⚡ Kort oordeel:
- Prijzen: Norton VPN starts at $3.33/month. TunnelBear has a free plan, then $3.33/mo.
- Het meest geschikt voor: Norton for streaming and extra safety tools. TunnelBear for VPN newbies with many gadgets.
- Belangrijkste verschil: TunnelBear allows unlimited apparaten and publishes audits. Norton adds a refund window and more tools.
- Onze keuze: Norton VPN (3.8/5) for most users. TunnelBear (3.5/5) wins on price and simplicity.
Norton VPN and TunnelBear both promise to hide your IP address.
Yet they are built for very different people.
Norton comes from a big security company famous for antivirus software.
TunnelBear is a cute, bear-themed VPN service owned by McAfee.
One gives you more tools. The other gives you a free plan.
Overzicht
This Norton VPN vs TunnelBear comparison covers price, privacy, speed, streaming, and ease of use.
Ons schrijver spent hands-on time with Norton Secure VPN directly.
Observations on TunnelBear come from its documentation and independent reviews.
By the end, you will know which VPN app fits your needs.
Wat is Norton VPN?
Norton VPN, also sold as Norton Secure VPN, encrypts your internet connection.
It masks your IP addresses and secures public Wi-Fi use.
Apps run on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
You can buy it alone or bundle it with Norton 360.
The bundle adds antivirus features, malware blocking, and parental controls.
Shopping pages sometimes list Norton Ultra VPN too, so check the exact plan name.
🏆 Winner: Norton VPN
Streaming access, a kill switch, and dark web alerts in one app. Annual plans come with a 60-day refund window.
Norton VPN-prijzen
Here’s what Norton VPN costs in 2026. All three tiers are paid.
| Plan | Prijs | Het beste voor |
|---|---|---|
| Standaard | $3,33/maand | Solo users on a budget |
| Deluxe | $4,17/maand | Couples covering more devices |
| Select Plus | $8,33/maand | Households wanting the top tier |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Gratis proefperiode: Norton has no free plan. The refund window works as your trial.
Geld-terug-garantie: 60 days for annual subscribers. 14 days on monthly plans.
📌 Opmerking: Norton accepts credit card and PayPal, but not cryptocurrency. Our sources don’t confirm Google Pay, so check at checkout.
⚠️ Pricing conflict: Norton’s site also lists device-based plans. One device costs $5 monthly. Five devices cost $3.33/month billed yearly, renewing at $6.66. Ten devices cost $5/month yearly, renewing at $8.33. Promo sales have offered $9.99 for year one, renewing at $49.99. Our table uses our own gegevens set.
Belangrijkste voordelen van Norton VPN
Here are Norton Secure VPN’s features that matter most:
- Wi-Fi Alerts: Compromised Network Detection warns you on risky hotspots. It helps prevent identity theft.
- Monitoring van het dark web: You get an alert if your personal details show up on the dark web.
- Protocol Choice: Pick WireGuard, OpenVPN, or Norton’s own Mimic protocol. Each balances speed and stealth differently.
- Blokkeren van advertentietrackers: The ad tracker blocker works on every platform. Pages load cleaner.
- Lekbescherming: Built-in protection stops DNS leaks and WebRTC leaks. AES-256 encryption guards your online traffic.
- Geen internetproviderbeperking: Hiding your online activities from your ISP can stop bandwidth throttling.
Wat ons team opmerkte
Our writer signed up for Norton VPN and used it for everyday browsing. Here’s what stood out from that hands-on time:
Norton VPN: Plus- en minpunten
✅ Voordelen
- 60 dagen geld-terug-garantie op jaarabonnementen
- Unblocks US Netflix, Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer
- WireGuard, OpenVPN, and Mimic protocol options
- Ad tracker blocking works on every platform
❌ Nadelen
- Geen IPv6-lekbescherming
- No city selection, only countries
- De iOS-app mist een kill switch en split tunneling.
- US base inside the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances
Wat is TunnelBear?
