TunnelBear vs NordVPN 2024

Akash Deep

Cybersecurity Researcher

NordVPN and TunnelBear are both well-known names in the VPN industry, but they cater to different user needs. NordVPN offers a large server network and advanced security features, while TunnelBear focuses on simplicity with its user-friendly interface and bear-themed design.

I wanted to determine which VPN offers better overall performance and value, so I put both through rigorous testing. My team and I evaluated their speeds, streaming capabilities, security measures, privacy policies, and user experience. We also assessed their performance in specialized areas like torrenting and gaming.

After extensive comparisons, NordVPN came out ahead in most categories. It delivers faster speeds, superior streaming performance, and a more comprehensive feature set. Read on to learn how these two VPNs compare in each key aspect of their service.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

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Streaming — NordVPN Offers Better Performance

Both VPNs claim to work well with streaming platforms, but our tests revealed that NordVPN is a superior option. It could safely access multiple streaming platforms and libraries from anywhere in great quality.

During our tests, NordVPN safely accessed Netflix libraries from the US, UK, Japan, Germany, and even less common regions like Argentina and South Africa. TunnelBear worked with major Netflix libraries such as the US, UK, Canada, and Australia but didn't work with some less popular ones like South Korea or Argentina.

We tested 4 of its US locations, and all of them could access Netflix US in HD

When it came to other streaming platforms, NordVPN continued to impress. It worked with Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Vudu. We also successfully streamed content from Max, DAZN, and Hotstar India in HD/UHD.

TunnelBear had more limited success. It worked well with platforms like Disney+ and Max but couldn't work with Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Hotstar.

Episodes sometimes took a few seconds to load, but the streams were smooth

Winner

NordVPN is the clear winner for streaming. It safely accessed more platforms in HD from anywhere and offered a broader range of content compared to TunnelBear. Plus, its ability to work with various Netflix libraries makes it the superior choice.

Server Network — NordVPN Has a Greater Global Coverage

NordVPN offers a significantly larger and more diverse server network than TunnelBear. With 6,700 servers spread across 111 countries, NordVPN provides extensive global coverage. In contrast, TunnelBear offers 8,000 servers in 47 countries.

For example, NordVPN has servers in countries like Thailand, UAE, Costa Rica, and Vietnam, while TunnelBear lacks presence in these locations. This wider distribution means you can connect to your desired location and use the web securely.

This also means that you're more likely to find a less congested server close to your physical location, potentially resulting in better speeds.

While TunnelBear’s server count is substantial, the limited country spread means fewer options for obtaining country-specific IP addresses. This can be a drawback if you need an IP address from a particular region.

Winner

NordVPN's expansive network offers superior global coverage and more connection options. With servers in a wider range of countries, it provides greater flexibility for various online needs, from obtaining diverse IP addresses to connecting to a speedy nearby server.

Speed — NordVPN Outpaces TunnelBear Across All Locations

We put both NordVPN and TunnelBear through a series of speed tests to see how they perform in real-world scenarios. Our base connection speed without any VPN was 260.05Mbps download and 26.31Mbps upload. We used NordLynx for NordVPN and WireGuard for TunnelBear, as these protocols provided the fastest speeds for each VPN.

On a nearby UK server, NordVPN delivered excellent performance with only a 4% drop in download speed. TunnelBear, on the other hand, experienced a more significant 33% speed reduction. This difference is pretty substantial, especially for nearby servers.

The speed was stable — we never experienced any slowdowns

The gap widened further on long-distance connections. On US servers (Los Angeles), NordVPN's download speed decreased by 29%, which is quite good considering the distance. TunnelBear's performance took a bigger hit, with a 44% speed reduction. This difference could significantly affect activities like streaming or large file downloads if you have a slow baseline connection.

On the Singaporean server, NordVPN maintained a respectable 31% speed drop, while TunnelBear's speed plummeted by 79%. Such a drastic reduction could make TunnelBear challenging to use for any bandwidth-intensive tasks when connected to distant servers.

Winner

NordVPN is the clear winner in the speed category, with significantly better performance across all tested server locations. Its ability to maintain high speeds, even on distant servers, makes it the superior choice for data-intensive tasks.

