⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Preisgestaltung: TunnelBear Unlimited costs $3.33/mo. AdGuard VPN drops to $2.40/month on the 2-year plan.
- Ideal für: TunnelBear suits VPN newbies who want a safe VPN. AdGuard VPN suits people who want to block ads and use AdGuard DNS.
- Hauptunterschied: TunnelBear has passed repeated third-party Sicherheit audits. AdGuard VPN has had no third-party audit of its proprietary protocol.
- Our pick: TunnelBear, because audited code and unlimited simultaneous connections matter more than a $0.93 monthly saving.
One of these tools is a VPN with a bear theme.
The other is an ad blocker company that also sells a VPN service.
That single fact explains almost every difference between them.
Both hide your real location and encrypt your traffic on public Wi-Fi networks.
Both sell a free version with a hard data limit.
Only one of them has ever let outside auditors read its code.
Überblick
This TunnelBear vs AdGuard VPN comparison covers price, speed, server network and security features.
Our sources are published specs, privacy policies, audit reports and user feedback.
Unser Schriftsteller spent hands-on time with the AdGuard VPN app directly.
Notes on TunnelBear come from documentation and third-party reviews instead.
By the end you will know which of these two VPN providers fits you.
Was ist TunnelBear?
TunnelBear ist ein kanadischer VPN-Dienst, der im Besitz von McAfee.
It encrypts your internet connection and swaps your IP address for one of TunnelBear’s servers.
The tunnelbear app uses a world map to pick server locations.
You get a Windows app, a Mac app, mobile apps and browser extensions.
There is no support for routers, Linux or Apple TV.
Most people pick it because the setup takes about two minutes.
Here is a short walkthrough of the app before we get into numbers.
🏆 Winner: TunnelBear
Audited by Cure53 since 2016. Unlimited device connections on the paid subscription. Free plan for testing first.
TunnelBear-Preise
Here is what TunnelBear cost when we last checked.
| Planen | Preis | Am besten geeignet für |
|---|---|---|
| Frei | Testen und eingeschränkte Nutzung | A free account to try the app |
| Unbegrenzt | 3,33 €/Monat | One person, all your devices |
| Teams | 5,75 $ pro Nutzer und Monat | Small companies with central billing |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Kostenlose Testversion: No timed trial. The tunnelbear free plan gives 500 MB per month, which promotions can raise to 2 GB.
Geld-zurück-Garantie: None. The TunnelBear site confirms subscriptions are non-refundable, so test the free version before you purchase TunnelBear.
📌 Notiz: Every paid tier includes unlimited data and unlimited simultaneous connections. Payment is credit card only now that Bitcoin has been dropped.
⚠️ Price check: Some review sites list $9.99 monthly, $39.99 yearly and $120 for three years, with the annual plan renewing at $59.88. Prices change often, so confirm the renewal rate at checkout.
Hauptvorteile von TunnelBear
Here is what TunnelBear offers that rival VPN services often skip:
- Repeat security audits: Cure53 has audited the apps and infrastructure since 2016. Findings included critical and high-severity bugs, all fixed afterwards.
- Unlimited device connections: One paid account covers phones, laptops and tablets. You can run all your devices simultaneously.
- VigilantBear kill switch: This kill switch blocks incoming and outgoing traffic when the VPN connection drops. That stops data leaks mid-session.
- SplitBear split tunneling: Pick which apps or certain websites skip the VPN tunnel. Banking apps can use your normal internet traffic.
- GhostBear obfuscation: GhostBear disguises VPN traffic so it looks ordinary. It helps in heavy censorship countries but cuts download speeds.
- Published transparency reports: TunnelBear lists every data request it receives. So far it has had nothing to hand over.
- Beginner-first design: The bear theme, the map and the one-switch layout suit VPN newbies. Power users will find it thin.
What Our Team Noticed
Note: we have not had extended hands-on time with the tunnelbear app in-house. The points above come from published documentation, the Cure53 audit reports and third-party testing. Our full TunnelBear review will be updated once we log our own sessions.
