Is TunnelBear VPN Free?
TunnelBear VPN is a free virtual private network that offers a variety of features to protect your privacy and bypass internet censorship. It does not log your data and uses AES-256 encryption, one of the most secure encryption standards on the market.
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In addition, the service is very easy to use and has an approachable design that should put novice technology users at ease. The cute bear graphics throughout the app add a sense of casual charm to the experience.
Free trial
The TunnelBear VPN free trial is a great way to try out the service before you pay for a subscription. However, you should be aware that the trial is limited to 500 MB of data per month, which means it may not be enough for everyday use.
The free trial also doesn’t offer any money-back guarantee, which can be a concern for those who are new to the world of VPNs. Additionally, the company is based in Canada, which is a member of the Five Eyes alliance of surveillance states. This means that they may have access to your personal information when they’re doing their own background checks on you.
As with many other VPNs, TunnelBear uses AES-256 encryption for their servers. This encryption is widely accepted as standard in the industry, and the US government has even greenlighted it for use on its servers.
While this is not the fastest or most secure encryption available, it’s still better than nothing at all. In addition, TunnelBear supports many different devices, so you can use the service on your smartphone or tablet without having to worry about your security.
On the desktop, the TunnelBear app isn’t overly cluttered and offers a quick on-off switch for reconnecting to your last server location. It also lets you pick a country from a traditional list, or toggle its auto-tunnel feature to choose the quickest or closest server to your current location.
Overall, the TunnelBear app is a fun and friendly experience. Its cute and cuddly design evokes a lot of nostalgia, and the little tunnels on the map that denote server locations are reminiscent of old Super Mario games.
The speeds you get with TunnelBear depend a lot on which server you choose, but most of their overseas connections are reasonable. Europe to North America speeds range from 70% to 30% of your baseline connection speed, while servers in India and Singapore can reach 30-60%.
While the speed of their servers isn’t as good as many other VPNs, TunnelBear is a reliable and affordable option for those looking to keep their privacy safe online. They also offer a program that partners with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are fighting for digital freedom and opposing censorship.
Free data
TunnelBear offers a free plan that allows users to test the VPN on up to five devices without requiring a coupon code. This is a great way to get a feel for the service before making a purchase. However, it doesn’t come with all of the features offered by its paid plans, and it has a monthly data cap.
The free plan is capped at 2GB per month, which is not enough for most people to use the VPN regularly. You can upgrade to a paid plan for an unlimited data allowance, though.
In addition to the free plan, TunnelBear also has a business plan that’s ideal for small businesses or organizations with multiple users. This plan has a sliding cost scale based on the number of users, and it comes with a dedicated account manager.
While not the fastest VPN available, TunnelBear has a solid reputation for privacy and security. Its apps use OpenVPN and IKEv2 with AES-256 encryption. It’s also subject to four independent security audits.
One of the best things about TunnelBear’s privacy policy is that it keeps very minimal logs for a month at a time. This means that if a court were to subpoena it, the company would only have to turn over information about the number of connections and MBs you used within the past month.
This is a much more lenient approach than many other VPNs, and it makes TunnelBear’s privacy practices very appealing to users. Moreover, the company’s data isn’t logged for very long, which means that it can be easily erased by law enforcement agencies.
Another good thing about TunnelBear’s privacy policies is that it does not store any user credit card information or other personal data, which makes it very secure. It also has a strong non-disclosure policy, which means that it won’t disclose any personal information to third parties.
Despite this, TunnelBear does keep a small amount of operational data. It stores data about your OS version, client version, total data used, and your activity status – but not your IP. It uses this data to improve its products and customer support, as well as determine network demand.
Unlimited data
A good VPN is vital to your online privacy, and TunnelBear offers unlimited data on its three paid plans. It’s also free to try, so it’s a great option for those who aren’t sure if they want to commit to a VPN service.
The app is very simple, allowing you to choose a country from a list or use the app’s auto-tunnel feature to find the fastest server for your location. The main screen consists of a map dotted with green tunnels that denote which countries have servers.
