{
  "slug": "tunnelbear",
  "category": "vpns",
  "name": "TunnelBear",
  "description": "VPN service from TunnelBear, based in Canada, with a free plan limited by data and paid unlimited plans. Apps support WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2.",
  "website": "https://www.tunnelbear.com",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "macos",
    "android",
    "ios"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "CA",
    "name": "Canada",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": null
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "D",
  "score": 42,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "TunnelBear scores 42 out of 100 (grade D) on the VPN providers criteria. It meets 4 of 12 criteria: no ads or data sales, independent audit, TLS configuration and modern protocols. It partly meets transparency report, security headers and audited no-logs policy. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry, tells users about requests, anonymous payment and open-source apps. It is based in Canada: Five Eyes member. Automated tests: SSL Labs grade A+ and Mozilla HTTP Observatory grade B.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/vpns/tunnelbear/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/vpns/tunnelbear/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Closed source."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://www.tunnelbear.com/privacy-policy",
      "note": "The privacy policy lists Google Analytics and Hotjar, and the Android app includes AppsFlyer and Google Firebase Analytics."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.tunnelbear.com/privacy-policy",
      "note": "Funded by paid plans, and the free plan has no ads. The policy states personal data is not sold."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://cure53.de/pentest-report_tunnelbear_2023.pdf",
      "note": "Cure53 audits the apps and servers every year, and the full audit report is public."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.tunnelbear.com/privacy-policy",
      "note": "The privacy policy describes what data is disclosed in response to a valid subpoena or warrant. No current request counts are published."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No published policy on notifying users about data requests."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/analyze.html?d=www.tunnelbear.com&hideResults=on",
      "note": "Grade A+"
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/observatory/analyze?host=www.tunnelbear.com",
      "note": "Grade B (70/100+)"
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "pending",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Not tested yet."
    },
    "no_logs_audited": {
      "title": "Audited no-logs policy",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.tunnelbear.com/privacy-policy",
      "note": "The policy states IP addresses, DNS queries and activity are not logged. The Cure53 audits are security tests, not a no-logs assessment."
    },
    "anonymous_payment": {
      "title": "Anonymous payment",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://help.tunnelbear.com/hc/en-us/articles/360059783972-What-payment-platforms-do-you-offer",
      "note": "An email address and payment by card or app store are required. Cryptocurrency is not accepted."
    },
    "open_source_clients": {
      "title": "Open-source apps",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "The apps are closed source."
    },
    "modern_protocols": {
      "title": "Modern protocols",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.tunnelbear.com/features/",
      "note": "WireGuard is supported alongside OpenVPN and IKEv2."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": "A+",
    "observatory": "B",
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [
      {
        "name": "Cloudflare Web Analytics",
        "host": "static.cloudflareinsights.com",
        "effect": "partial"
      }
    ],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T06:38:26.938Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T06:56:31Z"
}