Gaming — NordVPN Takes the Win With Lower Ping

Ping times can make or break your online gaming experience. We put NordVPN and TunnelBear to the test to see how they stack up for gamers.

Connecting to nearby servers, both VPNs delivered solid performance. NordVPN clocked in at 23ms, with TunnelBear close behind at 27ms. These numbers translated to smooth gameplay in titles like Call of Duty: Warzone and Rocket League. We noticed no significant difference between the two during intense firefights or last-second saves.

We never experienced ping fluctuations on nearby connections

The difference showed up on distant servers. For instance, on New York servers, NordVPN kept the ping at 95ms, while TunnelBear jumped to 174ms. This gap had a clear impact on gameplay.

With NordVPN, we could still compete effectively in most games. There was a slight delay in twitch-shooters like Valorant, but it didn't severely handicap the performance. We held our own in team fights and could land precise shots without feeling like we were fighting the connection.

TunnelBear's higher ping made things trickier on long distances. In Overwatch, we were consistently behind the action. Abilities triggered a beat too late, and tracking fast-moving targets became a real challenge. For slower-paced games like Civilization VI or Stardew Valley, the higher ping was less problematic but still noticeable during multiplayer interactions.

Both VPNs work well with cloud gaming services like Google Stadia or NVIDIA GeForce Now. We could play lag-free with both providers.

If you host LAN parties, you’ll appreciate NordVPN’s Meshnet feature. It allows you to create a secure, virtual LAN over the internet, making it easier to play with friends as if you were all on the same local network. Unlike NordVPN, TunnelBear can't be installed on routers, which means you can't use it to protect your gaming consoles.

Winner

NordVPN comes out on top, especially if you’re looking to play on different servers. Its lower ping times across the board provide a more responsive gaming experience.

Torrenting — NordVPN Offers Faster Speeds And Better Privacy

Both VPNs support P2P file sharing, but NordVPN is a better choice for torrenters. It offers dedicated P2P servers that are fine-tuned for file sharing. These aren't just for show — they delivered consistently faster speeds in our tests. For example, we downloaded a 5GB file in about 15 minutes using NordVPN, while TunnelBear took around 22 minutes for the same download.

Both VPNs work well with popular torrent clients like uTorrent and qBittorrent. I tested magnet links on both, and they started downloading immediately.

For security, both VPNs include essential features like kill switches and leak protection. These help ensure your real IP address isn't exposed if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.

Privacy is another critical aspect of safe torrenting. While both VPNs take user privacy seriously, NordVPN has a slight edge in this department. We'll explore these in detail in the privacy section, but it's worth keeping in mind when choosing a VPN for torrenting.

Winner

NordVPN comes out on top for torrenting. Its specialized P2P servers, faster speeds, and robust privacy features make it the better choice for regular torrent users.

Security — NordVPN Offers More Advanced Features

NordVPN and TunnelBear both cover the security basics. Both use 256-bit encryption, which is virtually uncrackable. You also get kill switches and protection against IP/DNS leaks. I tested these features, and they worked well on both VPNs.

The VPNs differ in their protocols. NordVPN offers NordLynx and OpenVPN, while TunnelBear lets you choose between OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2. In our tests, NordLynx and WireGuard provided the best mix of speed and security.

Both VPNs offer split tunneling, letting you route some apps through the VPN while others use a direct connection. This feature is handy for balancing security with performance, especially when using bandwidth-intensive applications.

NordVPN goes further with extra security features. Its Threat Protection blocked ads and stopped me from accessing malicious websites during my browsing. The Double VPN feature, which routes traffic through two servers, makes your connection much harder to trace.

It also includes a dark web monitor. This alerts you whenever your email address appears in dark web leaks, providing early warning of potential data breaches.

TunnelBear sticks to the essentials. While it lacks NordVPN's advanced features, it still offers solid protection for everyday use, which will be sufficient for many users.

Winner

NordVPN wins the security round. Its advanced features like Threat Protection and Double VPN servers as well as essential security features. If you want to go beyond basic security, NordVPN is the clear choice.

Privacy — NordVPN Offers Superior Privacy Protection

Both VPNs strive to safeguard user data, but NordVPN's policies and practices provide users with a higher level of privacy and security. The differences lie in their jurisdictions, logging policies, and handling of user data.

