TunnelBear vs ZenMate

Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit & Twitter discussions

Community Pick

TunnelBear

Based on community sentiment and discussions

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,...
Approval Rate
20%
1 recommend · 4 warn
Data Quality
Medium
Reviews
10
Reviewers
10
Best for:
People who want a straightforward VPN for everyday browsing Casual streamers who want something easy Users who like using a VPN through a browser extension
ZenMate comes up as a pretty approachable VPN that people see as “good enough” for everyday use, especially if you want something simple and not overly technical. It also gets mentioned alongside main...

Performance by Use Case

Use Case TunnelBear Winner ZenMate
Streaming 50% (4) -
Privacy 50% (8) 20% (7)
Censorship 33% (7) -
Gaming 50% (2) -
Work - - -- (1)
Price 33% (7) -

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

ZenMate

Strengths

  • Simple to use
  • Decent speeds for everyday use
  • Good for basic privacy and tracking protection
  • Handy browser extension option

Weaknesses

  • Ownership concerns (Kape/Teddy Sagi)
  • Trust questions for privacy-focused buyers
  • May not satisfy advanced business/network needs