TunnelBear VPN review: An affordable, easy-to-use VPN with a few notable pitfalls

ZDNET's key takeaways

• With plans as low as $120 for three years, TunnelBear is an affordable VPN with a free version
• The software is hassle-free, with minimalistic settings and an outlook that makes setting up and navigating the app easy.
• Server distribution is smaller than the competition and may not be ideal for streaming.

TunnelBear's intuitive design greatly appeals to VPN newbies. Advanced users might find it too basic as there aren't many app customizations. That's not to say it isn't secure; the VPN has all the essential online safety features to protect your browsing.

Also: What is a VPN and why do you need one? All your virtual private network questions answered

Also, TunnelBear has a free app and is one of our best free VPNs. But can you use this service to stream? I had some success during my tests, though it was blocked on specific sites. There are other limitations, too, alongside unique benefits to the service. 

Is the TunnelBear free app any good?

Surprisingly, you can use most of TunnelBear's features with a free plan, including access to servers in all the provided locations. However, the provider doesn't promote the free service as much as other VPNs, so downloading and using the software is the best way to get information. While I was happy with the unrestricted access to most features, the monthly data cap can limit the range of things you can do.

Among the features available to free users:

• Access to servers in 47 countries
• 2GB/month data bandwidth
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Secure encryption and privacy tools

The free service can be ideal if you want IP addresses in more locations than what other free services offer. However, streaming and downloading larger files would be tricky because of the bandwidth restrictions, and the servers you get are less effective than the premium ones.

How much is TunnelBear premium?

The basic plan, Unlimited, costs $120 for three years (3.33/month) and is for those who want to use the service cheaper for an extended period. The annual subscription costs $39.99 (3.33/month) for the first year and renews at $59.88 ($4.99/month), while subscribing for one month costs $9.99. You can get these plans during promotional seasons at much cheaper introductory offers. Teams is another plan tailored for businesses and costs $5.75 per user per month.

Unlike other providers, there aren't any extra TunnelBear add-ons to purchase. The VPN isn't as rich in features as NordVPN, which offers a dedicated IP, a password manager, and antivirus as additional features you can bundle with your standard subscription.

Also: The best VPN services: Expert tested and reviewed

One drawback of TunnelBear is that it doesn't offer a money-back guarantee, so you won't get a refund if you cancel your subscription after purchase. Their policy states, "All amounts paid are non-refundable. TunnelBear may consider certain refund requests for subscriptions at its discretion and on a case-by-case basis." 

Another inconvenience is that TunnelBear doesn't support PayPal as a payment method. You can purchase with supported debit/credit cards, mobile wallets (Google or Apple Pay), and jars of honey. 

Unpacking TunnelBear's core security and privacy features

Upon installing TunnelBear on my PC and mobile devices, I couldn't help but notice how minimalistic the app looks. I understand the mission is to give users less complicated software, but it almost eliminates the enthusiasm for using the service.

The TunnelBear app automatically sets to the Auto protocol. Unless you have a specific preference, it's always better to leave the auto setting for the VPN to choose the optimal protocol for your connection or network type. The three supported protocols, WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, are secure and work across most devices.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

TunnelBear's kill switch is called VigilantBear. It's available on PCs and Android apps but not iOS. VigilantBear helps to protect your privacy by blocking access to the internet whenever the VPN connection drops or is disrupted, thereby ensuring that your IP address isn't logged by the sites you're browsing. When I did leak tests on TunnelBear, it didn't expose my IP and DNS requests, which shows that it can keep users anonymous online.

Also: NordVPN vs. Surfshark: Which VPN is right for you?

There are other settings to add convenience, like allowing the VPN to automatically connect before using any untrusted Wi-Fi network. SplitBear enables you to route only some apps or websites on the VPN while others use typical internet connections.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

I came across comments on forums like Reddit that TunnelBear doesn't work sometimes. However, I didn't experience outages while testing the service. VPNs can fail because of network blocks or unstable connections. Fortunately, TunnelBear offers features like GhostBear, which can help bypass firewalls that block VPNs by camouflaging VPN-encrypted connections as regular internet traffic.

Also, the TCP Override feature on the app is handy if you experience internet connection problems. The setting can stabilize connections and reduce video stuttering issues while using the VPN. However, the TCP Override and GhostBear features don't work with the WireGuard protocol.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

TunnelBear uses the best data encryption, AES 256-bit. However, the VPN doesn't compete with more robust services that offer extra security tools like malware/track blockers and RAM-only or multi-hop servers. There is an extension feature called TunnerBlocker that you can install on the Chrome browser to block intrusive third-party trackers, but it doesn't have as many settings.

