PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN Comparison in USA 2024 – Security, Privacy, Pricing & More
Updated latest server counts of both VPN providers
PureVPN and TunnelBear are highly regarded by users and critics, offering reputable options for enhancing online privacy. When choosing the best VPN, it’s crucial to evaluate its features to ensure they align with your browsing needs and preferences.
PureVPN, established in 2007 and based in Hong Kong, provides secure internet access with strong encryption and a global server network. TunnelBear, founded in 2011 in Toronto, offers a user-friendly VPN service with a free version (limited data) and a paid version for unlimited data, emphasizing simplicity and privacy.
I’ve come up with a side-by-side PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN comparison in USA to let you see the weaknesses and strengths of each VPN. Read on to determine which is better, PureVPN or TunnelBear in USA.
PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN Comparison in USA: Quick Overview 2024
Short on time? Here are some worth-knowing features of PureVPN and TunnelBear in USA:
Factors | ||
Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | Canada |
Rating | 9.1/10 | 7/10 |
Price | 84% off for 24+ 5 months free | Unlimited security for $3.33/mo |
Subscription Packages Start From | US$ 3.29 /mo | $3.33/mo |
Money-Back Guarantee | 31 days | 30 days |
Simultaneous Device Connections | 10 | 5 |
Platform Compatibility | Dedicated apps for all major platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices |
Logging Policy | Audited no-logs policy | No logs |
Servers | 6500 servers in 78 countries | Servers across 48 countries |
VPN Protocols | Supports WireGuard, L2TP, SSTP, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and IPSec protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 |
Streaming | HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix | HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime |
Torrenting | Supported | Supports torrenting on most servers |
Customer Support | Decent customer support | Email support |
I’ve judged PureVPN and TunnelBear in USA against the following criteria:
- PureVPN vs TunnelBear – Prices and Discounts
- PureVPN vs TunnelBear – Servers
- PureVPN vs TunnelBear – Security
- PureVPN vs TunnelBear – Logging and Privacy
- PureVPN vs TunnelBear – streaming & Unblocking
- PureVPN vs TunnelBear – Setup and User Interface
- PureVPN vs TunnelBear – Customer Service
- PureVPN vs Tunnel Bear – Device Compatibility
PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN Comparison in USA – Prices and Discounts
When choosing a VPN, it is crucial to check the subscription plans it offers. Currently, PureVPN offers three subscription plans: 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year. TunnelBear offers a free plan and two other paid plans.
For PureVPN, the lowest pricing plans start from US$ 3.29 /mo for a 24 + 5 months subscription. On the other hand, TunnelBear comes with a free plan with a 500 MB data cap.
TunnelBear pricing in USA also has two other plans: Unlimited ($3.33/mo) and Teams ($5.75/mo).
As per my testing, PureVPN and TunnelBear are fairly priced, considering what they offer to the subscribers. However, TunnelBear wins this round for offering a freemium pricing model, unlike PureVPN.
PureVPN Special Offer: 84% off on a 2-year plan (24+5 months free)
PureVPN | TunnelBear | |
Highest price per month | $10.95 | $5.75 |
Lowest price per month | $1.99 | Free |
One-Year Price | $95.41 (84% discount) |
$59.88 (50% discount) |
Mode of Payment
When it comes to modes of payment, PureVPN accepts several modes of payment including anonymous payment methods in USA. You’ll not find this broad range of options with TunnelBear. However, it does accept payments made via Bitcoin.
Money Back Guarantee
As far as money-back policies are concerned, PureVPN offers a 31-day refund guarantee. Meanwhile, TunnelBear used to offer a 30-day refund, but it no longer offers the feature. PureVPN free trial in USA is not free, and users have to pay a minimal cost of $0.99 for a 7-day PureVPN free trial. Therefore, the only way to access PureVPN free is its 31-day money-back guarantee.
Winner in Prices and Discounts
TunnelBear wins this round of prices and discounts because it offers a free version to users in USA. You can upgrade to a premium plan by becoming a paying subscriber. Per my analysis, the subscription plans are flexible and competitive for PureVPN and TunnelBear.
If modes of payment are a concern, then TunnelBear’s options might be too limited. Other than this, the free version might tempt you as a user.
PureVPN vs TunnelBear in USA – Server Network
PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN comparison in USA based on server network:
PureVPN | TunnelBear | |
Server Countries | 78 | 60+ |
Total Number of Servers | 6500 | 5,900 + |
Compared to PureVPN, the Canadian-based TunnelBear falls short in numbers based on overall network infrastructure. It only has 5,900 servers in a limited 60+ countries worldwide.
Meanwhile, PureVPN has a larger network of 6500 servers in 78 countries around the world. This makes it the only VPN that offers support in so many locations worldwide.
