In this 2026 update of our TunnelBear VPN review we take another look at a service that comes across as an easy to use VPN service with solid security features. A premium version and a free version that lets you test the service before you pay are both on offer, and that combination is a big part of TunnelBear’s appeal.
It has a strong following of users, yet is TunnelBear safe? Is it ideal for your purposes, and will it meet all your needs?
Many VPN companies promise to be different from all the others, but can TunnelBear do this, or does it just get lost in the woods?
- 47 countries, including Australia; the official server count is not disclosed
- AES-256 encryption with WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2, plus the VigilantBear kill switch
- Unlimited device connections on every paid plan
- Free plan: 2GB of data per month with unlimited connections
- From US$3.33 per month on the three-year plan; all prices in USD
Free plan available; paid plans carry no money-back guarantee
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Pros
Cons
TunnelBear Pricing 2026
The TunnelBear free option remains one of the best ways to test a VPN without spending a cent, and the allowance has grown over the years. You now get 2GB of data per month instead of the old 500MB, no payment details are required, and every paid plan removes data limits entirely while adding country and city level server selection plus split tunneling.
Monthly billing sits on the high side at US$9.99, so most Australian users will want to pay upfront. Sign up for a year and the rate drops to US$4.99 per month, while the three-year plan works out at US$3.33 per month, a saving of roughly two thirds against monthly billing. Teams plans for two or more users cost US$5.75 per person per month. All prices are in USD and there is no money-back guarantee, only case by case refunds, so test the free plan before committing.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | US$0 | 2GB of data per month, unlimited connections, fastest nearby server only |
| Unlimited (monthly) | US$9.99 per month | Unlimited data, unlimited devices, country and city level server selection, split tunneling |
| Unlimited (yearly) | US$59.88 per year (US$4.99 per month) | Unlimited data and devices, billed annually |
| Unlimited (3 years) | US$119.88 (US$3.33 per month) | Unlimited data and devices, billed once for the term |
| Teams | US$5.75 per user per month | 2 or more users, centralized billing, admin tools |
Prices verified 17 October 2026 against https://www.tunnelbear.com/pricing.
Key features
A TunnelBear download covers most devices with client software that includes Windows, Mac, and iOS as 
well as Android devices. There are also browser plugins, including the TunnelBear Chrome extension. Paid plans allow unlimited simultaneous connections, so a single account can protect your whole household.
One key feature is VigilantBear, their kill switch. If the tunnel drops for any reason, VigilantBear blocks all internet traffic rather than letting data slip through your connection unprotected while TunnelBear reconnects to a server.
GhostBear is another main feature, one that lets you connect to sites and services that actively block VPN traffic. It does this by disguising all your VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic. Although this can be a handy feature, it significantly affects speed because of the extra processing required, so it is best switched on only when you actually need it.
SplitBear is TunnelBear’s split tunneling tool. You can choose which apps and websites use the tunnel and which use your regular connection, which is handy for banking sites that block VPNs while the rest of your traffic stays encrypted. TunnelBear also works with Kodi, the entertainment platform, to watch many shows or sports matches, although geo-restricted links are a mixed bag.
The company behind TunnelBear makes its stance on privacy well known. It explicitly states it has a no-logging policy even though it is situated inside a 5 Eyes region, and to back that up it completed its 7th annual independent security audit with Cure53, the results of which are published in full. That transparency makes TunnelBear easier to trust than many other VPN providers, and it remains one of the only consumer VPNs to run regular independent audits of its apps.
Ease of use
Installation is perfect for novice users, and it is a matter of installing the app and you are ready to start using the service with no additional tweaking or settings that have to be altered. Once installed, a user is presented with a world map that displays the VPN server locations.
Once you select the desired server, it turns the service on and waits until your device has connected.
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This interface is pretty standard across all devices, so you will be presented with a simple design no matter which you use. Although the installation is install and click to go once you have selected a server, there is a little more under the hood. The client blocks DNS leaks automatically, so there is no need to search through menus to start looking for answers.
As easy as TunnelBear is to set up and use, there might still be the occasion you need technical support. The company does not offer live chat, and support staff are contactable only through an online ticket form, alongside a searchable knowledge base and an AI bot. Responses typically arrive within 24 to 48 hours, which the team meets, yet it is not fast enough for many users.
Performance and Servers
TunnelBear’s network now spans 47 countries, which include Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, South Africa and much of Europe. It does not publish an official server count, and there is no coverage in countries with restrictive internet policies such as Russia, Turkey and Vietnam.
They do not have the most extensive network on the server front, even if the country spread is respectable, and the app offers no way to check server load or ping times. Independent testing updated in July 2026 measured local download speeds of around 96 Mbps with a modest 4% loss, and international speeds of about 88 Mbps with a 12% loss, which is a solid result for a small network. Distance still plays a big part, as it does with any VPN, and GhostBear will slow things down noticeably if you leave it on.
