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Norton 360 vs TunnelBear

Norton 360 logo

Norton 360

Software

Powerful protection against evolving threats

From
$36/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TunnelBear logo

TunnelBear

Software

Consumer VPN with a limited free tier and a bear-themed, beginner-friendly app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TunnelBear has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Norton 360 device limit of 3 devices on Standard plan; higher tiers needed for family with multiple devices; TunnelBear free plan's data cap is small compared to competitors offering more generous free allowances.
  • They diverge on capability: Norton 360 covers Real-time threat protection, TunnelBear covers Encrypted VPN tunnel.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Norton 360 and TunnelBear actually diverge.

Attributes where Norton 360 and TunnelBear differ
AttributeNorton 360TunnelBear
Starting price$36/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSwindows, mac, linux, ios, android
Founded1982Unknown

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

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 Norton 360

  • Real-time threat protection
  • Ransomware protection
  • Firewall
  • Password Manager
  • Secure VPN
  • Cloud backup
  • Dark Web Monitoring
  • Parental Controls

Only in TunnelBear

  • Encrypted VPN tunnel
  • Server location switching
  • GhostBear obfuscation
  • Teams account management

Both cover

  • Browser extensions

What people use each for

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

Norton 360

  • Antivirusnot TunnelBear
  • Internet Securitynot TunnelBear
  • Identity Protectionnot TunnelBear

TunnelBear

  • Casual browsing protection on public Wi-Finot Norton 360
  • Occasional geo-unblocking with a light free allowancenot Norton 360
  • Bypassing network-level VPN blocking via obfuscationnot Norton 360
  • Managing VPN access for a small team with centralized billingnot Norton 360

Where each one falls short

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

Norton 360

  • Device limit of 3 devices on Standard plan; higher tiers needed for family with multiple devices
  • Parental controls unavailable on Standard plan, requiring purchase of separate Norton Family app
  • No HIPAA compliance or BAA support for regulated industries
  • Exploit Prevention works only on Windows devices, not available for macOS
  • Limited account recovery options if master password is forgotten

TunnelBear

  • Free plan's data cap is small compared to competitors offering more generous free allowances.
  • Lacks advanced features like dedicated IP addresses or split-tunneling controls found in some rival VPNs.
  • Server network is smaller than large competitors like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
  • No standalone router-level app, limiting whole-network protection options.

Pricing, plan by plan

Norton 360

$36/year
  • Norton 360 Standard$36/year
    • Antivirus and malware protection
    • VPN
    • Dark web monitoring
  • Norton 360 Deluxe$49.99/year
    • All Standard features
    • 50 GB cloud backup
    • Parental controls
  • Norton 360 Premium$54.99/year
    • All Deluxe features
    • 250 GB cloud backup
    • LifeLock identity theft protection

TunnelBear

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2GB of data per month
    • Access to VPN servers
    • Unlimited devices
  • Unlimited$9.99/month
    • Unlimited monthly data
    • All server locations
    • Cheaper on annual/3-year billing
  • Teams$undefined/month
    • Unlimited data
    • 5 connected devices per user
    • Dedicated account manager

Which should you pick?

Choose Norton 360 if

  • You need real-time threat protection.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
  • You also want ransomware protection.
Norton 360 review

Choose TunnelBear if

  • You need encrypted vpn tunnel.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
  • You also want server location switching.
TunnelBear review

Questions people ask

Is Norton 360 or TunnelBear better?
Neither clearly leads. Norton 360 starts at $36/year and TunnelBear at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Norton 360 or TunnelBear?
TunnelBear has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $36/year for Norton 360 and Free for TunnelBear.
Does Norton 360 or TunnelBear run on more platforms?
Norton 360 runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS. TunnelBear runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
Can I use TunnelBear for free?
Yes. TunnelBear has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Norton 360 starts at $36/year.
What is Norton 360 best used for?
Norton 360 is most often used for antivirus, internet security, identity protection. Of those, antivirus and internet security are not what TunnelBear is typically brought in for.
What can Norton 360 do that TunnelBear cannot?
Norton 360 covers Real-time threat protection, Ransomware protection, Firewall, Password Manager. TunnelBear covers Encrypted VPN tunnel, Server location switching, GhostBear obfuscation, Teams account management. Both handle Browser extensions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Norton 360: What operating systems does Norton 360 Standard support?

Windows 7 SP1 through Windows 11, macOS 10.13 and later, Android 10.0 or later, and current plus two previous iOS versions. Not all features are available on all platforms.

Source
Norton 360: How much cloud backup storage is included in Norton 360 Standard?

2 GB of cloud backup storage is included with Norton 360 Standard. Higher tiers offer 50 GB (Deluxe) and 250 GB (Premium).

Source
Norton 360: Does Norton 360 include a VPN?

Yes. All Norton 360 plans include a VPN for secure browsing. The VPN is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.

Source
Norton 360: Is Norton 360 HIPAA compliant?

No. Norton 360 does not offer HIPAA compliance or Business Associate Agreements (BAA), making it unsuitable for healthcare organizations handling protected health information (PHI).

Source
Norton 360: What is the renewal price after the first year?

First year pricing is discounted. Standard renews at 94.99 USD per year, Deluxe at 119.99 USD per year. This represents a 140% increase over Deluxe's first-year rate of 49.99 USD.

Source
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