TunnelBear vs NordVPN: Detailed Comparison Between The Two
We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!
TunnelBear and NordVPN are two of the most famous names in the streaming/gaming/influencers community. Both companies sponsor videos of many YouTubers & Twitch streamers.
But does this make both VPN providers great? Well, let us start by stating, ‘Everything can be advertised, and the quality of the product doesn’t have anything to do with it.’ In this case, as you will see throughout this comparison, NordVPN is a fantastic product, whereas TunnelBear is mediocre at best.
We came to the conclusion after testing & comparing both VPNs’ features, speed, number of servers, security, privacy policy, and overall value for money.
How do these compare?
Vendor |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Features | 10/10 | 6/10 |
Ease of use | 10/10 | 8/10 |
Security/Privacy | 10/10 | 8/10 |
Speed | 9.5/10 | 4/10 |
Support | 9/10 | 8/10 |
Pricing | 9/10 | 7/10 |
Cell |
NordVPN is our favorite VPN, whereas TunnelBear doesn’t even make our top-5. And the reasons for it are quite straightforward- NordVPN has more & better features, a great UI/UX, best privacy policy, military-grade encryption, among the lowest speed reduction, and the price for all these is about the same as TunnelBear.
TunnelBear, on the other hand, offers minimal features & horrible speed. It can’t even unblock Netflix, Hulu, and other mainstream streaming apps. Such a package is what we like to call trash, for lack of a better word.
TunnelBear vs. NordVPN: Features
Securely and privately connecting to a server and using that server as your internet access point. That’s what VPN all is. However, VPN providers pack in many other features to make their offerings attractive. Here’s what TunnelBear vs NordVPN have for you:
TunnelBear
Over 21 million people trust TunnelBear...all thanks to their smart marketing and advertising. If looked at objectively, it doesn’t have anything more than some basic features, such as:
- Vigilant mode: Commonly known as “kill switch,” this feature disables all the internet activities if the VPN gets disconnected automatically.
- Always on mode: This feature is to auto-connect to the VPN server whenever you turn on your device. This way, you are always private & secure.
- Closest tunnel: Commonly called “Quick connect,” this option connects you to the fastest available server without you having to look for one.
- SplitBear: On Android devices, there’s a split tunneling option. This feature lets you choose the apps you want to use through TunnelBear and the ones you want to use through your ISP.
- Ghostbear: If you are in a country like China, where VPNs are restricted, this feature lets you bypass such restrictions.
That’s about all the value-added features you’ll get with TunnelBear. Granted, most people need these only, but what’s the harm in having more & better?
NordVPN
Apart from being our #1 choice, it’s also the #1 VPN by market share. A lot of it is due to the number of and the quality of features it offers, such as:
- CyberSec: It blocks all malicious sites, ads, and unsafe connections.
- DoubleVPN: It's their multi-hop VPN feature. Basically, you are connected to a server connected to another server, and that server will be the access point. Sure it decreases speed a bit, but security/privacy multiplies.
- Kill switch: Like TunnelBear’s vigilant mode, this feature kills all the internet activities if the VPN disconnects abruptly. You also have an option to set specific apps. E.g., Your torrenting activities can be stopped while your YouTube keeps running.
- Obfuscated servers: Like Ghostbear, Obfuscated servers let you connect to the VPN in restricted places like China.
- Smartplay: This feature lets you stream content smoothly & securely.
- Onion over VPN: This feature combines the power of the Tor network and VPN, essentially giving you the ultimate anonymity, privacy, and security.
- Split tunneling: On mobile apps and Chrome/Mozilla browsers, NordVPN allows you to use split tunneling.
- Others: They also have P2P servers for torrenting, SmartDNS, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Overall, NordVPN has all the features a VPN provider can offer, or you’ll ever need.
Verdict
NordVPN has features like Smartplay, CyberSec, Onion over VPN, etc. This is in addition to the features TunnelBear offers. Also, NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which TunnelBear doesn’t. Therefore, choosing the winner is easy.
