9 Best Alternative VPNs to TunnelBear in 2026
Are you looking for an alternative to TunnelBear VPN? While TunnelBear is a popular choice thanks to its fast speeds and ability to unlock streaming content, it has some notable limitations. Luckily, there are plenty of excellent TunnelBear alternatives out there that provide robust security, fast connections, access to geo-blocked content, and more.
In this in-depth guide, we‘ll take a close look at 9 of the best TunnelBear alternatives:
- NordVPN
- Surfshark
- Astrill VPN
- Speedify
- HideMyAss
- ExpressVPN
- CyberGhost
- Avast SecureLine VPN
- PureVPN
For each VPN service, we‘ll examine key factors like speed, security, streaming performance, pricing, and user reviews. By the end, you‘ll have all the information you need to choose the best VPN service for your needs. Let‘s dive in!
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services on the market—and for good reason. It offers a great balance of speed, security, and affordability that makes it a top pick for many users.
Availability: NordVPN has apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, and extensions for Chrome and Firefox. It can also be installed on supported routers.
Pricing: Plans start at $11.95/month or $59.04/year ($4.92/month). The best value is the 2-year plan at $89.00 ($3.71/month).
Speed: In our tests, NordVPN delivered fast download speeds up to 70.22 Mbps on the fastest servers (average 22.75 Mbps). That‘s not quite as speedy as TunnelBear‘s top speed of 88.28 Mbps, but it‘s more than fast enough for smooth HD streaming and fast downloads.
Streaming: NordVPN reliably connects to streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and more. It worked with 100% of the Netflix servers we tested.
Security: NordVPN offers industry-leading security with 256-bit AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy, an automatic kill switch, and advanced features like double-VPN servers and Onion over VPN for maximum privacy.
User reviews: NordVPN earns excellent ratings from users, with 4.5 stars and over 4,700 reviews on Trustpilot.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is a newer VPN that delivers premium features at a budget-friendly price. It‘s a great option if you want maximum security and fast speeds without breaking the bank.
Availability: Surfshark offers apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, and extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
Pricing: Surfshark‘s monthly plan is $12.95. You can pay $59.76 for 1 year ($4.98/month) or get 2 years for $59.76 ($2.49/month).
Speed: We measured Surfshark‘s downloads speeds up to 62.13 Mbps on its fastest servers, with an average of 25.16 Mbps. That‘s slower than TunnelBear, but still fast enough for buffer-free streaming and fast downloads.
Streaming: Surfshark is one of the most reliable VPNs for streaming, working with 100% of the Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ servers we tested. Dedicated streaming servers make it easy to unlock a huge library of geo-blocked content around the world.
Security: Surfshark keeps your data private with 256-bit AES encryption, a verified no-logs policy, an automatic kill switch, and a built-in ad, tracker and malware blocker. MultiHop double VPN and Camouflage Mode provide even more security.
User reviews: Surfshark gets positive feedback from users with a 4.3 star rating and over 6,000 reviews on Trustpilot.
3. Astrill VPN
Astrill VPN is a powerful VPN service that‘s great for accessing blocked content. While it‘s not the cheapest option, its robust network spans over 100 cities worldwide for consistently fast speeds and reliable access.
Availability: Astrill VPN has apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and routers.
Pricing: Astrill‘s monthly plan is $20, or you can pay $90 for 6 months ($15/month) or $120 for 1 year ($10/month).
Speed: In our speed tests, Astrill delivered downloads up to 82.51 Mbps on its fastest servers, with an average of 46.22 Mbps. That‘s close to TunnelBear‘s performance.
Streaming: We were able to access Netflix with 83% of Astrill‘s servers, though it occasionally took a couple tries to connect. It also works great with Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.
Security: Astrill offers excellent security features like 256-bit AES encryption, an automatic kill switch, leak protection, and an ad blocker. You can also route your traffic through the Tor network for maximum anonymity.
