TunnelBear Review 2024 — Is Its Free VPN Good and Safe?

TunnelBear is one of the most beginner-friendly VPNs, offering a solid free version. Despite its adorable design, it’s also renowned for its security and privacy features. But can you truly rely on this lighthearted VPN to protect you the way the best providers can?

After extensive tests, I can confirm that TunnelBear is an excellent VPN with great potential. It’s straightforward to use, delivers impressive speeds on most servers, and works well for gaming and torrenting. Unfortunately, the free plan is just too limited. The lack of live chat support and a reliable money-back guarantee prevents it from being among the best.

Try TunnelBear Risk-Free >>

67% Off

Get 67% off TunnelBear VPN now!

Money-Back Guarantee: 0 Days

Don't miss out on this great deal!

Get it now!

Our international team could securely stream their local platforms with TunnelBear’s paid version. The streaming quality was excellent too.

While the free version works fine, the data limits make it impractical for streaming. The 2GB per month limit is a significant increase from the 500MB it once offered, but it still gets used up way too quickly with today’s high bandwidth streams.

While you can theoretically use TunnelBear to watch geo-restricted content, you should know this is copyright infringement. My teammates only connected to servers in their respective countries while testing.

Works With: ITVX, Amazon Prime Video, Max, ESPN, Peacock, Disney+, and Netflix

My colleague in the UK reported a smooth streaming experience with ITVX, even when skipping to different parts of the titles she viewed.

Videos loaded nearly instantly and there was no buffering

A colleague in the US also had no issue streaming on several local platforms. He watched Five Nights at Freddy’s on Amazon Prime Video, Barbie on Max, and several videos on ESPN. All the videos quickly loaded and attained high quality almost immediately.

The same connection gave our US tester great quality on Disney+

He could also securely watch his local American Netflix library on the first attempt. A teammate in the UK also reported a similar experience watching her local libraries. It was a bit of a hassle for our correspondent in Tokyo to watch Netflix Japan, but he finally succeeded in watching Netflix Originals. This is a version of the site that has Netflix's own shows and movies.

Doesn’t Work With: BBC iPlayer and Hulu

Unfortunately, the UK connection didn’t let my colleague securely load any videos on BBC iPlayer from her location in Richmond, London.

Hulu also successfully identified VPN use by our US correspondent.

Hulu uses robust anti-VPN technology, so it was no surprise

Despite our US tester trying various servers and protocols and even enabling GhostBear, the outcome was consistently the same. So, TunnelBear isn’t perfect in this category. To get a VPN that’s more likely to work with all platforms offered where you live, check out our list of the best VPNs for streaming.

TunnelBear has great speeds on local servers, but it’s not as fast on distant ones. A 10-20% speed dip on short-distance servers is normal for top VPNs, and TunnelBear is normally right in this sweet spot, which impressed me.

Our speed expert regularly assesses each top VPN from the same UK location and connection. This allows us to create more balanced comparisons. She also records speeds on each server multiple times to create averages that more accurately reflect how the VPNs perform over time.

See how TunnelBear's premium servers perform beside other fast vendors

Visit Website

• • ExpressVPN
  • CyberGhost VPN
  • Private Internet Access
  • NordVPN
  • Surfshark
  • IPVanish VPN
  • PrivateVPN
  • Proton VPN
  • Hotspot Shield
  • hide.me VPN

Visit Website

• • ExpressVPN
  • CyberGhost VPN
  • Private Internet Access
  • NordVPN
  • Surfshark
  • IPVanish VPN
  • PrivateVPN
  • Proton VPN
  • Hotspot Shield
  • hide.me VPN

Visit Website

No VPN

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

USA (Dallas)

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

USA (Miami)

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

USA (Los Angeles)

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

USA (New York)

