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HideMyAss! is a popular VPN provider with a large network of 940+ servers in 190+ countries. ome of this VPN’s biggest strengths are its user-friendly interface, impressive speeds, and ability to access Netflix. ideMyAss! also offers robust security and a unique Freedom Mode that makes it easy to escape government censorship.
Read allPrivate Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. True to its name, this provider is best known for its strict no-logs policy and commitment to user privacy.
Read allTunnelBear is a high-speed VPN that operates servers in 20+ locations. It offers some of the best security features around, including high-end encryption and an automatic kill switch. treaming - Does TunnelBear Work with Netflix?Netflix US: No. ulu: No. BO GO: Yes. BC iPlayer: No. nfortunately, TunnelBear wasn’t able to unblock Netflix US, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer during my tests.
Read allHideMyAss! is a popular VPN provider with a large network of 940+ servers in 190+ countries. ome of this VPN’s biggest strengths are its user-friendly interface, impressive speeds, and ability to access Netflix. ideMyAss! also offers robust security and a unique Freedom Mode that makes it easy to escape government censorship.
Read allPrivate Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. True to its name, this provider is best known for its strict no-logs policy and commitment to user privacy.
Read allTunnelBear is a high-speed VPN that operates servers in 20+ locations. It offers some of the best security features around, including high-end encryption and an automatic kill switch. treaming - Does TunnelBear Work with Netflix?Netflix US: No. ulu: No. BO GO: Yes. BC iPlayer: No. nfortunately, TunnelBear wasn’t able to unblock Netflix US, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer during my tests.
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| Starting price |
| $2.99/ month |
| Money Back Guarantee (Days) |
| 30 |
| Number of devices per license |
| 5 |
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| $3.49/ month |
| Money Back Guarantee (Days) |
| 7 |
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| $4.99/ month |
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| Starting price | $2.99/ month | $3.49/ month | $4.99/ month |
| Money Back Guarantee (Days) | 30 | 7 | 0 |
| Number of devices per license | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| See Plans & Pricing | See Plans | See Plans | See Plans |
| Best VPNs Overall | |
If you're looking for a VPN for security and privacy that’s also affordable, PIA could be the VPN for you. HideMyAss, on the other hand, is more recommended for streaming, as it can bypass geo-restrictions at higher speeds. TunnelBear provides a free (but limited) version, and is a good choice for travelers and beginners. |
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If you're looking for a VPN for security and privacy that’s also affordable, PIA could be the VPN for you. HideMyAss, on the other hand, is more recommended for streaming, as it can bypass geo-restrictions at higher speeds. TunnelBear provides a free (but limited) version, and is a good choice for travelers and beginners.
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| Best VPNs for Torrents | |
You can use any of the three for P2P and torrenting, but only on selected servers. However, TunnelBear is not an ideal choice for torrenting, as it keeps partial logs and is based in Canada - not to mention its inconsistent speeds. |
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You can use any of the three for P2P and torrenting, but only on selected servers. However, TunnelBear is not an ideal choice for torrenting, as it keeps partial logs and is based in Canada - not to mention its inconsistent speeds.
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| Best VPNs for Windows | |
All three VPNs offer user-friendly and customizable Windows apps with a built-in kill switch. HideMyAss’s sleek and multi-optional client for Windows has servers categorized according to different types of internet activity, such as streaming and torrenting. TunnelBear offers a fun and quirky Windows client that’s ideal for beginners, and also has an Obfsproxy mode called “GhostBear” to bypass DPI. PIA has the least attractive Windows client, but it comes with a bunch of features, including an adblocker and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. |
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All three VPNs offer user-friendly and customizable Windows apps with a built-in kill switch. HideMyAss’s sleek and multi-optional client for Windows has servers categorized according to different types of internet activity, such as streaming and torrenting. TunnelBear offers a fun and quirky Windows client that’s ideal for beginners, and also has an Obfsproxy mode called “GhostBear” to bypass DPI. PIA has the least attractive Windows client, but it comes with a bunch of features, including an adblocker and DNS and IPv6 leak protection.
