CyberGhost vs TunnelBear 2025

James Everard Senior Writer

Updated on April 14, 2025

While CyberGhost and TunnelBear both have quirky apps and affordable prices, TunnelBear has over 45 million users¹ compared to CyberGhost’s 38 million². That said, it’s easy to assume this is because TunnelBear has a free version, which CyberGhost does not. So then, will it be a “BOOOO!” or a “GRRR!”?

We subjected both VPNs to a rigorous set of tests. During this time, we compared speeds, security, and ease of use and conducted real-world tests for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. These tests revealed a clear winner.

CyberGhost proved superior in most categories. Its security is out of sight, and its streaming capabilities will keep you screaming for more. However, some may prefer to get their claws on TunnelBear. It has a fun, family-friendly app and is easy to use.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Best alternative to CyberGhost VPN

Our Score: 9.9

If you still haven’t found the right VPN, I recommend ExpressVPN. It has automatic obfuscation on every server and the fastest speeds we’ve ever tested.

Our Score: 9.9

Read more about ExpressVPN

See ExpressVPN's Best Deals

Compare ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN

Visit ExpressVPN

www.expressvpn.com

Streaming — CyberGhost’s Streaming Abilities Are Scary-Good

TunnelBear must snarl when it sees the table below because CyberGhost is considerably the better VPN for streaming content in HD from anywhere. It has 100+ specialty servers optimized for specific streaming platforms. CyberGhost’s engineers continuously update them to improve performance and ensure they’re not blocked by their respective platforms.

As well as a regular Netflix US server, CyberGhost also has Netflix US servers optimized for Android and Fire Stick

As such, CyberGhost could safely access all the major platforms we tried it with. On the contrary, TunnelBear hardly worked with any major platforms at all. Aside from those listed above, it also failed to work with Sky and ITVX (UK), as well as RTE (Ireland) and RTL (Germany).

Loading times were a little longer than CyberGhost, but we could then stream with no buffering

In fairness, when TunnelBear worked with a platform, it streamed without any issues. And sports fans rejoice that it worked with TNT Sports, ESPN, and NFL.com.

Winner

Is CyberGhost or TunnelBear better for streaming?

With specialty streaming servers and fast speeds, CyberGhost is far better for streaming. Plus, it worked with way more platforms than TunnelBear.

Server Network — An Easy Win for CyberGhost

Again, the data heavily favors CyberGhost. It has more servers, but the key stat is countries. TunnelBear only has servers in 47 countries, which is pretty low for a premium service. Whereas CyberGhost has servers in 100 countries, which not many VPNs can match.

On top of that, CyberGhost has specialty servers for streaming, downloading, and gaming (gaming servers are PC only). It also offers dedicated IPs (a private IP that only you can use) and its NoSpy servers for added privacy, which TunnelBear can’t match.

Winner

Which has the most servers, CyberGhost or TunnelBear?

With thousands more servers in over twice as many countries, it’s another easy win for CyberGhost.

Speed — CyberGhost Is a Touch Faster

We conducted speed tests from a location in Austin, Texas, using the fastest protocol, which in both cases was WireGuard. It’s the industry-standard protocol for speed and is open-source, meaning anyone can review the code base, suggest improvements, and fix bugs. It’s also the fastest protocol we’ve tested, apart from ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway.

The results were surprisingly close, and both services deliver impressive speeds. That’s unexpected, considering CyberGhost’s larger server fleet. While CyberGhost had faster download speeds for streaming and torrenting, TunnelBear proved faster across our upload speed tests.

Surprisingly, we got the fastest speeds from Brazil with CyberGhost (234.54 Mbps)

It’s also worth pointing out that our base speeds were 15% faster when testing TunnelBear, which may account for some of its more favorable results.

TunnelBear's ping was also a touch faster than CyberGhost

Here’s an overview of our speed tests:

Winner

Which VPN has the best speed test results, CyberGhost or TunnelBear?

