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Government · head to head

Springbrook Software vs TunnelBear

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Springbrook Software

Government

Cloud ERP built only for small and mid-sized local governments and utility districts

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: Springbrook Software nothing is publicly priced, and public sector quotes bundle licence, implementation and conversion so tightly that comparing two vendors requires a formal procurement.; TunnelBear free plan's data cap is small compared to competitors offering more generous free allowances.
  • They diverge on capability: Springbrook Software covers Cirrus cloud platform, TunnelBear covers Encrypted VPN tunnel.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Springbrook Software and TunnelBear actually diverge.

Attributes where Springbrook Software and TunnelBear differ
AttributeSpringbrook SoftwareTunnelBear
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebwindows, 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 Springbrook Software

  • Cirrus cloud platform
  • Fund accounting
  • Utility billing
  • Payroll and human resources
  • Cashless payments
  • Permitting and land management

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.

Springbrook Software

  • A city of a few thousand residents retiring an on-premises finance server nobody on staff can maintainnot TunnelBear
  • A water and sewer district needing meter-based utility billing tied directly to the general ledgernot TunnelBear
  • A town that must produce GASB-compliant annual financial reports without a full-time systems accountantnot TunnelBear
  • Adding online resident payment for utility bills and licences without integrating a third-party gateway by handnot TunnelBear

TunnelBear

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

Where each one falls short

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

Springbrook Software

  • Nothing is publicly priced, and public sector quotes bundle licence, implementation and conversion so tightly that comparing two vendors requires a formal procurement.
  • It is scoped for small and mid-sized agencies, so grant accounting, capital project tracking and human resources depth fall short for larger cities.
  • Data conversion from a legacy municipal system is the largest risk and cost in the project, and historical utility billing data in particular frequently converts badly.
  • The integration list is short compared with entrenched public sector vendors, so agencies already committed to a large incumbent ecosystem will have gaps to bridge.
  • Being cloud-native means the agency cannot defer upgrades, which is an advantage for security but removes control over timing from finance teams working to a fiscal calendar.

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

Springbrook Software

On request
  • Springbrook Cirrus$undefined/year
    • Cloud ERP for local government
    • Priced by population, module selection and user count
    • Implementation, data conversion and training quoted 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 Springbrook Software if

  • You need cirrus cloud platform.
  • You also want fund accounting.
Springbrook Software 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 Springbrook Software or TunnelBear better?
Neither clearly leads. Springbrook Software 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, Springbrook Software or TunnelBear?
TunnelBear has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Springbrook Software and Free for TunnelBear.
Does Springbrook Software or TunnelBear run on more platforms?
Springbrook Software runs on Web. 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. Springbrook Software starts at On request.
What is Springbrook Software best used for?
Springbrook Software is most often used for a city of a few thousand residents retiring an on-premises finance server nobody on staff can maintain, a water and sewer district needing meter-based utility billing tied directly to the general ledger, a town that must produce gasb-compliant annual financial reports without a full-time systems accountant, adding online resident payment for utility bills and licences without integrating a third-party gateway by hand. Of those, a city of a few thousand residents retiring an on-premises finance server nobody on staff can maintain and a water and sewer district needing meter-based utility billing tied directly to the general ledger are not what TunnelBear is typically brought in for.
What can Springbrook Software do that TunnelBear cannot?
Springbrook Software covers Cirrus cloud platform, Fund accounting, Utility billing, Payroll and human resources. TunnelBear covers Encrypted VPN tunnel, Server location switching, GhostBear obfuscation, Browser extensions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Springbrook Software: Who is Springbrook for?

Small and mid-sized cities, towns, water and sewer agencies and special districts, not counties or states.

Springbrook Software: Is Cirrus really cloud-native?

Yes, it is a multi-tenant rebuild rather than a hosted version of the older client-server product, which is the main reason agencies switch to it.

Springbrook Software: Is pricing published?

No. Local government ERP is quoted through procurement, bundling licence, implementation and data conversion.

Springbrook Software: What is the hardest part of implementation?

Converting historical data, particularly utility billing history, from the outgoing system.

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