TunnelBear Vor- und Nachteile
✅ Vorteile
- Independently audited by Cure53 every year since 2016
- Unlimited simultaneous connections on the premium plan
- AES-256 encryption with a working kill switch and split tunneling
- No logs of IP addresses, DNS queries or browsing history
❌ Nachteile
- No money back guarantee on any subscription
- Small server network of 48 server locations
- Netflix and Amazon Prime Video usually return a proxy error
Was ist AdGuard VPN?
AdGuard VPN is the VPN arm of AdGuard Software Limited, the ad blocker company.
It routes your traffic through a remote server so your real location stays hidden.
The company is based in Cyprus, outside the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances.
You get desktop apps for Windows PC and macOS, plus Android, iOS and Android TV.
Browser extensions cover Chrome, Firefox and Edge.
One AdGuard account unlocks every tool in the family.
This video walks through the interface and settings.
🥈 Runner Up: AdGuard VPN
3 GB free data every month. Pairs with AdGuard DNS to block ads. A 30-day refund window makes the yearly plan risk free.
AdGuard VPN-Preise
An AdGuard VPN subscription comes in three lengths.
| Planen | Preis | Am besten geeignet für |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Monat | 11,99 $/Monat | A short trip or one project |
| 1 Jahr | 3,99 €/Monat | Steady use on up to 10 devices |
| 2 Jahre | 2,40 €/Monat | The lowest cost per month |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Kostenlose Testversion: No timed trial. The free plan gives 3 GB of data every month with speeds capped at 20 Mbps.
Geld-zurück-Garantie: A 30-day money back guarantee covers the yearly and two-year plans.
📌 Notiz: Paid plans allow 10 simultaneous connections. Payment goes through credit cards, PayPal or cryptocurrency.
⚠️ Price check: Some review sites list $47.88 billed yearly and $119 every two years, which works out near $2.99 monthly. Check the total charge at checkout before you buy AdGuard VPN.
Wichtigste Vorteile von AdGuard VPN
Here is what AdGuard offers that a plain VPN does not:
- Ad and tracker blocking: You can point the app at DNS servers that block ads. Paired with the AdGuard ad blocker it removes most banners before they load.
- Wider reach than TunnelBear: Over 800 servers sit across 65+ locations in 53 countries. That is still a few server locations by premium VPNs standards.
- Stealth by default: The AdGuard VPN protocol masks the vpn tunnel as ordinary HTTPS traffic. That helps on networks that filter certain websites.
- Kill switch and split tunneling: Both ship in the AdGuard VPN app. You choose which apps use the encrypted connection.
- Strict no logs policy: AdGuard puts no IP addresses, browsing history or connection timestamps in its records. It is GDPR compliant.
- Integrated mode: On Windows the VPN can hand filtering duties to other AdGuard products instead of fighting them for the same traffic.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer tested AdGuard VPN on a Windows version and a phone over several days. Here is what stood out:
AdGuard VPN: Vor- und Nachteile
✅ Vorteile
- 3 GB of free data every month, six times TunnelBear’s base allowance
- 30-day money back guarantee on the yearly and two-year plans
- Unblocks Netflix, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer in most tests
- DNS server options that block ads and trackers
❌ Nachteile
- No third-party audit of the proprietary protocol
- NEIN OpenVPN or WireGuard support
- Struggles with the Great Firewall in China
Funktionsvergleich
Below are the ten areas that decide which of these two you should pay for. Each one covers what the tool actually does, not what the marketing page claims.