Therefore, it is not a difficult challenge to determine a winner in this aspect. TunnelBear has to improve its server count massively if it wants to compete with premium VPNs.
TunnelBear vs PureVPN -Speed Comparison in USA
For this PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN comparison in USA, I ran rigorous speed tests on the three shared protocols across three locations (Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom). I recorded the download and upload speeds which helped me determine which server location has a better average speed.
Both PureVPN and TunnelBear use WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols. They are common VPN protocols, so the speed results have a huge say in which VPN you should opt for.
PureVPN | TunnelBear | |
United States | ||
Download | 90.45 Mbps | 70.21 Mbps |
Upload | 79.02 Mbps | 65.33 Mbps |
Canada | ||
Download | 85.36 Mbps | 62.30 Mbps |
Upload | 76.25 Mbps | 58.43 Mbps |
United Kingdom | ||
Download | 88.19 Mbps | 56.12 Mbps |
Upload | 82.22 Mbps | 50.23 Mbps |
I also performed a speed analysis on both providers to ease the decision-making process for users in USA. The process involved testing different servers for all internet-related activities. These include browsing the internet, playing online games, downloading torrent files, or streaming on sites like Netflix. For the task, I picked up 3 random servers from PureVPN and TunnelBear.
PureVPN | TunnelBear | |
Speed Loss | 10% | 30% |
On my base connection of 100 Mbps, PureVPN indicated a speed loss of 10%. Meanwhile, Tunnelbear recorded an average speed of 70 Mbps in downloads. This speed is also not very ideal for torrenting with TunnelBear in USA. It is safe to say, that PureVPN wins this aspect by a huge margin!
Winner in Servers, Performance, and Speed
As evident from the speed results above, PureVPN is the overall winner in speed and performance in USA. If I compare the server networks, then PureVPN has a broader server network as well.
PureVPN vs TunnelBear Comparison in USA – Security
PureVPN | TunnelBear | |
VPN Protocols | WireGuard, L2TP, SSTP, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec | WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 |
Data Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256-GCM, AES-256-CBC |
split tunneling | Available | Available |
kill switch | Available | Available |
Cloaking Technology | None | None |
App Security | DNS Leak Protection | VigilantBear and GhostBear |
DNS Status | Private DNS | Private DNS |
PureVPN offers support for a huge range of protocols. This includes WireGuard, Kill switch, L2TP, SSTP, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec, and OpenVPN (TCP and UDP) to give users of all kinds freedom of choice. For encryption, the provider utilizes AES 256-bit encryption symmetric keys to protect your sensitive data from agencies, government, and online snoopers in USA.
On the other hand, TunnelBear only supports the WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols. The WireGuard protocol is supported on the Windows and iOS apps. The OpenVPN protocol is available on all the apps, but the IKEv2 protocol is only supported on the Windows and iOS apps.
iOS users get the choice of either utilizing the IKEv2, OpenVPN, or WireGuard protocol. Encryption is provided with AES-256 ciphers, but some apps may use the older 128-bit encryption and SHA-1 for data authentication.
To get a better idea of app security, I conducted a leak test on PureVPN and TunnelBear in USA. The process involved the usage of 6 different tools to check for:
WebRTC and HTTP Request Leaks
DNS Leaks
IPv4/IPv6 and Torrent IP Leaks
PureVPN aced all the tests from the 6 different tools above and did not reveal my original IP, DNS, or WebRTC information. TunnelBear also was free from IP leaks on IPv4 and IPv6.
However, when using IPv6, the tools did detect WebRTC leaks on both Windows and Mac apps. A simple solution to this is disabling IPv6 connections on your device.
Winner in Security
Overall, PureVPN guarantees better security than TunnelBear VPN by supporting more VPN protocols and robust security features.
PureVPN vs TunnelBear Comparison in USA – Logging and Privacy
PureVPN | TunnelBear | |
Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | Toronto, Canada |
Connection Logs | None | None |
Activity Logs | None | None |
Sign Up Information | None | Stores Account Data, Personal Data, and Operational Data |
Anonymous Payment Methods | Ethereum, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple | Bitcoin |
One glimpse at the above table clarifies that PureVPN gains an edge over TunnelBear regarding overall privacy in USA. PureVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, away from the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances.
TunnelBear, on the other hand, has its headquarters in Canada. As you probably know, Canada is a founding member of the Five Eyes and indulges in mass surveillance and data retention. If it receives a gag order accompanied by a subpoena, the VPN may have to comply with legal requests from the government. As such, there is always a risk of trusting the provider.
Not to mention, TunnelBear also does not support a huge range of cryptocurrencies, except for Bitcoin. As far as logging is concerned, PureVPN did store logs initially but has now joined the ranks of logless VPN services. AltiusIT recently audited PureVPN.
