⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: TunnelBear Unlimited costs $3.33/mo. Namecheap plans start from $0.99/mo.
- Best for: TunnelBear suits VPN newbies who want audited online privacy. Namecheap VPN suits bargain hunters who want a refund window.
- Key difference: TunnelBear has been audited by Cure53 since 2016. FastVPN runs a bigger server network from the United States.
- Our pick: TunnelBear, because published audits and a real free plan matter more than a first-year discount.
The cheaper VPN service is not the automatic loser here.
Namecheap VPN undercuts TunnelBear on the first-year price.
But price is the smallest gap between these two vpn providers.
One has years of third-party security audits behind it.
The other has more servers and a shakier privacy story.
Overview
This TunnelBear vs Namecheap VPN comparison covers pricing, speed, security features and support.
Our writer spent hands-on time with Namecheap VPN directly.
Notes on TunnelBear come from its documentation, audit reports and user reviews.
Prices can change, so confirm the final cost at checkout.
By the end you will know which vpn service fits your budget.
What is TunnelBear?
TunnelBear is a Canadian VPN service owned by McAfee.
The home country TunnelBear operates from is Canada, a Five Eyes member.
Its quirky bear-themed design makes the tool feel friendly, not technical.
The TunnelBear app opens on a world map for picking a server location.
You can start free, then upgrade to a paid subscription for unlimited data.
TunnelBear’s features stay deliberately light.
That simplicity, plus published audits, is why TunnelBear VPN still sells.
Here is a short walkthrough of the apps and features before we compare them.
🏆 Winner: TunnelBear
Cure53 has audited TunnelBear every year since 2016. The free account lets you test the app before you pay.
TunnelBear Pricing
Here is what TunnelBear cost looks like right now.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Testing and Limited usage | VPN newbies trying the free version |
| Unlimited | $3.33/mo | One person who wants unlimited data |
| Teams | $5.75/user per month | Small teams with shared billing |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: No timed trial. The TunnelBear free plan runs forever with a monthly data limit of 500 MB, which promotions can lift to 2GB.
Money-back guarantee: None. TunnelBear does not offer refunds, so the free account is your only safe test.
📌 Note: The premium plan covers unlimited device connections. You can protect all your devices on one account, and payment is credit card only since Bitcoin was dropped.
⚠️ Price check: Some review sites list $9.99 monthly, $39.99 yearly and $120 for three years. They also note the annual plan renews at $59.88. Confirm the price at checkout before you purchase TunnelBear.
Key Benefits of TunnelBear
Here is what makes TunnelBear worth a look:
- Annual security audit: Cure53 has run a security audit on the apps, servers and infrastructure since 2016.
- Real no-logs policy: The privacy policy says TunnelBear does not store IP addresses, DNS queries or browsing history.
- VigilantBear kill switch: This kill switch blocks all internet traffic if the vpn connection drops.
- SplitBear split tunneling: Split tunneling lets you send some apps through the VPN and leave others on your normal internet connection.
- GhostBear obfuscation: GhostBear disguises vpn traffic so it looks like normal browser traffic in heavily censored countries.
- Free plan and free account: A free account gives you the full app with a data limit, so vpn newbies can test the mac app or windows app first.
- Browser extensions: Browser extensions cover Chrome, Firefox and Opera if you only want to encrypt browser traffic.
What Our Team Noticed
Note: our team has not had extended hands-on time with TunnelBear yet. Everything above comes from the TunnelBear site, its published audit reports and user reviews. Independent reviewers report that speeds average near 40% of the base download speed, that connection times can pass 10 seconds, and that TunnelBear’s performance swings a lot between different servers.
TunnelBear Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Independent security audits by Cure53 every year since 2016
- Free plan gives 500 MB per month, liftable to 2GB through promotions
- Unlimited simultaneous connections on the premium subscription
- VigilantBear kill switch, SplitBear split tunneling and GhostBear obfuscation
- Transparency reports and a no-logging policy that skips browsing history
❌ Cons
- Small server network with only 48 server locations across 47 countries
- No money back guarantee on any paid subscription
- No router or Linux support, so some devices stay unprotected
- Support runs through email and a web form, with no live chat support
What is Namecheap VPN?
