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Government · head to head

GovPilot vs TunnelBear

GovPilot logo

GovPilot

Government

Digital forms and workflow modules for small municipalities priced out of enterprise govtech

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
T

TunnelBear

Cybersecurity

Consumer VPN with a limited free tier and a bear-themed, beginner-friendly app

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TunnelBear has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: GovPilot modules are prebuilt and configured rather than developed, so a municipality with an unusual ordinance or fee structure must adapt its process to the software rather than the reverse.; TunnelBear free plan's data cap is small compared to competitors offering more generous free allowances.
  • They diverge on capability: GovPilot covers Prebuilt process modules, TunnelBear covers Encrypted VPN tunnel.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GovPilot and TunnelBear actually diverge.

Attributes where GovPilot and TunnelBear differ
AttributeGovPilotTunnelBear
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Androidwindows, mac, linux, ios, android
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in GovPilot

  • Prebuilt process modules
  • GIS property map
  • Digital form intake
  • Report a concern app
  • Public records request handling
  • Workflow routing

Only in TunnelBear

  • Encrypted VPN tunnel
  • Server location switching
  • GhostBear obfuscation
  • Browser extensions
  • Teams account management

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

GovPilot

  • A small town replacing paper permit applications without funding a large implementationnot TunnelBear
  • A clerk's office that needs a defensible record of public records requests and response timesnot TunnelBear
  • A municipality wanting residents to report issues from a phone with location attachednot TunnelBear
  • A borough adding modules gradually as budget allows rather than buying a full system at oncenot TunnelBear

TunnelBear

  • Casual browsing protection on public Wi-Finot GovPilot
  • Occasional geo-unblocking with a light free allowancenot GovPilot
  • Bypassing network-level VPN blocking via obfuscationnot GovPilot
  • Managing VPN access for a small team with centralized billingnot GovPilot

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

GovPilot

  • Modules are prebuilt and configured rather than developed, so a municipality with an unusual ordinance or fee structure must adapt its process to the software rather than the reverse.
  • The install base is concentrated in New Jersey and the north east, so agencies elsewhere find fewer reference sites and modules tuned to another state's terminology.
  • Module based pricing means the total climbs in steps as departments are added, and the initial quote often covers fewer processes than the town eventually needs.
  • It is not built for the complexity larger cities carry, so an agency that grows into multi department plan review will outgrow it and face a second migration.
  • Integration options are limited compared with enterprise platforms, so connecting to an existing finance or utility billing system may mean manual reconciliation.

TunnelBear

  • Free plan's data cap is small compared to competitors offering more generous free allowances.
  • Lacks advanced features like dedicated IP addresses or split-tunneling controls found in some rival VPNs.
  • Server network is smaller than large competitors like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
  • No standalone router-level app, limiting whole-network protection options.

Pricing, plan by plan

GovPilot

On request
  • GovPilot$undefined/year
    • Quoted by module count and municipality population
    • Implementation is short because modules are configured rather than built
    • Payment processing on citizen transactions charged separately

TunnelBear

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2GB of data per month
    • Access to VPN servers
    • Unlimited devices
  • Unlimited$9.99/month
    • Unlimited monthly data
    • All server locations
    • Cheaper on annual/3-year billing
  • Teams$undefined/month
    • Unlimited data
    • 5 connected devices per user
    • Dedicated account manager

Which should you pick?

Choose GovPilot if

  • You need prebuilt process modules.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want gis property map.
GovPilot review

Choose TunnelBear if

  • You need encrypted vpn tunnel.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
  • You also want server location switching.
TunnelBear review

Questions people ask

Is GovPilot or TunnelBear better?
Neither clearly leads. GovPilot starts at On request and TunnelBear at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GovPilot or TunnelBear?
TunnelBear has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for GovPilot and Free for TunnelBear.
Does GovPilot or TunnelBear run on more platforms?
GovPilot runs on Web, iOS, Android. TunnelBear runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
Can I use TunnelBear for free?
Yes. TunnelBear has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. GovPilot starts at On request.
What is GovPilot best used for?
GovPilot is most often used for a small town replacing paper permit applications without funding a large implementation, a clerk's office that needs a defensible record of public records requests and response times, a municipality wanting residents to report issues from a phone with location attached, a borough adding modules gradually as budget allows rather than buying a full system at once. Of those, a small town replacing paper permit applications without funding a large implementation and a clerk's office that needs a defensible record of public records requests and response times are not what TunnelBear is typically brought in for.
What can GovPilot do that TunnelBear cannot?
GovPilot covers Prebuilt process modules, GIS property map, Digital form intake, Report a concern app. TunnelBear covers Encrypted VPN tunnel, Server location switching, GhostBear obfuscation, Browser extensions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GovPilot: Who is GovPilot actually for?

Small and mid sized municipalities that are currently on paper and cannot fund an Accela or Tyler implementation.

GovPilot: How long does implementation take?

Short by govtech standards, because modules are prebuilt and configured rather than custom developed.

GovPilot: Can we find comparable pricing?

Yes. Municipal contracts are public, and in this segment neighbouring towns' council minutes give a genuinely comparable number.

GovPilot: Will we outgrow it?

A city that develops complex multi department plan review will, and should plan for that rather than discover it.

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