| Besonderheit | TunnelBear | AdGuard VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Startpreis | 3,33 €/Monat | 2,40 €/Monat |
| Kostenloser Plan | ✅ 500 MB–2 GB | ✅ 3 GB |
| Serverstandorte | 48 across 47 countries | 65+ across 53 countries |
| Gleichzeitige Verbindungen | ✅ Unbegrenzt | 10 Geräte |
| OpenVPN / WireGuard | ✅ | ❌ Proprietary only |
| Prüfung durch Dritte | ✅ Cure53 | ❌ Keine |
| Not-Aus-Schalter | ✅ WachsamerBär | ✅ |
| Split-Tunneling | ✅ SplitBear | ✅ |
| Blocks Ads | ❌ | ✅ Via AdGuard DNS |
| Netflix | ❌ Proxy error | ✅ Usually works |
| Geld-zurück-Garantie | ❌ Keine | ✅ 30 Tage |
| Am besten geeignet für | Beginners who want audited privacy | People who want a VPN that blocks ads |
1. Servernetzwerk und Standorte
TunnelBear: 48 server locations across 47 countries. That is a small server network next to most other VPN providers. You can still pick a Canada server in the country TunnelBear operates from, or a US server for American catalogues.
AdGuard VPN: Over 800 servers in 65+ locations across 53 countries. If your Frage is how many servers you get, AdGuard VPN wins on paper. Both still trail the big names when you need to access global content from an unusual region.
2. Geschwindigkeit und Leistung
TunnelBear: Independent speed tests put TunnelBear’s performance near 40% of the base download speed. Results swing hard between different servers, and distant ones are worse than your nearest server. Turning on GhostBear cuts download speeds further.
AdGuard VPN: AdGuard VPN’s performance is fine for browsing and video calls but not for data intensive tasks. Paid connection speeds have averaged around 58.73 Mbps in testing, with roughly 20% drops on nearby servers. The free tier caps you at 20 Mbps, and some users report slow speeds near 10 Mbps plus occasional drops.
⚠️ Warnung: Neither tool is built for online gaming or heavy 4K streaming. Upload speed takes the biggest hit on both.
3. Sicherheit und Verschlüsselung
TunnelBear: AES-256 encryption, a kill switch and no recorded DNS leaks. The security features are plain but they work. TunnelBear’s features stop at the basics, which is the point.
AdGuard VPN: Also AES-256. It encrypts your traffic and keeps encrypted data sealed if the link drops. Is AdGuard VPN safe? The security measures look sound, but nobody outside the company has checked them.
4. Privacy, Logging and Audits
TunnelBear: Cure53 has run security audits since 2016 and published the results. The policy keeps no IP addresses, DNS queries or browsing history. It does collect operational data such as your operating system, the OS version, the tunnelbear app version and monthly data totals. The catch: Canada sits inside Five Eyes.
AdGuard VPN: Cyprus is outside the intelligence alliances, and the policy is a strict no logs policy with GDPR compliance. But there has been no third-party audit at all. Good online privacy needs proof, not promises.
5. Protocols and Censorship
TunnelBear: Runs OpenVPN and IKEv2, with WireGuard now listed in the apps. GhostBear hides VPN traffic on restrictive networks. Reports on WireGuard support have been mixed, so check the release notes for your platform.
AdGuard VPN: No OpenVPN, no WireGuard. Only the in-house protocol, which disguises the vpn tunnel as HTTPS. It is clever, but it is not recommended for China and it has never been reviewed by outsiders.
6. Streaming und Entsperren
TunnelBear: Netflix usually returns a proxy error. Amazon Prime and Hulu block it too. Some smaller streaming sites work, and GhostBear sometimes helps, at the cost of speed.
AdGuard VPN: So how well does AdGuard VPN work for streaming? Netflix, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer generally load. Amazon Prime and Peacock often do not, and buffering shows up on some streaming platforms.
7. Ad Blocking and DNS
TunnelBear: No ad blocker. It hides your IP address and nothing more. Can a VPN block ads on its own? Not this one.
AdGuard VPN: Does AdGuard VPN block ads? Through its DNS server choices, yes. Point the app at AdGuard DNS and banners and trackers die before the page loads. Blocking ads at that level also cuts tracking scripts, which helps your online security. This is the one thing nobody else on this page can do.
The DNS side is a separate product you can use with or without the VPN.
8. Apps, Devices and Ease of Use
TunnelBear: Easy to use apps with a map and one switch. Unlimited device connections mean you never count seats. No Linux, no routers, and browser extensions only protect browser traffic.
