NordVPN vs TunnelBear
Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit & Twitter discussions
Community Pick
NordVPN
Based on community sentiment and discussions
NordVPN
Winner
Approval Rate
52%
203 recommend · 187 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
665
Reviewers
554
Best for:
People who want a simple, mainstream VPN that usually just works
Streaming and travel use (Firestick, watching shows abroad)
Users who like extra features beyond basic VPN
NordVPN comes up a lot as a “solid all-rounder” VPN that’s easy to use and generally feels reliable day to day. People like the speed when everything’s working normally, and it’s often mentioned as a...
Approval Rate
54%
20 recommend · 17 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
53
Reviewers
51
Best for:
Beginners who want a simple VPN that’s easy to install
People who mainly need light browsing protection on public Wi‑Fi
Anyone who prefers using a browser extension instead of a full VPN app
Casual users who don’t mind upgrading if they hit limits
TunnelBear has a friendly reputation as an easy, no-fuss VPN that a lot of people recommend when someone just needs something that “works.” It’s often mentioned as a quick download for basic browsing,...
Performance by Use Case
| Use Case | NordVPN | Winner | TunnelBear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | 71% (74) | ← | 50% (4) |
| Torrenting | 62% (16) | ← | - |
| Privacy | 40% (151) | → | 50% (8) |
| Censorship | 56% (37) | ← | 33% (7) |
| Gaming | 100% (4) | ← | 50% (2) |
| Travel | 67% (3) | ← | - |
| Work | 43% (8) | ← | - |
| Router | 0% (1) | - | - |
| Mobile | 67% (3) | ← | - |
| Price | 51% (47) | → | 33% (7) |
NordVPN
Strengths
- Good everyday speeds
- Easy to use on phones and streaming devices
- Lots of servers and locations
- Privacy-focused features (no-logs claims, extra tools like Meshnet)
- Works well for many people with multiple devices
Weaknesses
- Renewal price can jump unexpectedly
- Billing and account login/device-limit issues
- Can be slow on some settings or servers
- Past security incident still worries some people
- Not the cheapest long-term option
TunnelBear
Strengths
- Easy to use
- Handy Chrome browser extension
- Good for basic browsing
- Sometimes works when other VPNs don’t
- Decent option for quick, simple setup
Weaknesses
- Free plan feels very limited
- Some locations require paying
- Servers can be unreliable for some people
- Streaming results can be inconsistent
- Occasional browser extension glitches