Pros & Cons
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- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Excellent privacy policy
- Annual independent audits
- Friendly, approachable design
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- No multi-hop connections
- Unimpressive customer support
TunnelBear VPN Specs
| 500+ Servers | |
| Are All Features Available In Free Version? | |
| Blocks Ads | |
| Can Manually Select Server In Free Version | |
| Free Connection Speeds Limited | No |
| Free Version | |
| Free Version Server Limit | All Servers |
| Free Version Data Limit | 2GB per month |
| Free Version Simultaneous Connection Limit | Unlimited |
| Geographically Diverse Servers | |
| No Ads In Free Version? | Yes |
| Public Third-Party Audit | |
| Server Locations | 45 Countries |
| Simultaneous VPN Connections | Unlimited |
| Supported Protocols on Android | OpenVPN |
| Supported Protocols on iOS | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Supported Protocols on macOS | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
On the internet, nobody knows you're a dog—or a bear. That used to be the case, anyhow. These days, advertisers, corporations, and governments know a lot about you. Using a VPN makes it harder for spies, your ISP, and advertisers to track you online. Among the best VPNs we've tested is TunnelBear VPN, a surprisingly whimsical app bursting with design charm. More importantly, it has an outstanding position on transparency and consumer privacy, and it offers unlimited simultaneous connections. It's particularly well-suited to first-time subscribers, earning it our Editors' Choice award for user-friendly VPNs.
Pricing and Plans
TunnelBear is one of the few VPN providers that offers a completely free plan. You get access to the VPN with unlimited connections and full functionality. However, you’re limited to just 2GB of data each month. That limit resets every month, but it’s still not enough data for more than just casual browsing. The previous iteration of the free plan offered 500MB per month with the ability to gain more data by tweeting about TunnelBear. There are still special offers to increase the 2GB limit every now and then, but it isn’t a guarantee. I do like that you don’t need to input any payment information to get the free plan, however.
Overall, I prefer Proton VPN's free offering because it does not restrict data. However, that service limits you to just a few server locations, while TunnelBear VPN lets free subscribers use its whole server network.
TunnelBear has affordable and easy-to-understand plans if you do decide to give the full version a shot. You don’t get varying features or confusing tiers that inflate the price with add-ons you don’t want. It doesn’t matter if you buy a one-month, one-year, or three-year subscription. All paid plans include the core VPN, unlimited data, and unlimited device connections.
(Credit: PCMag/TunnelBear)A monthly subscription will cost $9.99 per month. Subscribing to an annual plan drops that price down to $4.17 per month (billed in one installment of $49.99). If you’ve decided TunnelBear is the VPN for you, then you can lock in a three-year subscription for $3.33 per month (billed all at once at $120). Although the savings of a long-term subscription are enticing, I highly recommend starting with the company's free or monthly plans so you can test it out in your own home and on your own devices to make sure it works for you.
TunnelBear’s excellent price makes it one of the best cheap VPNs we’ve reviewed. Another Editors' Choice winner, Mullvad VPN, costs just 5 euros per month ($5.67 as of this writing).
Payment options for TunnelBear are pretty limited. The only traditional payment method supported is credit card, and its payment service (Stripe) requires an address associated with the card. I confirmed with a TunnelBear representative that this information is not logged or stored on its servers.
There is one whimsical and anonymous payment method that is unique to the service: Jars of honey. A representative claimed that, while rare, this is not a joke and that “we do have a few apiarists that pay for our service this way regularly.” If you’re interested, you can send your honey with your account email address to the company's headquarters in Toronto. It might seem silly (and it is), but I appreciate there being an anonymous method akin to paying with cash.
Refunds are only given on a case-by-case basis, so make sure you’re satisfied with the service before you purchase a long-term plan.
Features
TunnelBear focuses solely on its VPN service. You don’t get any additional tools, such as a password manager or an antivirus. While more providers offer complete security suites these days, I tend to find that bundled services have lackluster results when compared with standalone products that specialize in those tasks. I prefer to see a company focus on one excellent VPN service rather than split its attention between a bunch of extras that end up being middling at best. That single focus also keeps the price reasonable and lets you use the service you paid for without any bloat.
Aside from a playful bear-themed interface, you get a quality selection of features. Unlimited connections mean you can use Tunnelbear on all of your devices without having to worry about constantly logging in and out of your account. GhostBear is an additional obfuscation option that makes your VPN traffic appear more like a normal web connection. However, this tool comes at the cost of speed and reliability. The company doesn't recommend you use GhostBear if you’re able to access content without it, but it is a good option if security is paramount or if you run into roadblocks. Note that this feature only works when using OpenVPN as your protocol.
