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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: Holiday.com, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: Holiday.com, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Private Internet Access vs TunnelBear VPN vs HMA VPN: Which VPN Should You Pick in 2025?

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.5/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 9.0/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 7.0/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Editor's Note: Transparency and impartiality are important to us when bringing you our best selection of VPNs. Some of the industry-leading products on our list, including Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company. The VPNs we choose are derived from a thorough testing process.

    Is Private Internet Access or TunnelBear VPN or HMA VPN better for price, speed, streaming, gaming, and privacy?

    Author Image Catherine Ablett
    Catherine Ablett Cybersecurity Researcher
    Updated on February 13, 2023

    For those looking for a good balance of security and privacy with reasonably fast speeds, it can be hard to choose between PIA (Private Internet Access), HMA, and TunnelBear. However, while on the surface these 3 providers may seem similar, there are some significant differences. HMA is ahead of the competition regarding the countries it covers (190). However, PIA dominates with an incomparable number of actual servers (29,650 across 91 countries). TunnelBear has a somewhat bigger number of servers than HMA but covers only 47 countries. All three providers offer good speeds, no restrictions on data, and intuitive apps. While PIA and HMA provide users with a money-back guarantee, TunnelBear doesn’t have one and offers refunds only in specific individual cases. Instead, it provides a free (albeit quite restricted) VPN version.

    Our Score

    Features 9.5/10
    Pricing 9.5/10
    Ease of Use 9.6/10
    Reliability & Support 9.8/10
    Features 9.0/10
    Pricing 9.3/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 7.8/10
    Features 7.0/10
    Pricing 7.0/10
    Ease of Use 7.0/10
    Reliability & Support 6.6/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell Former Senior Writer
    Our Score: 9.5/10

    Private Internet Access (PIA) has one of the cheapest VPN offers, starting at just $2.03/month. With such a low price, I wondered whether PIA could really stand out against its higher-priced competitors. However, it prides itself on a 10-plus-year reputation of being safe and trustworthy, so it’s also one of the best-value VPNs available. I’ve used PIA for a while and have examined its priv...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    E
    Ez
    10.0/10
    Best VPN Out on The Market

    I like PIA VPN the best for the following reasons: ● It's a reliable and trustworthy policy; they don... 't record anything harmful to you; strict no logs. ● I've been using it for one month and there are specific times when it speeds up my internet speed (varies by internet) ● It's a distinctive feature of DIP (dedicated IP) - I think not many popular VPNs have this feature, I also purchased this feature to avoid getting the captcha verification and it never showed up ever since. It's only been a month using this VPN but as I gain more experience with this client, I'm pretty sure I will find more good features and utilize them. Thanks for having read my review:)More

    Latest negative user review
    M
    Mike Johnson
    2.0/10
    PIA no longer works on Amazon Fire devices.

    I have used PIA for several years with no issues. Currently, amazon fire devices can no longer sign i... n to the account. Used on 3 TVs with 3 different fire devices with the same result. There is no way to resolve the issue.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Lawrence Wachira
    Lawrence Wachira Editor
    Our Score: 9.0/10

    TunnelBear is one of the most beginner-friendly VPNs, offering a solid free version. Despite its adorable design, it’s also renowned for its security and privacy features. But can you truly rely on this lighthearted VPN to protect you the way the best providers can? After extensive tests, I can confirm that TunnelBear is an excellent VPN with great potential. It’s straightforward to use, d...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    I
    Iqra Muneer
    10.0/10
    100% Working VPN

    TunnelBear is no doubt a great VPN for all the users, when I am facing server difficulty this helps me...  very much. It provides Good OpenVPN speed. Also, Control full security every year. This software package does not require detailed knowledge; all you have to do is click on the program and establish the connection. You can access global content from anywhere.More

    Latest negative user review
    y
    youself64
    2.0/10
    Doesn't work in Egypt

    I tried Tunnelbear VPN on Egypt. and try to connect to some servers with Ghostbear obfuscation feature...  enabled. but it fails to connect every time. even with OpenVPN TCP or UDP. Server I tried was: USA, UK, Canada, Kenya, etc.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos Senior Editor
    Our Score: 7.0/10

    HMA (formerly HideMyAss) is a relatively cheap VPN that claims to offer more server locations than anyone else. However, it has faced some serious controversies in the past. Is it a VPN that can keep you safe and anonymous online? To find out, I performed extensive tests on all its features and explored its updated privacy policy. I also checked out several connection issues customers have rep...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    P
    Paulo
    10.0/10
    Excellent value for money!