VPN Comparison 2024
Company | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 2 Year | 3 Year | - |
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CyberGhost | $12,99 | $6,99 | - | $2,19 | - | Visit Website |
NordVPN | $11,99 | - | $4,99 | $3,69 | - | Visit Website |
PIA | $11,99 | - | $3,3 | 2024 Deal right now: $2,03 (Doesn't get cheaper!) | $2,03 | Visit Website |
ExpressVPN | $12,95 | $9,99 | $8,32 | - | - | Visit Website |
SurfShark | $12,95 | - | $3,99 | $2,49 | - | Visit Website |
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PrivadoVPN | $10,99 | - | $2,50 | $3,99 | - | Visit Website |
One of the more appealing aspects of TunnelBear’s app is its design: cute illustrations and bear jokes abound throughout the app. The design is a nice twist on the usual VPN apps, and it’s certainly not bad for a mobile app.
However, it doesn’t do much to set itself apart from competitors. Its server list is tiny, and it doesn’t disclose quantities or statistics; other providers cover more countries.
Its speeds are quite reasonable, though they can suffer when connecting to a distant server. I ran speed tests using a wireless connection and an ethernet connection, and the results were very similar. I did have a few issues with latency when streaming video on my home internet, but overall I was pleased with the service.
Despite being a Canadian company, TunnelBear is still subject to US data laws, so you should be careful with your privacy when browsing the web. The US and Canada form part of the Five-Eyes data-sharing alliance, an organization designed for powerful nations to share surveillance intelligence.
Another issue is that TunnelBear doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, so you won’t be able to get your money back if you’re unhappy with the service. This isn’t a problem for the free plan, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re considering paying for the full service.
While this isn’t a bad thing, it’s not as good as the money-back guarantees offered by other VPNs. In addition, the unlimited plan is a bit on the expensive side, and it lacks some of the more basic features offered by some other VPNs.
No logs
The no logs policy offered by TunnelBear VPN is one of the best we’ve seen in the industry. In addition to military-grade encryption, extra security features, and yearly independent privacy audits, TunnelBear’s no logs policy ensures that your data isn’t tracked by any third parties.
Aside from its no logs policy, TunnelBear’s website is a lot of fun and incredibly personable, with mini-bios for all of its employees along with bear-ified portraits. It’s an excellent way to create a more human-feeling brand, which is something that’s often lacking in VPNs.
While there aren’t a lot of helpful informational pages on TunnelBear’s website, the help articles are well written and make sense despite their lack of technical details. This is especially true of its troubleshooting section, which makes sense without the need for technical knowledge.
Another thing I like about TunnelBear’s website is its customer support page. It links to a knowledgebase of articles organized into five categories, and it’s clear that the company’s support reps are trying to be helpful rather than being pushy and unhelpful.
It also doesn’t talk down to users who want to try troubleshooting things on their own. Unlike many other VPNs, which offer only canned responses to common problems, TunnelBear’s support team actually replies quickly and clearly.
Though the live chat feature is automated and not as easy to use as we’d like, TunnelBear does provide email support that’s quite helpful and timely. The only downfall here is that the email service isn’t available for free, so if you’re not an existing TunnelBear subscriber, you’ll have to pay for your own help.
Thankfully, TunnelBear’s pricing is reasonable and it offers a wide range of subscription plans. The three-year plan is the best value, and it includes 5 devices simultaneous connections for only $3.33 a month.
In addition to its no logs policy, TunnelBear’s VPN also protects your privacy by blocking censorship and encryption leaks. It’s also easy to use and supports all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
While not a huge step up from Baby’s First VPN by PlaySkool, TunnelBear is an ideal choice for those looking for a simple yet effective VPN solution. Its no logs policy and user-friendly design are a good fit for newcomers to VPNs, and it’s also an excellent option for power users who don’t need all the bells and whistles of other options on the market.