NordVPN is based in Panama, a country with no mandatory data retention laws. This allows the provider to maintain a strict no-logs policy. It doesn't record browsing activity, connection timestamps, or IP addresses. NordVPN's privacy claims aren't just promises — it’s a no-log VPN that has been independently audited and verified multiple times.

TunnelBear is based in Canada and faces a different set of challenges. Canada is part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which could potentially lead to data-sharing requests. However, TunnelBear's privacy policy limits what data is available. They don't log browsing activity or IP addresses but do collect email addresses, OS versions, app versions, and monthly bandwidth usage (deleted monthly).

In 2020, TunnelBear complied with a US authority request by confirming a user's account via email address. Importantly, no browsing data or IP addresses were shared, which shows the effectiveness of its limited logging policy, even under legal pressure.

NordVPN has faced its own challenges, including a 2018 server breach. However, the company has since implemented significant security improvements, including diskless servers that don't store any user data.

Both VPNs operate their own DNS servers, which prevents your ISP from seeing your DNS queries.

NordVPN accepts cryptocurrency payments, which adds an extra layer of privacy when signing up. TunnelBear doesn't offer this option, which might be a drawback if you want maximum privacy.

Winner

NordVPN's Panama jurisdiction, stricter no-logs policy, and multiple independent audits give it an edge in privacy protection. While TunnelBear has a solid privacy policy, its Canadian base and history of cooperating with authorities make it less ideal for privacy-focused users.

Works in China — TunnelBear Is a Better Choice

China's internet restrictions are notoriously difficult for VPNs to overcome. Our findings suggest that TunnelBear performs better than NordVPN when it comes to safely accessing the internet from within China.

TunnelBear's GhostBear feature is designed to disguise VPN traffic as regular internet data. This allows it to evade VPN detection and work even on strict firewalls. However, it's important to note that even with GhostBear, connections aren't always successful or stable in China.

NordVPN also offers obfuscation to disguise VPN traffic, but it seems to struggle to work more consistently in China. While these servers perform well in some restricted networks, our findings suggest that they’re not effective against China's Great Firewall.

That said, it's important to understand that VPN effectiveness in China can vary greatly from day to day. The country's censorship tactics evolve rapidly, which presents ongoing challenges for all VPN services.

If you need better options, you can check out our list of the best VPNs for China that still work.

Winner

TunnelBear's GhostBear feature makes it the better choice between these two for China, but consider VPNs designed for heavily censored networks if you need more consistent access.

Installation and Ease of Use — NordVPN Supports More Platforms

NordVPN and TunnelBear both provide user-friendly experiences, but NordVPN takes the lead with broader device compatibility.

Installing both VPNs is a breeze. I had each up and running on my Mac and Windows systems in under 2 minutes. Both feature intuitive interfaces with world map designs for quick and easy server selection.

Connecting to each server never took more than 5 seconds

NordVPN's Quick Connect and TunnelBear's Fastest Server options both connected me to speedy servers with a single click. Finding specific locations was equally simple with both VPNs, thanks to their search functions.

Personally, I found TunnelBear’s interface a bit more appealing. When you connect to a server, an animated bear tunnels from your location to the chosen country on the map.

However, NordVPN works on a wider range of devices, including Amazon Firestick and Apple TV. I even installed it on my router, securing all my home devices at once. And I could also set it up on my Synology NAS. TunnelBear lacks these options, which could limit its usefulness for some users.

Mobile apps for both VPNs mirror their desktop versions in functionality. I found navigating the apps on my iPhone and Android tablet just as intuitive as on my computer.

Both VPNs also offer browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, and Edge.

Winner

While both VPNs offer user-friendly experiences, NordVPN's broader device compatibility gives it the edge. Whether you're a VPN novice or an experienced user, NordVPN provides the flexibility to secure more of your devices with ease.

Reliability and Support — Both VPNs Have Responsive Customer Support

When it comes to customer support, NordVPN is the clear winner.

It offers 24/7 live chat support, email assistance, and a comprehensive Help Center. When I tested the live chat, I was initially greeted by an AI chatbot but was connected to a human agent within seconds. The support staff provided detailed answers to my questions about server locations and encryption protocols.

