⚡ Kort oordeel:
- Prijzen: TunnelBear Unlimited runs $3.33/mo. SafeShell VPN starts at $5.99 for 1 Week.
- Het meest geschikt voor: TunnelBear suits VPN newbies who want a free version. SafeShell VPN suits streaming sites and gaming.
- Belangrijkste verschil: TunnelBear has a small server network of 48 server locations. SafeShell VPN lists over 100 locations.
- Onze keuze: SafeShell VPN, because App Mode and a 7-day money back guarantee lower the risk.
TunnelBear and SafeShell VPN both sell the same promise.
They hide your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic.
That is where the overlap stops.
TunnelBear is a privacy tool with years of beveiliging audits behind it.
SafeShell VPN is built around streaming services, speed and device flexibility.
Pick the wrong one and you pay for features you never touch.
Overzicht
This TunnelBear vs SafeShell VPN comparison covers pricing, the server network, streaming and security features.
Ons schrijver spent time inside the SafeShell VPN app directly.
Notes on TunnelBear come from its documentation, security audit reports and published review scores.
Every price below was checked in September 2026.
By the end you will know which VPN service fits your budget and habits.
Wat is TunnelBear?
TunnelBear is een Canadese VPN-dienst die eigendom is van McAfee.
Het versleutelt je internetverbinding en verbergt je echte IP-adres.
The TunnelBear app opens on a world map instead of a server list.
You tap a country and a cartoon bear tunnels there.
That quirky bear-themed design is why VPN newbies stick with it.
There is a Windows app, a Mac app, mobile apps and browser extensions.
Here is a walkthrough of the app before we get into the numbers.
TunnelBear
The simplest way to try a safe VPN without paying. Create a free account and get 500 MB of encrypted gegevens elke maand.
TunnelBear-prijzen
Here is what the TunnelBear cost looks like right now.
| Plan | Prijs | Het beste voor |
|---|---|---|
| Vrij | Testen en beperkt gebruik | VPN newbies trying a free plan |
| Onbeperkt | $3,33/maand | One person, unlimited data |
| Teams | $5,75 per gebruiker per maand | Klein bedrijf rekeningen |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Gratis proefperiode: No timed trial. The free version is permanent, capped at 500 MB per month, and no card is needed.
Geld-terug-garantie: None. TunnelBear does not publish a refund window, so a paid subscription carries more risk than rivals that do.
📌 Opmerking: The TunnelBear free plan can reach 2 GB of data through promotions, such as tweeting at TunnelBear’s Twitter account. Paid plans lift the data limit entirely and allow unlimited device connections.
⚠️ Price check: Some review sites list TunnelBear at $9.99 monthly, $39.99 yearly and $120 for three years, with the annual plan renewing at $59.88. Prices shift with promotions, so confirm at checkout on the TunnelBear site before you purchase TunnelBear.
Belangrijkste voordelen van TunnelBear
Here is what keeps TunnelBear in the VPN market:
- Onafhankelijke beveiligingsaudits: Cure53 has audited TunnelBear every year since 2016. Each security audit found issues, including critical ones, and those were fixed.
- Real no-logging policy: The privacy policy says it never stores IP addresses, DNS queries or browsing history. Transparency reports confirm it had no data to hand over.
- Genuinely free version: A free account gives 500 MB of encrypted data every month. No credit card is requested at sign up.
- Onbeperkt aantal gelijktijdige verbindingen: The premium plan covers all your apparaten at once. Your family and friends can share one paid subscription.
- VigilantBear kill switch: If the VPN connection drops, it blocks all incoming and outgoing internet traffic. Nothing leaks until the tunnel returns.
- SplitBear split tunneling: You choose which apps and websites use the VPN. Banking apps can skip the tunnel while browser traffic stays encrypted.
Wat ons team opmerkte
Note: we have not logged extended hands-on time with TunnelBear yet. Everything above comes from TunnelBear’s documentation, its published audit reports and third-party review scores. The tutorial below shows the setup flow instead.
TunnelBear: Voordelen en nadelen
✅ Voordelen
- Gratis abonnement, geen creditcard nodig
- Audited by Cure53 every year since 2016
- Unlimited simultaneous connections on the premium plan
- Simple setup that suits VPN newbies
❌ Nadelen
- Small server network of only 48 server locations
- Geen geld-terug-garantie op welk abonnement dan ook.
