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TunnelBear Review

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Simon Migliano
Simon Migliano

Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more. Read full bio

Fact-checked by Callum TennentAdditional Testing by David Hughes

Tunnelbear appRanked #42 out of 61 VPNs
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Our Verdict

TunnelBear is a mediocre VPN service, rated 6.7 based on our testing. Its premium version is fast, easy-to-use, and works to unblock most streaming sites including US Netflix, Disney+, and HBO. It has a good logging policy and industry-standard security, but it’s far too expensive for what it offers. TunnelBear’s Free version is also safe to use, but only provides 2GB of free data monthly.

4.1/10
Overall Rating Summary
Best Rating
9.6/10
Average Rating
5.6/10
Worst Rating
1.1/10
This rating is calculated by combining the ratings from our 9 testing categories, each weighted according to its relative importance.
Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.
  1. 8.8/10
  2. 3.7/10
  3. 5.8/10
  4. 8.5/10
  5. 5.4/10
  6. 4.9/10
  7. 8.8/10
  8. 4.5/10
  9. 2.2/10

TunnelBear Free Pros & Cons

  • Same server network as paid version
  • Trustworthy free service
  • Streams Max, BBC iPlayer & Channel 4
  • Secure encryption

  • Limited to 2GB per month
  • Unable to access US Netflix, Hulu & Prime Video
  • Not suitable for torrenting

6.7/10
Overall Rating Summary
Best Rating
9.6/10
Average Rating
5.6/10
Worst Rating
1.1/10
This rating is calculated by combining the ratings from our 9 testing categories, each weighted according to its relative importance.
Read our VPN testing methodology to learn more.
  1. 9.3/10
  2. 4.7/10
  3. 5.8/10
  4. 8.5/10
  5. 5.6/10
  6. 5.1/10
  7. 8.8/10
  8. 4.5/10
  9. 4.7/10

TunnelBear VPN Pros & Cons

  • Fast connection speeds
  • Unblocks US Netflix & Max
  • No identifiable data logged
  • User-friendly apps
  • Independent audits
  • Private DNS servers

  • Canadian jurisdiction (Five Eyes)
  • Leaks your geolocation
  • Not recommended for torrenting
  • No money-back guarantee
  • Can’t install on router
  • No live chat support

TunnelBear is a popular VPN service that’s owned by McAfee. It has both a free and a premium version, which offer similar features — though the free VPN is restricted to just 2GB of data per month.

In this TunnelBear review, we’ve put both the free and paid versions through our rigorous VPN testing process to highlight the VPN’s strengths and weaknesses.

While the premium subscription is better overall, TunnelBear’s free VPN remains one of the top-rated free VPNs we’ve tested.

Pricing Plans

1 month$9.99
12 months$49.92 ($4.16/mo)
3 years$119.88 ($3.33/mo)

Free Trial Options

Money-Back GuaranteeNo
Free TrialNo
100% Free PlanYes
Data Cap2GB per month
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