Tunnelbear vs Competitors: Comparing the Value of Their Free Plans for Internet Protection
Sometimes, it can be overwhelming to choose the best internet protection service among the numerous options available in the market. With the rise in cyber threats, having a reliable VPN is crucial for online security. We will compare Tunnelbear and its competitors’ free plans to help you determine which one offers the best value for protecting your internet activities without breaking the bank.
NordVPN
✔️ Thosuands of Servers in 60 Countries
✔️ 100% No-Logs Privacy
✔️ 67% off 2-Year Plans and UberEats Voucher
ProtonVPN
✔️ Thosuands of Servers in 70+ Countries
✔️ High-speed VPN for Gaming or Streaming
✔️ 50% off 2-Year Plans
Surfshark
✔️ 3000+ Servers in 50 Countries
✔️ 100% No-Logs Privacy
✔️ 79% off + 2 Months Free
The Importance of Internet Protection
Before delving into the specifics of VPNs and their respective plans, let’s first understand why internet protection is crucial in today’s digital landscape. With advancements in technology comes an increase in cybercrime – according to research conducted by Cybersecurity Ventures, global cybercrime damages are expected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025!
From phishing scams to ransomware attacks, there are countless ways that hackers can infiltrate our devices and steal sensitive information. And it’s not just financial data at stake – our browsing history, location data, and other personal details are all vulnerable too.
This is where VPNs like Tunnelbear step in – they secure your connection and protect your privacy by creating a private tunnel between your device and the internet. This not only makes it difficult for hackers to intercept your data, but it also allows you to access geo-restricted content and browse anonymously.
Feature Comparison
When choosing a VPN, one of the key factors to consider is its features. These can vary greatly from one provider to another, so let’s take a look at what Tunnelbear and its competitors offer in their free plans:
Tunnelbear
- Access to servers in over 20 countries
- User-friendly interface
- Support for five simultaneous connections
- 500MB of free data per month (with an additional 1GB if you tweet about them)
- No logs policy
- AES 256-bit encryption
Windscribe
- Supports unlimited simultaneous connections
- AES 256-bit encryption
- 10GB of free data per month
- No logs policy
- Access to servers in over 60 countries
- Ad and malware blocker
ProtonVPN
- No logs policy
- Secure Core technology for enhanced security
- Unlimited data on one device
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Strict no throttling or bandwidth limits policy
- Allows three simultaneous connections
From this comparison, we can see that Tunnelbear offers the least amount of data among its competitors. However, it does allow for more simultaneous connections than ProtonVPN’s basic plan. On the other hand, Windscribe offers significantly more data but has limited server options compared to the others.
It ultimately boils down to your personal needs – if you’re someone who doesn’t require much data and prefers user-friendliness, Tunnelbear may be the way to go. But if you need more flexibility and advanced features such as ad blocking, Windscribe might be a better fit.
Speed Performance
Another crucial aspect to consider when choosing a VPN is its speed performance. After all, what good is online protection if it comes at the cost of slow and unreliable connections?
To test the speed of Tunnelbear’s free plan, we conducted multiple speed tests using different servers in various locations. Our results showed that while there was a slight decrease in download and upload speeds compared to our baseline without the VPN, it was not significant enough to cause any noticeable difference in browsing or streaming.
However, it’s worth noting that free plans often have slower speeds due to limited server options and high usage from other users. So if speed is your top priority, you may want to consider investing in a paid plan with more advanced features and faster connection capabilities.
Security Protocols
When it comes down to it, a VPN’s main purpose is to provide security and protect your online activity. Therefore, the security protocols used by each provider are crucial factors to consider.
Tunnelbear uses AES 256-bit encryption – the industry standard for secure communication over the internet. The use of a reliable VPN for Amazon Prime is crucial for accessing geo-restricted shows and movies from anywhere in the world. This ensures that all data transmitted through their network remains encrypted and cannot be intercepted by third parties.
Similarly, Windscribe also utilizes AES 256-bit encryption but goes one step further by offering an ad and malware blocker as part of its free plan. ProtonVPN, on the other hand, uses Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) – a technique that generates new keys for every session, making it nearly impossible for hackers to decrypt your data even if they somehow obtain access.
Essentially, all three providers offer reliable security measures to keep your online activity safe from prying eyes. Even if you’re not physically in Korea, using a virtual private network for Korea can give you access to geo-restricted content and increased online privacy. However, ProtonVPN’s use of PFS may give it a slight edge over Tunnelbear and Windscribe in terms of security.