- Fails to unblock Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
- No live chat support and no router or Linux install
Wat is SafeShell VPN?
SafeShell VPN is a streaming-first VPN service built for online freedom.
It runs on its own ShellGuard protocol to encrypt your data.
QUIC technology disguises VPN traffic so it slips past strict censorship.
A zero-logs policy keeps your online activities off the record.
The headline feature is App Mode, and nothing in TunnelBear matches it.
App Mode sends different apps through different VPN locations at the same time.
This short review video shows how the app handles streaming.
🏆 Winner: SafeShell VPN
Experience SafeShell VPN on a 3-day free trial period. High speed servers in multiple locations, plus a 7-day money back guarantee.
SafeShell VPN-prijzen
SafeShell VPN sells three subscription lengths.
| Plan | Prijs | Het beste voor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $5,99/maand | One trip or one series |
| 3 maanden | $24,99/maand | Seasonal streaming and gaming |
| 1 jaar | $59,99/maand | Year-round use across multiple regions |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Gratis proefperiode: Yes. A 3-day free trial is open to new users who have never subscribed before.
Geld-terug-garantie: A 7-day money back guarantee applies to your first subscription purchase.
📌 Opmerking: Payment methods include Credit Card, PayPal, Google Play, Apple Pay, WeChat Pay and Alipay. TunnelBear accepts credit card only and dropped Bitcoin.
⚠️ Price check: Some review sites list SafeShell VPN at $49.99 for 1 year, $9.99 for 1 month and $3.99 for 1 week. Confirm the price at checkout. Billing renews automatically, so cancel at least 24 hours before the renewal date on your account.
Belangrijkste voordelen van SafeShell VPN
Here is where SafeShell VPN pulls ahead of other VPN providers:
- App-modus: Connect different apps to multiple regions simultaneously. One IP for work, another for streaming, from the same device.
- Over 100 locations: More than 70 regional server locations cut latency. You can access global content without worrying about being blocked.
- Unlimited data at high speed: The secure global network has no speed limits on paid plans. Chasing the fastest download speed stays realistic here.
- Spelmodus: Routes are tuned toward game servers for low latency. Gaming sessions get faster responses than a standard tunnel.
- Subtitle translation: Built-in translation covers over 30 languages. It makes foreign videos a comfortable viewing experience.
- Multi device support: Apps cover iOS, Android, Windows and macOS. Global Mode pushes every connection through one country when you want it simple.
Wat ons team opmerkte
Our writer signed up for SafeShell VPN and used it across a desktop and a phone for several days. Here is what stood out from that time in the app:
SafeShell VPN: Voordelen en nadelen
✅ Voordelen
- De app-modus verbindt verschillende apps met verschillende regio's tegelijk.
- Over 100 locations and 70+ regional servers
- 3-day free trial plus a 7-day money back guarantee
- Rated 4.6/5 on Trustpilot for speed and streaming
❌ Nadelen
- No permanent free version, only a short trial
- Refunds and subscription changes draw complaints
- No published independent security audit yet
Functievergelijking
Ten categories decide this one. Here is the short version before we break each one down.
| Functie | TunnelBear | SafeShell VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Startprijs | $3,33/maand | $5.99 (1 Week) |
| Gratis plan | ✅ 500 MB/month | ❌ 3-day trial only |
| Serverlocaties | 48 locations, 47 countries | 100+ locations, 70+ regions |
| Netflix & Prime Video | ❌ | ✅ |
| Gesplitste tunneling / app-modus | ✅ SplitBear | ✅ App-modus |
| Noodstop | ✅ VigilantBear | ✅ |
| Independent Security Audit | ✅ Cure53 | ❌ |
| Geld-terug-garantie | ❌ | ✅ 7 dagen |
| Live chatondersteuning | ❌ | ❌ |
| Het beste voor | Free private browsing | Streaming, gaming, reis |
1. Servernetwerk en locaties
TunnelBear: You get 48 server locations across 47 countries. That small server network is the single biggest limit on what TunnelBear’s servers can reach. If the country TunnelBear lists is missing, there is no workaround.
SafeShell VPN: Over 70 regional server locations feed more than 100 locations worldwide. More choice means the nearest server is usually closer to you. Shorter hops normally mean less latency on different servers.
