TunnelBear vs Hotspot Shield – Which VPN is better?
TunnelBear or Hotspot Shield – which VPN suits you better? We tested both providers across speed, security, and price.
Our winner
Hotspot Shield
In this head-to-head comparison Hotspot Shield delivers the better overall performance.
See Hotspot Shield deal →Comparison table
Speed – TunnelBear vs Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield leads our speed test (86 vs 68 Mbit/s). The gap is most noticeable during 4K streaming and large downloads.
Security – TunnelBear vs Hotspot Shield
Security comes first at TunnelBear and Hotspot Shield. Both providers use AES-256, a kill switch and a strict no-logs policy – the differences are in the details.
- No-logs policy (audited)
- AES-256 Encryption
- Kill Switch (VigilantBear)
- GhostBear camouflage mode
- No-logs policy (Premium)
- AES-256 Encryption
- Kill Switch
- Catapult Hydra protocol
Streaming – which VPN works better?
In our streaming test: TunnelBear unblocks Netflix (eingeschränkt), Amazon Prime, while Hotspot Shield works with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+. Hotspot Shield performs slightly better overall.
TunnelBear
Hotspot Shield
Pricing
Hotspot Shield
from 2,99 €/month
3-year subscription - Free tariff available
See Hotspot Shield dealWhich VPN is better for…
Streaming
Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield unblocks streaming services slightly more reliably.
Security
TunnelBear
More security functions and features.
Value for money
Hotspot Shield
Lower price with comparable performance.
Our verdict – TunnelBear or Hotspot Shield?
After our test the verdict is clear: Hotspot Shield is the stronger provider in this duel. TunnelBear still has solid arguments and suits users with more specific requirements.
FAQ – TunnelBear vs Hotspot Shield
Is TunnelBear or Hotspot Shield faster? +
Hotspot Shield is a bit faster on average (86 Mbit/s vs 68 Mbit/s). Both deliver good speeds for streaming and downloads.
Which VPN is cheaper – TunnelBear or Hotspot Shield? +
Hotspot Shield is cheaper (from 2,99 €/month). TunnelBear starts at 3,33 €/month.
Which VPN is more secure? +
Both offer AES-256 encryption and no-logs policies. TunnelBear packs a few more security features.
Which VPN is better for streaming? +
Hotspot Shield unblocks streaming services slightly more reliably in our test. Both VPNs work with Netflix and other platforms.
Should you still go with TunnelBear? +
Yes, in some scenarios. TunnelBear convinces with its own strengths and can be the more fitting choice depending on your needs.