Namecheap VPN is sold today as FastVPN.
Its parent company is Namecheap, the domain registrar and web hosting brand.
The service is a rebrand of an earlier product with a messy past.
Reviewers have also tied the network to IPVanish infrastructure.
It runs over 1,000 servers in more than 50 locations worldwide.
You buy it inside your Namecheap account, then install FastVPN on each device.
This walkthrough shows the apps, the setup process and the server list.
Runner Up: Namecheap VPN
Over 1,000 servers, unlimited devices and a 30-day refund window. The cheapest way to cover a whole household.
Namecheap VPN Pricing
Here is Namecheap’s current pricing.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | $10.98/yr | Registering a name beside your VPN account |
| Contest Win | $10,000 | Promotional prize, not a plan you buy |
| Private Email | $0.99/mo | Cheapest entry point in the catalog |
| Dedicated Servers | $29.88/mo | Businesses running their own hardware |
| VPS Hosting | $3.78/mo | Developers who also need hosting |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: There is no fastvpn free tier. The first month sits at promotional pricing instead.
Money-back guarantee: A 30-day money back guarantee covers the subscription, with multiple payment methods including cards, PayPal and Bitcoin.
📌 Note: One subscription covers unlimited simultaneous connections. That is the strongest part of the deal if you are covering a family.
⚠️ Price check: The prices above cover Namecheap’s wider catalog. Some review sites list the FastVPN monthly plan at $0.99 for month one, renewing at $7.88. The yearly plan is listed at $18.88, renewing at $34.56. Confirm the renewal price at checkout.
Key Benefits of Namecheap VPN
Here is where FastVPN earns its keep:
- Bigger server network: Over 1,000 servers across 50+ countries.
- Modern vpn protocols: The app supports OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard. You can switch vpn protocol per device.
- Unlimited devices: One account covers as many devices as you own, so you can connect devices simultaneously without a seat count.
- Wide device support: Native apps cover Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Manual setup adds Linux, routers, Apple TV, Fire TV and gaming consoles.
- Streaming mode: A dedicated streaming mode points you at servers tuned for streaming media like Netflix and Hulu.
- Refund window: A 30-day money-back guarantee gives you a real exit.
- Browser extension: A Chrome browser extension handles browser traffic when you do not want a full-device tunnel.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer bought FastVPN through a Namecheap account and ran it for everyday browsing, streaming and a few downloads. Here is what stood out from that hands-on time:
Namecheap VPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Very low entry price for a paid vpn service
- Over 1,000 servers in 50+ countries with unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account
- 30-day money back guarantee and Bitcoin payment support
❌ Cons
- Based in the United States, inside the Five Eyes alliance
- Reviewers report buggy apps and connection drops after updates
- No published third-party audit of its no-logs claim
- App permission requests and payment checks raise privacy questions
Feature Comparison
Ten rounds decide this one. Here is the short version before the detail.
| Feature | TunnelBear | Namecheap VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $3.33/mo | From $0.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✅ 500 MB–2GB | ❌ |
| Server Network | ❌ 48 server locations | ✅ 1,000+ servers, 50+ |
| WireGuard Protocol | ⚠️ Disputed | ✅ |
| Kill Switch | ✅ VigilantBear | ✅ |
| Split Tunneling | ✅ SplitBear | ✅ |
| Independent Security Audit | ✅ Cure53, yearly | ❌ |
| Money Back Guarantee | ❌ | ✅ 30 days |
| Netflix Unblocking | ❌ Proxy errors | ⚠️ Some libraries |
| Live Chat Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| Best For | Audited privacy, beginners | Cheap cover for many devices |
1. Server Network and Locations
TunnelBear: A small server network is the headline weakness. TunnelBear offers 48 server locations across 47 countries, including a Canada server in its home market. If you ask how many servers sit behind those flags, TunnelBear does not publish a clear count. The map still lets you access global content from the main markets.