2. Snelheid en prestaties
TunnelBear: Independent tests put download speeds near 40% of the base speed. TunnelBear’s performance also swings by location, and distant servers drag. Connection times past 10 seconds show up in several published tests.
SafeShell VPN: Paid plans run without speed limits on a high speed global network. Game Mode shortens routes to game servers for faster responses. Trustpilot reviewers repeatedly point to the fastest download speed they can get while connected.
3. Versleuteling en protocollen
TunnelBear: AES-256 encryption protects your encrypted data on every plan. Current documentation lists OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard. Encrypt your connection once and the same standard applies across the TunnelBear app.
SafeShell VPN: It skips the standard list and runs ShellGuard, its own protocol. QUIC technology hides the shape of your VPN traffic. IPv6 support closes a gap that trips up some other VPN services.
⚠️ Waarschuwing: Protocol reports on TunnelBear conflict. Some testing rounds found no WireGuard option, while the current app documentation lists it. Check the protocol menu inside your operating system’s app before you rely on it.
4. Privacy, Logging and Audits
TunnelBear: This is where it wins. No IP addresses, DNS queries or browsing history are stored, and Cure53 has checked that claim since 2016. It does collect operational data such as the OS version, TunnelBear app version and monthly data used, which cannot identify you.
SafeShell VPN: A zero-logs policy covers your online activities, and DNS leak protection stops data leaks at the resolver. What is missing is proof. No public third-party audit backs the policy yet.
⚠️ Waarschuwing: TunnelBear is based in Canada, part of the Five Eyes alliance. Audited no-logging helps, but the country TunnelBear operates from still matters for online privacy.
5. Streaming and Geo-Blocked Content
TunnelBear: Netflix usually returns a proxy error. Amazon Prime Video and Hulu block it too, and smaller streaming sites are hit and miss. The free version’s data limit rules out long sessions anyway.
SafeShell VPN: Streaming is the product, not a side effect. Its streaming servers are tuned to access global content across multiple regions. Reviewers single out video performance as the reason they stay.
Subtitle translation sits beside it, covering over 30 languages for foreign-language titles.
6. Security Features and Kill Switch
TunnelBear: VigilantBear is the kill switch. Drop the VPN connection and it blocks all internet traffic until the tunnel is back. Strong encryption plus published transparency reports make this a safe VPN for everyday browsing.
SafeShell VPN: Security features cover IP masking, leak protection and SafeNet AdBlock for websites heavy with trackers. Blocking ads before they load also trims browser traffic. It is a good VPN for public Wi-Fi on a bedrijf trip.
7. Censorship and Obfuscation
TunnelBear: GhostBear disguises VPN traffic to get through heavy censorship, so blocked sites like Facebook or YouTube open again. The cost is real. Download speeds fall sharply while GhostBear is on.
SafeShell VPN: Obfuscation is not a toggle here. QUIC masking is built into the connection, so there is no speed penalty to switch on. That is a cleaner design point for anyone in a restricted country.
8. App Mode and Split Tunneling
TunnelBear: SplitBear handles split tunneling. You pick which apps and websites skip the tunnel, which is useful when a bank blocks foreign IPs. It is one route in, one route out.
SafeShell VPN: App Mode goes further. Different apps get different IPs from different VPN locations at once, so a Japanese catalogue and a US catalogue stay open together. Global Mode flips everything back to one country when you want it simple.
9. Apparaatondersteuning en apps
TunnelBear: Unlimited device connections on paid plans let you cover all your devices at once. Browser extensions handle Chrome and Firefox. Routers and Linux are not supported, which frustrates power users.
SafeShell VPN: Multi device support spans iOS, Android, Windows and Mac, plus Apple TV, Android TV and Apple Vision Pro. Setting it up on an iPad or Apple Vision headset follows the same flow. Running several devices simultaneously is normal use, not an upsell.
10. Prijsbepaling en kosten
Let’s put the plans side by side.
| Plantype | TunnelBear | SafeShell VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Vrij | Testen en beperkt gebruik | ❌ (3-day trial) |
| Short term | ❌ | 1 Week — $5.99/month |
| Mid term | ❌ | 3 Months — $24.99/month |
| Personal ongoing | Unlimited — $3.33/mo | 1 Year — $59.99/month |
| Team | Teams — $5.75/user per month | ❌ |
TunnelBear: The Unlimited plan is the cheaper entry point, and Teams covers kleine onderneming accounts at $5.75 per user. The catch is the missing refund window. Once you pay, there is no money back guarantee to fall back on.