Meanwhile, TunnelBear has undergone two security audits over the years, both conducted by Cure53. I thoroughly read TunnelBear’s privacy policy and it explicitly states storing some Personal Data for legitimate business purposes.
Winner in Logging and Privacy
When it comes to logging and privacy, PureVPN is the undisputed winner. It’s because PureVPN does not store connection logs, assigned VPN IPs, user’s browsing activities or history, original IP addresses, and VPN session timestamps.
PureVPN vs TunnelBear – Comparison for Streaming and Unblocking in USA
PureVPN | TunnelBear | |
Netflix | Yes | No |
Hulu | Yes | No |
Sky Go | Yes | No |
Amazon Prime | Yes | No |
BBC iPlayer | Yes | No |
ABS | Yes | No |
CBS | Yes | Yes |
NBC | Yes | Yes |
ITV | Yes | Yes |
Channel 4 | Yes | Yes |
Since TunnelBear is famed among “freebies,” I did not expect much in the way of unblocking streaming platforms in USA. My assumptions proved true after testing their free and premium version on different sites.
The VPN failed to unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Voot, Hotstar, Disney Plus, and other popular sites. As such, it may not be the best option for users who want a VPN for streaming. TunnelBear Netflix was especially a big no for me as a binge-watcher.
PureVPN, on the other hand, defied all odds to deliver excellent unblocking capabilities. The VPN uses strong obfuscation technologies for bypassing geo-restrictions in USA.
Testing it on different streaming platforms revealed that the provider faced no issues unblocking popular services on all of its apps. Thus, it’s one of the best streaming VPNs in USA. These include their “browser extensions,” too.
Few providers can claim they can unblock VoDs like Netflix through a Chrome or Mozilla extension. However, PureVPN makes this possible, giving it an edge over other providers.
It also gives users a “popular websites” option across all devices that lists all famous streaming sites. Simply click on the channel you want to unblock and get access to it instantly, minus any hassles.
Winner in Netflix & Unblocking Other Streaming Capabilities
PureVPN is the winner for unblocking Netflix and other streaming services reliably and consistently. In my tests, TunnelBear failed at bypassing the geo-block on most platforms therefore, it’s not recommended for streaming.
Do PureVPN and TunnelBear Work in China & Internet Restricted Countries
The “Great Firewall” in China deploys various VPN blocking techniques like Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) attacks, DNS Hijacking, DNS Poisoning, and Blackholing VPN servers that make bypassing geo-restrictions incredibly difficult.
Sadly, TunnelBear offered no incentives to expats or residents in China. You do not have a mirror website available for downloading their apps in the country, and neither do you have Chinese servers available.
The provider does offer a “GhostBear” feature that uses obfuscation on servers using the TCP protocol over port 443 to cloak the VPN connection as regular “HTTPS” traffic, but this proved ineffective in my tests. This makes it an excellent VPN to get into China.
Meanwhile, PureVPN worked better for both Chinese expats and residents. Hence, it’s one of the best VPNs for China in USA. It offers a mirror website and is the only provider in the marketplace that offers 12 Chinese servers (6 in Beijing and 6 in Shanghai).
Winner in Working for China & Internet Restricted Countries
Although PureVPN is not the best VPN to get into heavily restricted sites like China – it’s still better than TunnelBear. In my comparative analysis, I observed that PureVPN worked way better than TunnelBear, earning a point in this round.
PureVPN vs TunnelBear Comparison in USA – Setup and User Interface
The PureVPN app strikes a balance, catering to novice and experienced VPN users in USA. Its user-friendly interface allows effortless server selection and connection for beginners, while seasoned users can explore advanced settings and customize preferences through accessible tabs. The default protocol is automatic, but users can choose various options to suit their requirements.
TunnelBear VPN is designed with a user-friendly focus, making it easy for new users to navigate. The installation process is straightforward, and even beginners can easily understand the app or desktop interface. The interactive server map allows location selection, and the bear-themed design adds a touch of amusement.
OpenVPN is available for TunnelBear on Windows in USA and Android, while iOS devices like TunnelBear on Mac in USA use IKEv2 or IPsec, offering flexibility for different user preferences.
All in all, the VPN apps of both providers are quite amazing, but in terms of “appearance,” TunnelBear gains the upper hand among varied services in the marketplace.
Winner in Setup and User Interface
TunnelBear earns points for setup and user interface because its apps are extremely easy to use. Although PureVPN apps are also considerably sleek, TunnelBear is simpler to use.
PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN Comparison in USA – Customer Service
Here’s a quick look at PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN comparison in USA:
PureVPN | TunnelBear | |
Video Guides | No | No |
Searchable Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
Phone Support | No | No |
Email Support | Yes | Yes |
Average Email Response Time | 39 Minutes | 1 Hour |
Ticket Support | Yes | Yes |
Live Chat Support | Yes | No |
PureVPN has better customer service than TunnelBear in USA. When choosing a VPN, it is extremely important to have a reliable support team that responds to your concerns promptly.
Although TunnelBear has an extensive FAQ section with helpful answers, PureVPN takes the trophy home by offering real-time support. You will not get instant answers to your queries with TunnelBear because it lacks the live chat feature.
PureVPN and TunnelBear both offer a sufficient knowledge base and email support. All of these are good options to receive support. To test the customer service, I analyzed the email response time of both VPN providers. Below, you can see the stats of both providers based on four different questions:
PureVPN Customer Service
PureVPN has a 24/7 support feature to cater to user concerns. I tested the chat feature at different time intervals and got instant solutions every time. The support agent asked a few questions to understand my concern fully and then suggested a workable solution. You can even ask them how to cancel PureVPN in USA.
I reached out to PureVPN customer support with a series of inquiries. I asked whether PureVPN is suitable for torrenting, and their response time for this question was approximately 25 minutes. I also inquired about its compatibility with Netflix, and the response time for this question averaged around 39 minutes.
Additionally, I asked about the installation process of PureVPN on LibreELEC, and their response time for this query was approximately 50 minutes. Lastly, I sought guidance on setting up PureVPN on Firestick, and they responded to this question in an average time of about 44 minutes.
TunnelBear Customer Service
TunnelBear has good customer service. You can easily contact a Support Bear by visiting the official website.
I contacted TunnelBear’s customer support with several inquiries. I first asked whether TunnelBear is a safe option for accessing the dark web, and their response time for this question averaged around 1 hour. Next, I inquired about the process for canceling a TunnelBear subscription, and their response time for this request was approximately 48 minutes.
I also asked whether TunnelBear is effective for unblocking Netflix, and their response to this query took an average of about 52 minutes. Lastly, I sought information about the ownership of TunnelBear VPN, and they responded to this question in an average time of around 59 minutes.
Winner in Customer Service
PureVPN is the clear winner for customer service because it is backed by real-time support. It can be frustrating to wait at least 48 hours for an answer from the VPN service. Therefore, PureVPN is better. You can easily start the chat with a support agent and get instant answers.
PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN Comparison in USA – Device Compatibility
PureVPN and TunnelBear are compatible with the following devices in USA:
PureVPN | TunnelBear | |
Windows | Yes | Yes |
macOS | Yes | Yes |
Android | Yes | Yes |
iOS | Yes | Yes |
Linux | Yes | Yes |
Chrome | Yes | Yes |
Firefox | Yes | Yes |
Edge | Yes | No |
PS4 | Yes | No |
Xbox One | Yes | No |
Apple TV | Yes | No |
Android TV | Yes | No |
Routers | Yes | No |
TunnelBear only offers limited support for Linux. Additionally, you cannot use the VPN on Windows mobile devices, Android/Apple TV, and gaming systems as a TunnelBear subscriber. You cannot even manually configure TunnelBear on modems/routers.
On the contrary, PureVPN is more compatible with various devices than TunnelBear. You can easily set up PureVPN on gaming consoles like PS4 and Xbox One. Additionally, the PureVPN Android TV app ensures a consistently smooth streaming experience in USA without any buffering.
Where TunnelBear offers browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, PureVPN gains a point for offering an Edge extension.
Winner in Device Compatibility
In this TunnelBear vs PureVPN review, PureVPN is the winner as it supports the broadest range of systems and OS than TunnelBear.
The Overall Winner – PureVPN
PureVPN emerges as the clear winner in many aspects of the comparison in USA. It excels in server coverage, offering a vast network of servers across numerous countries. Its speed and performance are commendable, making it a top choice for streaming and torrenting in USA.
PureVPN also impresses with its user-friendly interface and consistent features across various platforms, including essential privacy tools like a kill switch. Additionally, its pricing is competitive, providing excellent value for money.
PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN Comparison in USA – FAQs
What is better than TunnelBear in USA?
Is PureVPN better than NordVPN in USA?
Which is better, PureVPN or TunnelBear in USA?
PureVPN vs Tunnel Bear – Wrapping Up
I hope this PureVPN vs TunnelBear VPN comparison in USA helped you decide. However, undoubtedly, PureVPN wins the title in the list of top VPN comparisons due to its larger server infrastructure, ability to bypass the GFW in China, Netflix unblocking capabilities, and zero leak issues.
TunnelBear is a good VPN, too, but it does not come close to PureVPN regarding features. PureVPN wins the competition here.