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TunnelBear alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave TunnelBear: free plan's data allowance is small, and no official Linux app. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces TunnelBear, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Proton VPN currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Proton VPN logoProton VPNFree plan + paidYesWindows, macOS, Linux +35 of 566.5
2Windscribe logoWindscribeFree plan + paidYesWindows, macOS, Linux +35 of 562.6
3Hotspot Shield logoHotspot ShieldFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 459.6
4ExpressVPN logoExpressVPNPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +36 of 657.2
5Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1) logoCloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1)Free plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +23 of 355.3
  1. Proton VPN logo

    1. Proton VPNTop pick

    Best for: Privacy-focused users, and anyone who needs a free VPN they can trust

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from TunnelBear

    Free tier with no data cap and open-source apps.

    Pros

    • Free plan with no data cap and no ads
    • Open-source, audited apps on every platform
    • Secure Core multi-hop routing on paid plans

    Cons

    • Free plan allows only one device and fewer locations
    • Full price is high without a long commitment
    • Some streaming and P2P features are paid only
    Visit Proton VPN Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Proton VPN a good TunnelBear alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, $0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan limits
    1 device, no data cap, no ads
    Checked Oct 25, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Devices on VPN Plus
    10
    Checked Oct 25, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes, apps open source and audited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Windscribe logo

    2. Windscribe

    Best for: Budget users who want a decent free plan or to pay only for the locations they use

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from TunnelBear

    Larger free allowance and more features, with a similarly playful style.

    Pros

    • Free plan with a monthly data allowance
    • Build-a-plan pricing per location
    • Customisable ad and tracker blocking

    Cons

    • Free plan has limited data and locations
    • Smaller network than the biggest providers
    • Interface style can feel cluttered
    Visit Windscribe Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Windscribe a good TunnelBear alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Pro monthly price
    $9/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro yearly price
    $69/year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Build A Plan
    $1 per location per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Server countries
    69+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop app licence
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Hotspot Shield logo

    3. Hotspot Shield

    Best for: Speed-focused users who want a free tier and a long refund window

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from TunnelBear

    Another beginner-friendly option with a free tier.

    Pros

    • Free tier without ads
    • 45-day money-back guarantee
    • Fast Hydra protocol

    Cons

    • Hydra protocol is proprietary
    • Past privacy controversies
    • Free tier limited to one device and fewer locations
    Visit Hotspot Shield Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Hotspot Shield a good TunnelBear alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Money-back guarantee
    45 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hotspotshield.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, 1 device
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hotspotshield.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium devices
    Up to 10
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hotspotshield.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocol
    Hydra (proprietary)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hotspotshield.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. ExpressVPN logo

    4. ExpressVPN

    Best for: Non-technical users who want reliable streaming and travel access with minimal setup

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from TunnelBear

    Equally simple apps with a much larger network and streaming support.

    Pros

    • Very simple apps on every platform
    • Servers in over a hundred countries
    • Open-source Lightway protocol and RAM-only servers

    Cons

    • More expensive than most rivals at renewal
    • Fewer advanced settings than power users may want
    • No free tier
    Visit ExpressVPN Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is ExpressVPN a good TunnelBear alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Starting price
    $2.99/month (Basic, 2-year plan)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026expressvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    30 days for new users
    Checked Oct 25, 2026expressvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Simultaneous devices
    10 (Basic plan)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026expressvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Server countries
    113
    Checked Oct 25, 2026expressvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    RAM-only servers
    Yes (TrustedServer)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026expressvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lightway licence
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1) logo

    5. Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1)

    Best for: People who want free, effortless encryption on public Wi-Fi rather than location changes

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from TunnelBear

    Free with no data cap if you just want encrypted traffic on public Wi-Fi.

    Pros

    • Free with no data cap
    • Very fast thanks to Cloudflare's network
    • Almost no setup

    Cons

    • Cannot choose a server country
    • Does not hide your rough location or unblock streaming
    • Routes all traffic through one large company
    Visit Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1) Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1) a good TunnelBear alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026one.one.one.one(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid tier
    WARP+ with a larger network
    Checked Oct 25, 2026one.one.one.one(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026one.one.one.one(opens source in a new tab)

The best TunnelBear alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Proton VPN logo

Best TunnelBear alternative for most people

Proton VPN

Free tier with no data cap and open-source apps.

Windscribe logo

Best TunnelBear alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Windscribe

Larger free allowance and more features, with a similarly playful style.

Proton VPN logo

Best TunnelBear alternative for open source

Proton VPN

Free tier with no data cap and open-source apps.

Hotspot Shield logo

Best TunnelBear alternative for Mac

Hotspot Shield

Another beginner-friendly option with a free tier.

ExpressVPN logo

Best TunnelBear alternative for Windows

ExpressVPN

Equally simple apps with a much larger network and streaming support.

Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1) logo

Best TunnelBear alternative for Linux

Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1)

Free with no data cap if you just want encrypted traffic on public Wi-Fi.

Proton VPN logo

Best TunnelBear alternative for iPhone and Android

Proton VPN

Free tier with no data cap and open-source apps.

TunnelBear alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to TunnelBear?

Proton VPN ranks first right now. Free tier with no data cap and open-source apps. Windscribe and Hotspot Shield follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to TunnelBear?

Yes. Proton VPN (free plan + paid), Windscribe (free plan + paid), Hotspot Shield (free plan + paid) and Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1) (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to TunnelBear?

Yes: Proton VPN and Windscribe.

Which TunnelBear alternatives work on Linux?

Proton VPN, Windscribe, Hotspot Shield, ExpressVPN and Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1) run on Linux.

Why do people switch from TunnelBear?

The complaints we hear most: free plan's data allowance is small; no official Linux app; smaller network and weak streaming support.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces TunnelBear, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.