Namecheap VPN: Over 1,000 servers spread across 50+ locations worldwide. More choice helps when you want a specific server location for work or sport. The flip side is crowding, since a moderate-sized network carries a lot of users.
2. Speed and Download Performance
TunnelBear: Reviewers put average download speeds near 40% of the base speed. TunnelBear’s performance also swings between different servers, and distant hops are slower than the nearest server. Turning GhostBear on drops speed further.
Namecheap VPN: Despite the name, FastVPN is not a speed leader. Download speeds dropped about 40% on the nearest server in published tests, which is steeper than the category average. Server distance hurts it too, and online gaming on far-away servers picks up latency.
⚠️ Warning: Neither of these vpn services belongs in a shortlist of top rated vpn services for raw speed. Both lose roughly 40% of your internet connection under test conditions. Other vpn services hold far more of your line.
3. Security Features and Encryption
TunnelBear: AES-256 encryption protects the tunnel, so your data leaves the device as encrypted data. Sources disagree on protocol support: older reviews say the app skips WireGuard, while current listings show WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2. Check the app version you install.
Namecheap VPN: The same AES-256 standard, with OpenVPN, IKEv2 and the WireGuard openvpn protocol stack available in the apps. Security features cover a kill switch and leak protection. There is no independent audit backing the no-logs claim.
4. Privacy, Logging and Security Audits
TunnelBear: Cure53 has run security audits since 2016, and the findings, including critical ones, were published and patched. The no-logging policy skips ip addresses, dns queries and browsing history. TunnelBear collects operational data such as the operating system, the OS version, the TunnelBear app version and monthly data used. None of it identifies you.
Namecheap VPN: FastVPN claims a strict no-logs policy but has published no audit to prove it. Reviewers note some basic connection logs and app permission requests. A US base means courts can legally force companies to hand over what they hold.
⚠️ Warning: Both sit inside Five Eyes countries. TunnelBear answers that with transparency reports and audits. FastVPN’s privacy policy has drawn criticism for what it may collect during payment checks.
5. Streaming and Geo-Blocked Content
TunnelBear: Weak. Netflix often returns a proxy error on TunnelBear’s servers, and Amazon Prime Video and Hulu are no better. Smaller streaming sites work more often, and GhostBear can help at a heavy speed cost.
Namecheap VPN: Better, but still patchy. FastVPN reaches some regional Netflix libraries through its streaming mode, yet netflix blocking still shows up on other platforms. Hulu and Amazon Prime remain hit and miss.
6. Apps, Devices and Browser Extensions
TunnelBear: The windows app, mac app and mobile apps share one clean design. Browser extensions cover browser-only use. There is no router or Linux install, which rules out some setups on windows mobile devices and TV boxes.
Namecheap VPN: Native apps cover Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and the android app sits beside a Chrome browser extension. Manual setup adds Linux and OpenVPN routers. From there you can push the vpn connection to Android TV, apple tv, Roku, Fire TV and gaming consoles. An auto protect toggle starts the tunnel with the device.
7. Kill Switch, Split Tunneling and Leak Protection
TunnelBear: VigilantBear blocks incoming and outgoing internet traffic until the tunnel returns, which stops data leaks mid-session. SplitBear picks which apps or sites skip the encrypted client. GhostBear hides vpn traffic where VPN use is blocked.
Namecheap VPN: The kill switch does the same job, and split tunneling is available on supported platforms. Leak protection keeps dns requests inside the encrypted connection, so dns leaks stay rare. There is no obfuscation mode for censored networks.
8. Ease of Use and Setup Process
TunnelBear: This is the easiest VPN here for a first-timer. You tap a country on the map and the bear tunnels there. Nothing about the layout assumes you know what a vpn protocol is.