One area that can affect performance is the protocols in use. TunnelBear now offers three protocols: WireGuard, the modern speed favourite, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 on Windows, macOS and iOS, while Android users get WireGuard and OpenVPN. Encryption is right up there with other VPN providers, with 256-bit AES used by default and weaker encryption not even offered as an option. (Read Avast VPN Vs NordVPN)
And Finally
TunnelBear Australia can be a decent solution for your VPN needs even with the gripes above, and it is easy to see why it remains a crowd favourite. If watching US Netflix in Australia or heavy torrent downloading is not a priority, this may be the service for you. The paid plan does reach US Netflix on most servers in recent testing, with San Jose the most reliable, and it also gets into HBO Max and Disney+, but Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and most other Netflix libraries stay out of reach, and the free plan is largely locked out of streaming.
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Torrenting is another area where TunnelBear lags behind: P2P traffic is allowed, but download rates are slow, and the 2GB free cap makes any serious file sharing impractical. The speed issues matter far more for these data heavy tasks than for regular browsing, where keeping your data protected and safe is the main job.
This is where TunnelBear excels in its offering. They are a robust and secure VPN service provider with a stable company backing it up, acquired by McAfee in 2018; even their free online VPN gives high security, as does their Chrome VPN extension. TunnelBear, at the moment, works in China for some users, although this has been hit and miss depending on what users report, so do not rely on it.
For a VPN where security is a top priority, TunnelBear appears to be better than a few options on the market. It keeps a record of monthly bandwidth usage, which is deleted at the end of each month, but the privacy policy states it does not log your IP address, browsing activity or connection timestamps, so the possibility of handing over identifiable logs is limited. Even so, the Canadian jurisdiction and its 2020 request from US authorities are worth knowing about before you sign up.
Apart from that, TunnelBear stands above many, yet others quickly overshadow it to the same degree. It has useful features, strong encryption and genuine transparency, but with modest streaming and torrenting performance, heavier users will quickly outgrow it. For a simple and secure VPN for everyday browsing, TunnelBear remains a friendly choice; for everything else, one of the alternatives below is a safer bet.
Alternatives to Tunnelbear
If TunnelBear feels too limited, NordVPN is the more reliable alternative for Australian users, with a much larger network, extras such as threat protection and a genuine 30-day money-back guarantee. Budget minded users should also look at Surfshark, while heavy streamers are better served by ExpressVPN.
| Provider | Best for | Starting price (USD) | Our review |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | The more reliable all-rounder: huge network, threat protection, 30-day money-back guarantee | US$3.49 per month (2-year plan) | NordVPN review |
| Surfshark | Budget pick with unlimited devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee | US$2.49 per month (2-year Starter plan) | Surfshark review |
| ExpressVPN | Premium speeds and consistent streaming performance | from around US$2.99 per month (2-year plan) | ExpressVPN review |
Starting prices checked 17 October 2026 against each provider’s official pricing page. Prices in USD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TunnelBear safe, and does it log my data?
TunnelBear is safe for everyday browsing. It uses AES-256 encryption by default, the VigilantBear kill switch stops leaks if the connection drops, and it has completed its 7th annual independent security audit with Cure53. It does not log your IP address, browsing activity or connection timestamps, although it does track monthly bandwidth usage, which is deleted at the end of each month. It is based in Canada, a 5 Eyes member, and it confirmed a user’s account to US authorities in 2020 without handing over any other identifiable data.
Is TunnelBear better than NordVPN?
For most people, no. TunnelBear wins on simplicity and its free 2GB plan, while NordVPN counters with a much larger server network, extras such as threat protection and a password manager, and a genuine 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want an all-rounder for streaming, gaming and privacy, NordVPN is the more reliable choice for Australia; if you want something friendly and low cost, TunnelBear is easier to live with. See our full NordVPN review for the head to head comparison.
How much data does the free TunnelBear plan include?
The free plan includes 2GB of data per month, which resets every month. You get unlimited device connections and access to the full 47 country network, but the free tier only connects you to the fastest nearby server, so you cannot pick a specific country. It suits light browsing on the go, yet it is not enough for streaming or large downloads.
Does TunnelBear work with Netflix, and can I torrent with it?
Recent testing found the paid plan can unblock US Netflix on most servers, with San Jose the most reliable, and it also reaches HBO Max and Disney+. Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and other Netflix libraries remain blocked, and the free plan is mostly locked out of streaming. Torrenting is allowed but download rates are slow, so dedicated P2P users are better off with a provider that prioritises file sharing.
