC iPlayer and Hulu due to their strong anti-VPN measures.

Torrenting is allowed, but the lack of consistent speeds on distant servers may hinder your experience. The free plan, with its 2GB monthly limit, isn’t practical for heavy streaming or downloading.

Simultaneous Connections

TunnelBear recently upgraded its plan to support unlimited simultaneous connections. This is a great improvement from the previous limit of five devices. Now, you can secure all your gadgets—whether they are smartphones, tablets, or laptops—with one account.

This is a notable advantage if you have multiple devices or live in a household with several users.

Performance and Speed

TunnelBear delivers solid speeds on nearby servers, making it a reliable option for everyday browsing and streaming. When connected to local servers, download and upload speeds tend to remain stable, with only a minor drop compared to an unprotected connection. This makes TunnelBear suitable for streaming HD content and general use without much buffering or lag.

However, the story changes for long-distance connections. Speeds drop significantly on distant servers, with users experiencing up to a 90% reduction in performance. This can make activities like gaming or streaming on distant servers nearly impossible.

Privacy and Security

TunnelBear takes privacy seriously, making it a good option for those who value anonymity online. It follows a strict no-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t store any personal information about your browsing activities. This policy is regularly audited by an independent firm, Cure53, which gives users peace of mind that their data remains secure. The VPN service uses AES-256-bit encryption, one of the most secure encryption methods available, to protect your online activities from prying eyes.

For extra protection, TunnelBear offers a feature called GhostBear, which makes encrypted VPN traffic less detectable by governments or ISPs that monitor internet usage. This feature is particularly useful in countries with strict internet censorship, though it’s only necessary in rare cases.

In terms of safety, TunnelBear includes a kill switch feature, which cuts your internet connection if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly. This ensures that your real IP address is never exposed, adding an extra layer of security. Additionally, TunnelBear passes IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests, so you can be sure your real location remains hidden even while connected.

Plans and Pricing

TunnelBear offers a free plan and several paid options to fit different needs. The free plan allows you to use 2GB of data per month, which is suitable for light browsing but insufficient for streaming or downloading large files. One advantage of the free plan is that it provides access to the same servers available to paid users, though with limited data.

The 1-year plan is ideal for users looking to save money over the long term, offering a 50% discount when compared to the monthly plan. For even greater savings, the 3-year plan offers the most value, reducing the monthly cost to just $3.33. While TunnelBear doesn’t offer a traditional money-back guarantee, refunds may be granted on a case-by-case basis if requested through customer support. On Black Friday, they also offer some extra discounts.

Additionally, TunnelBear provides a Teams plan designed for businesses, allowing centralized billing and user management for $5.75 per user per month.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)

What are the Alternatives to Tunnelbear VPN?

There are several alternatives like Hide.me, VyprVPN, and Hotspot Shield VPN are available.

Does TunnelBear work with Netflix?

TunnelBear struggles to unblock Netflix consistently. While it may work for local libraries, it can’t bypass Netflix’s geo-restrictions for popular regions like the US or UK. If streaming Netflix is a priority, you might need a different VPN that excels in bypassing these blocks.

Is TunnelBear safe for torrenting?

Yes, TunnelBear allows torrenting on its servers, but the speeds, especially on distant connections, can be quite slow. If you need fast download speeds for large files, other VPNs may offer better performance for torrenting.

Can I use TunnelBear in restrictive countries?

TunnelBear’s GhostBear feature helps bypass censorship in restrictive countries like China or Iran by making encrypted traffic look like regular internet traffic. This can be useful for users in regions with strict internet regulations.

What devices are supported by TunnelBear?

TunnelBear is available on a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It also offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. However, manual configurations are limited, and it doesn’t support devices like routers or gaming consoles.

Wrapping Up

TunnelBear is a solid option for users who prioritize ease of use and privacy over extensive features or lightning-fast speeds. Its intuitive interface and strong privacy policies make it ideal for beginners or casual users. The free plan is a good introduction to VPNs, though the 2GB data limit restricts its usefulness for anything beyond basic browsing.