TunnelBear VPN is a Canadian VPN service owned by McAfee.
It hides your real IP address behind a VPN server in another country.
Other users on public Wi-Fi can’t read your traffic.
You pick locations from a playful world map.
Its bear theme stands out in a crowded VPN market.
That friendly style suits VPN newbies.
It also offers a free version with limited data.
TunnelBear
Start free and upgrade when you need unlimited data. One paid account covers every device you own.
TunnelBear-prijzen
The TunnelBear cost is easy to read. There are three tiers.
| Plan | Prijs | Het beste voor |
|---|---|---|
| Vrij | Testen en beperkt gebruik | Trying the app before paying |
| Onbeperkt | $3,33/maand | Individuals and families |
| Teams | $5,75 per gebruiker per maand | Kleine bedrijven |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Gratis proefperiode: The free account works as your trial. Upgrade only when the data runs out.
Geld-terug-garantie: None. TunnelBear offers no money back guarantee on subscriptions.
📌 Opmerking: The TunnelBear free plan varies by source: 500 MB or 2 GB monthly. Promos, like posting on TunnelBear’s Twitter, have raised it to 2 GB.
⚠️ Waarschuwing: Other sources list $9.99 monthly, $39.99 yearly, and $120 for three years. The yearly plan renews at $59.88. Payment is by credit card only, since Bitcoin was removed.
Belangrijkste voordelen van TunnelBear
Here’s where TunnelBear earns its spot:
- Onbeperkt aantal apparaten: Premium plans allow unlimited simultaneous connections. Cover all your devices on one bill.
- Onafhankelijke audits: Cure53 has run independent security audits since 2016. Found issues, including critical ones, were fixed.
- Transparantierapporten: TunnelBear publishes data requests. It says it has never had data to share.
- Tiny Log Footprint: It doesn’t log IP addresses, DNS queries, or browsing history.
- Eenvoudige installatie: Install, flip the switch, and you’re protected. No settings maze.
- Browser-extensies: Extensions cover browser traffic when you don’t need a full VPN tunnel.
Wat ons team opmerkte
Note: We haven’t logged extensive hands-on time with TunnelBear for this comparison yet. The details above come from TunnelBear’s documentation, Cure53 audit reports, and independent reviews. Our separate TunnelBear review has more detail.
TunnelBear: Voordelen en nadelen
✅ Voordelen
- Gratis proefabonnement voordat u betaalt
- Onbeperkt aantal apparaatverbindingen met betaalde abonnementen.
- Regular Cure53 audits since 2016
- Beginner-friendly map interface
❌ Nadelen
- No refund if you change your mind
- Unreliable with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
- Geen live chat-ondersteuning
- No router or Linux apps
Functievergelijking
Both apps cover the basics of online privacy. The differences show up in speed, streaming, and extras. Here are ten areas that matter most.
| Functie | Norton VPN | TunnelBear |
|---|---|---|
| Startprijs | $3,33/maand | Free, then $3.33/mo |
| Gratis plan | ❌ | ✅ |
| Noodstop | ✅ (niet beschikbaar op iOS) | ✅ VigilantBear |
| Split Tunneling | ✅ Windows & Android | ✅ SplitBear |
| Gelijktijdige apparaten | 1, 5 of 10 | Onbeperkt |
| Verduistering | ✅ Mimic protocol | ✅ GhostBear |
| Geld-terug-garantie | ✅ 60 / 14 days | ❌ |
| Onafhankelijke audits | Not in our sources | ✅ Cure53 |
| US Netflix | ✅ | ❌ Onbetrouwbaar |
| Het beste voor | Streaming + security extras | Beginners with many devices |
1. Privacy & Logging
Norton VPN: Norton calls itself a no-log provider. Still, it may log information like email, timestamps, device name, and usage data for diagnostics. The rules sit in the NortonLifeLock Global Privacy Statement.
TunnelBear: TunnelBear doesn’t log browsing activities, IP addresses, or DNS queries. It does collect operational data like OS version, TunnelBear app version, and monthly data used. That data can’t identify you.