The tutorial below walks through a first connection step by step.
Namecheap VPN: Also simple. One click connects you, and fastvpn apps keep settings shallow. Reviewers do flag bugs in the Windows build, especially after protocol changes. It also skips the advanced features seasoned users expect.
9. Customer Support
TunnelBear: Customer support runs through a web form and email, available around the clock but slow to reply. There is no live chat support. The FAQ library and the TunnelBear site cover most first-week questions, and TunnelBear’s Twitter account posts status updates.
Namecheap VPN: The support team answers quickly through the Namecheap help desk, though reviewers describe agents as under-trained on VPN issues. A knowledge base sits beside the ticket system. Some users report Namecheap asking for identification during account checks.
10. Pricing & Cost
Here are both price lists side by side.
| Plan Level | TunnelBear | Namecheap VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Testing and Limited usage | ❌ None |
| Entry paid | Unlimited $3.33/mo | Private Email $0.99/mo |
| Mid tier | Teams $5.75/user per month | VPS Hosting $3.78/mo |
| Higher tier | ❌ None listed | Domain $10.98/yr |
| Top tier | ❌ None listed | Dedicated Servers $29.88/mo |
| Refunds | ❌ No guarantee | ✅ 30 days |
TunnelBear: $3.33 a month buys unlimited data and cover for all your devices. The free plan is the real value for light users. The missing refund policy is the risk you carry.
Namecheap VPN: Affordable pricing is the whole pitch, and bundling with web hosting or a domain trims the bill further. Renewal is where the cost jumps. Budget for the second term, not the first.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of no logging | TunnelBear | Yearly Cure53 security audits |
| A free version | TunnelBear | Only one with a free account |
| More server locations | Namecheap VPN | 1,000+ servers, 50+ countries |
| A refund option | Namecheap VPN | 30-day money back guarantee |
| Routers and Linux | Namecheap VPN | Manual setup supported |
| The simplest app | TunnelBear | Map interface built for beginners |
💰 Your Budget
FastVPN wins the first year on price alone. TunnelBear wins if $0 is your budget, because the free plan never expires.
🔌 Your Tech Stack
Already paying Namecheap for domains or web hosting? Adding the VPN to that bill is the least friction you will find.
🎓 Your Experience Level
Total beginners should start with TunnelBear. Power users will find both apps thin and should look at other vpn providers.
📺 Your Streaming Habits
Namecheap VPN reaches more streaming platforms, but neither tool is dependable for accessing geo blocked content. Heavy streamers should shop elsewhere.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
TunnelBear lets you test with no card at all. FastVPN’s refund window is the closest thing it has to a trial.
🛟 Support Options
Neither offers live chat for VPN issues. Namecheap’s support team replies faster.
Switching Guide
Already on one of them? Here is what changes when you move.
🔄 Switching from TunnelBear to Namecheap VPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Over 1,000 servers instead of 48 locations
- A 30-day refund window if it disappoints
- Router, Linux and TV box support through manual setup
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Audited privacy claims and public transparency reports
- The free plan you can fall back on
- GhostBear obfuscation for censored networks
📋 How to switch:
- Cancel auto-renewal inside your TunnelBear account settings
- Buy FastVPN through a Namecheap account
- Install the apps, pick a protocol, then remove the old client
🔄 Switching from Namecheap VPN to TunnelBear?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Yearly third-party audits of apps and servers
- A simpler app that hides the technical settings
- A permanent free account for backup use
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Most of the server network and location choice
- Your refund safety net
- Router, Linux and console coverage
📋 How to switch:
- Request your refund inside the 30-day window if you qualify
- Create a free TunnelBear account and test it first
- Upgrade to Unlimited, then uninstall the FastVPN apps
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on everyday home use. We did not test business rollouts, router firmware builds or heavy vpn usage for torrenting at scale. Speed numbers come from published tests rather than our own lab, and results shift with your internet connection and distance to the nearest server.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | Namecheap VPN |
| 🌍 Server Network | Namecheap VPN |
| ⚡ Speed | Tie |
| 🔐 Privacy and Audits | TunnelBear |
| 🛡️ Security Features | TunnelBear |
| 📺 Streaming | Namecheap VPN |
| 👶 Ease of Use | TunnelBear |
| 🛟 Customer Support | Namecheap VPN |
| 🆓 Free Access | TunnelBear |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | TunnelBear |
🏆 WINNER: TUNNELBEAR
TunnelBear takes 4 of 9 categories and ties a fifth, then wins overall on evidence.