Also: Proxy vs. VPN: What is the difference, and which do I need?

I also checked the measures TunnelBear has put in place to enhance privacy. I like that the service gets audited almost every year, which shows a commitment to user protection. The audits help streamline any potential security issues in advance and add transparency to the provider's operations.

TunnelBear maintains that it can't hand over users' information because it doesn't collect any (even from free users) as per its no-logs policy.

TunnelBear server network

TunnelBear has 8,000+ servers in 47 countries. The server locations are relatively fewer than NordVPN and ExpressVPN, which have servers in 111 and 105 countries, respectively. Also, TunnelBear only has city-level servers in the US and Canada, so you won't get IP addresses for specific cities in other countries where it runs servers like the UK, Australia, etc. 

Also: NordVPN review: Consistent speed and performance from one of our favorite VPNs

Given these limitations, TunnelBear might not be the best option for travelers who want to access geo-restricted services and content from abroad. If you're impressed by other aspects of it and wish to purchase, check that it offers servers in the locations where you might want to connect.

As stated earlier, free users have access to servers in all locations. However, these servers aren't as reliable as the premium ones. For example, they would take forever to connect, and sometimes, I had to cancel after waiting for a full minute.

Is it suitable for streaming and torrenting?

TunnelBear worked for me only on some streaming platforms. The free and premium servers in the US accessed Netflix, which is good news for those who want to watch content in the country.

Also: The best VPN for streaming: Expert tested and reviewed

I also accessed Amazon Prime Video and Hulu with TunnelBear, but wasn't successful on the sister streaming platforms, Disney+ and ESPN+, even with a premium subscription. The premium service unblocked BBC iPlayer and 10Play (Australia), and it's most recommended if you want to use this VPN for streaming. Comparatively, Windscribe does a better job than TunnelBear because I could access most content sites even with the free version. It even offers streaming-optimized servers, something TunnelBear doesn't.

You can use TunnelBear servers for secure torrenting, though the VPN has seemingly been blocking P2P traffic in the past. After connecting to a server location of your liking, you can securely download and transfer files online with clients like qBittorent and uTorrent. However, I would prefer our best VPNs for torrenting over this service due to the lack of P2P support.

Speed performance: Is TunnelBear fast?

I conducted tests on select TunnelBear server locations to record the VPN's impact on the internet connections. I wasn't disappointed as the speeds were relatively fast. My starting speeds were 127Mbps/92Mbps (download and upload, respectively), and I barely noticed speed drops on the local South African servers. The four US locations I tested (Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York) averaged 101Mbps, the same range as our fastest VPNs. Considering that VPN performance can be affected by many factors, including peak usage times, here is a summary of my speed readings.

TunnelBear can provide reliable connections. The maximum connection loss was 30%, less than the 50% speed drops I've experienced with some VPNs. If your internet connection line is fast, you can comfortably use the VPN to stream 4K content online or even play high-bandwidth games.

Seamless user experience but limited device compatibility 

TunnelBear is one of the most straightforward and fun VPN apps I've come across. There's always a bear guiding you right from downloading, installing, and using the app. The interface is straightforward, with an intuitive map and all the locations to tap and connect. You can access the server list (or the fastest server location) by clicking the collapse arrow at the top. The app isn't jumbled with many confusing settings, making it convenient for unsavvy users.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

However, one major drawback is that TunnelBear has low compatibility. It only works on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and browsers (Chrome, Firefox, and Edge). This leaves you no option to install it on other devices like smart TVs, Firesticks, routers, and consoles. You can do manual OpenVPN configuration on Linux, but this isn't as simple as using a native app. Still related to this, TunnelBear's support team isn't as knowledgeable on Linux if we're to go by the statement on the website that, "Our ability to troubleshoot problems across every Linux distribution is limited."

Also: The best smart TV VPNs of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

On to some positive news: One TunnelBear subscription is all you need to secure every device in your home. It doesn't impose limits on the maximum number of devices you can connect, joining Surfshark and Private Internet Access.

ZDNET's buying advice

TunnelBear steals the show with its connect-on-the-go interface. User-friendliness aside, it's still not as mature as our best VPNs. I found some weak spots that can limit usability; for example, the fewer server locations make the service less useful for geo-restrictions. But maybe the fast server connections can cover up some of the VPN's weaknesses if you're all about speed.