TL;DR Quick Answer
NordVPN wins overall, scoring 9.2/10 vs TunnelBear's 7.8/10. Choose NordVPN for unlimited bandwidth, 6,400+ servers, and fast speeds. Choose TunnelBear only if the free 500MB/mo tier meets your needs and budget is the overriding constraint.
NordVPN
NordVPN
6,400+ servers in 111 countries, PwC-audited no-logs, Threat Protection
Score: 9.2/10
TunnelBear
TunnelBear
Free 500MB/mo, indie-audited, 47 countries, beginner-friendly
Score: 7.8/10
Winner
Our Verdict
NordVPN
Better for most users, unlimited speed, more servers, proven privacy
→ Read our reasoning
NordVPNVPN · from $3.39/mo
The gold standard for consumer and business VPN. 6,400+ servers across 111 countries, double VPN (two-hop routing), Meshnet for private networking, and Threat Protection that blocks malware and trackers without connecting to VPN. PwC-audited no-logs since 2020.
TunnelBearVPN · Free or from $3.33/mo
McAfee-owned VPN focused on simplicity and approachability. Annual independent security audits by Cure53. Covers 47 countries. The free plan (500MB/mo) suits occasional, light use. Unlimited plans are competitive on price but server count and speeds lag NordVPN.
Verdict at a Glance
Both are reputable, audited VPNs with no-logs policies. The gap is in scale and features. NordVPN has 6,400+ servers (vs TunnelBear's ~2,600), faster speeds on most benchmarks, extras like Meshnet and Threat Protection, and a polished app across all platforms.
TunnelBear wins on one thing: its free tier. If you need an occasional VPN for light browsing with zero budget, TunnelBear's 500MB/mo is enough. But for daily use, streaming, remote work, travel, NordVPN is the clear choice.
Both offer 30-day risk-free periods, so you can verify performance in your own environment.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | NordVPN | TunnelBear |
|---|
| Free tier | No (30-day money-back) | 500MB/mo free |
| Starting paid price | $3.39/mo (2-year) | $3.33/mo (annual) |
| Monthly plan | $12.99/mo | $9.99/mo |
| 1-year plan | $4.99/mo | $3.33/mo |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 devices | Unlimited |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | Limited (no refunds after purchase in most regions) |
Bottom line: NordVPN's 2-year plan is slightly pricier than TunnelBear Annual but comes with far more servers, faster speeds, and a proper 30-day refund. TunnelBear's free tier is genuinely useful for very light needs.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | NordVPN | TunnelBear |
|---|
| Server count | 6,400+ in 111 countries | ~2,600 in 47 countries |
| No-logs audit | PwC (annual) | Cure53 (annual) |
| Protocol options | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2 | OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Kill switch | Yes (system + app-level) | Yes (VigilantBear) |
| Obfuscation | Yes (obfuscated servers) | Yes (GhostBear) |
| Split tunneling | Yes | No |
| Threat Protection | Yes (ad/malware blocker) | No |
| Double VPN | Yes (two-hop) | No |
| Meshnet | Yes (private network) | No |
| Streaming support | Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer | Limited |
| P2P / torrenting | Yes (dedicated servers) | No |
| Overall score | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 |
Our Final Verdict
NordVPN is our recommendation for virtually all use cases. Here is why:
- Choose NordVPN if you stream, torrent, work remotely, or travel. Unlimited bandwidth, 6,400+ servers, Threat Protection built in, and a proven no-logs policy audited by PwC. At $3.39/mo on the 2-year plan it is exceptional value.
- Choose TunnelBear only if the free 500MB/mo tier is sufficient for your use case, e.g. occasional public Wi-Fi protection when travelling lightly. The paid TunnelBear plans do not meaningfully outperform NordVPN in any category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NordVPN better than TunnelBear?
Yes, NordVPN scores 9.2/10 vs TunnelBear's 7.8/10. NordVPN offers 6,400+ servers, faster speeds, split tunnelling, Threat Protection, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. TunnelBear's free 500MB/mo tier is its only unique advantage.
How much does NordVPN cost vs TunnelBear?
NordVPN starts at $3.39/mo (2-year plan). TunnelBear offers a free tier (500MB/mo) and paid plans from $3.33/mo (annual). NordVPN offers a proper 30-day money-back guarantee; TunnelBear's refund policy varies by region.
Does TunnelBear have a free plan?
Yes, TunnelBear's free plan gives 500MB/mo of VPN data. That's enough for occasional light browsing but not streaming, torrenting, or daily use. NordVPN has no free tier but covers you with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What is NordVPN best for?
NordVPN is best for users who need reliable, fast, unlimited VPN protection, streaming geo-restricted content, secure remote work, torrenting on P2P-optimised servers, and high-privacy browsing. Its Threat Protection feature also blocks ads and malware even when VPN is off.
Can NordVPN unblock Netflix?
Yes, NordVPN reliably unblocks Netflix US, UK, Canada, Japan and many other regions. TunnelBear has limited and inconsistent streaming support, and does not reliably unblock major streaming platforms.