⚠️ Waarschuwing: Norton is based in the US, part of the 5/9/14 Eyes. TunnelBear is in Canada, a Five Eyes member. Neither sits outside these alliances.
2. Encryption & Protocols
Norton VPN: Norton uses AES-256 encryption. Here’s how the VPN works: initiation, encryption, tunneling, IP masking, then a return path. You choose WireGuard, OpenVPN, or the Mimic protocol.
This video walks through Norton’s core VPN feature.
https://youtu.be/vB3jd5KiBn8?si=u6TciXhkyYo1Kxxq
TunnelBear: TunnelBear also uses AES-256 to protect encrypted data. Its current apps list WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. Once the encrypted client connects, your internet traffic is scrambled.
⚠️ Waarschuwing: Sources disagree on TunnelBear and WireGuard. Some older reports say it lacks WireGuard. Check the settings tab in your app.
3. Kill Switch & Split Tunneling
Norton VPN: The kill switch stops data leaks if the VPN connection fails. Split tunneling works on the Windows app and Android smartphones. The iOS app lacks both.
TunnelBear: VigilantBear blocks all traffic until the tunnel reconnects. SplitBear lets you pick which apps or sites skip the VPN. Both names match the bear theme.
⚠️ Waarschuwing: Norton doesn’t mask IPv6 addresses. It has DNS and WebRTC leak protection, but no IPv6 leak protection.
4. Snelheid & Prestaties
Norton VPN: Independent speed tests show Norton Secure VPN’s performance drops 40% to 55% on average. Norton’s speeds on local servers are very fast, with best sessions topping 950Mbps. A distant Japan server lost 73%.
TunnelBear: TunnelBear’s performance averages around 40% of base download speeds. Results swing a lot across different servers. Connecting can take over 10 seconds, while many VPNs need a few seconds.
💡 Pro-tip: Pick the nearest server for the best connection speeds. For North American users, a Canada server is often a solid TunnelBear choice.
5. Streaming & Server Network
Norton VPN: Geo-Unblocking opens US and Australian Netflix, Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. It fails with Netflix UK, Canada, Japan, and Disney Plus. Norton Secure VPN’s servers number around 1,500 across 28 to 29 countries.
TunnelBear: TunnelBear’s servers cover 47 countries, or 48 locations. That’s a small server network, which makes it harder to access global content. Netflix often returns a proxy error. Amazon Prime Video and Hulu are hit or miss.
How many servers you get matters less than which streaming sites work. Norton lets you pick a country but not a city. TunnelBear handles some smaller platforms, but the free data limit rules out long streams.
6. Censorship & Anonymity
Norton VPN: Double VPN routes traffic through two servers for extra anonymity. Still, Norton can’t bypass firewalls in China or Iran.
TunnelBear: GhostBear disguises VPN traffic to get past heavy censorship. It can also help with some streaming blocks. The trade-off is a big drop in download speed.
7. Ad Tracker Blocking & Wi-Fi Safety
Norton VPN: Ad tracker blocking cuts ads and trackers on all platforms. Wi-Fi tools flag dangerous hotspots. You can automatically connect on any unsecured network.
Here’s Norton’s anti-tracking feature in action.
TunnelBear: TunnelBear’s features focus on the tunnel itself. Our sources don’t list a built-in ad tracker tool in its VPN apps. You get fewer bonus features than other VPNs.
8. Identity & Antivirus Extras
Norton VPN: Dark Web Monitoring watches for your personal data. Norton 360 bundles add antivirus software and an AI scam detector. These advanced features go beyond most VPNs.
TunnelBear: TunnelBear is a standalone VPN. It has no antivirus or identity monitoring. If you want those, McAfee sells them separately.
Norton’s virus scanner is a bundle perk, not part of the VPN alone. Here’s how it removes threats.
