We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!
Both of these VPNs don’t do one particular thing better than others, but PureVPN and TunnelBear VPN are still very viable in most areas, and offer a good mix of usability, price, and added features you don’t always find elsewhere.
TunnelBear’s speeds are rather impressive, which is a little odd considering their low amount of servers. PureVPN has average download and upload speeds, but can still enable streaming with little to no buffering.
| VPN vendor |
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| Download speed reduction | 40% (UK) | 11% (UK) |
| Upload speed reduction | 37% (FRA) | 19% (FRA) |
| Ping time to google.com | 41ms | 11ms |
| Average time to connect (sec.) | 11ms | 1.17ms |
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| Visit Site | Visit Site |
Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.
PureVPN offers 750+ servers in over 140 countries, giving users plenty of choices for their desired location. TunnelBear is far behind, offering 20 servers in 20 countries, many of which are on the same continent.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Server Locations | 180 | 20 |
| Server Countries | 141 | 20 |
| IP Addresses | 750 | 20 |
| Dynamic Server Switching | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
The ratio of servers to countries is an important factor to look at when choosing a VPN. Only paying attention to location or number of servers can get you in trouble. More servers generally means faster speeds, but if VPN X has a few more servers than VPN Y but twice as many users, VPN X will typically have slower speeds. Ideally, you want a VPN that has a lot of servers in every location. This way you won’t have to worry that server/country that you want will be overburdened and running slow.
TunnelBear VPN is one of the worst for customer support — at least when it comes to response time. You only get an email ticket system with TunnelBear VPN, while PureVPN has 24/7 live chat, an expansive knowledge base, an FAQ section, and email support.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Email Response Time | 7 | 6 |
| 24/7 Support | ||
| Live Chat | ||
| Knowledge Base | ||
| Video Tutorials | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.
PureVPN app is easy enough to be used by novice VPN users and offers enough settings to appeal to a seasoned player. The basic interface is simple and you just have to select a server and click on Connect. The default protocol is automatic but you can pick another option from the list. There are some tabs that let users change the settings and customize the app according to their needs.
PureVPN has apps for all major platforms, and has browser extensions as well. There is a large selection of servers and special servers for online streaming, sports streaming, anonymous file sharing, and data retention security. Or you can just connect to the fastest server of a particular country.
PureVPN works on mobile devices, and is generally successful accessing Netflix and Hulu, and definitely works in China.
TunnelBear VPN is somewhat geared towards new users, and its interface reflects that. Installation is as easy as it gets, and even the most novice of users can figure out the app or desktop interface upon first use.
An interactive server map lets you choose your location, and the bear theme is prevalent throughout, which many find amusing. (We do too.)
OpenVPN is implemented by TunnelBear for Windows, Mac, and Android devices – something to keep in mind for those who have a different, preferred protocol. For iOS devices, they use either Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) or Internet Protocol Security (IPsec).
When it comes to circumventing the VPN block imposed by Netflix, TunnelBear’s performance is not consistently reliable. While they may grant you occasional access to the US Netflix, we do not advise relying on TunnelBear if Netflix is of utmost importance to you. However, TunnelBear does offer an advantageous feature called GhostBear, which utilizes double VPN technology to bypass China’s firewall. This capability can be particularly beneficial for users facing restrictions in China.
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