Winner: NordVPN
TunnelBear vs NordVPN: Ease of use
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Payment options - Cryptocurrencies? | Yes | Yes |
Interface | Map-based & list-based | Map-based |
Apps (Android, iOS, etc.) | All devices | All except FIrestick, SmartTV, and routers. |
Cell |
Both VPNs have dedicated apps for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and browser. In addition, NordVPN has apps for SmartTV, firestick, and routers, which gives it a significant lead at the start. Still, things can change...let’s see.
Tunnelbear
TunnelBear interface is cool. It uses a map-based UI with locations marked with tunnels. We specifically like the attention to detail here. There’s a “Tunnel,” and there’s a “Bear.” The bear disappears from your current location and appears at the tunnel-end of the location you connect to.
We dig it (pun intended).
NordVPN
NordVPN’s interface is a bit traditional, in comparison. However, from a usability perspective, NordVPN is better due to the extra list-based interface.
Just like TunnelBear, NordVPN has a map interface — sure, they don’t have cool bear and tunnel graphics. In addition to that, there’s a searchable list interface, which makes it easy to find specific location servers.
Verdict
TunnelBear’s focus is more on the UI side of things, whereas NordVPN takes care of UI as well as the UX. NordVPN isn’t cool per se, but it gets the job done better. Therefore…
Winner: NordVPN
TunnelBear vs NordVPN: Servers & Speed
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Server locations | 59 countries | 23 countries |
Number of servers | ~5400 | Unknown (somewhere between 1000-2000) |
Unblocks streaming platform | Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, etc. | Almost none |
P2P/Torrenting | Yes | Yes |
Avg. Download speed reduction | ~20% | ~75% |
Avg. Upload speed reduction | ~15% | ~70% |
Avg. Ping | ~100 ms | ~230 ms |
The geographical diversity of servers and the number of servers are super essential elements when deciding a VPN. The former is important because you will be able to access sites accessible from particular locations...so, the more, the better. The latter is vital because more servers = fewer users per server, which means better speeds/bandwidth.
Talking about speed, the kind of speed reduction you face (and you will) when connected to the VPN is also crucial. It’s self-explanatory...if the speed is low, the downloading time will be high, the streaming quality will be low, etc.
TunnelBear
TunnelBear hasn’t mentioned the number of servers they own, but they have mentioned the number of countries they have servers in- 23 countries. We tested quite a few of its locations to check for speed reduction and website unblocks. Sadly, it couldn’t access Netflix, Prime, Hulu, HBO Go, and most other streaming platforms.
As for speeds, on our 100 Mbps plans, the average speed we achieved when connected to TunnelBear VPN was about 25 Mbps...that’s terrible. The internet plan that could handle multiple 4K streams without VPN would now struggle to stream 1440p :(
NordVPN
NordVPN has nearly 5400 servers in 59 countries. Most of its servers can access Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming platforms.
As for speed, only about 20% average speed reduction was measured. That’s like being able to stream 4K on two devices instead of three. Pretty solid!
Verdict
It’s obvious. NordVPN has more servers, better geographical diversity, and is miles ahead in performance. TunnelBear is simply horrible in all aspects.
Winner: NordVPN
TunnelBear vs NordVPN: Security & Privacy
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
VPN protocols | OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, WireGuard’s NordLynx | OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 |
Key size | 4096-bit | 2048-bit |
Logs | No logs | Doesn’t keep logs outside of Canada |
Location | Panama | Canada |
Other features | Kill switch, DoubleVPN, Onion over VPN | Vigilant mode |
Keeping your data secure and activities & identity private is the primary use of a VPN. In fact, this is the first filter in our testing process. And here’s how the results of checking security & privacy aspects of TunnelBear vs NordVPN look:
TunnelBear
TunnelBear uses OpenVPN and IKEv2 VPN protocols, which are standard protocols used in the VPN market. For encryption, they use 256-bit AES with a 2048-bit key for decrypting. In layman terms, it’s practically impossible to break this encryption.
