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TunnelBear’s distinctive, bear-themed method to its VPN service units it aside from the extra technical and standardized implementations of different VPNs. TunnelBear is accessible on Home windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox and Edge, providing 5,000+ servers, limitless system 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 gives TunnelBear Limitless at a reduced price of $3.33 per 30 days. Should you go for the TunnelBear Limitless paid plan, this discounted annual price is a steal. Nevertheless, as a result of this can be a sale supply, costs might range sooner or later.

I might counsel attempting TunnelBear’s free model earlier than buying a subscription. Whereas knowledge 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 choice. You get all of TunnelBear’s paid options along with extra team-based add-ons, equivalent to centralized billing and account supervisor instruments.

TunnelBear VPN free model

Certainly one of TunnelBear’s standout options is having a devoted free model of its VPN. These serious about attempting the service don’t have to fret about offering fee data.

Nevertheless, there are notable variations between the free and paid variations. The free model has a 2GB knowledge 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 knowledge runs out.

As well as, solely paid customers will be capable to choose city-designated servers on TunnelBear’s community. Free customers are solely ready to select from out there 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 option to check 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-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 gather any person’s shopping data, IP addresses, DNS queries and functions used whereas linked to the VPN.

TunnelBear additionally has a powerful observe report of present process annual impartial testing. Since 2016, TunnelBear has accomplished 5 annual impartial safety audits. The newest third-party audit was finished in 2021 by Cure53. This dedication to annual testing is a particular plus for customers who worth a VPN that’s clear and prepared to be audited.

On the flipside, there are two doable causes of concern with TunnelBear VPN. The primary is that through the fifth annual audit, Cure53 found ” … 4 low, 9 medium, three excessive, and three critical-risk vulnerabilities.” TunnelBear mentioned their staff was in a position to rapidly resolve the vulnerabilities after Cure53’s report — and I personally respect their candidness on the matter.

Some individuals might also 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 is probably not for you.

Total, TunnelBear’s security measures, transparency and annual impartial 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 try 4 specifically that it’s 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 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 anticipate them.

For customers which can be solely beginning to discover VPNs and desire a much less daunting expertise, TunnelBear could be a good choose.

TunnelBear Groups

TunnelBear Groups (Determine C) is their model of staff accounts for his or her VPN subscription. It nets customers the paid service and extra options tailor-made to companies equivalent to centralized staff billing; the flexibility so as to add/take away customers and edit billing information from an admin account; and an auto-join function that mechanically enrolls customers with a selected e-mail tackle.

Determine C

Should you’re a small enterprise fascinated by getting a VPN on your workflow, TunnelBear Groups gives a handy choice that reduces a number of legwork usually related to establishing a VPN for a company or enterprise.

Limitless system connections

TunnelBear VPN permits for an infinite variety of simultaneous system connections to 1 subscription. Which means any mixture of computer systems, smartphones or browsers might be protected by way of a TunnelBear server at no further value.

It is a significant function provided that among the prime VPN suppliers solely supply round 5 to eight simultaneous connections with one account. The power to attach an infinite variety of units supplies customers with added worth, eliminating the necessity to buy further 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 ready to connect with it reliably.

Determine D

Even after I uninstalled and reinstalled the VPN, the problem remained. Once I was in a position to join, it took virtually three minutes to take action; and after I disconnected, it was virtually unattainable to re-establish the connection. What’s bizarre is that after I linked to a server farther away from my location, I had no points.

Once I was linked, the speeds have been slower in comparison with different VPNs. Throughout my testing, I used TunnelBear primarily to do work in Google Workspace apps equivalent 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 linked 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 ready to connect with the server nearest to my location and disconnect/reconnect with none challenge. The slower speeds, nonetheless, persevered even when the connection bug appeared to have been mounted.

TunnelBear carried out decently when it comes to uploads and obtain speeds. In my velocity check, 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 effectively on the DNS leak safety entrance. After a number of rounds of testing by way of a public DNS leak device, I acquired zero leaks even whereas I used totally different places.

After all, VPN velocity and efficiency will range relying on components equivalent to your location, your web service supplier, server 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 out there at the moment.

TunnelBear VPN servers and places

TunnelBear gives 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 when it comes to server alternative.

Whereas TunnelBear’s server depend is on the upper finish, I would like a extra geographically various 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 on the lookout for a VPN to unblock geo-restricted content material, TunnelBear is probably not the optimum alternative.

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

Customer support

Customer support (Determine E) is one other side the place TunnelBear may see some enchancment. Particularly, I consider TunnelBear ought to supply 24/7 reside chat. As a result of VPNs can have sudden technical points, lots of the prime suppliers supply a service for answering questions and troubleshooting.

Determine E

TunnelBear’s Assist Web page. Picture: TunnelBear

In the meanwhile, TunnelBear has an internet type and e-mail, on-line guides, and an AI chatbot (Determine F) known as RoboCub for buyer help.

Determine F

In equity to TunnelBear, RoboCub was in a position to present pretty useful solutions after I requested just a few questions.

TunnelBear VPN professionals

• Newbie-friendly UI.
• Free model.
• Reasonably priced one-year plan (fall sale).
• Annual impartial audits.
• Limitless system connections.
• TunnelBear Groups for companies.

TunnelBear VPN cons

• Buggy app expertise.
• Sluggish real-world velocity.
• Connection might 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 person 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 could be a sensible alternative for small companies who need a simple option to handle a single VPN for his or her staff.

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

If TunnelBear VPN isn’t supreme for you, try these alternate options

Should you discover that TunnelBear isn’t the most effective match, we’ve listed comparable VPNs that would supply a greater expertise.

ExpressVPN

Should you’re on the lookout for a VPN with an easy-to-use interface and quick efficiency, ExpressVPN is likely one of the greatest choices available in the market. It has robust security measures, servers throughout 90 nations, and a password supervisor included at no further value.

Proton VPN

Proton VPN is a good choose in case 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 robust privateness legal guidelines that supply a further layer of safety to your knowledge. Proton VPN additionally has a free model with no knowledge cap.

Personal Web Entry

Customers who desire a huge server suite ought to take into account Personal Web Entry VPN. PIA reportedly has round 10,000 to 35,000 servers throughout 91 counties, making it a wise alternative 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 out there at the moment.

Overview 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 by way of its free Home windows software, and I supplemented my findings with person testimonials and respected critiques.

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

Lastly, I scored TunnelBear VPN on numerous components, together with its safety protocols and value, primarily based on an inner algorithm to get a ranking of three.1 out of 5 stars. I checked out TunnelBear VPN each by itself and in relation to different VPN options available in the market at the moment.

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