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.