VigilantBear is a kill switch that disables your internet if TunnelBear loses internet connection. If you’re engaging in activities that you don’t want leaked to your ISP, then you should always keep it on. SplitBear functions the same as split-tunneling and lets you route certain connections through your regular internet connection. You can use this to access sites that often block VPNs, such as your bank, while keeping the rest of your data encrypted. TunnelBear also offers a free, standalone tracker blocker for the Chrome browser.
We’d like to see multi-hop support added in the future, especially since TunnelBear’s competitors, like Proton, offer it at a similar price. This connection option routes your traffic through a second VPN server for extra security. A representative let me know that multi-hop is on the development road map, but there is no firm timeline for implementation yet.
VPN Protocols
TunnelBear supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 in Windows, macOS, and iOS. The Android version only supports WireGuard and OpenVPN. You can also let the app decide by selecting Auto.
(Credit: PCMag/TunnelBear)Servers and Server Locations
Tunnelbear users get access to more than 8,000 servers in 46 countries. The company's coverage is right around the average compared with the services I have tested. Global country coverage is adequate, though you’ll find that the service does not offer servers in certain countries with restrictive internet policies, like Russia, Turkey, and Vietnam. TunnelBear also moved its servers out of Hong Kong and Ukraine.
You can pick from a handful of city-level servers in the United States and Canada. While the other countries don’t offer city-level connections, it would be nice to know the general area of the server you are connecting to. For example, there is no geographical information for the Australia server. It’s a huge country, so knowing even the general region of the server would help to set expectations for performance.
Many VPN companies use virtual servers, which are single hardware servers that host multiple virtual locations. Some servers can also be configured to appear as if they are in a different country—what we call virtual locations. Neither is inherently problematic, but I like to see companies be transparent about their use.
(Credit: PCMag/TunnelBear)TunnelBear’s commitment to physical infrastructure impresses me. I spoke with a representative, and they clarified that, “Our entire network takes place in the country the user connects to. This is in part why we have a smaller/more contained number of locations compared to other VPN providers, as we think it's important that users are connecting from the countries we say they are, rather than simulating the country from somewhere else.”
If you're using TunnelBear VPN, your data is exactly where it's supposed to be. The representative told me that it uses a mix of physical and cloud-based servers. It also does not own all of its server infrastructure, which is not unusual. They explained that TunnelBear VPN builds and provisions its servers and that third-party providers do not have access to server code or data.
I was also told that the company has taken steps to limit the damage a successful attack on its server infrastructure might cause. The servers contain no identifiable user information, and the drives are encrypted. Some companies, including Nord and Surfshark, now run their servers on RAM-only settings, which do not write any data to disk.
A representative had the following to say when asked why TunnelBear doesn't use RAM-based servers:
... The security benefits of RAM-based servers really comes down to encryption (rather than data resetting on server shutdown - since servers don't necessarily reboot often). If an attacker compromises a running server, for instance, it doesn't matter if it's running in RAM. With disk encryption, if a server is rebooted, the data is encrypted and the drive must be unlocked before the OS can load. So really, it comes down more to perception of risk - a server being RAM-based doesn't necessarily mean it's any more or less secure than our approach, it depends more on what other steps are taken to secure a server by the providers.
To TunnelBear's point, it truly is about the perception of privacy and the additional measures taken to secure user data. While RAM-based server infrastructure is a popular solution, it is not the only one that works.
Privacy
Few VPNs present privacy policies as well thought out as TunnelBear’s. Each aspect of the policy is contextualized with real examples that make it clear how and why the company handles data the way it does. None of the sections are difficult to parse or intentionally vague. Every term is explained in detail before it is presented in the document. Other VPN companies should take note of this approach.
TunnelBear has a well-organized and easy-to-understand privacy policy that clearly demonstrates its strong stance on user privacy and operational transparency. The company does not keep information about web activity or record connection timestamps or DNS queries. It claims not to disclose, sell, or trade personal information with third-party companies.
Additionally, a company representative confirmed that TunnelBear VPN's only revenue source is subscriptions, not data mining or ad retargeting. The service does record the overall bandwidth to enforce its data cap and manage its network based on demand. However, this data is set back to zero at the end of each month, so there is no record of your bandwidth usage on a long-term scale.