TunnelBear, on the other hand, lacks live chat support. Instead, it offers a ticketing system through a website form. During my tests, response times varied from 1 to 30 hours, which could be frustrating if you need immediate assistance.

Both VPNs offer extensive online resources. NordVPN's Help Center includes detailed guides and FAQs, which covers topics from basic setup to advanced features. TunnelBear's website features helpful troubleshooting guides and informative blog posts about VPN technology, which I found particularly useful for understanding concepts like ECH (Encrypted Client Hello).

For email support, NordVPN typically responds within one business day, while TunnelBear commits to addressing inquiries within 48 hours.

Winner

NordVPN's 24/7 live chat and quicker response times make it a better choice if you value readily available support. While TunnelBear's support is competent, the lack of immediate assistance options puts it at a disadvantage in this category.

Pricing

	NordVPN	TunnelBear
Lowest Starting Price	$2.99/month for the 2-year plan	$3.33/month for the 3-year plan
Price (On Renewal)	$139.08 per year (subject to change)	$59.88 per year (subject to change)
Payment Accepted	Credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Sofort, cryptocurrencies, and more	Credit cards and debit cards
Money-Back Guarantee (Days)	30 days	On a case-by-case basis
Number of Devices Per License	10	Unlimited
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Yes	No

NordVPN and TunnelBear both offer tiered pricing options, with discounts for longer commitments. The prices of their long-term plans are comparable, but considering how reliable and feature-packed NordVPN’s apps are, it’s easy to see it’s a better value.

NordVPN provides three subscription choices: a 1-month plan, a 1-year plan, and a 2-year plan. The 2-year plan offers the best value at $2.99/month. However, be aware that upon renewal, the price increases to $139.08 per year.

TunnelBear structures its pricing similarly, with 1-month, 1-year, and 3-year options. The 3-year plan provides the most savings at $3.33/month. TunnelBear's annual renewal price is quite a bit lower than NordVPN's at just $59.88 per year.

NordVPN backs its service with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing risk-free trials. Conversely, TunnelBear does not offer a money-back guarantee and states that refunds will only be considered on a case-by-case basis. NordVPN also edges out TunnelBear by accepting cryptocurrency payments, offering an additional layer of privacy for users.

Winner

NordVPN and TunnelBear’s long-term plans are comparable in price. However, NordVPN backs its service with a trustworthy 30-day money-back guarantee, while TunnelBear lacks this.

Our Methodology for Testing NordVPN vs TunnelBear

We put NordVPN and TunnelBear through rigorous testing to compare their performance, security, and user experience. Our evaluation focused on key factors such as connection speeds, server network size, encryption standards, privacy policies, and more. We also assessed each VPN's ability to safely access streaming services from anywhere and their overall ease of use across various devices.

To ensure fairness and accuracy, we conducted multiple speed tests from different locations and at various times of day. We examined each provider's security features, including their logging policies and additional tools like split tunneling or multi-hop connections. When choosing between NordVPN and TunnelBear, pay special attention to the factors that matter most to you. For a detailed breakdown of our testing process, check out our VPN testing methodology page.

NordVPN vs TunnelBear — Reddit Opinions

We examined Reddit discussions to understand user experiences with NordVPN and TunnelBear.

NordVPN receives mixed reviews on Reddit. Many users appreciate its streaming capabilities. Its consistent performance across different devices is also frequently mentioned as a positive.

Some users report mixed torrenting speeds with NordVPN

However, some users express frustration with recent changes to NordVPN. The new login process, which requires opening a browser instead of signing in directly through the app, is a common complaint. Some report issues with connection stability, mentioning frequent disconnections.

TunnelBear also garners both praise and criticism. Users like its user-friendly interface and engaging branding. The implementation of WireGuard on all platforms is seen as a positive, which I admit is not uncommon. However, many users point out TunnelBear's limited server network compared to other VPNs, citing this as a reason for slower speeds and less reliability for streaming.

TunnelBear's Canadian jurisdiction is another concern for some Reddit users, given Canada's membership in the Five Eyes Alliance and its potential privacy implications.

Overall, Reddit discussions tend to favor NordVPN. Its larger server network and better streaming performance give it an advantage.