TunnelBear review
A well-audited VPN with obfuscation and a useful free tier, but no streaming support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
TunnelBear is a freemium VPN service for consumers and teams that encrypts device traffic and routes connections through VPN locations in different countries. It suits users who want a limited free option, paid unlimited browsing, country and city-level location selection, and apps across major desktop, mobile, browser, and Linux platforms. Its feature set also covers split tunneling, reconnection protection, traffic obfuscation, and peer-to-peer traffic protection.
The Free plan includes 2 GB of secure browsing. Unlimited costs $3.33 per month and adds unlimited secure browsing, unlimited devices, country selection, split tunneling, premium VPN servers, and city-level server selection. Teams costs $5.75 per user per month with monthly billing and includes the same listed browsing, device, location, split-tunneling, and server features as Unlimited. This structure makes TunnelBear suitable for individuals who can work within a data allowance, as well as teams that need a per-user plan.
Platform coverage is a practical strength: TunnelBear offers web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, and Linux access. WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 provide multiple protocol options, while VigilantBear blocks traffic during reconnection and GhostBear helps obfuscate VPN traffic on restrictive networks. Two-factor authentication and independent annual security audits add meaningful security signals. However, streaming is explicitly unsupported, so users choosing a VPN primarily for geo-restricted streaming should consider an alternative. TunnelBear is a stronger fit for audited private browsing, obfuscation, torrent support, and broad device coverage than for streaming access.
TunnelBear pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Independent annual security audits
- GhostBear obfuscation for restrictive networks
- WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 support
- Where it doesn't
- Free plan is limited to 2 GB of secure browsing
- Streaming support is explicitly unsupported
- Teams pricing is charged per user monthly
TunnelBear fact sheet, pricing and score →
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