9. Apps, Devices & Support
Norton VPN: On Windows and Mac, Norton Secure VPN’s apps download from your Norton account. Mobile devices get it from Google Play or the App Store. Sign in, and quick-connect picks the fastest server. A support library covers setup issues.
TunnelBear: The Mac app, Windows app, and mobile apps look alike on every operating system. There are no router or Linux apps. Support is email and a web form, with no live chat.
Both brands serve businesses too. TunnelBear sells a Teams plan, and Norton has small bedrijf bescherming.
⚠️ Waarschuwing: TunnelBear’s support is available 24/7 by email, but replies can be slow. Its FAQ section solves many common issues first. Our sources don’t list an Apple TV app for either VPN.
10. Prijsbepaling en kosten
Here are both price lists side by side.
| Plan | Norton VPN | TunnelBear |
|---|---|---|
| Vrij | ❌ | Testen en beperkt gebruik |
| Toegang betaald | Standaard: $3,33/maand | Onbeperkt: $3,33/maand |
| Middenklasse | Deluxe: $4,17/maand | — |
| Top / Team | Select Plus: $8,33/maand | Teams: $5,75 per gebruiker per maand |
| Terugbetalingsperiode | 60 days annual, 14 days monthly | Geen |
Norton VPN: Is Norton Secure VPN worth it? The refund window lowers your risk. Just watch renewal prices on annual subscriptions.
TunnelBear: Unlimited devices at the same entry price is a good deal for families. But with no refunds, test the free plan before you purchase TunnelBear.
Verschillende scenario's
| Als u het nodig heeft... | Kiezen | Waarom |
|---|---|---|
| A zero-cost start | TunnelBear | Free plan, no payment needed |
| US Netflix and BBC iPlayer | Norton VPN | Reliable geo-unblocking |
| Many devices on one plan | TunnelBear | Onbeperkt aantal gelijktijdige verbindingen |
| Identity theft alerts | Norton VPN | Dark Web Monitoring included |
| A safety net on payment | Norton VPN | 60-day refund on annual plans |
| Audit transparency | TunnelBear | Cure53 audits since 2016 |
💰 Jouw budget
Both paid plans start at the same price. TunnelBear wins if you want to pay nothing at first.
📺 Jouw streaminggewoonten
Norton handles more streaming services, including BBC iPlayer. TunnelBear struggles with the big platforms.
🔌 Uw apparaten
Norton caps you at one, five, or ten devices simultaneously. TunnelBear has no cap on paid plans.
🎓 Jouw ervaringsniveau
TunnelBear suits newcomers who want one big switch. Power users may prefer Norton’s protocols and security features.
🆓 Gratis proefversies en demo's
Try TunnelBear’s free tier on every device first. With Norton, use the refund window as your test.
🛟 Ondersteuningsopties
Norton offers a support library for setup help. TunnelBear’s customer support team works through email and tickets only.
Overstaphandleiding
Already using one of these tools? Here’s what changes if you move.
🔄 Switching from Norton VPN to TunnelBear?
✅ Wat je eraan hebt:
- Onbeperkt aantal apparaatverbindingen met één abonnement
- Published Cure53 audits and transparency reports
- GhostBear for disguising VPN traffic
❌ Wat je verliest:
- Reliable US Netflix and BBC iPlayer access
- Dark Web Monitoring and ad blocking
- Any refund window
📋 Zo schakel je over:
- Turn off Norton auto-renewal in your Norton account.
- Create a free TunnelBear account on the TunnelBear site.
- Install the TunnelBear app on each device and upgrade if needed.
New to TunnelBear? This tutorial covers setup from start to finish.
🔄 Switching from TunnelBear to Norton VPN?
✅ Wat je eraan hebt:
- Better streaming unblocking
- Wi-Fi threat alerts and dark web scans
- A 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans
❌ Wat je verliest:
- Het gratis plan
- Onbeperkt aantal apparaatverbindingen
- Published third-party audits
📋 Zo schakel je over:
- Cancel TunnelBear renewal before the next billing date.
- Buy a Norton plan and download it from your Norton account.
