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TunnelBear VPN vs Hotspot Shield vs Turbo VPN 2023

Table of Contents
    Rated: 9.0/10
    %s User Reviews
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    Rated: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
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    Rated: 8.0/10
    %s User Reviews
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    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Managing Editor

    Like everything else, you get what you pay for in the VPN market and this could not be truer for a client like Turbo VPN. This free VPN for Android gives you the bare minimum when it comes to online protection, connection stability and access to geo-blocked content. Hotspot Shield’s Elite service unlocks better features, including access to Netflix, OpenVPN connection coupled with AES-256 encryption, malware protection, a no-logging policy and servers in many countries. Hotspot Shield permits five devices per licence and works across all browsers and platforms except Linux. TunnelBear shares many of these features but its affordable monthly plans are unmatched. While the connection speeds are average at best, TunnelBear is serious about online privacy, giving users the choice of L2TP, IPSEC and IKEv2 across all platforms. In addition, with a stealth mode feature, users can get around the Great Firewall of China.

    Rating

    Features 9.0/10
    Pricing 7.5/10
    Ease of Use 8.4/10
    Reliability & Support 9.0/10
    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 9.0/10
    Ease of Use 9.0/10
    Reliability & Support 8.6/10
    Features 8.0/10
    Pricing 7.5/10
    Ease of Use 8.2/10
    Reliability & Support 8.0/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Andreea Juganaru
    Andreea Juganaru

    Senior Editor

    9.0/10

    TunnelBear’s team does an excellent job in branding the VPN but is that all it takes to create a great service? With over 300 VPNs out there, the competition is fierce so I had to take it for a test and see if there’s more to it. I looked into its privacy policy and security features to see if it’s really safe. I ran many tests on its servers, checked the speeds, how many streaming platf...

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    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
    D
    David Ross
    2.0/10
    DANGEROUS for CANADIANS

    I live in the GTA, everything was fine "until" I installed TunnelBear on one of my 7 devices, now I ca... n no longer watch any USA TV stations on line on any of my other 6 devices, this company is scum, they hid something in there that disabled all my other devices unless I buy their VPN, well, not going to buy their garbage, can't believe how much it slowed my device, I would rather wipe all my drives than give TunnelBear one cent!More

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    Review by our expert
    Author Image Kennedy Otieno
    Kennedy Otieno

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    8.0/10

    Hotspot Shield claims its proprietary Hydra protocol makes it faster than most VPNs — but is that true? I tested HSS on my fast internet connection (it allows up to 1Gbps speeds) to discover how it does with streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Mostly, I had a seamless internet experience — watching shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video without buffering. Its 1,800 servers in 80 countries ...

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    Latest positive user review
    G
    George
    8.0/10
    Great Interface, easy to use and smooth/zippy.

    It just feels well put together. Turns on automatically, which is no bad thing (if you don't like that... , turn the damn thing off with a click). The speed is consistently above average, and on a couple of inadvertent occasions, the Kill Switch operated as it should. I especially like the GUI, which is really simple, solid, yet has a refined/slick feel - far superior to a few I've tried but won't name here. I see no issues with it, although the security issues pointed out in the article are a bit alarming. I'm using the 'Business' version. Nice VPN, IMO.More

    Latest negative user review
    A
    Alt
    2.0/10
    Blocked by Real-Debrid on just about every us city and nearly all countries

    Easy to connect speed pretty good multiple platforms not great from streaming.. which is where you nee... d the speed. Nord vpn and Express are both cooperative providers with real-debrid meaning no connection problems. Even if you do find a server that connects frequently this is blocked during streaming.More

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    Review by our expert
    Author Image Husain Parvez
    Husain Parvez

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    8.2/10

    Singapore-based Turbo VPN promises a lot, but does it deliver on its claims? To find out, I tested out the free version of the app in hopes of seeing improved speeds, reliable connectivity, and a better browsing experience. However, was it worth it? Did Turbo VPN come to my rescue and allow me to browse everything that I wanted? Spoiler Alert: No, it didn't. You might think that an app with ...

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    Latest positive user review
    E
    Emily
    10.0/10
    It's the ideal free vpn.

    Many people complains that the speed is slow but I would like to say that VPNs are slow generally and ... this is much much better than others. Simple, few or non ads and good servers! I'm satisfied in it's normal speed even though I am not a premium user. The speed is quite reasonable for free VPN.More

    Latest negative user review
    A
    Adrianfx1
    2.0/10
    THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS AS BAD AS THE PAYMENT WITH BITCOIN !

