TunnelBear is an easy-to-approach VPN with a free plan, but its 2 GB monthly data allowance is limited, and review evidence leaves open questions about streaming performance, kill-switch reliability, and whether customers can inspect its latest audit. It may suit someone trying a VPN or using one occasionally; it is harder to recommend on the evidence here for sustained video use or for readers who want readily verifiable privacy assurances.
What TunnelBear offers
TunnelBear sells VPN subscriptions and also lists a free tier. Independent review pages from RTINGS and TechRadar list the free plan at 2 GB of data per month. That can be enough to try the app or use a VPN occasionally, but it is a tight limit for regular browsing and video. RTINGS also lists a Teams plan with centralized billing. The reviewed sources describe the paid Unlimited plan as providing unlimited data.
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Exact current prices, plan-specific features, supported platforms, refund terms, simultaneous connections, and payment methods are not established by the reviewed information. Check TunnelBear’s current official plan details before subscribing rather than relying on older review-page prices or terms.
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Is TunnelBear safe?
“Safe” depends on what you need protection from. A VPN can encrypt traffic between your device and its VPN server, but it does not make you anonymous, prevent every form of tracking, or protect you from malware and phishing. TunnelBear’s own blog describes privacy and security as a VPN’s purpose; that is the company’s position, not a guarantee that every risk is eliminated.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
Reviewers describe TunnelBear as not logging browsing activity or connection IP addresses. They also describe the service as collecting some operational or device information, such as app and device details, activity status, bandwidth use, or approximate location. Those summaries do not establish the exact current data practices. Read the live privacy policy to understand what is collected, why it is collected, how long it is retained, and whether it is shared.
Audit completion is not the same as a public report
In a company blog post dated 24 November 2025, TunnelBear said it had completed its 2025 independent security audit, described it as the ninth consecutive year, and said it was reviewing and addressing the findings. That announcement establishes what the company said about completion; it is not the auditor’s report or an independent conclusion about the findings.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
RTINGS’ review, updated 13 July 2026, said it had not found published 2024 or 2025 audits and noted that published audits did not verify adherence to privacy commitments. These statements address different things: TunnelBear reported completing an audit, while RTINGS said it could not find a public report to inspect. The reviewed evidence does not establish that customers can read the 2025 report. Even a published audit would provide evidence about its scope and findings, not proof that a VPN can never log or disclose information.
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Review sources describe TunnelBear as Canadian and report that it was acquired by McAfee. Those facts may matter to a reader assessing company ownership and jurisdiction, but they do not by themselves show that a particular user’s activity has been exposed. The reviewed material does not validate a government-request count from a primary dataset.
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
How well does TunnelBear work?
Speed depends on the route and test conditions
Tom’s Guide reports a 332 Mbps nearby-server download result and a 269 Mbps peak in its test of the free service. These are outcomes from that publication’s tests, not expected speeds for every customer, network, device, or server. VPN performance can vary with distance, congestion, the user’s connection, and the selected endpoint. The exact test date was not established in the reviewed material, so the results should be treated as illustrative rather than a current performance guarantee.
Streaming access is not assured
Security.org and Cloudwards report limitations or difficulty accessing major streaming services with TunnelBear. A VPN subscription does not guarantee access to a particular streaming catalog: platforms change their VPN detection, and results can vary by service, server, and location. If streaming is a deciding factor, check the service and region you care about, and do not assume that a successful connection today will continue to work.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Kill-switch feature claims do not settle reliability
Security.org describes a kill-switch feature, while RTINGS reports leakage in its kill-switch test. The existence of a setting is not proof that it prevents all traffic from escaping during every kind of interruption. The test result is specific to RTINGS’ review conditions; it should not be generalized to every device or configuration. Readers who depend on a kill switch should verify the feature in their own app and consider whether its behavior meets their needs before relying on it.
Who might choose TunnelBear?
- Trying a VPN: The free plan and approachable presentation can make it a low-friction way to explore VPN basics, provided 2 GB per month is enough for the trial use.
- Occasional use: A light user may find the free allowance workable, but should track usage rather than assume it will cover continuous browsing or video.
- Regular video or high data use: Compare paid-plan terms and confirm streaming compatibility directly; the available reviews do not support a promise of dependable access to major services.
- Privacy-sensitive use: Read the current policy and look for an audit report readers can inspect. The company’s completion announcement and the lack of a report located by RTINGS are not interchangeable forms of evidence.
Verdict
TunnelBear’s strongest case is its approachable entry point and a free option for limited use. Its 2 GB monthly cap sharply limits that free option, while the reviewed evidence does not establish guaranteed streaming access or a publicly inspectable 2025 audit. Treat the service as a practical candidate to test against your own needs, not as a blanket promise of anonymity or uninterrupted protection.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
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