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| Best VPNs for Android | |
While Android users will find it easy to download and use all three VPN's Android apps, PIA is the one that the comes with a built-in kill switch. HideMyAss employs a better-organized Android client, whereas TunnelBear has put more focus on design than adding more features to its Android app. |
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While Android users will find it easy to download and use all three VPN's Android apps, PIA is the one that the comes with a built-in kill switch. HideMyAss employs a better-organized Android client, whereas TunnelBear has put more focus on design than adding more features to its Android app.
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| Best VPNs for Mac | |
Similarly to their Windows clients, all three VPNs offer intuitive and customizable client apps for Mac users with a kill switch included. HideMyAss keeps it tidy with separate modes for different purposes, while TunnelBear makes it using a VPN fun with a good feature selection and goofy style. PIA’s app for Mac may not be an eye-catcher, but it’s packed with all the essential features you need for a secure internet connection. |
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Similarly to their Windows clients, all three VPNs offer intuitive and customizable client apps for Mac users with a kill switch included. HideMyAss keeps it tidy with separate modes for different purposes, while TunnelBear makes it using a VPN fun with a good feature selection and goofy style. PIA’s app for Mac may not be an eye-catcher, but it’s packed with all the essential features you need for a secure internet connection.
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| Best VPNs for iOS | |
HideMyAss, PIA, and TunnelBear all allow you to run their software on 5 iOS devices at the same time. Although all 3 iOS clients are attractive, engaging, and easy to use, they don’t have kill switches and include limited features compared to the apps designed for other platforms such as Windows, Mac, and even Android. |
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HideMyAss, PIA, and TunnelBear all allow you to run their software on 5 iOS devices at the same time. Although all 3 iOS clients are attractive, engaging, and easy to use, they don’t have kill switches and include limited features compared to the apps designed for other platforms such as Windows, Mac, and even Android.
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| Best VPNs for USA | |
Even though PIA has 1000+ servers in the US, it fails to overcome the VPN blocks streaming services like Netflix USA and Hulu have in place. HideMyAss, on the other hand, has 190+ servers in the US and can give you access to geoblocked websites and streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu. As for TunnelBear, it operates some servers in the US and can sometimes get around geo-restrictions, but there's no guarantee it will work at all times. |
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Even though PIA has 1000+ servers in the US, it fails to overcome the VPN blocks streaming services like Netflix USA and Hulu have in place. HideMyAss, on the other hand, has 190+ servers in the US and can give you access to geoblocked websites and streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu. As for TunnelBear, it operates some servers in the US and can sometimes get around geo-restrictions, but there's no guarantee it will work at all times.
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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.
Interestingly, if you compare Private Internet Access with NordVPN, which is our top ranked vpn, you'll see that Private Internet Access can learn a lot from NordVPN. Compare Private Internet Access with NordVPN
Cybersecurity Researcher
Which VPN is better?
Ratings
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4.6
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4.7
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4.5
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4.0
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4.6
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3.8
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4.7
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4.2
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4.5
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4.7
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4.5
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Reviews
Review by our expert
Technology Researcher
Technology Researcher
Cybersecurity Researcher
Latest positive user review
Working perfect
I like this excellent service a lot. It is working absolutely perfect. I have been using it for a couple of weeks, in my PC, in my mobile and also in an Asus router. It is easy to order and setup, no matter which device.
Beautiful service
This VPN service is the one of best and strongly secure. PIA give you new experience in network because you can do more without any controle from your ISP and others users in your network. I recommend this service because their policy is strictly no logs and when i use this service for five years i never been compromised during browsing .
It works great all the time for me!
No problems at all using netflix through the VPN! I have had the error message appear in previous VNPs such as Disconnect, but no problems at all with Tunnelbear, not in the paid version or even in the free version, and this is without even using their Ghostbear feature that is supposed to solve these kind of problems (or if you are in China for example).
Latest negative user review
Definitely not recommended
HMA has helped several times in the past to identify individual users for the judiciary through corresponding logs. HMA has completely failed. A VPN provider that is able to identify individual users specifically in their usage behavior is extremely bad.
PIA robs computers of their speed while the VPN is turned on.
