NordVPN vs TunnelBear – Which is More Secure in 2023
It is not an easy task when choosing between VPNs, it’s tough. Today, I am going to compare the two most well-known VPN service providers, NordVPN vs TunnelBear.
Hopefully, this head-to-head guide will help you decide which one is the right choice for you.
Comparing the two is a bit harsh as TunnelBear is a smaller provider as compared to NordVPN . The latter is a much-established provider and has thousands of servers across the globe, along with incredible stability of speed and a high level of security.
On the other hand, Tunnel Bear is great as well. However, it has failed to promote itself as a high-security service provider, at least against NordVPN. Let’s see how the two perform in the ring and which one is actually stronger.
NordVPN VsTunnelBear : Overview
- Panama-based (outside US and EU Jurisdictions)
- 3-Year Plan: $3.49/mo. (Billed $125.64)
- Encryption: Military Grade AES-256-CBC
- Total Servers: 5604 in 60 Countries
- Refund Guarantee: 30 Days
- P2P/Torrenting: Yes
- Keeps no logs
- Canada-based (Makes it Insecure to a High Extent)
- 1-Year Plan: 4.99/mo. (Billed $59.88)
- Encryption: AES 256, SHA256, RSA-4096
- Total Servers: 354 in 20 Countries
- Refund Guarantee: No Refund Policy
- P2P/Torrenting: No
- Keeps no logs
NordVPN Vs TunnelBear: Security & Privacy
NordVPN does not maintain any kind of logs. The provider offers strong data encryption (AES-256 coupled with a 2048-bit handshake). Which makes your data extremely secure.
Moreover if you’re looking to enhance your online security on your Android device, NordVPN Android in USA offers robust protection. Learn how to set up NordVPN on your Android device in our comprehensive guide.
When we conducted tests for VPN Leaks, NordVPN displayed no leaks (DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC). Also, NordVPN can be set-up & use for Apple TV.
Another plus point NordVPN has is that it is strategically located in Panama. The best part is that there are no data retention laws in the country neither is it associated with any data surveillance body.
TunnelBear does not keep any logs and it too has very strong encryption and authentication. Just because it has a cute bearish type of a mascot littered everywhere on its service doesn’t mean it’s not serious about its business. In fact, the mascot is hugely popular on multiple platforms.
TunnelBear also says it has a zero-logging policy, which is a positive as you can safely use the web without the fear that the provider might reveal your information.
As for the protocols, for Windows and Mac OS, the provider supports the OpenVPN protocol. On the other hand, the client for iOS runs on IKEv2/IPSec.
TunnelBear’s speeds are also good according to the TunnelBear Speed Test, but not the best in the industry. However, you can still stream online without any major issues with buffering.
But one thing that bothered me was that the company is based in Canada, which, unfortunately, is a member of the 5 Eyes Alliance. This isn’t good news as the country is part of a global surveillance network, formed to share intelligence with other agencies.
In this round of comparison, surely NordVPN takes the Win as firstly it’s based in Panama. This means you are completely anonymous and no one will knock on your door.
On the other hand, TunnelBear isn’t bad either, but there are areas where it lacks such as its jurisdiction, as well as its parent company’s (McAfee) location along with lesser security features than NordVPN. Therefore, NordVPN is far superior.
- Data encryption: AES-256-CBC
- Data authentication: SHA384
- Handshake: DHE-4096
- CyberSec Protocol
- Onion Over VPN
- Automatic Kill Switch
- Dedicated IPs Available
- Panama-Based (Strategic Location)
NordVPN Vs TunnelBear: Customer Support Services
One of the greatest features by NordVPN is that it offers a 24/7 live chat option, so whenever you have a problem the support team is there to assist you.
But in many countries, their live chat won’t work like in African nations such as Nigeria or Congo. So as an alternative, you can use their email ticketing system, which is quick and responsive.
TunnelBear doesn’t have live chat support, but it has a great well engaged social media presence. However, it really does not solve the problem. Therefore, you will have to resort to emails only for support.
- Phone Support: NO
- Knowledgebase: YES
- Video Guides: YES
- Email Support: YES
- Ticket Support: YES
- Live Chat Support: YES
- Phone Support: NO
- Knowledgebase: NO
- Video Guides: NO
- Email Support: YES
- Ticket Support: NO
- Live Chat Support: NO
NordVPN Vs TunnelBear: Pricing
Let’s discuss the pricing of the two providers. As obvious, being a premium brand Nord is slightly more expensive than the market average. When considering the NordVPN cost, it’s important to recognize that this premium pricing reflects the quality and robust features associated with the service. On the other hand TunnelBear is on the cheapest vpn side.
The price per month starts to fall as longer-period plans are selected. One thing notable here is that TunnelBear offers a free version while NordVPN does not. You can check out NordVPN Free Trial in USA Guide.
- Monthly Pricing: $11.95
- 1 year – $83.88 ($6.99/month)
- 2 years – $119.76 ($4.99/month)
- 3 year – $125.64 ($3.49/month)
- 30 Days Money Back Guarantee Available
- 3-Day Free Trial
- Monthly Pricing: $9.99
- Yearly Costs: $59.99 ($5/month)
- 2-Year Plan: No
- No Money Back Guarantee
- Free version – limited to 500 MB/month
NordVPN vs TunnelBear: Torrenting and P2P
Another win for NordVPN torrenting is that you can use P2P file sharing, but it does not work on servers of countries where torrenting is illegal, like the US, UK, Italy or Canada.
TunnelBear on the other side does not support p2p file sharing or torrenting.
TunnelBear Vs NordVPN: Download & Installation
Downloading NordVPN is really simple, anybody can do it. All you have to do is go to the website, choose the device for which you want to install the VPN.
Once you’re done with the installation, choose your payment plan, create an account, and set up your username and password.
Similar is the case with TunnelBear, as all you have to do is create an account and download.
TunnelBear Vs NordVPN: User Interface
NordVPN offers a very simple user interface, it’s intuitive and not confusing at all. As you log in you see the quick connect option which will connect you to the fastest server available.
If you want to connect to a specific country you can do that by selecting that option from the top right corner of the screen. The application allows you to choose from different server types, like Double VPN, Anti DDoS, Onion over VPN, or even P2P servers.
TunnelBear also has very nice software, all neat and clean, easy enough for anyone to use. You can change countries from the globe icon on the app.
In the settings tab you will see options like the General tab, Security tab, Account tab, and Trusted Networks. When it comes to ease of use, we consider both tools quite good.
The winner here is NordVPN with its quick connect feature!
Other VPN Comparisons Guides
NordVPN vs TunnelBear: Who is the Winner?
NordVPN is a serious security tool for your privacy and security. It has strong encryption, customer support, and market average prices and value for money.
However, when we tested its software, Trojan viruses were detected for which we contacted its support and are waiting for their response. Until then we are not very sure if it’s completely safe.
On the other hand, TunnelBear is more like a basic security VPN that you can use for streaming and some basic browsing and bypassing geo-restrictions. However, you cannot compare it with the top-notch security infrastructure set up by NordVPN.
As of now, we can not claim that the winner for NordVPN vs TunnelBear here until we receive an official response from the support team till then both TunnelBear USA and NordVPN USA are winners for us!