User Experience
Apart from features and performance, user experience can significantly impact our overall satisfaction with a product or service. In this section, we will take a closer look at the user experience offered by Tunnelbear and its competitors’ free plans.
Tunnelbear’s simple, cartoonish interface is both charming and straightforward to navigate. This makes it an excellent option for those who are new to using VPNs or prefer a more user-friendly design. It also offers a handy feature that allows you to choose your desired location based on the purpose of your connection (e.g. streaming, browsing).
Windscribe has a slightly more complex interface but still manages to maintain a clean and organized layout. The ability to customize settings such as security protocols and server preferences may be appealing to more tech-savvy users.
ProtonVPN’s interface follows a similar pattern – it’s not as visually appealing as Tunnelbear’s but is functional and easy enough to use. However, one downside is that its free plan only allows access to servers in three countries – the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Privacy Policies
Another crucial aspect to consider when choosing a VPN provider is their privacy policies. After all, if they’re storing logs of your activity or selling your data to third parties, how can you trust them with securing your online privacy?
Thankfully, all three providers mentioned in this article have strict no-logs policies in place. This means that they do not collect any information about your online activities while connected to their network. Tunnelbear and Windscribe have undergone independent audits by third-party companies to verify their claims.
However, it’s important to note that ProtonVPN does log some data – including timestamps of connections made and bandwidth used. While this may not be concerning for most users, if complete anonymity is essential to you, it may be worth considering other options.
Final Verdict
After thoroughly examining each provider’s features, speed performance, security protocols, user experience, and privacy policies, it’s safe to say that all three offer value in their free plans. It ultimately depends on your individual needs and preferences – Tunnelbear may be best for beginners, Windscribe for those who need more data, and ProtonVPN for users who prioritize enhanced security.
While Tunnelbear’s free plan may have its limitations compared to its competitors, it still offers a reliable and user-friendly option for those looking to dip their toes into the world of VPNs. However, if you’re willing to invest a little more, upgrading to a paid plan from any of these providers will undoubtedly provide even more robust protection and advanced features. As always, do thorough research and consider your priorities before making a decision. Stay safe and happy browsing!
- ✔ Connect Unlimited Devices Devices
✔ 3000+ Servers in 50 Countries
✔ 100% No-Logs Privacy
✔ 79% off + 2 Months Free
- ✔ Connect Up-To 6 Devices
✔ Thosuands of Servers in 60 Countries
✔ 100% No-Logs Privacy
✔ 67% off 2-Year Plans and UberEats Voucher
- ✔ Connect Up-To 10 Devices
✔ Thosuands of Servers in 70+ Countries
✔ High-speed VPN for Gaming or Streaming
✔ 50% off 2-Year Plans
How Does TunnelBear’s Free Version Differ From the Paid Version?
TunnelBear’s free version differs from the paid version in a few key ways. The free version has a data limit of 500MB per month, while the paid versions offer unlimited data usage. The free version only allows for access to servers in select countries, whereas the paid versions have a larger selection of server locations available. The free version also does not include features such as ad-blocking and priority customer support that are included in some of the paid plans.
Is There a Limit to How Much Data Can Be Used With the Free Version of TunnelBear?
Yes, there is a limit to how much data can be used with the free version of TunnelBear. The current limit for the free version is 500MB per month. This may vary depending on your location and other factors. From protecting your online privacy to ensuring secure connections, choosing between Nord VPN and Norton VPN can be a tough decision. Once this limit is reached, users will need to upgrade to a paid plan or wait until the next month for their data usage to reset. However, TunnelBear also offers ways to earn more free data through referrals and completing simple tasks.
Can I Access All Features and Servers With the Free Version of TunnelBear?
Yes, you can access all features and servers with the free version of TunnelBear. However, there is a data limit of 500MB per month. If you need more data or want to use it on multiple devices, you can upgrade to their paid plans. But if your usage is minimal, the free version should suffice for basic browsing needs.
Are There Any Advertisements Or Limitations on Speed for the Free Version of TunnelBear?
Yes, the free version of TunnelBear does have advertisements that appear periodically. There is a 500 MB/month data limit on the free version, which can affect internet speed if exceeded. However, users can earn additional data by completing tasks such as tweeting about TunnelBear or inviting friends to join.