AdGuard VPN: AdGuard VPN’s apps cover Windows, macOS, Linux, Android TV and mobile devices. Ten seats is plenty for a household. The AdGuard Assistent extension adds quick controls in the browser.
9. Extras and Customer Support
TunnelBear: Customer support is a web form and email, available around the clock but slow. There is no live chat support, and the support team gets mixed reviews. A large FAQ covers most setup questions, and TunnelBear’s Twitter account has historically handed out extra free data.
AdGuard VPN: Support runs through a ticketing system and email, with no 24/7 desk. The wider suite adds extras like AdGuard Temp Mail, which TunnelBear has no answer to.
10. Preisgestaltung & Kosten
Here are both price lists side by side.
| Planen | TunnelBear | AdGuard VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Frei | Testen und eingeschränkte Nutzung | 3 GB per month |
| Monatlich | ❌ Not listed | 11,99 $/Monat |
| Jährlich | Unlimited $3.33/mo | 3,99 €/Monat |
| Long term | ❌ Not listed | 2 Years $2.40/month |
| Geschäft | Teams $5.75/user per month | ❌ Kein Teamplan |
TunnelBear: $3.33/mo buys unlimited data on unlimited devices, which is the cheapest per-device deal here. The Teams tier at $5.75/user per month is rare at this price. The missing refund window is the real cost.
AdGuard VPN: $2.40/month is the lowest headline figure, but it means a two-year commitment. The month-to-month price of $11.99 is steep. The 30-day refund makes the longer plans easier to justify.
Verschiedene Szenarien
| Falls Sie Folgendes benötigen: | Wählen | Warum |
|---|---|---|
| Geprüfte Privatsphäre | TunnelBear | Cure53 audits since 2016 |
| A VPN that blocks ads | AdGuard VPN | AdGuard DNS filtering built in |
| Netflix and iPlayer | AdGuard VPN | TunnelBear throws proxy errors |
| Lots of devices | TunnelBear | Unlimited seats vs 10 |
| A refund option | AdGuard VPN | 30 days versus none |
| Standard protocols | TunnelBear | OpenVPN and IKEv2 supported |
💰 Ihr Budget
AdGuard VPN is cheaper per month, but only if you commit for two years. TunnelBear asks less up front and covers every device you own.
🔌 Dein Tech-Stack
Linux, router or Apple TV users can rule TunnelBear out immediately. If you already run AdGuard products, the VPN slots in beside them.
📺 Deine Streaming-Gewohnheiten
If unblocking matters, TunnelBear will frustrate you within a week. AdGuard VPN handles more services, though Amazon Prime stays stubborn.
🎓 Dein Erfahrungslevel
Beginners get further with TunnelBear’s map interface. Anyone who wants protocol control will find both tools thin compared with other VPN services.
🆓 Kostenlose Testversionen und Demos
Neither has a timed trial, so the free tiers are your test drive. TunnelBear’s free desktop app includes all the features, just with a data cap.
🛟 Supportoptionen
Both are email-only, and both are slow. If phone or chat support matters to you, look elsewhere.
Umstellungsleitfaden
Already paying for one of them? Here is what moving actually costs you.
🔄 Switching from TunnelBear to AdGuard VPN?
✅ Was Sie davon haben:
- Ad and tracker blocking through AdGuard DNS
- Netflix, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer access
- A 30-day refund window and Linux support
❌ Was Sie verlieren werden:
- Audited code and public transparency reports
- Unlimited simultaneous connections, down to 10
- OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocol choice
📋 So wechseln Sie:
- Cancel auto-renew in your TunnelBear account settings
- Create an AdGuard account and start on the 3 GB free plan
- Install on each device, then set AdGuard DNS as your DNS server
🔄 Switching from AdGuard VPN to TunnelBear?
