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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.

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

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 7.0/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 9.0/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

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

    Author Image Kate Richards
    Kate Richards Former Managing Editor
    Updated on November 05, 2021

    HMA is a well-established VPN provider with an exceptional service built around a network of 900+ servers in over 190 countries. TunnelBear is also a popular VPN provider, with a smaller network of around 20 servers in 20 countries. TunnelBear does not offer refunds on subscription plans, whereas HMA provides a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, TunnelBear does offer a free limited version of its service, so you can try it out before subscribing. When it comes to security, both VPN providers offer a kill switch, strong 256-bit encryption, and support for multiple protocols including OpenVPN and IKEv2. These VPNs differ in their advanced security features, however, with HMA providing IPv6 leak protection, while TunnelBear competes with a DoubleVPN feature. Support for P2P activities is only available with HMA. Furthermore, If you need to reach out to these providers for assistance, you’ll find that HMA provides 24/7 live chat support, whereas TunnelBear users have to rely on email and support tickets. However, the TunnelBear website does include many helpful support articles. We’ve provided a more detailed analysis of these two providers below to settle the matter of which one is better.

    Our Score

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

    Reviews

    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
    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

    Pricing

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

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    HMA offers an exceptional VPN service with one of the largest server networks available and a proven ability to bypass tough geoblocks from any location worldwide. TunnelBear also offers a reliable VPN service, with strong security features and straightforward apps for all major platforms.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    HMA offers dedicated high-speed servers optimized for P2P file-sharing activities, and is our recommended choice for downloading torrents anonymously. TunnelBear also allows torrenting on its servers, but it’s worth noting that its terms of service are not favorable to P2P file sharing, and the provider has outright blocked torrenting across its network in the past.

    Best VPN for Windows

    The key strengths of HMA’s VPN app for Windows are its advanced security measures, including a kill switch and advanced leak protection. You can also access 24/7 customer support from within the app. TunnelBear competes with a Windows app that features a simple design and access to its DoubleVPN encryption feature.

    Best VPN for Android

    HMA is our recommended VPN choice for Android users, as the app gives you access to 900+ high-speed servers in 190 countries, and includes a kill switch and protection from tracking. Public wi-fi protection and DoubleVPN encryption are two of the best things about TunnelBear’s dedicated Android app.

    Best VPN for Mac

    HMA has a dedicated MacOS app that supports multiple VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, and includes strong encryption and IPv6 leak protection. Meanwhile, TunnelBear’s MacOS app features the provider’s unique GhostBear technology for bypassing tough geoblocks and firewalls, as well as a kill switch.

    Best VPN for iOS

    HMA operates an exceptional VPN service for iOS, with a dedicated app that can be easily set up within minutes. The app boasts features like an automatic kill switch and protection from ISP tracking. TunnelBear’s dedicated app for iOS features strong encryption and access to the free limited version of the VPN.

    Best VPN for USA

    With hundreds of dedicated high-speed US servers that reliably unblock Netflix and hundreds of other geoblocked sites and services, HMA Gets our vote as an ideal VPN for the USA. Although TunnelBear is capable of bypassing geoblocks from numerous US websites and apps, the provider does not guarantee that the service can reliably unblock Netflix.

    The Bottom Line

    See Offers & Pricing

    HMA wins this contest by providing an exceptional service that includes a far larger network of servers and access to more features than you can get with TunnelBear. HMA also provides excellent 24/7 support via live chat, a service not available with TunnelBear. The fact that it more reliably unblocks Netflix-USA seals HMA’s victory. That being said, TunnelBear remains a very good VPN provider that maintains a very public, transparent profile, something that few VPN companies do and that we greatly admire.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is HMA VPN better than TunnelBear VPN?

    Yes, HMA VPN is better overall than TunnelBear VPN. It has 1100 servers in 190 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between HMA VPN and TunnelBear 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 HMA VPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is HMA VPN faster than TunnelBear VPN?

    Yes, HMA VPN is faster than TunnelBear 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 HMA VPN or TunnelBear VPN offer any deals?

    Both HMA VPN and TunnelBear 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

    Kate is a former Managing Editor at vpnMentor. Kate promoted the use of VPNs as a means to achieve unhindered access to the internet, as she strongly believes in online freedom for everyone.