CyberGhost was faster in the all-important download tests, but both VPNs are impressively quick.

Gaming — CyberGhost Supports Consoles

Ping is a crucial stat for gaming since it measures the gap between your commands and the on-screen action. Under 100 ms is considered optimal for responsive gameplay. Both VPNs managed that comfortably on nearby servers, but as usual, faraway servers almost always show higher ping.

However, CyberGhost wins easily because it’s compatible with the major consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch) and has gaming servers (PC only). So, while TunnelBear is great for gaming on desktop, CyberGhost’s superior compatibility makes it more game-friendly.

Our base speed was 6 ms, so the 10 ms that we got with CyberGhost wasn't even noticeable

Winner

Is TunnelBear or CyberGhost better for gaming?

Both VPNs have low ping, but CyberGhost’s console support and gaming servers win the round.

Torrenting — CyberGhost Offers Faster Downloads

Again, CyberGhost’s superior hardware makes it the better choice, with P2P servers in over 80 countries. It downloaded a 1.4 GB public domain file over 2 minutes faster than TunnelBear. Meanwhile, the latter’s customer service chatbot told me that some ports used for torrenting may be blocked on the TunnelBear network, so its performance may vary.

Remember that while torrenting is legal in most regions, downloading copyrighted material is not. Use your VPN responsibly and only download public domain and copyright-free material.

Winner

Is TunnelBear better for torrenting than CyberGhost?

CyberGhost’s faster download speeds and specialty downloading servers in 80+ locations make it the better choice for file sharing.

Security — CyberGhost Wins With RAM-Only Servers

All of CyberGhost’s 11,690 servers are RAM-only, meaning they wipe all user data upon reboot. So, even if the servers were hacked or seized, no data would be stored on them. TunnelBear uses regular servers that can store data.

TunnelBear does offer obfuscation via GhostBear, although it isn’t available on newer versions of macOS. While CyberGhost doesn’t have obfuscation, it does have NoSpy servers, which are privately owned and managed by CyberGhost in its secure HQ in Romania, reducing the risk of third-party interference.

I was also disappointed by TunnelBear’s lack of malware blocking. While CyberGhost’s Block content doesn’t stop ads, it does protect you from malware and trackers.

CyberGhost's Smart rules automation tab offers several connection customization options

CyberGhost’s intuitive Smart Rules feature lets you automate VPN connections based on app launches. This way, you get seamless protection without manual intervention. Additionally, it lets you customize preferences for WiFi protection, website exceptions, and app-specific rules with simple toggles for maximum convenience.

You get split tunneling via TunnelBear SplitBear, but it doesn’t have as many adjustable options as CyberGhost’s Smart Rules. TunnelBear also has an Always-On feature that automatically connects the VPN upon device startup, offering partial automation.

I prefer split tunnel features that work at app level, so you can pick a browser for bypassing the VPN

Winner

Is CyberGhost or TunnelBear more secure?

Both services are highly secure, but CyberGhost’s RAM-only servers and malware blocker give it the edge.

Privacy — CyberGhost’s Base Is Privacy-Friendly

TunnelBear is based in Canada, a member of the 5 Eyes Alliance. This is concerning, since it doesn’t employ RAM-only servers. CyberGhost operates from Romania, outside the jurisdiction of any data-sharing alliances.

That said, TunnelBear publishes regular transparency reports to confirm that it doesn’t share any data. Both services have had their no-logs policies audited numerous times, so I’m confident about the privacy of both VPNs.

Winner

Which VPN has the best privacy jurisdiction?

CyberGhost isn’t obliged to share any data with government authorities, since it’s based outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances.

Works in China — TunnelBear Might Work

CyberGhost doesn’t have an obfuscation feature, and its customer support confirmed that it is unlikely to work in China. Conversely, TunnelBear confirmed that it should work in China, providing that you enable GhostBear (not available for later versions of macOS). It recommends switching protocols if you can’t get a stable connection.

