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IPVanish vs TunnelBear compares two unlimited-device services. IPVanish, owned by Ziff Davis and based in the US, has two audits in our table, by Leviathan and Schellman, allows unlimited devices and owns its whole server network, Top10VPN notes. VPNOverview lists $57.22 for the first 24 months, renewing at $89.99 a year, and VPNAlert reports a SOCKS5 proxy on 25+ servers in 14 countries. TunnelBear, owned by McAfee and based in Canada, has had annual Cure53 audits since 2017, offers a free plan with 2 GB a month and GhostBear for blocked networks, but BestVPN found it reaches only US Netflix, and it offers no SOCKS5 or port forwarding.
This guide compares them on privacy, streaming, torrenting, free use and fit.
IPVanish vs TunnelBear on Privacy
TunnelBear has had a Cure53 audit every year since 2017; IPVanish has two audits. Both sit in Five Eyes countries, Canada and the US. Our TunnelBear safety guide covers its record.
Devices
Neither caps devices, our table records, so both suit large households.
Streaming
BestVPN found TunnelBear reached US Netflix but not other regions, Disney+, Prime Video, iPlayer or Max. VPNOverview reached major services with IPVanish, though VPNpro found its access inconsistent. Our TunnelBear Netflix guide covers its results.
Torrenting
IPVanish offers SOCKS5 and P2P on every server. TunnelBear has no SOCKS5, as our TunnelBear SOCKS5 guide explains, and no port forwarding.
Blocked Networks
TunnelBear’s GhostBear disguises VPN traffic on networks that block VPNs. IPVanish closed its Hong Kong servers, our tables record.
Is IPVanish vs TunnelBear a Close Call?
Both allow unlimited devices, so the choice comes down to streaming and torrent tools versus audits and a free start.
Quick Rule
Streaming and SOCKS5: IPVanish. Annual audits and a free plan: TunnelBear.
Refunds
TunnelBear refunds within 30 days only on first-year annual plans, our table records. IPVanish offers 30 days and a seven-day trial on yearly plans.
Ownership
McAfee owns TunnelBear; Ziff Davis owns IPVanish along with StrongVPN. Our VPN ownership guide explains why parents matter.
Who Each Suits
Beginners and light users suit TunnelBear’s simple apps and free plan. Streamers and torrent users suit IPVanish.
Keeping It Updated
After app updates, recheck the kill switch on both, and GhostBear on TunnelBear if you rely on it.
Speed
Top10VPN recorded about 93 Mbps on a 100 Mbps line with IPVanish on nearby servers. Test TunnelBear on a nearby server to compare.
Apps and TVs
IPVanish has Vega OS and Apple TV apps. TunnelBear offers no TV or console apps, Holafly notes, so TVs need a router.
Support
Check each provider’s support channels during the refund window with a question about your own device.
Kill Switch
TunnelBear calls its kill switch VigilantBear. IPVanish’s apps include a kill switch too; test either after installing.
Jurisdiction
Canada and the US are both Five Eyes members. TunnelBear’s annual audits matter more than its base, as our Five Eyes guide explains.
Router Use
TunnelBear has no router app; its OpenVPN files work unofficially on some routers, our tables note. Check IPVanish’s help pages for your router model.
Quick Check
After installing either, confirm the address on our VPN test page and run a DNS leak test.
Families
Both cover a whole family on one account. TunnelBear’s simple apps suit children’s devices; pair either with parental controls.
Free Use
TunnelBear’s free plan gives 2 GB a month. IPVanish has no free plan but lists a seven-day free trial on yearly plans in 2026, VPNOverview reports. Our TunnelBear free guide covers the free plan.
IPVanish’s Network
IPVanish runs 3,200 to 3,400 servers in 108 to 113 countries, depending on the source, all owned rather than rented. VPNpro counts 568 RAM-only servers across 19 locations. Our VPN servers guide explains why ownership matters.
IPVanish Streaming Results
VPNOverview reached Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer with IPVanish in 2026, while VPNpro called its streaming access inconsistent. Test the services you use within the refund window.
IPVanish on TVs
IPVanish was among the first VPNs on Amazon’s Vega OS in November 2025, and it has an Apple TV app. Our Vega OS VPN guide covers the new Fire TV system.
Ziff Davis
IPVanish belongs to Ziff Davis, which also owns StrongVPN, Encrypt.me, PCMag and CNET, our ownership table records. Read PCMag and CNET coverage of IPVanish with that in mind.
Checking Either
After installing, run our DNS leak guide, confirm the address on our VPN test page and test the kill switch by switching Wi-Fi off and on.
Public Wi-Fi
Both encrypt traffic on café and hotel networks. Turn the kill switch on first. Our public Wi-Fi guide explains the risks.
Who Should Pick Which
Pick TunnelBear for annual audits, simple apps and a free start. Pick IPVanish for streaming, SOCKS5 and owned servers. Our TunnelBear review covers it in depth.
How We Research
This page draws on VPNOverview’s, Top10VPN’s and VPNpro’s 2026 IPVanish reviews, BestVPN on TunnelBear streaming and our audit, device and ownership tables. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 8 October 2026. The main source we relied on is VPNOverview’s IPVanish review. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
IPVanish vs TunnelBear FAQ
IPVanish for streaming and torrents; TunnelBear for audits and a free start.
Yes, our table records no cap on either.
IPVanish more widely; BestVPN found TunnelBear reached only US Netflix.
No; IPVanish does.
TunnelBear, with 2 GB a month.
The Verdict
IPVanish vs TunnelBear: IPVanish for streaming and torrent tools; TunnelBear for audits, simplicity and a free start.