I found out too late!! Here are my issues. Private Internet Access is "popular" because people are unaware and don't know until they've bought and it's too late. After purchasing this VPN (don't purchase this one) I installed on two computers and was told how to increase speed. Afterwards Charter raised their speed to 200 MB. Below are the results of my speed after the increase. I gave Private Internet Access my results and they are refusing to answer my questions and concerns (no response to 2 emails). Needless to say I will not renew. Charter raised internet speed to 200 and I get 200+ while not connected to this VPN. 1st Computer (windows 8.1). The following are my speeds (with adjustments) while connected to VPN and used the 2nd test which was usually a point or two lower or higher upd - auto 86.7 - 7.6 upd - 1194 87.6 - 7.5 upd - 8080 86.8 - 7.7 upd - 9201 85.1 - 7.7 upd - 53 76.0 - 7.2 tcp - 443 38.0 - 5.1 tcp - 110 48.0 - 5.6 tcp - 80 48.3 - 5.8 Why should it take 112.4 from my highest, which I will use, 87.6? I badly need help with this. 2nd Computer (windows 7 professional) Charter raised internet speed to 200 and I get 193.7+ while not connected to VPN. The following are my speeds (with adjustments) while connected to VPN and used the 2nd test which was usually a point or two lower or higher: upd - auto 39.8 - 4.9 upd - 1194 38.0 - 4.7 upd - 8080 37.2 - 4.7 upd - 9201 46.8 - 6.1 upd - 53 37.7- 4.8 tcp - 443 42.8 - 1.6 tcp - 110 44.0 - 1.7 tcp - 80 42.9 - 1.7
Very Slow
Internet speeds have dropped drastically in the last months. I get 75-90mbps without a VPN, and 3-25mbps with Tunnel Bear on. Pathetic! Also have more drops in service and reconnects. I've done all of their suggested fixes, nothing. I think TB may throttle speeds. I have done tests on all of their worldwide servers but ALL are extremely slow. I think it was much faster than this last year. I won't be continuing my subscription after it expires.
Pricing
Starting price
$2.99 / month
$3.49 / month
$4.99 / month
Money Back Guarantee (Days)
30
7
0
Number of devices per license
5
5
5
Best VPNs by category
If you're looking for a VPN for security and privacy that’s also affordable, PIA could be the VPN for you. HideMyAss, on the other hand, is more recommended for streaming, as it can bypass geo-restrictions at higher speeds. TunnelBear provides a free (but limited) version, and is a good choice for travelers and beginners.
You can use any of the three for P2P and torrenting, but only on selected servers. However, TunnelBear is not an ideal choice for torrenting, as it keeps partial logs and is based in Canada - not to mention its inconsistent speeds.
All three VPNs offer user-friendly and customizable Windows apps with a built-in kill switch. HideMyAss’s sleek and multi-optional client for Windows has servers categorized according to different types of internet activity, such as streaming and torrenting. TunnelBear offers a fun and quirky Windows client that’s ideal for beginners, and also has an Obfsproxy mode called “GhostBear” to bypass DPI. PIA has the least attractive Windows client, but it comes with a bunch of features, including an adblocker and DNS and IPv6 leak protection.
While Android users will find it easy to download and use all three VPN's Android apps, PIA is the one that the comes with a built-in kill switch. HideMyAss employs a better-organized Android client, whereas TunnelBear has put more focus on design than adding more features to its Android app.
Similarly to their Windows clients, all three VPNs offer intuitive and customizable client apps for Mac users with a kill switch included. HideMyAss keeps it tidy with separate modes for different purposes, while TunnelBear makes it using a VPN fun with a good feature selection and goofy style. PIA’s app for Mac may not be an eye-catcher, but it’s packed with all the essential features you need for a secure internet connection.
HideMyAss, PIA, and TunnelBear all allow you to run their software on 5 iOS devices at the same time. Although all 3 iOS clients are attractive, engaging, and easy to use, they don’t have kill switches and include limited features compared to the apps designed for other platforms such as Windows, Mac, and even Android.
Even though PIA has 1000+ servers in the US, it fails to overcome the VPN blocks streaming services like Netflix USA and Hulu have in place. HideMyAss, on the other hand, has 190+ servers in the US and can give you access to geoblocked websites and streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu. As for TunnelBear, it operates some servers in the US and can sometimes get around geo-restrictions, but there's no guarantee it will work at all times.
The Bottom Line
Catherine Ablett
Cybersecurity Researcher
Time to decide which one is best for you
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Kate Veale
