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TunnelBear free gives you 2 GB of data a month, and since early 2026 it no longer lets free users choose a server. That is less than it used to be, but the service still has something most free VPNs lack: annual independent audits by Cure53 since 2017. Our page on TunnelBear vs Windscribe covers annual audits against a larger free plan.
This guide covers the allowance, the 2026 changes, the privacy picture and when the paid plan is worth it.
What TunnelBear Free Gives You
TunnelBear’s help centre says it raised the free allowance to 2 GB a month in February 2023. The allowance resets on the anniversary of the day you created your account, not on the first of the month. The old bonus data for tweets and referrals is gone.
TunnelBear free at 2 GB covers browsing and email on public Wi-Fi, but not video. An hour of streaming can use a large share of it, as our streaming guide notes. Our public Wi-Fi guide covers the lighter use.
TunnelBear Free Changes in 2026
TheBestVPN and The High Tech Society both report two changes from early 2026. Free users can no longer pick a server; the app assigns one. Split tunnelling also moved to the paid plan. Our split tunnelling guide explains what that feature does.
TunnelBear also runs a programme for people facing censorship, with up to about 10 GB, according to the same reports.
Privacy: Audits Yes, Jurisdiction Mixed
TunnelBear has published Cure53 audits every year since 2017, and our audit tracker lists them. McAfee has owned it since 2018. The company is based in Toronto, inside the Five Eyes alliance, with a US parent. Our VPN ownership map shows how that compares.
TunnelBear Free vs Proton VPN Free
Proton VPN’s free plan has no data limit, which is the biggest difference. Both now assign servers, so neither lets you choose a location for free. Our Proton VPN free plan guide covers Proton’s limits, and our Proton VPN review covers its audits. Our TunnelBear free alternatives page lists other options.
When TunnelBear Unlimited Makes Sense
TheBestVPN lists Unlimited at $3.33 a month on a three-year plan, $4 a month on a yearly plan and $9.99 month to month, with unlimited devices. However, TunnelBear has no standard money-back guarantee, as our TunnelBear refund guide explains. Our TunnelBear review and NordVPN vs TunnelBear page compare the paid plan.
Our Surfshark vs TunnelBear page adds another rival; NordVPN and Surfshark share an owner, Nord Security. If you stay on TunnelBear free, nothing renews or bills you.
| Provider | Renewal price | Per month | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $139.08/yr | ~$11.59 | Basic |
| Surfshark | ~$79/yr | ~$6.58 | Starter |
| ExpressVPN | $99.95/yr | ~$8.33 | Basic |
| CyberGhost | $56.94/yr | ~$4.75 | 2-year |
| PureVPN | $47.95/yr | ~$4.00 | Standard, 2-year (1-year renews $57.95) |
| IPVanish | $89.99/yr | ~$7.50 | Essential |
| Windscribe | ~$69/yr | ~$5.75 | Pro |
| Proton VPN | ~$83.88/yr | ~$6.99 | VPN Plus |
| Mullvad | ~$65/yr | ~$5.40 | flat, no tiers |
| Norton VPN | $79.99/yr | ~$6.67 | Standard |
| Hotspot Shield | ~$95.99/yr | ~$8.00 | Premium annual |
| Astrill | $300 every 2 yrs | ~$12.50 | 2-year, same at renewal |
How the Monthly Allowance Resets
TunnelBear’s help centre says the free allowance is 2 GB a month. It resets on the anniversary of the day you created the account, not on the first of the month. Earlier data bonuses were removed.
Track your own reset date if you rely on the free plan. Running out a few days before reset means waiting, not paying, unless you upgrade.
What 2 GB Covers
Two gigabytes covers browsing, email and messaging on public Wi-Fi for a typical month. It does not cover video streaming, which can use a gigabyte in an hour at standard quality. Large downloads and video calls eat the allowance quickly as well.
Use the free plan for what it suits: protecting logins on hotel or café networks. Our public Wi-Fi guide explains why those networks deserve a VPN. Our guide to TunnelBear and Disney Plus covers testers split, and what to try.
The 2026 Changes
TheBestVPN and The High Tech Society report that, from early 2026, free users no longer choose a server. TunnelBear assigns one automatically. Split tunnelling also became a paid feature. Free users who relied on picking a country lost that option. Our page on TunnelBear on Android covers the setup, split tunnelling by app and GhostBear.
TunnelBear’s anti-censorship programme still offers up to about 10 GB for people in restricted countries, according to the same sources. Our TunnelBear vs ZoogVPN comparison sets the two side by side.
Upgrading or Switching
TheBestVPN lists TunnelBear Unlimited at $3.33 a month on a three-year plan, $4 a month on one year and $9.99 monthly, with unlimited devices. TunnelBear’s refund rules are narrow: the 30-day guarantee covers only the first year of an annual plan bought directly, as our TunnelBear refund guide explains. We put the two side by side in our TunnelBear vs PrivadoVPN comparison.
Proton VPN’s free plan has no data cap, which suits people who outgrow 2 GB but do not want to pay. Our TunnelBear free alternatives page compares the options. For a head-to-head, see our TunnelBear vs FastestVPN comparison.
Privacy on the Free Plan
The free plan uses the same encryption as the paid one. TunnelBear has published annual Cure53 audits since 2017, our TunnelBear review notes, and that record covers free users too. The limits are data and server choice, not security. Our TunnelBear review covers the full picture. Our page on TunnelBear troubleshooting covers the data cap, protocol changes, GhostBear and platform limits.
How We Research
This page draws on TunnelBear’s help centre, reports from TheBestVPN, The High Tech Society and Top10VPN, and our own TunnelBear review. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 5 October 2026. Prices come from our earlier reviews and third-party sources. The main source we relied on is TunnelBear’s help centre. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
TunnelBear Free Plan FAQ
2 GB a month, according to TunnelBear’s help centre. It resets on your account’s anniversary date.
Not since early 2026, according to TheBestVPN and The High Tech Society. The app assigns one.
It shares the paid plan’s encryption and Cure53-audited policy. The owner is McAfee, and the company is in Canada, a Five Eyes country.
No. Reports say split tunnelling moved to the paid plan in 2026.
Proton VPN’s free plan has no data limit, and Top10VPN lists PrivadoVPN free at 10 GB.
The Verdict
TunnelBear free suits light, occasional use with an audited service behind it. With 2 GB and no server choice, anyone who needs more should look at Proton’s free plan or a paid VPN. Our page on TunnelBear on Mac covers the setup, the features and what the Mac app lacks.