As for privacy, one of the first things to look for is the country of origin. TunnelBear is headquartered in Canada. It’s a great place with some lovely people, but the government can ask to store & give data whenever required. Therefore, if you look beyond the “No Logging” branding on their features page, you’ll find this written in their privacy policy:
“TunnelBear is a global company. Although our physical servers are located in many different countries around the world, TunnelBear does not store Personal Data outside of Canada's physical borders. By using our services, you authorize TunnelBear to use your information according to Canada's laws, regardless of which country you are located in.”
NordVPN
NordVPN uses OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, and WireGuard’s NordLynx protocols. NordLynx is supposedly faster than the other standard protocols. As encryption, Nord uses the same 256-bit AES but with a 4096-bit key. Practically, it doesn’t make a difference, but theoretically, NordVPN is better.
Their “No logs” policy is genuinely a no-logs policy. Thanks to Panama’s strict privacy laws and Nord’s commitment to keeping zero logs, they don’t even store connection logs!
Verdict
Both VPNs are secure. However, Tunnelbear has to comply with Canada’s privacy laws, making it a little duller from the privacy standpoint. On the other hand, NordVPN’s privacy policy is solid, and in simple terms, the best!
Winner: NordVPN
TunnelBear vs NordVPN: Customer Support
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Communication option | Live chat & Email | Email, Knowledgebase & tutorials |
Response time | Live chat: < 1 minute Email: ~3 hours | Email: ~2.5 hours |
Quality of response | 9/10 | 8/10 |
Things can go wrong...connection issues, server issues, speed issues, etc. are a part of any VPN package. Of course, it doesn’t happen every day, but when it does, what are your options? Only one: support team. And therefore, prior knowledge about the VPN provider’s customer support is essential.
TunnelBear
If you have a common problem with your TunnelBear plan, you might find the answers in their knowledgebase. If you don’t, you have the option to email them your query. In our experience, we got email responses in typical time, and the answers were decently satisfactory.
NordVPN
NordVPN, too, has a knowledge base with answers to FAQs. It also has an email contact option. But more importantly, you can instantly connect with them and communicate via their live chat. We did and found their support agents to be knowledgeable & professional.
Verdict
Simply because NordVPN has a live chat option and TunnelBear doesn’t, we’ll give it to Nord.
Winner: NordVPN
TunnelBear vs NordVPN: Pricing
|
|---|
Starting Price Per Month: $11.95 |
Best price: $3.71/month (2 years) |
Number of connections per plan: 6 |
Money-back guarantee 30 days |
VS
|
|---|
Starting Price Per Month: $9.99 |
Best price: $3.33/month (3 years) |
Number of connections per plan: 5 |
Money-back guarantee None |
NordVPN can be the best VPN of all time, but if you can’t afford it, you won’t buy it. So, to end the comparison, let’s look at the pricing options & differences.
TunnelBear
TunnelBear plans cost $3.33/month at best. For the cost, you can connect to the VPN from five devices simultaneously. If you’d like to pay monthly, there’s a $9.99/month option for that.
NordVPN
NordVPN’s best price is $3.71/month. The plan allows you to connect six devices simultaneously. As for the 1-month plan, it costs $11.95/month.
Verdict
NordVPN costs a bit more, but it lets you connect an extra device. And from a value standpoint, as you saw throughout the article, NordVPN is a steal deal if we compare it with TunnelBear’s price & what you get for it.
Winner: NordVPN
TunnelBear vs. NordVPN: Conclusion
The Winner Is - NordVPN
To wrap up, let’s summarize what we found throughout the comparison:
NordVPN has more and better features than TunnelBear.
NordVPN’s interface is more practical.
NordVPN’s width & depth of servers is superior.
TunnelBear’s speed is awful.
NordVPN’s security & privacy policy is ironclad.
And to top it all, NordVPN’s cost is almost equal to TunnelBear while the value is multifold.
Meaning, NordVPN is way, way better than TunnelBear, and is the right choice to consider. Simple.
Total Score: 10/10
NordVPN Pros
Starts at
$3.71
per month
• Uptime 99.99%
• Free SSL certificate
• WordPress official recommendations