User reviews: Astrill VPN doesn‘t have many user reviews on Trustpilot, with only 26 ratings and a low 2.3 star score. But on the App Store and Google Play it earns high ratings of 4.4 and 4.0 stars respectively.
4. Speedify
As the name suggests, Speedify is all about delivering maximum speed by combining multiple internet connections like WiFi and cellular data. It‘s ideal for bandwidth-heavy activities like streaming and gaming.
Availability: Speedify offers apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.
Pricing: Monthly plans are $9.99. Yearly plans cost $71.88 ($5.99/month), while 2-year subscriptions are $95.76 ($3.99/month) and 3-year plans are $107.64 ($2.99/month).
Speed: Speedify was the fastest VPN we tested, with downloads up to 95.31 Mbps when using a dual connection, or 89.09 Mbps with a single connection. That edges out TunnelBear‘s 88.28 Mbps maximum.
Streaming: Unfortunately, Speedify wasn‘t able to connect to Netflix on any of the servers we tested. You may need to look elsewhere if reliable streaming access is a priority.
Security: Speedify secures your data with ChaCha 256-bit encryption and a strict no-logs policy. But it lacks extra privacy features like double VPN connections or Tor integration.
User reviews: With only 7 reviews on Trustpilot, Speedify has a low 2.8 star rating. More user feedback is needed to properly gauge satisfaction.
5. HideMyAss
HideMyAss, or HMA, is a well-established VPN that offers good all-around performance and user-friendly apps. Its massive network spans 210 countries for a huge selection of connection options.
Availability: HMA offers apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, and select routers.
Pricing: HMA costs $59.88 for 12 months ($4.99/month) or $107.64 for 36 months ($2.99/month).
Speed: We saw impressive speeds up to 85.57 Mbps on HMA‘s fastest servers, matching TunnelBear blow-for-blow. The average download speed of 60.95 Mbps was also excellent.
Streaming: HMA worked to access Netflix on 100% of the servers we tested. Dedicated streaming servers make it easy to access content from abroad.
Security: HMA protects your data with 256-bit AES encryption and a no-logs policy. But it‘s missing advanced security features like double VPN and malware blocking.
User reviews: HMA has a decent 4.2 star rating on Trustpilot, with over 2,500 largely positive user reviews.
Honorable Mentions
We also evaluated several other leading VPNs that are worth considering as TunnelBear alternatives:
ExpressVPN offers premium speeds and security along with 24/7 live chat support, but it‘s one of the pricier options at $8.32/month with the annual plan. Still, it‘s a great choice for users who want the best of the best.
CyberGhost is a affordable, user-friendly VPN that‘s great for streaming. Plans start at just $2.75/month and in our tests it connected to 100% of Netflix and other streaming sites we tried. Security is also solid, with 256-bit encryption and a built-in malware blocker.
Avast SecureLine VPN is a basic, no-frills VPN from the popular antivirus provider. Plans start at $2.99/month for coverage on a single device. But speeds were just average in our tests and it only worked with 1 out of 12 Netflix servers.
PureVPN offers an excellent value, with plans starting at $6.49/month for the 1-year subscription. It earned the highest Trustpilot rating of the VPNs we tested at 4.8 stars. But we experienced slower speeds than TunnelBear and spotty Netflix access.
Conclusion
TunnelBear is a very good VPN, but it‘s not the only option out there. After testing a variety of leading VPN services, we think NordVPN is the best TunnelBear alternative for most users. It offers comparable speeds, reliable access to streaming content, and top-notch security at a reasonable price.
Surfshark is another strong choice if budget is your top priority. Plans start at just $2.49/month and you get unlimited device connections, airtight privacy protection, and hassle-free streaming.
For maximum speed, it‘s hard to beat Speedify – especially if you can combine a couple connections. But it falls short when it comes to streaming support and extra security features compared to our top picks.
Ultimately, the right VPN for you depends on your needs and priorities. Whichever TunnelBear alternative you choose, you‘ll be well protected with a fast, secure VPN connection. Stay safe out there!