Tunnelbear Review
Everybody loves the Internet. It can be a great way to keep in contact with friends and family who are located across the country or maybe even cross the world. It is a place to find entertainment, go shopping, and so much more. However, it is very important to remember that the Internet is not a safe place if you’re not careful. There are those out there who would not think twice about doing you harm. Some might be in it to steal your identity. Others might want to expose your information because they don’t like you. Some might just think it’s fun.
Regardless, it is very important that you take safety measures before you head onto the web. A VPN can help with this and so much more. However, you have to make sure you find the right VPN. One of the options on the market today is called TunnelBear.
In the review below, you’ll get a better idea of what this company can offer in terms of features, as well as some information on the pricing and whether it is worth your time and money.
Overview
TunnelBear is a company that was founded based on a very simple principle. They believe that the Internet is a better place when everybody is capable of browsing privately and safely. They also believe that the Internet should be the same for everyone, and they were not happy that there were certain parts of the country that were unable to access various parts of the web. Therefore, they set out to create a VPN that could help to make the Internet a better place. The company was founded in 2011 and they were acquired by McAfee in March 2018.
Overall, TunnelBear provides a quality VPN that has a charming website, great security, excellent features, and a good price. Of course, it is important to look at the company’s offerings as a whole, and that includes the bad as well as the good.
Pricing and Value
One of the first things that most people will look at when they are choosing a VPN will be the price and the overall value that they believe they are getting. This company is very upfront about their pricing models. For starters, they have three tiers from which you can choose.
The first is called Little. With this option, you will get 500 MB of free data each month. While this isn’t much, you have to remember it is free. It could end up being a good option for those who may not need to use a VPN very often, or those who want to try it out, beyond the free trial. That’s right, there is a free trial that you can use to get a better understanding of how to use the system. It’s recommended that you use any free trials for VPNs you find so you can determine whether they are going to be right for you or not.
The next plan they have available is called Giant. With this option, you will have unlimited data, so you can surf the web as much as you want. The cost of this plan is $9.99 per month, and you will pay this on a monthly basis.
The final option is called Grizzly. With this plan you are only paying $5.00 per month. The only difference between this and the Giant plan is when you pay. With the Grizzly plan, you will end up paying yearly. By paying for a full year at once, you are able to save around 50% on the price of the VPN, which makes this a very popular plan. For those who are likely going to be using the Internet quite a lot, this last option makes the most financial sense and provides the most value.
When paying, you have the option of paying with a credit card, PayPal, or through Bitcoin.
Features
When choosing a VPN, one of the first things that people tend to look for is whether the service will log your activity. If a company does log activity, it tends to be a red flag for those who want the utmost in privacy. Many worry that these companies will turn over all of their information to the government or another entity if prompted.
TunnelBear says that they do not log any activity of their customers connected to their service. They have a privacy policy that is very open and that clearly and simply explains how the company handles your information. They do have account user data and operational data that is stored. In addition when making purchases with a credit card, personal data is exchanged. However, the company does offer the option of paying through Bitcoin, and no information is stored or collected through these types of transactions.
The company does not collect, store, or log IP addresses that visit their website, IP addresses upon service connection, DNS queries while connected, or any info about applications, services, websites, etc. while users are connected to the service. They strive to provide true privacy.
Another feature that people like about TunnelBear is the vigilant mode. This simply means that if your connection is disrupted for any reason, the company will block all unsecured traffic until it is connected safely. You can set up the system to launch on startup, which means you will always be connected and not have to worry about reconnecting when you restart your device.
With GhostBear, another feature, it is often possible to get around VPN blocking. It is capable of doing this by disguising the VPN traffic as normal traffic. Users will be able to connect to five devices to their service.
One of the best things about TunnelBear is the ease with which you can use it. The interface is simple, it works on multiple devices, and you can get things up and running in a matter of minutes. Since you can keep the system connected, as mentioned, you should never have to worry about your privacy again.
Speed
One of the other things you need to think about when you are choosing a VPN is the speed. After all, when you’re working with a VPN, it does route your traffic differently, which has the potential to slow things down. Fortunately, TunnelBear is an award-winning service that can provide fast speeds. Yes, it will be slower than not having a VPN, but you should still not have any trouble when it comes to accessing the Internet and even streaming. The actual speeds, of course, will vary based on your connection speeds in the first place. If you have a slow connection to start, a VPN of any type won’t make it better.
Netflix
The movies and television shows that are available on Netflix will vary based on location. Certain countries will have access to some movies while others will. This is not ideal for those want to experience everything Netflix can offer, but the streaming company keeps note of your location to keep the offerings separate. VPNs have been a good way to get around this problem. However, in recent years, Netflix been trying to crack down on them. Still, you should be happy to know that you will not have any issues when it comes to watching Netflix through the TunnelBear VPN. This will allow you to see all of the shows that you just can’t wait to binge.
Torrenting
In the past, this company would not allow its services to be used for torrenting or peer to peer file sharing. Today, that is no longer the case, as it is now possible even though it is not specifically allowed by the company’s terms of service. There are other potential options that may work better for you if this is why you want a VPN, but this is still a solid choice if you’re going to do more than just torrent when you’re online.
Windows PC
If you are using a Windows PC, you will be very happy to know that TunnelBear works well on these devices. The application is simple to use and you can experience all of the features and benefits that the company offers. There is also a Chrome extension that can be used for the browser but will not provide all the same bells and whistles as the desktop version.
Mac
If you’re not using a Windows machine, don’t worry. You will find that TunnelBear works well or just as well on a Mac. Again, it will still retain all of the same features and benefits that you would expect on any device. Just as there is a Chrome extension, there is also an option for Opera browsers. Again, it will not have the same features as the desktop version.
In addition to working well with Windows and Mac, you will also find that there are apps for your mobile items including the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
Servers
TunnelBear currently has approximately 1000 servers around the world. While this is a substantial amount, there are other companies that offer more. Still, this is more than some of the other offerings, and it is an affordable option. It is just as important to consider the server locations, though. The more server locations that are available the more options you will have when it comes to spoofing your location. It also means you are more likely to find a nearby server when you are traveling abroad. Having servers that are closer to you tends to mean a faster and better connection.
Currently, the company offers servers in 22 locations around the world. This tends to be a bit lower than many of the other companies out there. Currently, they have servers in:
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Indian
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Romania
- Singapore
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States
Even though there are only 22 locations around the world where servers are housed for this company, it is good to know that these locations tend to be spread out fairly well.
Security
Many people are using VPNs because they want to be more secure. They want to be safe when they are on Wi-Fi, and they want to be safe when they are at home. The company seems to understand this because they have strong encryption by default. They use AES 256 bit encryption. This means that the information that is going in and out of your computer is as safe as it can possibly be. You will not have to worry about people trying to hack your information, and you will not have to worry about your ISP or the government finding out what you’re doing online.
Customer Support
When it comes to customer support, TunnelBear has a few different options available. They have a troubleshooting section on the website and it has quite a bit of information on installation issues, connection issues, speed problems, and other similar questions people might have. It is also possible to contact them directly when you have a problem. They tend to be responsive and should get back to you quickly. However, there have been reports that the customer service is not as attentive as perhaps it should be.
Summary
Given the price, the features, and the capabilities that TunnelBear is capable of offering, it should be easier for you to make your decision. With this improved understanding of what you can expect when you choose TunnelBear, you will be able to determine whether you want to give it a shot or not. It has far more benefits than drawbacks, and since it does offer a free trial, there is no harm in giving it a shot to see how it works. If you like it, you could move on to the free version, or a paid version if you plan to use the web often and want to have the utmost in privacy.
