hide.me vs TunnelBear
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
hide.me is a VPN service offering both a free plan and paid subscription tiers, positioned around a no-logs policy and features like split tunneling, multihop (routing traffic across multiple servers), and dedicated IP options. Its free plan allows one connection and access to a smaller set of locations with unlimited data, while paid plans unlock roughly 91 server locations and up to 10 simultaneous connections. Paid pricing runs from about $9.95/month on a 1-month plan down to roughly $2.69/month on a 26-month plan, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee and a stated no-price-hike policy after the first term. Apps are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS, plus browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox and support for some smart TVs and consoles.
TunnelBear is a virtual private network (VPN) that provides secure and private browsing. It is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to protect their online identity and data. With TunnelBear, users can browse the internet safely and securely, without worrying about hackers or snoopers accessing their personal information.
- Genuine free tier with unlimited data, unusual among VPN providers
- Long-term plans bring the price down to roughly $2.69/month
- Supports split tunneling and multihop, features not all budget VPNs offer
- Broad platform coverage including desktop, mobile, browser extensions, and some smart TVs/consoles
- Easy to use and setup
- Fast speeds for streaming and downloading
- Secure encryption to protect user data
- Unlimited data for premium users
- Free tier is limited to one connection and seven locations
- Longer commitment plans (12-26 months) are required to reach the lowest per-month price
- Fewer server locations than the largest VPN providers
- Limited free version features
- Some servers may be slow
- Not all servers are available for free users
- Limited customer support options
More alternatives & similar tools
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataTunnelBear is the easier‑to‑use, better‑supported option, while hide.me offers a more powerful free tier and advanced privacy features.
Key differences
- •hide.me provides a genuine unlimited‑data free tier; TunnelBear’s free version is limited.
- •hide.me includes split tunneling and multihop; TunnelBear does not.
- •TunnelBear emphasizes a simple UI and live‑chat/email support; hide.me’s support details are not provided.
- •hide.me advertises a no‑logs policy and optional dedicated IP; TunnelBear gives no privacy‑policy specifics.
- •TunnelBear is marketed to individuals and small teams; hide.me targets privacy‑conscious, budget‑minded users.
Pricing & value
hide.me’s free tier offers unlimited data, whereas TunnelBear’s free version is limited in features.
Ease of use / learning curve
TunnelBear is described as easy to set up with a user‑friendly interface; hide.me’s ease is not specified.
Features & depth
hide.me includes split tunneling, multihop, and optional dedicated IP; TunnelBear lacks these advanced features.
Support
TunnelBear offers email and live‑chat support; hide.me’s support options are not listed.
Security & privacy
hide.me explicitly states a no‑logs policy and offers multihop obfuscation; TunnelBear provides no such privacy details.
Choose hide.me if…
Privacy‑focused or power users needing split tunneling, multihop, and a truly unlimited free plan.
Choose TunnelBear if…
Users who want a straightforward, easy‑to‑install VPN with responsive support.
Common questions
Which VPN gives me unlimited data on the free plan?
hide.me offers unlimited data on its free tier; TunnelBear’s free tier is limited.
Do either of these VPNs support split tunneling?
Only hide.me lists split tunneling as a feature.
What support channels are available for each product?
TunnelBear provides email and live‑chat support; hide.me’s support channels are not specified.