Best for: beginners, privacy-first users, anyone who wants a free plan before paying
⚠️ How we broke the tie: The category count is level at four apiece. TunnelBear’s higher rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and its audited privacy decided the overall pick.
These two products sell to different buyers. TunnelBear sells trust and simplicity. Namecheap VPN sells volume and price.
FastVPN is the better buy if you want cheap cover across a house full of devices. It is also the only one here with a refund if you change your mind.
A good vpn should let you check its claims, not just repeat them. TunnelBear is the better buy if you want a safe vpn you can verify. Audits, transparency reports and a real free version carry more weight than a first-year discount.
More of TunnelBear Compared
Here is how TunnelBear lands against other tools in the vpn market:
TunnelBear vs NordVPN
TunnelBear wins on: a friendlier first-run experience, a free tier NordVPN has never offered, and lower monthly entry pricing
NordVPN wins on: thousands more servers, reliable Netflix access, and speeds that hold up on long-distance routes
TunnelBear wins on: price per month, a no-card free account, and an interface that never asks you to choose a protocol
ExpressVPN wins on: router firmware, streaming unblocking across most platforms, and far stronger performance on distant servers
TunnelBear wins on: audit history stretching back to 2016, a genuinely free plan, and simpler day-one setup
Surfshark VPN wins on: ad blocking built into the app, a much wider country list, and a 30-day refund policy
More of Namecheap VPN Compared
And here is where FastVPN sits against its closest rivals:
Namecheap VPN wins on: first-term cost, unlimited connections with no seat limit, and bundling with domains you already own
NordVPN wins on: audited no-logs claims, Panama jurisdiction, and apps that hold connections without the bug reports FastVPN collects
Namecheap VPN wins on: a cleaner app, an easier refund process, and a lower first-month price
PureVPN wins on: a larger country list, port forwarding for downloads, and published audit documentation
Namecheap VPN vs CyberGhost
Namecheap VPN wins on: unlimited device slots, a simpler pricing page, and tighter integration with hosting billing
CyberGhost wins on: servers labelled per streaming service, a 45-day refund period, and a far bigger fleet of machines
Namecheap VPN vs Private Internet Access
Namecheap VPN wins on: a shorter settings list for newcomers, cheaper entry pricing, and one-click connect on mobile devices
Private Internet Access wins on: court-tested no-logs history, open-source clients, and deep control over encryption settings
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TunnelBear really free?
Partly. The free plan gives 500 MB per month, liftable to 2GB through promotions. That suits light browsing, not streaming. Paid plans remove the cap entirely.
Is Namecheap FastVPN safe?
It encrypts traffic with AES-256 and includes a kill switch. But it is US-based with no published audit, so it is weaker than audited rivals.
Is TunnelBear blocked by Netflix?
Usually. Netflix returns a proxy error on most TunnelBear servers, and Amazon Prime behaves the same way. Choose another provider if streaming is your main reason.
Which VPN is better than TunnelBear?
For servers and refunds, Namecheap VPN. For streaming and speed, NordVPN or ExpressVPN beat both. TunnelBear still leads on audit history and its free tier.
Is Namecheap VPN good for gaming?
On nearby servers, yes. Latency stays playable for casual sessions. Distant servers add lag, and a 40% speed drop makes competitive play frustrating.
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