I experienced no DNS leaks while using TunnelBear, meaning the VPN hid my IP address, location, and internet activity from my internet service provider as it should have. Streaming, Facebook, and DNS leaks: I could stream a high-definition YouTube video while using TunnelBear without buffering or stuttering and I was able to connect to Facebook and scroll smoothly through my feed. The most interesting feature of TunnelBear is called GhostBear, which the company says makes your VPN-encrypted data "look more like regular data." Some governments block VPNs, so in theory, this feature could allow you to use GhostBear without anyone knowing you're using a VPN. The mobile apps do have split tunneling (called SplitBear), but I would have liked to see this common feature in the desktop apps as well. The desktop apps also don't have split tunneling, which allows you to select what types of internet traffic are routed through the VPN. For example, protocol selection is more limited than with many competitors. The settings menu is easy to find, but TunnelBear's features are rather basic. (The lowest plan only offers 500 megabytes per month, which won't be enough if you use the internet a lot, particularly with a streaming service.) I did like the ability to switch servers by simply clicking on another one somewhere on the world map. Settings and Features: The dashboard doesn't display much information once you connect, although it does show how much data you have remaining. It's best to test if there's a faster option, however. Like many VPNs, TunnelBear will default to what it thinks is the fastest server for your location. For consistency, I used a server in New York to test all the VPNs in our rating.
#Tunnelbear was acquired by mcafee windows#
You can select a server from a drop-down list of countries, although I found this rather difficult to scroll through in Windows (it was better in macOS and on the mobile apps). For me, none of this improved the VPN's usability. In addition, an icon of a bear popped out of a hole and made a roaring motion with its mouth. Primary Controls: There's a large on/off switch at the top, and it was easy to see when I connected because it said "connection secured" and showed the server location in large letters. I found the extra graphical elements to be distracting and unnecessary, but some people may enjoy them. By contrast, TunnelBear's interface consists of a large world map with "honey pots" showing the location of each server and bear icons showing when you connect. Most of its competitors either have a stripped-down aesthetic with a connect button and little else, or they have a more complicated dashboard with server maps, graphs showing data usage, etc.
Look and Feel: TunnelBear has one of the friendliest-looking interfaces of any VPN.
All of the apps installed correctly, and I could use them as soon as I entered my previously selected username and password. TunnelBear's apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS were easy to install. Here are my impressions from using the service. 8 in our rating of the Best VPNs of 2023. That said, I understand many people want software, including VPN software, that "just works" without a lot of settings to adjust.
#Tunnelbear was acquired by mcafee software#
I tested each VPN's apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.īecause I'm an experienced VPN user and tech-savvy in general, I often prefer software that has multiple settings to tinker with. My evaluations considered ease of use, features, and other criteria important to the overall experience.
I evaluated our top 10 VPNs, as well as an additional five VPNs that have previously made our ratings. VPN Expert: Jeff Kinney, Senior Editor, 360 Reviews
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