TunnelBear | Review and cost 2024

tunnelBear

Are you ready to adopt a pet? Because now’s the good time to get a bear. Yes, a motherf****** bear! That’s way more badass than an ass… Indeed, the Canadian TunnelBear is ready for adoption. And it’s been famous for its simplicity and its originality since 2011. Furthermore, if you’re afraid of the Grizzly, you can start with a cute little bear! Let’s review TunnelBear in details now.

TunnelBear VPN, a minimalist VPN provider for noobs

A few years back, I received a message from a reader asking for a TunnelBear review. So I decided to give this VPN a whirl. And every now and then I update this review to provide you with the latest information.

Despite being very popular on the web, Tunnel Bear doesn’t offer any particular feature. Indeed, the motto of the company seems to be “keep it simple”. And maybe that’s why CNN recommended it for its simplicity! Anybody can start using TunnelBear VPN in minutes. No need to be a bearded geek.

Select a server and connect. That’s it! You have a new IP address and all you traffic is encrypted. As easy as pie. It’s not clear which ports are used, or the type of driver, speed, options etc. but it works. And they offer native apps for most devices!

tunnelbear review

I don’t really like the design of their client. Indeed, I’m not a log fan but they pushed their concept to the limit. And they managed to make me smile with that bear pretending to be Mario!

On the privacy side, you should know that Canada is part of the Five Eyes. Therefore sharing  signals intelligence with enemies of the Internet, such as UK and the US… And once you accept the terms to use TunnelBear, you’re considered under Canadian laws. Therefore, it’s pretty useless! And I most certainly do not recommend this provider for P2P and torrenting.

TunnelBear: Plans and pricing

tunnelbear vpn

To get started, either register on their website or download the VPN client (then register during setup). With their Little package, you get 500MB of data for free. And it’s an interesting trial. However, you can’t use customized tunneling. Therefore you can’t stream movies (streaming requires 1MBps on netflix). Furthermore, there’s no multi-login…

In order to get unlimited data, you have to upgrade. Tunnel Bear offers 2 packages: With a monthly or yearly subscription. There’s no difference between these two plans, they both offer 3 multi-login. With the Giant package you can pay every month and with the Grizzly package you pay only once for a year. Therefore, I would recommend a yearly subscription, to get a significant discount!

As usual, click on the picture above to get the latest promotions from TunnelBear.

Summary sheet for TunnelBear

Feature Value
Does it register your activities? No, you're safe with a strict no-log policy
Is it safe for torrenting? No, you should avoid it for P2P
What Netflix catalogue is available? None
Simultaneous logins Up to 5 connections simultaneously
How many countries do it cover? 23+
On what platforms is it available? iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Chrome
Money-back guarantee policy This provider doesn't offer this kind of policy
Available protocols OpenVPN, IKEv2
Type of traffic data? Unlimited
Type of Cipher AES 256 bits, the most secure encryption in the World
How many IP Addresses does it provide? This provider does not disclose the number
How many servers are available? This provider does not disclose them

The VPN TunnelBear in details

As mentioned above, the main advantage for this VPN is its simplicity. So it’s perfect for inexperienced users who want to browse anonymously: Check their emails and visit websites.

It doesn’t get any easier than this!

tunnelbear vpn review

Once you have installed the client software for TunnelBear VPN, it is easy to configure. Simply select a country then click the switch and you are ready to roll.

This software is perfect for emailing while travelling. By using the VPN you can encrypt the header and content with the VPN. Therefore you’re hiding all sensitive information.

Limited options, but better than it used to be

Ok, a few changes here, for the best! However, as I said, don’t expect too much. Indeed, it’s not what’s best on the market. It is not going to perform any miracle!

tunnelbear general options

The available options are desktop notifications and auto-launch when you start your computer. Then Vigilant (for paid users only) is a kill switch to avoid IP and DNS leaks. Also you can enable TCP override to use a slightly slower, but more reliable protocol (TCP instead of UDP).

And the protection for unsecure WiFi is interesting. Because you can automatically get protection on networks that are completely open and have no password, such as at a coffee shop or library.

Finally, GhostBear (for paid users only) makes your encrypted data less detectable to snoopers. Indeed, it does this by scrambling your VPN communications which makes them harder to detect and block.

tunnelbear intellibear

IntelliBear is an interesting feature which allows you to select on which website to use the VPN. However, it’s available only for paid users.

Maul trackers

If you activate the TunnelBear Maul trackers, the client will block the cookies. Cookies are normally active when you surf on Facebook, general websites or websites which use Google analytics.

tunnelbear maul tracker

It’s a nice option, but it can’t protect your PC from malware and virus. It’s a simple cookie management software inside the client. And it’s not really necessary if you well configured your web browser.

Logs and Torrent

TunnelBear is not Torrent friendly! Therefore it’s NOT recommended to use it for P2P. If you’re looking for a torrent VPN, read the best VPN for torrenting.

Native apps

Tunnelbear app is available for Android and iOS. However, in the mobile version you won’t find any options. Indeed, you can only select your country and connect.

TunnelBear
Are you ready to adopt a pet? Because now's the good time to get a bear. Yes, a motherf****** bear! That's way more badass than an ass... Indeed, the Canadian TunnelBear is ready for adoption. And it's been famous for its simplicity and its originality since 2011. Furthermore, if you're afraid of the Grizzly, you can start with a cute little bear!
7.8 Total Score
Tunnel Bear Review: Good

TunnelBear VPN is a perfect solution for non technical users. It is suitable for all those who need an easy-to-use VPN to browse websites anonymously, check emails and watch streaming TV on all their devices without limits.


PROS
  • Strong encryption
  • Native app for iPhone and Android
  • User friendly
CONS
  • No torrenting
  • Few configuration options
  • No built-in firewall (NAT firewall)
  • Few countries

Privacy and Security
9
Features
7
Speed and Performance
8
Value for money
8
Ease of use
7
Wade

You can call me Wade, a genuine internet enthusiast, often dubbed the embodiment of the online world. With a Computer Science Bachelor's Degree and extensive internet marketing experience, I take pride in my profound expertise in the digital realm. My fervent passion lies in exploring the depths of the digital world while staying updated on every Internet security development. I aim to empower users to safeguard themselves and their data. For insightful content on internet security and the latest tech news, please feel free to contact me via this email: wade@thebestvpn.uk

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