Some countries require companies to retain user data and comply with authorities in the event of an inquiry. TunnelBear is based in Toronto, Canada. Canada is part of an information-sharing alliance known as the Five Eyes Alliance, and the country does have mandatory data retention laws. However, just because the company is based in one of these countries does not mean that TunnelBear is retaining data.
The company says it has legal teams for responding to legal requests for data, but, "We have no information that can connect customers to usage, so we're unable to provide law enforcement with anything not in our Privacy Policy." A company representative verified that all it can provide is whether a certain email address was used to open an account. That's excellent.
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I tend to believe TunnelBear, as it issued a robust transparency report for 2023 that shows that it has never handed over data that could tie an individual to an account, nor has it ever provided user browsing data to authorities. I spoke with a representative of the company and received confirmation that a similar report will be published later in the year, going over 2024 and 2025 requests.
Additionally, TunnelBear has the notable distinction of having completed not just one but seven independent audits and publicly released the results of those audits. I'm pleased to see this commitment to transparency. Not all audits are the same, either. These are full audits of the company’s VPN servers, backend infrastructure, clients, and privacy standards. More VPN providers should consider investment in transparency. A company representative confirmed that the 2024 audit has been completed and that the 2025 audit will begin in the last quarter of the year. This review will be updated with any pertinent details when the current 2025 audit concludes.
Does TunnelBear Work With Netflix?
Using a VPN with Netflix can be tricky. The streaming service blocks VPNs due to regional licensing restrictions on content. Netflix may have secured the rights to stream a show in the UK but not Canada, or vice versa. These restrictions are why different regions have varied content catalogs. I test each VPN with Netflix and see if it can access a handful of key regions and assess whether or not I get Open, Limited, or Blocked catalogs. Read my piece on how to unblock Netflix with a VPN for more information.
TunnelBear performed perfectly in my tests. The VPN granted complete access to every regional Netflix catalog tested. See the chart below for more details:
Speed and Performance
Connecting to any VPN is likely going to negatively impact your connection. You’ll likely see a decrease in download and upload speeds, while latency will increase. Speed tests are going to vary. You could test in my same location and get different results based on your ISP, local network congestion, number of devices connected, and any number of other mitigating factors. Still, I try to get a general sense of the VPN’s impact by running a series of tests using the Ookla speed test tool. (Editors' Note: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company.)
TunnelBear didn’t fare too well in my speed tests. I experienced a download speed reduction of 83%, which is fairly significant considering that the median across all of the VPNs I have tested is around 29%. Upload speeds weren’t much better, with a 72% decrease compared with the median of 34%. Latency was high at a 109% increase, but that figure does come in under the median of 199%.
You can see how TunnelBear VPN compares in the chart below:
While speed is important, I discourage anyone from using speed results alone as a benchmark for choosing a VPN service. Results depend on time and place and are not nearly as important as a VPN's features or overall value. Remember, too, that the performance you experience will likely differ from mine.
Hands On With TunnelBear VPN for Windows
TunnelBear’s apps have character. You’re not getting an overly serious cybersecurity-themed interface. I tested the Windows client on an Intel NUC 12 "Serpent Canyon" desktop running the latest version of Windows 11.
The app is charming, especially so if you’re a fan of bears. Every interaction you have with the app is built around it being playful and fun to use. The download shows a bear being unpacked from a monitor with fun flavor text describing the process. The bear on the login page will cover its eyes when you type in your password, which I thought was a nice touch. TunnelBear has found a way to wed fun and usability without compromising the user experience.
(Credit: PCMag/TunnelBear)The attention to detail has led to an application that is simply a joy to use. A map with pipes popping up in every country the VPN offers servers in functions as the primary interface. You can click and drag across the map to find the country you want to connect to. Once you click on it, you get a nice animation of your bear tunneling their way over and securing your connection. Alternatively, you can click the country name above the map to drop down a traditional server list.
You can also click the big on-off switch next to the country name to immediately connect to the fastest local server. It would be cool to see smaller pipes or some other visual indication for the city-level servers in the US and Canada. As is, you have to go into the text-based server list to access city-level servers.
(Credit: PCMag/TunnelBear)Tucked to the left-hand side of the interface are a few additional menus with useful features. VigilantBear is functionally a Kill Switch and prevents data from slipping through whenever you become disconnected from the VPN. SplitBear works the same as split tunneling and allows you to choose what data you route through your VPN connection. There’s a protocol selector that lets you choose between OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKeV2, and Auto.