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

Canada

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

Brazil

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

UK

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

France

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

Japan

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

Australia

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

Singapore

Download Speed

Upload Speed

Ping

253.73 Mbps

265.15 Mbps

3 ms

143.16 Mbps (-43.6%)

55.85 Mbps (-78.9%)

10 ms

172.61 Mbps (-32%)

61.54 Mbps (-76.8%)

49 ms

133.93 Mbps (-47.2%)

N/A*

34 ms

202.31 Mbps (-20.3%)

93.04 Mbps (-64.9%)

41 ms

217.91 Mbps (-14.1%)

98.16 Mbps (-63%)

49 ms

297.87 Mbps (17.4%)

92.28 Mbps (-65.2%)

146 ms

76.74 Mbps (-69.8%)

16.74 Mbps (-93.7%)

144 ms

133.97 Mbps (-47.2%)

77.03 Mbps (-70.9%)

110 ms

86.72 Mbps (-65.8%)

N/A*

145 ms

117.72 Mbps (-53.6%)

10.98 Mbps (-95.9%)

193 ms

72.69 Mbps (-71.4%)

95.15 Mbps (-64.1%)

211 ms

219.97 Mbps

94.10 Mbps

4 ms

173.22 Mbps (-21.3%)

90.59 Mbps (-3.7%)

11 ms

157.99 Mbps (-28.2%)

43.93 Mbps (-53.3%)

204 ms

153.61 Mbps (-30.2%)

125.61 Mbps (33.5%)

98 ms

140.79 Mbps (-36%)

24.06 Mbps (-74.4%)

182 ms

81.06 Mbps (-63.1%)

62.09 Mbps (-34%)

179 ms

118.06 Mbps (-46.3%)

103.02 Mbps (9.5%)

187 ms

102.79 Mbps (-53.3%)

83.94 Mbps (-10.8%)

203 ms

145.80 Mbps (-33.7%)

139.18 Mbps (47.9%)

208 ms

137.35 Mbps (-37.6%)

143.93 Mbps (53%)

184 ms

142.39 Mbps (-35.3%)

104.08 Mbps (10.6%)

181 ms

110.89 Mbps (-49.6%)

131.79 Mbps (40.1%)

229 ms

160.63 Mbps

48.49 Mbps

5 ms

103.16 Mbps (-35.8%)

49.78 Mbps (2.7%)

5 ms

111.47 Mbps (-30.6%)

86.44 Mbps (78.3%)

116 ms

125.04 Mbps (-22.2%)

28.32 Mbps (-41.6%)

75 ms

200.96 Mbps (25.1%)

56.18 Mbps (15.9%)

56 ms

111.61 Mbps (-30.5%)

49.52 Mbps (2.1%)

74 ms

186.53 Mbps (16.1%)

104.80 Mbps (116.1%)

161 ms

73.75 Mbps (-54.1%)

57.14 Mbps (17.8%)

133 ms

133.77 Mbps (-16.7%)

81.13 Mbps (67.3%)

119 ms

104.89 Mbps (-34.7%)

90.47 Mbps (86.6%)

144 ms

100.97 Mbps (-37.1%)

74.94 Mbps (54.5%)

193 ms

68.68 Mbps (-57.2%)

33.48 Mbps (-31%)

210 ms

These tests are conducted from the USA

*N/A indicates that we do not currently have speed test data for this location

To get the fastest connection, you can use the Fastest Tunnel feature. It connects you to the best server for your location.

The drops usually don’t become significant until servers are 8,000+km away. For example, I’ve seen the Singapore server reduce our tester’s speed by 66.6%. Such a drop can make even regular browsing problematic. Unfortunately, it was difficult to link the slowdown to potential overcrowding since the VPN doesn't display latency or how busy its servers are.

Most of the same servers were retested to ensure a fair comparison

In the past, this VPN’s poor speeds were one of its main drawbacks. However, TunnelBear has made some significant improvements in this area. It’s one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested on nearby servers. While its long-distance speeds aren’t bad on most servers, I could easily see it becoming one of the fastest VPNs.

I had a great experience playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and World of Tanks (WoT) with TunnelBear. The connection was stable, with no noticeable delays between my keyboard inputs and the in-game responses. This was largely due to the Fastest option delivering a low ping of 67ms (you’ll want it below 85ms while gaming).

For the best gaming experience, choose a local or nearby server

The free version performed well in my tests, though I noted slightly higher latency on the servers I tested. However, the real deal-breaker for avid gamers is the 2GB data cap. You’ll be lucky to get through a couple matches with those limits.

Ping rates on distant servers aren’t as good for smooth gameplay. My latency was over 330 on servers in Singapore and Australia, which caused noticeable lag while playing. However, that’s pretty common. I haven’t found any VPNs that give you great ping results at those distances, so TunnelBear is super impressive in this area.

TunnelBear offers a decent network and lets you use almost all its servers for free. Most of them are in Europe and North America (Canada, the US, and Mexico). However, in Africa, servers are limited to just 3 countries. There are also city-specific servers in the US and Canada.

This means you can’t pick a server closest to you to get the best speeds

All its servers are physically located in their respective countries, so there aren’t any virtual servers. TunnelBear also owns all of its servers, which is great for privacy because there’s no third-party involvement.

The VPN lacks dedicated IPs and memory-erasing servers, which can contribute to extra safety. Although the absence of RAM-based servers means the TunnelBear might retain data, its own DNS servers help keep your browsing safe. I'll delve into the specifics of private DNS in the next section.

The only downside is it can take a while to connect to TunnelBear's servers. For instance, while ExpressVPN connects in under 4 seconds, TunnelBear often makes me wait more than 10 seconds. I also noticed that switching from a free account to a paid one sometimes caused connection problems. However, switching to a different server, as well as closing and opening the app solved this issue.

Even though it doesn’t have as many features as the top VPNs, TunnelBear is safe to use. It passed all of my leak tests.

These tests showed no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks across the network

I also like that it offers a free ad-blocker as a Chrome browser extension. However, this isn’t technically a part of the VPN (you download it separately). Plus, I wish TunnelBear hadn't stopped supporting RememBear (its password manager).