Remember that VPNs that aren’t state-approved are illegal in China. Although there have been no public reports of tourists being prosecuted for using VPNs, you should be aware of local laws and regulations. The vpnMentor team and I don’t condone illegal activities.

Winner

Does CyberGhost or TunnelBear work in China?

TunnelBear should work, but it offers no guarantees. For some better options, you can check out our list of the best VPNs for China.

Installation & Ease of Use — TunnelBear Is Fun and Easy

Both options are quick and easy to install. You can set them up on any OS in under a minute. They’re also both intuitive and easy to use. However, with its quirky bear-based animations, TunnelBear is fun to use for all ages. You can pick a location from the cartoon map and watch the bear tunnel to your server, or use the location list if you prefer.

It’s also worth noting that CyberGhost takes up to a minute to connect to a server at the time of writing, whereas TunnelBear connects in a matter of seconds.

Winner

Which is the easiest VPN to use?

Both VPNs are easy to set up and user-friendly. And while both are simple to use, TunnelBear is a whole lot more fun.

Reliability & Support — CyberGhost Wins by Default

Live chat is crucial for me so I can get fast technical solutions from human agents. As such, both VPNs are somewhat compromised. TunnelBear only has a chatbot; there’s no option to transfer to a live agent. It’s not the worst chatbot service on the market, but it was unable to answer some of my more technical questions.

CyberGhost does have human agents, but I queued for as long as 9 minutes to get transferred. That’s disappointing for a premium service; many live chat services answer almost immediately — as CyberGhost did until recently. Both VPNs have email support, but you can wait for several hours for a reply, which is frustrating if you have a technical issue.

Winner

Which VPN has the best customer support?

While you might have to wait to connect, CyberGhost comes out on top since it has human agents; TunnelBear only has a chatbot.

Pricing

	CyberGhost	TunnelBear
Starting Price	$2.03/month	$3.33/month
Price (On Renewal)	$56.94 per year (subject to change)	$59.88 per year (subject to change)
Money-Back Guarantee (Days)	45 days	N/A
Number of Devices per License	7	Unlimited
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Easy setup for various routers	No router support

The glaring difference here is TunnelBear’s lack of a money-back guarantee. That’s rare among premium VPNs, and it suggests a lack of confidence in the product. Conversely, CyberGhost offers one of the longer guarantees on the market with 45 days included with a long-term offer (the monthly plan only offers 14 days, though).

On the plus side for TunnelBear, you can protect unlimited devices on a single plan. CyberGhost only offers 7 connections, although you can configure it to your router for unlimited devices. TunnelBear doesn’t offer router support, which, again, is unusual for a premium VPN.

When it comes to the money, CyberGhost offers far more for slightly less at $2.03/month. TunnelBear’s cheapest deal is $3.33/month for 3 years, but that’s a big commitment when you don’t get a money-back guarantee. Its one-month plan is a few dollars cheaper, but CyberGhost offers better value with reliable streaming, faster speeds, and a higher level of security.

Winner

Which is the cheapest, CyberGhost or TunnelBear?

CyberGhost offers the better service for a slightly cheaper price. Plus, you get a money-back guarantee, which you don’t get with TunnelBear.

Our Methodology for Testing CyberGhost vs TunnelBear

We conducted real-world testing for the most common use cases for VPNs, such as streaming, torrenting, gaming, and regular browsing. We also test the speeds of the VPNs on a weekly basis. Plus, we took a fine tooth comb to privacy policies and independent audits.

For an in-depth look at our testing criteria, check out our testing methodology page. Here, you’ll find all the details on how we bring you the latest in technology news. Feel free to use it as the basis for your own tests.

CyberGhost vs TunnelBear — Reddit Opinions

CyberGhost has many long-term admirers on Reddit, with plenty of praise for its ease of use and security features. TunnelBear gets some criticism for its streaming capabilities, which our testing confirms.

Some TunnelBear users report compatibility issues