When I test VPNs, I check to confirm that my IP address changes and the name of my ISP is hidden. I also use the DNS Leak Test to see if DNS information is, well, leaking. TunnelBear passed all these tests.
Hands On With TunnelBear VPN for macOS
Tunnelbear’s whimsical good looks extend to its macOS VPN application. For this test, I used a 2020 M1 MacBook Pro running Sequoia 15.5.
You can download the Mac version directly from TunnelBear. Setup is as straightforward as on other platforms. However, the client is a little different from the Windows version. The window is initially quite small and has the connection button at the bottom of the screen instead of the top. There were no signs of other menus anywhere. After expanding the window and connecting to a server, there were still no drop-down menus or icons to be seen. After a little bit of research, I found that you need to hit Command and “,” at the same time to pull up the hidden menus. It would have been nice to have that information presented somewhere in the app.
(Credit: PCMag/TunnelBear)All of the same options are there, plus a few fun theme options that I didn’t get on Windows. You can configure protocols and toggle the same security settings that you could on Windows. I did not experience any unique issues with the service on macOS, and all features worked as intended.
Hands On With TunnelBear VPN for iPhone
I tested TunnelBear using an iPhone 14 running iOS 16.3. I experienced some hurdles with testing. The VPN would not connect on iOS, so I reached out to the support team, and they suggested using IKEv2. While that did work, they attempted to close by ticket before resolving the issues with the other protocols.
(Credit: PCMag/TunnelBear)The colorful user interface of TunnelBear's iPhone app features an interactive map populated with animated tunneling bears, and you can use it to choose your VPN server location. Unlike Proton, TunnelBear doesn’t allow you to choose individual servers. Instead, it offers a list of countries where servers are located. If you want to use a server in the US or Canada, you can choose from specific cities. A white button at the bottom of the app window indicates whether the device is connected to a VPN. Just tap the toggle to turn the VPN on and off.
Hands On With TunnelBear VPN for Android
I tested TunnelBear's Android app using a Samsung Galaxy S23 FE running Android 14. I was worried that I would face similar connection issues to the ones I experienced on iOS, but I was relieved to find that I was able to connect to any server without a hitch. The design philosophy remains the same as other platforms, with an interactive map that takes up the majority of the screen.
(Credit: PCMag/TunnelBear)OpenVPN and WireGuard are the only two protocols supported on Android. All other major features, such as SplitBear, VigilantBear, and GhostBear, are also present. I tested a handful of servers using both protocols and didn't experience any connectivity issues.
Customer Service and Support
TunnelBear doesn't offer live support. There’s a sizable knowledge base that you can search for common issues, and there’s an AI bot that can help guide you through said forums and articles if you’re having trouble. If your issue persists, you’ll need to contact a support member via the site’s ticket form.
It’s understandable for a smaller team to lack live support, but it means that you might be waiting a little while before your issue is resolved. Tickets are fielded within 48 hours, and that held true for mine, which was answered in approximately 24 hours.
As mentioned above, I ran into an issue with the iOS version of the app not connecting. I submitted a ticket to the support team, and an agent said to cycle the protocols. While this did work and I was able to connect with IKEv2, it meant that OpenVPN and WireGuard still did not work. When I let the agent know, they moved to close my ticket since I was able to connect with IKeV2. I pressed the issue, as I would be disappointed if I found that two-thirds of the protocols offered didn’t work on my device.
To the agent's credit, I got word back within the hour. I was told that certain protocols may work while others may not work due to a variety of factors, such as network conditions and firewall configurations. This is technically true, but it didn’t quite explain why neither protocol worked for me. Considering that I frequently test VPNs in the same environment with no issues, I do not believe it was my network configuration blocking the connection. I tried testing on a separate Wi-Fi network and ran into the same issue.
This is an isolated incident that may very well not be reflective of your user experience. Still, I was disappointed by the response. It felt more like an agent trying to clear their queue than to actually resolve my issue. I wasn’t offered any real troubleshooting steps or given any guides to reference by the team. Additionally, there is no money-back guarantee. Instead, all refunds are issued on a case-by-case basis. So, it could result in a sticky situation if you find the service isn’t right for you.
Final Thoughts
(Credit: TunnelBear VPN)
TunnelBear VPN
Forget complicated apps and edgy graphics and let the whimsical (but powerful) TunnelBear VPN defend your web traffic. It's easy to use and protects your entire household with just one account.