    THE CONNECTION IS FINE. I TRY TO SOLVE MY ISSUE WITH CUSTOMER SUPPORT BUT THEY ARE ONLY NOT GOOD. THEY...  CAN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING. I PAY WITH BITCOIN AND DID NoT HAVE THE FULL AMONT AND THE MONEY WHENT OUT FROM MY WALLET. I SEND FULL DETAILS REGARDING THE PAYMENT BUT IT DIDN'T SOLVE ANYTHING. THEY ARE WORKING FINE AS VPN BUT IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE YOU CAN'T SORT IT OUT ! 3/10More

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    Pricing

    Starting price $3.33/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 0 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    See Plans
    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    See Plans
    Starting price $4.17/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    See Plans

    Best VPN by category

    Best VPN Overall

    Although it concerns us that the provider keeps partial logs, Hotspot Shield offers fast speeds, good prices, and solid encryption. The VPN also reliably unblocks geo-restricted content and works on multiple platforms. It additionally offers amazing coupon discounts available only for limited time periods. TunnelBear has a stronger privacy policy than Hotspot Shield and offers sleeker apps for various platforms, with advanced encryption that includes a stealth mode for bypassing tough blocks and firewalls. TunnelBear also has slightly cheaper paid plans than Hotspot Shield. Turbo VPN offers fewer features and security measures than either Hotspot Shield or TunnelBear, and is available for mobile devices only.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    While TunnelBear allows limited torrenting on its network, both Hotspot Shield and Turbo VPN permit torrenting and other P2P activities with fewer limitations. With Hotspot Shield, torrenting is possible on both desktop and mobile devices, whereas Turbo VPN is only available for mobile devices.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Unfortunately, Turbo VPN doesn’t provide a native app for Windows. Hotspot Shield has a slick and user-friendly Windows client that comes with a kill switch and wi-fi protection. As for TunnelBear, Windows users (especially beginners) will find the app not only fun and easy to use, but also packed with features including a kill switch and wi-fi protection. The TunnelBear Windows app also features a stealth mode called “Ghost Bear” to overcome DPI and other tough restrictions.

    Best VPN for Android

    All three VPNs have native software clients for Android, although these apps unfortunately lack a kill switch. Hotspot Shield for Android is user-friendly, well encrypted, and fast, but the provider does keep some logs. TunnelBear for Android is more attractive, easier to use, and provides more complete anonymity. Turbo VPN has the least efficient Android client. It’s slow and very limited in features.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Both Hotspot Shield and TunnelBear have native apps for Mac. The two apps share similar features, including high encryption levels, access to plenty of servers, and single-click connection. While Hotspot Shield's logging policy might raise some privacy concerns, the VPN provides fast speeds for Mac users. On the other hand, TunnelBear for Mac is more reliable for privacy, more fun for VPN newbies, and easier to use. Turbo VPN doesn’t offer a native app for Mac, as the VPN is designed for mobile devices.

    Best VPN for iOS

    All three VPNs provide native apps for iOS devices, although the apps do not include a kill switch. The Hotspot Shield and TunnelBear iOS apps are more advanced than Turbo VPN's client, which has very limited features. Hotspot Shield offers fast speeds on most servers and allows torrenting, while TunnelBear has a friendlier interface, a stronger privacy policy, and better price plans.

    Best VPN for USA

    Hotspot Shield, TunnelBear, and Turbo VPN all have servers in the US. However, speed maybe an issue with these three VPNs, particularly Turbo VPN. The three contenders do work well in overcoming geoblocks on US content, and can access services like US Netflix most of the time.

    The Bottom Line

    You can tell when a VPN client really cares about its users and you do get this sense with TunnelBear. This client is committed to online security and privacy and goes the extra mile to maintain a strict no-logging policy and a strong 256-bit encryption across different platforms. TunnelBear supports Bitcoin payments, comes with a kill switch feature and permits up to five devices per license. If you are looking for a VPN client that will offer you true value for money, robust online privacy and anonymity across many countries - TunnelBear is certainly a great choice.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

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

    FAQ

    Is TunnelBear VPN better than Hotspot Shield and Turbo VPN?

    Yes, TunnelBear VPN is better overall than Hotspot Shield and Turbo VPN. It has 2600 servers in 47 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $3.33 a month.

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

    Is TunnelBear VPN faster than Hotspot Shield and Turbo VPN?

    Yes, TunnelBear VPN is faster than Hotspot Shield and Turbo 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 TunnelBear VPN, Hotspot Shield or Turbo VPN offer any deals?

    TunnelBear VPN, Hotspot Shield, and Turbo 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 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.