Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear vs ProtonVPN

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ProtonVPN logo

ProtonVPN

Security & Cybersecurity

High-speed Swiss VPN that safeguards your privacy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ProtonVPN has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bear built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client; ProtonVPN free plan limited to one device at a time

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and ProtonVPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and ProtonVPN differ
AttributeBearProtonVPN
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
CategoryProductivitySecurity & Cybersecurity
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bear

Nothing recorded that ProtonVPN does not also cover.

Only in ProtonVPN

  • No-logs policy
  • Secure Core
  • Kill Switch
  • DNS leak protection
  • Tor over VPN
  • Split tunneling
  • NetShield ad-blocker
  • VPN Accelerator

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bear

No use cases recorded yet. See the Bear review.

ProtonVPN

  • Privacy-focused browsing without subscription costnot Bear
  • Multi-device protection with Plus plan supporting 10 devicesnot Bear
  • Integrated access to Proton email and cloud services via Unlimited plannot Bear

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bear

  • Built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client
  • Free tier is limited to 3 themes, 1 app icon and restricted export formats; iCloud sync requires Bear Pro
  • Bear Pro is $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year after a 7 day free trial

ProtonVPN

  • Free plan limited to one device at a time
  • Free plan restricted to 10 countries with random selection
  • Pricing amounts not clearly published; shown as variable

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bear review.

ProtonVPN

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ProtonVPN review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

Nothing in the data separates Bear from ProtonVPN on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Bear review

Choose ProtonVPN if

  • You need no-logs policy.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want secure core.
ProtonVPN review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or ProtonVPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at On request and ProtonVPN at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or ProtonVPN?
ProtonVPN has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Bear and Free for ProtonVPN.
Does Bear or ProtonVPN run on more platforms?
Bear runs on Web. ProtonVPN runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Can I use ProtonVPN for free?
Yes. ProtonVPN has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bear starts at On request.
What can Bear do that ProtonVPN cannot?
ProtonVPN covers No-logs policy, Secure Core, Kill Switch, DNS leak protection.
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