    First, it's a full VPN. Very intuitive and easy app. Lots of connection options and without much loss ... of speed. The official website has the payment method in my local currency, with a localized value and thus leaving a fair value through the VPN. Thank VPNMentor for the product recommendation and targeted discount.More

    Latest negative user review
    s
    sumit
    2.0/10
    Zero Customer Service

    Billed me after not using the service for three years, no customer service response despite emails and...  completed web forms, I agree fully with the other reviews that this company has an old out of date product and no customer support. This is one company to avoidMore

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.03/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    Starting price $3.33/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 0 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    PIA is the clear winner of this comparison. It has an impressive server network, much bigger than that of HMA or TunnelBear. Its easy-to-use apps are highly customizable and include many additional features. On top of that, you get a malware and ad blocker (MACE). It's also the most reliable out of the three for accessing streaming sites.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    PIA is the best choice. It has excellent speeds, allows P2P-sharing on all servers, and (unlike most other VPNs) comes with port forwarding. HMA comes second with its P2P-optimized servers but can have inconsistent speeds like TunnelBear.

    Best VPN for Windows

    PIA provides the best balanced app for Windows. The main window is clean, straightforward, and allows you to connect to a server in seconds. When expanded, you get plenty of customization possibilities, with many quick settings. It offers split tunneling, a kill switch, and its MACE ad blocker. HMA has a great app, but it lacks split tunneling, just like TunnelBear.

    Best VPN for Android

    PIA has one of the best apps for Android. It’s simple to use, yet more advanced than many desktop clients. HMA also has a nicely organized app with a kill switch and split tunneling, but PIA offers extra value with its various quick-connect settings and 7-day free trial on Android devices. TunnelBear offers good features on its Android apps that it doesn't on its other apps but some feature names aren't that straightforward.

    Best VPN for Mac

    PIA is the winner, as it’s packed with all the essential features you need for a secure internet connection, including 2 kill switches. HMA and TunnelBear offer good macOS apps, but they lack some features like split tunneling.

    Best VPN for iOS

    PIA is a clear winner with an advanced app for iOS. It’s the only one here to provide a kill switch and support for both OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. But HMA and TunnelBear still offer another fast protocol, IKEv2. Overall, all three iOS clients are attractive and easy to use.

    Best VPN for USA

    PIA is a better choice with servers in all US states, which is quite rare for a VPN. It has fast connection speeds, and reliably unblocks all major US streaming platforms like Netflix US, Hulu, and Disney+. HMA and TunnelBear can also be used for streaming, but aren’t always reliable.

    The Bottom Line

    See Offers & Pricing

    Overall PIA provides the better service; it is the only one of the three that does not keep any logs at all, reducing the potential risks to your data. It also has a variety of encryption levels to choose from and is more customizable that the other two providers. When this is combined with its speeds, server numbers, functionality, and ease of use it is a clear winner.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with Private Internet Access
    Go with TunnelBear VPN
    Go with HMA VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is Private Internet Access better than TunnelBear VPN and HMA VPN?

    Yes, Private Internet Access is better overall than TunnelBear VPN and HMA VPN. It has 29650 servers in 91 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.03 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between Private Internet Access, TunnelBear VPN and HMA VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then Private Internet Access may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests.

    Is Private Internet Access faster than TunnelBear VPN and HMA VPN?

    Yes, Private Internet Access is faster than TunnelBear VPN and HMA VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free.. It’s backed by a 30*-day money-back guarantee*, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do Private Internet Access, TunnelBear VPN or HMA VPN offer any deals?

    Private Internet Access, TunnelBear VPN, and HMA VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 61% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    [*] Please note that ExpressVPN's generous money-back guarantee applies to first-time customers only.
    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: Holiday.com, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Catherine is an advocate of net neutrality.