Encryption

TunnelBear uses the AES-256 encryption level, the same technology governments use to secure their files, across its free and paid versions. The VPN also protects every server with full disk encryption, malware and intrusion scans, and intrusion protection techniques to ensure your online activity remains confidential.

GhostBear

This feature makes it easier to use the VPN on restrictive networks, like school and work. By enabling GhostBear, you can make your encrypted data look more like regular traffic, so you’re less likely to be blocked. The feature can only be enabled if you’re using the OpenVPN protocol, and it’s not available on iOS.

Security Protocols

TunnelBear uses the safest available security protocols. It automatically picks a protocol for you, but you can also choose. These are your options:

• OpenVPN. The industry-leading open-source protocol that’s currently regarded as the safest VPN tunnel. It’s the only protocol that works with GhostBear and TCP Override (which can stabilize your connection).
• IKEv2. This is one of the most popular security protocols, and it comes with an auto-connect feature. It’s very useful on mobile devices, as it can automatically resume your VPN connection when you switch between networks.
• WireGuard. It provides the best balance between speed and security.

The table below shows the protocols available on each device:

VigilantBear (Kill Switch)

This feature stops your internet traffic if the VPN suddenly disconnects. For example, when you switch servers or your device goes into sleep mode, you might get disconnected. So, to prevent data leaks, I recommend turning on VigilantBear in the app’s connection settings. It’s available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Encrypted Client Hello (ECH)

ECH helps you reach the TunnelBear site on restricted networks. This is an updated version of its Encrypted Server Name Indicator (ESNI) feature (that it still uses as well). Basically, some countries may use DNS-level blocking to prevent you from accessing TunnelBear’s website. ECH uses encryption to help you avoid these blocks. It’s currently only supported on Android devices, but a version for Windows is being worked on.

SplitBear

This feature lets you route selected traffic through TunnelBear’s secure tunnel. I use it to make bank transfers over a standard connection while keeping the rest of my internet activities secured by the VPN. It's accessible on both desktop and mobile apps.

Private DNS Servers

These servers safeguard your online activities by encrypting DNS queries, preventing ISPs and third parties from tracking your web visits. They also fortify against DNS leaks and diminish the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks, where hackers or snoops intercept and modify data in transit.

TunnelBear only logs the minimum amount of data required for running the service, and it doesn’t share this information with anyone.

You can request access to your personal data and even its deletion. The VPN also regularly publishes transparency reports, which let you know any time information has been requested from TunnelBear (and that it’s never had anything to share).

Does TunnelBear Keep Logs? No

TunnelBear doesn’t log your browsing history, IP address, or connection timestamps. However, like most VPNs, it does log some technical data.

I appreciate Tunnelbear's clarity on recording some operational data

This may include your Twitter ID, OS version, the TunnelBear app version you use, if you’ve been active this month (1 or 0), and how much data you’ve used in a month. Operational events like creating an account, making a payment, or upgrading are also logged. This makes it possible to discover that you’re a TunnelBear user, but no one can see what you’re doing while connected to its servers.

Was TunnelBear Audited? Yes

TunnelBear has undergone multiple independent security reviews since 2016, all conducted by Cure53, a reputable German cybersecurity firm. The VPN publishes these yearly reports on its website and uses them to improve its security and privacy practices. This commitment shows TunnelBear’s steadfast focus on safeguarding your digital privacy.

Based in Canada

With its headquarters in Toronto, Canada, TunnelBear is subject to the 5 Eyes Agreement. This is a group of countries that have agreed to share their citizens' online data. That means the company must not only surrender your data to authorities upon request but also make it accessible to all participating countries.

TunnelBear’s acquisition by the US antivirus software company McAfee also means that the VPN is now subject to US laws. However, you don't have to worry, as the VPN doesn’t log any data that could compromise your online privacy.

Does TunnelBear Work in China? Maybe

While the GhostBear feature aims to boost the VPN’s performance in countries with strict censorship and VPN regulations, the support staff can't guarantee that TunnelBear will work for you while in China.

TunnelBear also confirmed that it no longer supports connections from India

China constantly blocks VPNs in the country, but there have been no publicly reported cases of the government pursuing individuals for using VPNs. We urge you to familiarize yourself with the country's laws to avoid legal repercussions. If you decide to use a VPN there, check out one of these providers that have been proven to work in China.

TunnelBear only allows P2P traffic on specific servers. These are in Canada, the US, the UK, Romania, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden. My tests on tunnel locations in Kenya, South Africa, France, and Singapore verified this restriction. Downloads were also not possible with the free servers. To download on a wider variety of servers, check out our top VPN picks for torrenting.

The VPN let me download a 1.1 GB file in 26 minutes. Without a VPN, it took 28 minutes to download the same file. This is a great result, given that all the servers the VPN recommended for torrenting are 5,000+ km away from my location.

Torrenting is legal in most countries, but downloading copyrighted files isn’t. To remain within the boundaries of the law, I recommend limiting yourself to torrents that are in the public domain.