SafeShell VPN: You pay more, and you get a trial plus seven days to change your mind. For example, a 1 Week plan lets you test streaming before a longer commitment. That safety net is worth real money on a VPN you have not used before.
Verschillende scenario's
| Als u het nodig heeft... | Kiezen | Waarom |
|---|---|---|
| Zero budget | TunnelBear | Free plan, no card needed |
| Netflix and Prime Video | SafeShell VPN | TunnelBear returns proxy errors |
| Gecontroleerd privacybewijs | TunnelBear | Cure53 audits since 2016 |
| Multiple regions at once | SafeShell VPN | App Mode splits apps by region |
| Team accounts | TunnelBear | Teams plan at $5.75 per user |
| Gamen met lage latentie | SafeShell VPN | Game Mode shortens routes |
💰 Jouw budget
TunnelBear is cheaper on paper and free if you stay under the data limit. SafeShell VPN costs more but adds a refund window, so the real risk is lower.
🔌 Jouw technologie-stack
TunnelBear is compatible with Windows, Mac and mobile devices but not routers or Linux. SafeShell VPN adds TV boxes and headsets, so your living room is covered too.
📺 Your Viewing Habits
If you mostly watch local content and want private browsing, a Canada server on TunnelBear is enough. If you chase catalogues abroad, SafeShell VPN is the only one of the two that reliably delivers.
🎓 Jouw ervaringsniveau
Beginners can navigate TunnelBear’s user friendly map in seconds. SafeShell VPN asks you to customize App Mode first, which takes a few extra minutes.
🆓 Gratis proefversies en demo's
Create a TunnelBear free account and test it forever at 500 MB a month. SafeShell VPN gives new users three days to discover whether the speed holds up.
🛟 Ondersteuningsopties
Customer support is thin on both sides and neither support team runs live chat. TunnelBear offers a web form and a deep FAQ library as its main channel, while SafeShell VPN draws complaints over refunds, so keep a record of every contact.
Overstaphandleiding
Already paying for one of them? Here is what changes.
🔄 Switching from TunnelBear to SafeShell VPN?
✅ Wat je eraan hebt:
- Streaming that actually opens Netflix and Prime Video
- App Mode plus more than 100 locations to choose from
- A 7-day money back guarantee on your first purchase
❌ Wat je verliest:
- The permanent free plan and its 500 MB allowance
- Audit reports from Cure53 going back to 2016
- The Teams plan for small business billing
📋 Zo schakel je over:
- Cancel the TunnelBear subscription in your account settings
- Sign up for the SafeShell VPN trial with a new link
- Set App Mode rules for your streaming apps, then uninstall TunnelBear
🔄 Switching from SafeShell VPN to TunnelBear?
✅ Wat je eraan hebt:
- A free version you can keep without a card on file
- Published security audits and transparency reports
- A lower monthly price on the Unlimited plan
❌ Wat je verliest:
- Reliable streaming on major platforms
- App Mode, Game Mode and subtitle translation
- Any refund window at all
📋 Zo schakel je over:
- Annuleer SafeShell VPN minimaal 24 uur voor verlenging.
- Create a TunnelBear free account and test your usual sites
- Upgrade to Unlimited only after the free plan proves itself
Wat onze recensie niet behandelde
Limits of this comparison
We did not run controlled speed benchmarks on both VPN providers ourselves, and we did not test torrenting, DNS leaks under load, or long-haul connections from every continent. Enterprise deployments and router-level setups are also outside this review. Figures reflect the September 2026 apps, and improvements ship often, so your numbers may differ.
Eindconclusie
| Categorie | Winnaar |
|---|---|
| 💰 Prijzen | TunnelBear |
| 🌍 Servernetwerk | SafeShell VPN |
| ⚡ Snelheid & Prestaties | SafeShell VPN |
| 🔒 Privacy & Audits | TunnelBear |
| 📺 Streaming | SafeShell VPN |
| 👶 Gebruiksgemak | TunnelBear |
| 📱 Device Coverage | SafeShell VPN |
| 🏆 Algemene winnaar | SafeShell VPN |
🏆 WINNER: SAFESHELL VPN
SafeShell VPN wins 4 of 7 categories.
