Cybersecurity · head to head
Proton Mail vs TunnelBear
TunnelBear
Cybersecurity
Consumer VPN with a limited free tier and a bear-themed, beginner-friendly app
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Proton Mail paid plan pricing not displayed on vendor site; TunnelBear free plan's data cap is small compared to competitors offering more generous free allowances.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Proton Mail and TunnelBear actually diverge.
| Attribute | Proton Mail | TunnelBear |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web | windows, mac, linux, ios, android |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
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 Proton Mail
Nothing recorded that TunnelBear does not also cover.
Only in TunnelBear
- Encrypted VPN tunnel
- Server location switching
- GhostBear obfuscation
- Browser extensions
- Teams account management
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Proton Mail
- Encrypted email communicationnot TunnelBear
- Privacy-focused email servicenot TunnelBear
- Family email protectionnot TunnelBear
TunnelBear
- Casual browsing protection on public Wi-Finot Proton Mail
- Occasional geo-unblocking with a light free allowancenot Proton Mail
- Bypassing network-level VPN blocking via obfuscationnot Proton Mail
- Managing VPN access for a small team with centralized billingnot Proton Mail
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Proton Mail
- Paid plan pricing not displayed on vendor site
- Free tier limited to 1 GB storage
- Free tier limited to single email address
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
Proton Mail
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Proton Mail review.
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 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.
Questions people ask
- Is Proton Mail or TunnelBear better?
- Neither clearly leads. Proton Mail starts at Free and TunnelBear at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Proton Mail or TunnelBear?
- Proton Mail starts at Free and TunnelBear at Free.
- Does Proton Mail or TunnelBear run on more platforms?
- Proton Mail runs on Web. TunnelBear runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- Can I use Proton Mail for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Proton Mail best used for?
- Proton Mail is most often used for encrypted email communication, privacy-focused email service, family email protection. Of those, encrypted email communication and privacy-focused email service are not what TunnelBear is typically brought in for.
- What can Proton Mail do that TunnelBear cannot?
- TunnelBear covers Encrypted VPN tunnel, Server location switching, GhostBear obfuscation, Browser extensions.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Proton Mail: Is there a free version of Proton Mail?
Yes, Proton Mail offers a free plan with 1 GB storage, 1 encrypted email address, and basic features like folders, labels, and filters.
SourceProton Mail: What does the Mail Plus plan include?
Mail Plus includes 15 GB storage, 10 encrypted email addresses, support for 1 custom domain, 10 hide-my-email aliases, priority support, and access to Proton Calendar.
SourceProton Mail: What is included in Proton Unlimited?
Proton Unlimited provides 500 GB storage, 15 email addresses, 3 custom domains, unlimited hide-my-email aliases, access to Mail, Calendar, VPN, Drive, and Pass, plus dedicated support.
SourceProton Mail: Does Proton Mail offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes, Proton Mail provides a 30-day money-back guarantee for paid plans.
SourceRelated pages
More on Proton Mail
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