TunnelBear Review

Quick Verdict

TunnelBear is a great beginner VPN, especially for casual users looking for an easy-to-use service with trustworthy security practices. It’s transparent, independently audited, and fun to use. However, it lacks key features like WireGuard, consistent streaming access, and advanced configuration options, which limits its appeal to power users.

✔ Best for: VPN beginners, casual browsers, privacy-conscious users who value simplicity

✘ Not ideal for: Streamers, torrenters, advanced users, or those wanting feature-rich customization

Pros and Cons

Privacy and Logging Policy

TunnelBear is based in Canada, a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. Despite this, TunnelBear maintains a strong no-logs policy, which has been independently audited every year since 2017 — one of the best transparency records in the industry.

The company publishes annual transparency reports, and in 2023 became one of the first VPNs to open-source its mobile and desktop apps. This move bolstered its reputation for privacy integrity.

Privacy highlights:

• No IP logging, DNS logging, or activity tracking

• Annual third-party security audits

• Open-source clients

• GhostBear obfuscation feature for restricted countries

Speed and Performance

TunnelBear delivers respectable speeds, though it doesn’t compete with top-tier providers like NordVPN or ExpressVPN. It currently lacks support for WireGuard, which limits its speed ceiling.

Speed test results (500 Mbps baseline)

Speeds are sufficient for browsing, HD video, and casual streaming, but not optimal for large downloads or competitive gaming.

Server Network and Locations

TunnelBear operates a smaller but well-distributed network, covering the most popular countries users typically need.

Server stats (as of 2025):

• Servers in 47+ countries

• No virtual server locations

• All servers owned by the company

• No RAM-only infrastructure (yet)

Countries include the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and more — enough for general global access.

Streaming Capabilities

TunnelBear can unblock some streaming services, but results are inconsistent and not reliable enough for dedicated streamers. There’s no “Streaming” mode or optimized servers, so users need to manually test locations.

Tested streaming results (2025):

• Netflix: Occasionally works (U.S. and UK libraries)

• Disney+: Inconsistent

• BBC iPlayer: Often blocked

• Amazon Prime Video: Blocked

• YouTube: Always works

• Hulu: Occasionally works

If streaming is a priority, you’d be better off with ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, or ProtonVPN.

Torrenting and P2P

TunnelBear allows P2P traffic on its network, but it does not actively advertise torrenting support. There are no specialized servers for torrenting, and the VPN lacks port forwarding, which may reduce efficiency for seeding.

Torrenting notes:

• P2P technically allowed on all servers

• No port forwarding

• No SOCKS5 proxy

• Kill switch available (called VigilantBear)

• Decent speeds for casual downloads

TunnelBear is fine for occasional torrenting, but lacks tools and flexibility for heavy P2P users.

Security and Encryption

TunnelBear provides solid security using industry-standard protocols and encryption.

Security features include:

• AES-256-GCM encryption

• OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols (no WireGuard)

• Kill switch (VigilantBear)

• GhostBear (obfuscation)

• DNS leak protection

• No telemetry or tracking in-app

TunnelBear doesn’t yet offer RAM-only servers or multi-hop connections, but for basic protection, it does more than enough — especially for newer users.

User Experience and Interface

TunnelBear’s biggest strength lies in its playful, intuitive design. The app features animated bears “digging tunnels” to your chosen server location, and all menus are clean, minimal, and easy to understand.

Available platforms:

• Windows, macOS, Linux (CLI)

• Android, iOS

• Chrome and Firefox browser extensions

• No smart TV or router support (yet)

It’s ideal for users who want a no-fuss VPN experience. Settings are limited — by design — which keeps things beginner-friendly.

Device Compatibility

TunnelBear allows up to 5 simultaneous connections per account. While that’s enough for a small household, it’s less generous than services like Surfshark (unlimited) or PIA (10+).

There’s no router support, meaning you can’t protect an entire network with a single configuration. Smart TVs and gaming consoles will also require manual workarounds.

Additional Features

TunnelBear doesn’t overload users with features, but includes a few well-implemented basics:

Extras include

There’s no ad blocker, tracker blocker, or dedicated IP support — but for light VPN users, that may be a feature, not a flaw.

Pricing and Plans

TunnelBear offers a free plan and two paid options. Pricing is reasonable, but not as aggressive as some competitors, especially considering the feature set.

Pricing (2025)

No upsells, no confusing tiers — just one paid plan that gives you full access to everything.

Frequently Asked Questions