Het meest geschikt voor: streaming services, gaming, reis across multiple regions
These two VPN services are chasing different buyers. TunnelBear’s features center on private browsing with proof to back it up. SafeShell VPN’s features center on getting content to play.
TunnelBear is the better pick if your priority is a free, audited tunnel for everyday browsing. Nothing SafeShell VPN offers replaces a decade of Cure53 reports.
For everyone else, SafeShell VPN takes it. Better servers, working streaming, App Mode and a refund window beat a cheaper plan you cannot get out of.
Meer informatie over TunnelBear
Here is how TunnelBear lands against the rivals people shortlist beside it:
TunnelBear vs NordVPN
TunnelBear wint op: a free tier NordVPN does not offer, a gentler learning curve for first-timers, and unlimited device connections without tier rules
NordVPN scoort hoog op de volgende punten: thousands of servers against 48 locations, dependable Netflix access, and a 30-day refund policy TunnelBear has no answer to
TunnelBear vs ProtonVPN
TunnelBear wint op: a friendlier map interface, browser extensions that take one click, and unlimited connections on a single paid plan
ProtonVPN wint op de volgende punten: an unmetered free plan with no data cap, Swiss jurisdiction outside Five Eyes, and open-source apps anyone can inspect
TunnelBear vs Surfhaai VPN
TunnelBear wint op: a permanent free plan, simpler onboarding, and a bear-themed app people actually enjoy using
Surfshark VPN wint op de volgende punten: a far wider country list, working streaming across major platforms, and extras like ad blocking bundled in
TunnelBear wint op: free usage without payment details, a lighter app, and years of published audit results
CyberGhost wint op: servers labelled for specific streaming sites, router support TunnelBear lacks, and a 45-day refund window
Meer informatie over SafeShell VPN vergeleken
And here is SafeShell VPN against the names it competes with most:
SafeShell VPN versus ExpressVPN
SafeShell VPN wint op de volgende punten: App Mode running several regions at once, built-in subtitle translation, and a cheaper one-week entry plan
ExpressVPN wint op de volgende punten: a longer public track record, router firmware support, and audited infrastructure SafeShell has not matched
SafeShell VPN versus PureVPN
SafeShell VPN wint op de volgende punten: per-app region routing, Game Mode for latency, and TV and headset apps out of the box
PureVPN scoort hoog op: a bigger country count, dedicated IP add-ons, and longer refund terms on annual billing
SafeShell VPN versus Privé internettoegang
SafeShell VPN wint op de volgende punten: streaming-tuned servers, a simpler interface for non-technical users, and translation features PIA has no version of
Private Internet Access scoort hoog op de volgende punten: court-tested no-logs claims, granular encryption settings, and far cheaper multi-year pricing
SafeShell VPN versus AdGuard VPN
SafeShell VPN wint op de volgende punten: a wider location list, streaming reliability, and gaming-focused routing AdGuard does not attempt
AdGuard VPN scoort hoog op de volgende punten: a free tier, tighter ad and tracker filtering, and lower annual pricing for light users
Veelgestelde vragen
Is TunnelBear echt gratis?
Yes. The free plan is permanent and needs no card. It caps you at 500 MB of data per month, which promotions can raise to 2 GB.
Wat kost TunnelBear VPN?
TunnelBear’s Unlimited plan costs $3.33/mo and Teams costs $5.75 per user per month. A free tier covers testing and limited usage. No refund window is offered.
Wordt TunnelBear geblokkeerd door Netflix?
Usually, yes. Netflix commonly returns a proxy error on these servers, and Amazon Prime Video and Hulu block it too. Smaller platforms sometimes work.
Biedt SafeShell een gratis versie aan?
Not a permanent one. New subscribers get a 3-day free trial, then pick a paid plan. A 7-day refund applies to your first purchase.
Welke VPN is beter dan TunnelBear?
For streaming and gaming, SafeShell VPN beats it outright. For free audited privacy, it still holds up. The best VPN depends on which of those you need.
English 
Spanish 
Chinese 
German 
French 
Arabic 
Russian 
Portuguese 
Japanese 
Korean 
Italian 
Turkish 
Dutch 
Polish 
Indonesian 
Thai 
Vietnamese 