- Sign in and turn on the kill switch in settings.
Wat onze recensie niet behandelde
This comparison focused on individuals and families. We didn’t evaluate TunnelBear Teams or Norton’s kleine onderneming plans in depth. Speed figures come from independent tests, not our own lab. Plans reflect September 2026 data and may change.
Eindconclusie
| Categorie | Winnaar |
|---|---|
| 💰 Prijzen | TunnelBear |
| ⚡ Snelheid / Prestaties | Norton VPN |
| 📺 Streaming | Norton VPN |
| 🔒 Privacy Transparency | TunnelBear |
| 🛡️ Security Extras | Norton VPN |
| 👶 Gebruiksgemak | TunnelBear |
| 🛟 Refunds & Support | Norton VPN |
| 🏆 Algemene winnaar | Norton VPN |
🏆 WINNER: NORTON VPN
Norton VPN wint in 4 van de 7 categorieën.
Het meest geschikt voor: Streaming, public Wi-Fi safety, identity protection
Norton VPN is the stronger all-rounder for most people. It unblocks more content and adds Wi-Fi and dark web alerts. It also gives you a refund window.
TunnelBear is a good VPN for tight budgets and large households. Its free tier and audits earn real trust. But the lack of refunds and weak streaming hold it back.
Pick Norton if streaming and extras matter. Pick TunnelBear if you want a simple, safe VPN for every device.
Meer informatie over Norton VPN vergeleken
Here’s how Norton VPN measures up against other VPN providers:
Norton VPN wint op de volgende punten: Norton 360 antivirus bundles, a simpler interface, and Dark Web Monitoring from a known security brand.
NordVPN wint op: A far bigger server network, city-level server choice, and wider streaming library access.
Norton VPN versus Private Internet Access
Norton VPN wint op de volgende punten: Easier setup for beginners, identity alerts, and bundled device security.
Private Internet Access scoort hoog op de volgende punten: Many more server locations, deeper settings for power users, and a court-tested no-logging record.
Norton VPN vs Surfshark
Norton VPN wint op de volgende punten: Wi-Fi threat alerts, Norton 360 bundling, and a familiar brand for non-tech users.
Surfshark wint op: Unlimited devices, more countries, and IPv6 leak protection.
Meer informatie over TunnelBear
Here’s where TunnelBear lands against other VPN services:
TunnelBear wint op: A cheerful map interface, faster first-time setup, and unlimited paid connections.
ProtonVPN wint op: A Swiss base outside Five Eyes, an uncapped free plan, and better streaming.
TunnelBear versus McAfee VPN
TunnelBear wint op: A standalone app, a free tier, and a public audit history.
McAfee VPN wint op de volgende punten: Bundled antivirus, identity tools in one dashboard, and single-bill household security.
TunnelBear versus CyberGhost
TunnelBear wint op: A usable free version, unlimited device connections, and friendlier design.
CyberGhost wint op: A much larger network, dedicated streaming servers, and a long refund window.
Veelgestelde vragen
Is de VPN van Norton de moeite waard?
Yes, for everyday users. It unblocks US Netflix and BBC iPlayer. It includes a kill switch and a 60-day refund on annual plans. It lacks IPv6 leak protection.
Hoeveel kost Norton VPN per maand?
Plans run from $3.33/month for Standard to $8.33/month for Select Plus. Deluxe sits at $4.17/month. Renewal prices can be higher.
Is TunnelBear echt gratis?
Yes, but with a data cap. The free plan offers between 500 MB and 2 GB monthly. Unlimited data needs a paid subscription at $3.33/mo.
Wordt TunnelBear geblokkeerd door Netflix?
Often, yes. Netflix frequently shows a proxy error. Amazon Prime Video and Hulu are also unreliable, though some smaller platforms work.
Is TunnelBear te vertrouwen?
Mostly. Cure53 has audited it since 2016, and it doesn’t log browsing history. Its Canadian base sits inside the Five Eyes alliance.
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