Jake Tech Lab

Private Internet Access vs TunnelBear

Private Internet Access comes out ahead of TunnelBear on 3 of the 6 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.

Private Internet AccessWinner
Private Internet Access
7.2
Good
3 of 6 rounds
vs
TunnelBear
TunnelBear
6.5
Fair
1 of 6 rounds

The verdict

Private Internet Access takes it, 3–1 on rounds.

On the published figures and the independent review sites, Private Internet Access takes 3 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.

Choose Private Internet Access if…

  • • You want Private Internet Access's edge on how many countries it covers and what customers say on trustpilot

Choose TunnelBear if…

  • • You want TunnelBear's edge on what it costs to start

Round by round

  1. Round 1How many countries it coversPrivate Internet Access wins
    Private Internet Access8/10

    104 countries

    countries covered

    • server locations

    Source: security.org ↗

    TunnelBear5/10

    47 countries

    server locations

    • 47 countries, against 91 countries

    Source: security.org ↗

    Private Internet Access wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

  2. Round 2What customers say on TrustpilotPrivate Internet Access wins
    Private Internet Access8/10

    4.3 out of 5

    TrustScore from 11,010 reviews on Trustpilot

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

    TunnelBear5/10

    1.9 out of 5

    TrustScore from 126 reviews on Trustpilot

    • 1.9 out of 5, against 4.3 out of 5

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

    Private Internet Access wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

  3. Round 3How many devices at onceTie
    Private Internet Access7/10

    Unlimited

    simultaneous connections

    Source: security.org ↗

    TunnelBear7/10

    Unlimited

    simultaneous connections

    Source: gizmodo.com ↗

    Nothing to separate them here.

  4. Round 4What it costs to startTunnelBear wins
    Private Internet Access5/10

    $11.95/mo, billed monthly

    PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    • $11.95/mo, billed monthly, against $10.99/mo, billed monthly

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    TunnelBear8/10

    $10.99/mo, billed monthly

    Unlimited; 1 Month vs 3 Years (billed once) on the checkout page; Free plan also offered

    Source: tunnelbear.com ↗

    TunnelBear wins this round on what the published sources say.

  5. Round 5What the long plan costsPrivate Internet Access wins
    Private Internet Access8/10

    $1.89/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (not $2.03)

    3 Years plan card (TOP OFFER)

    • PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    TunnelBear5/10

    $3.33/mo, 3 years ($120 once)

    Unlimited; 1 Month vs 3 Years (billed once) on the checkout page; Free plan also offered

    • $3.33/mo, 3 years ($120 once), against $2.03/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (first term)

    Source: tunnelbear.com ↗

    Private Internet Access wins this round on what the published sources say.

  6. Round 6How long you have to get a refundTie
    Private Internet Access7/10

    30-day money-back

    PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    TunnelBear7/10

    30-day money-back (annual only)

    Unlimited; 1 Month vs 3 Years (billed once) on the checkout page; Free plan also offered

    Source: tunnelbear.com ↗

    Nothing to separate them here.

Private Internet AccessPrivate Internet Access
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TunnelBearTunnelBear
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Side by side

Private Internet AccessTop ratedPrivate Internet Access
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TunnelBearTunnelBear
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Overall score
7.2
Best
6.5
Price
See price
See price
What the long plan costs
8.0
6.0
What it costs to start
6.9
7.5
What customers say on Trustpilot
7.3
5.0
How many devices at once
7.5
7.7
How many countries it covers
6.3
5.0
Head-to-head findings
What the long plan costs
$1.89/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (not $2.03)
$3.33/mo, 3 years ($120 once)
What it costs to start
$11.95/mo, billed monthly
$10.99/mo, billed monthly
What customers say on Trustpilot
4.3 out of 5
1.9 out of 5
How many devices at once
Unlimited
Unlimited
How many countries it covers
104 countries
47 countries
Trying it before you pay
—
Free plan
How long you have to get a refund
30-day money-back
30-day money-back (annual only)
How many servers it runs
—
8,000+ servers
Record
Head-to-head record
8–0
1–3–2
Head-to-heads won
100 %
25 %
Rounds won
54 %
43 %
Pros
  • PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)
  • server locations
    Cons
    • 104 countries, against 150 countries
    • 91 countries, against 113 countries
    • 91 countries, against 100 countries
    • $11.95/mo, billed monthly, against $9.99/mo, billed monthly
    • 1.9 out of 5, against 4.2 out of 5
    • 47 countries, against 150 countries
    • 47 countries, against 113 countries
    • 1.9 out of 5, against 4.4 out of 5
    Add a third option to this comparison →

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