✅ Was Sie davon haben:
- Independent audits of the apps and servers
- Unlimited devices on one paid subscription
- Standard protocols plus GhostBear for censored networks
❌ Was Sie verlieren werden:
- DNS-level ad blocking and the wider AdGuard suite
- Zuverlässiger Streaming-Zugang
- Any money back guarantee at all
📋 So wechseln Sie:
- Request a refund if you are inside the 30-day window
- Open a TunnelBear free account and test your nearest server
- Reset your DNS settings, then upgrade to Unlimited
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
Limits of this comparison
We did not run long-term torrenting tests, router setups or business rollouts on either tool. TunnelBear was assessed from documentation and third-party results rather than our own logged sessions. Figures reflect the September 2026 builds, and server counts change often. If you need China access or enterprise billing, treat this as a starting point.
Endgültiges Urteil
| Kategorie | Gewinner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Preisgestaltung | AdGuard VPN |
| 🌍 Servernetzwerk | AdGuard VPN |
| ⚡ Geschwindigkeit | AdGuard VPN |
| 🔒 Sicherheit & Audits | TunnelBear |
| 🕵️ Privacy Jurisdiction | AdGuard VPN |
| 👶 Benutzerfreundlichkeit | TunnelBear |
| 📺 Streaming | AdGuard VPN |
| 🔌 Devices & Protocols | TunnelBear |
| 🏆 Gesamtsieger | TunnelBear |
🏆 WINNER: TUNNELBEAR
AdGuard VPN takes more categories, but TunnelBear wins the one that decides a VPN: proven, audited privacy.
Ideal für: beginners, families with many devices, anyone who wants a safe VPN they can verify
This is an unusual result, so here is the reasoning. A VPN asks you to route every byte through one company. Trust is the product, and only TunnelBear VPN has let outsiders check the work.
AdGuard VPN is faster, cheaper over two years and better at streaming. If unblocking is why you are buying, use AdGuard VPN and accept the unaudited protocol.
Neither is the best VPN in a crowded vpn market. Both are honest mid-tier picks that do one thing well.
Mehr zu TunnelBear im Vergleich
Here is how TunnelBear lines up against bigger names:
TunnelBear gewinnt in: unlimited device seats, simpler onboarding, cheaper entry price
NordVPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: 60+ country coverage, working Netflix access, faster NordLynx speeds
TunnelBear gewinnt in: longer audit history, friendlier interface, Teams billing tier
Surfshark VPN punktet bei: 100-country network, built-in ad blocking, 30-day refunds
TunnelBear vs Privater Internetzugang
TunnelBear gewinnt in: beginner-friendly layout, McAfee backing, lighter mobile apps
Private Internet Access gewinnt in folgenden Kategorien: Linux and router support, open-source clients, port forwarding
Weitere AdGuard VPN-Vorteile im Vergleich
And how AdGuard VPN holds up against other VPN services:
AdGuard VPN vs ProtonVPN
AdGuard VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: DNS ad filtering, lower two-year price, 3 GB free cap versus throttling
ProtonVPN punktet bei: open-source audited apps, Secure Core routing, unlimited free data
AdGuard VPN vs ExpressVPN
AdGuard VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: price, built-in ad blocking, a usable free tier
ExpressVPN punktet in folgenden Kategorien: China access, Lightway speeds, 105-country reach
AdGuard VPN vs CyberGhost
AdGuard VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: lighter apps, ad-blocking DNS, Cyprus jurisdiction
CyberGhost gewinnt in: streaming-optimised servers, 45-day refunds, 90+ countries
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Ist TunnelBear wirklich kostenlos?
Yes, with a 500 MB monthly cap that promotions can lift to 2 GB. The free tier has the same features as paid, just far less data.
Wie viel kostet TunnelBear VPN?
Unlimited costs $3.33/mo and Teams costs $5.75/user per month. There is a free tier, but no refunds if you change your mind.
Ist AdGuard VPN vertrauenswürdig?
The no-logs policy and Cyprus base are encouraging. But the protocol has never faced an outside audit, so you are trusting the company’s word.
Bietet AdGuard ein kostenloses VPN an?
Yes. The free plan gives 3 GB every month with speeds capped near 20 Mbps. Enough for light browsing, not for video.
Welches VPN ist besser als TunnelBear?
For streaming and speed, most large rivals beat it. For audited privacy on a small budget, it still holds its own as a good vpn.
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