The Tor browser is the ultimate privacy web browser that hides your IP address and protects your data through layers of encryption. Sure Tor browser can help you get past surveillance, allows anonymous browsing, and helps mitigate browser privacy issues such as browser fingerprinting.
However, all this browser privacy comes with several risks and security flaws, such as ISP throttling. So long story short, Tor is a great security tool, but it is best to understand and mitigate Tor security issues through a legitimate VPN. Since not many VPNs are compatible with Tor, finding the right one might be a hassle. But you can always use the following four best VPNs for Tor:
List Of VPNs That are Compatible With Tor
45-day money-back guarantee
$2.19/month
2 Months FREE
Secure up to 7 devices
9.6
30-day money-back guarantee
$3.49/month
Best For Streaming
Secure up to 6 devices
9.9
30-day money-back guarantee
$6.67/month
4096-bit DH key
Secure up to 5 devices
9.2
30-day money-back guarantee
$2.30/month
AES-256
Unlimited Users
9.6
30-day money-back guarantee
€4.99/month
Highest VPN speed
Secure up to 10 devices
8.8
These VPNs work exceptionally well with Tor and ensure robust privacy and security. They come integrated with Tor-related features that are user-friendly and secure.
Four Best VPNs for Tor Browser
Not all but, some VPN providers offer Tor over VPN features and allow you to browse the Tor browser safely. To save you from the struggle, below is the compilation of the four best VPNs for the Tor browser so, let’s review them:
1. NordVPN
NordVPN comes with an impressive onion over VPN feature that enables users to browse the Tor browser by maintaining their online privacy. With NordVPN’s compatibility with the Tor browser, you don’t have to worry about ISPs or network snoopers monitoring your activities. All thanks go to NordVPN’s strong encryption. It uses military-grade AES-256 bit encryption and tunneling protocols like OpenVPN and NordLynx to keep your data traffic protected on the Tor browser.
The NordLynx also ensures a stable internet connection. Moreover, NordVPN itself offers the fastest connection speed that helps in overcoming the speed throttling issues. The most impressive feature that makes NordVPN the best VPN for Tor is that you don’t need to download a particular browser to access the onion router. NordVPN comes with dedicated servers for the onion network. Your data traffic will first be encrypted and then routed to the Tor network by connecting to any of these specialized servers.
Apart from this, NordVPN further increases your online security by protecting against IP address leaks. It also uses various advanced privacy-focused features to bolster your digital privacy. Some of these features include:
- Kill switch
- Dedicated IP address
- Multi-factor Authentication
- CyberSec
NordVPN also offers a double VPN feature that adds an extra layer of encryption. But it isn’t recommended to use it with the Tor browser as it will slow down the speed. Another impressive feature that NordVPN offers is its no-log policy. The VPN doesn’t keep any of the users’ connections or data logs, which means you remain utterly private with NordVPN. It also proves these by twice undergoing the third-party log audit process.
You can use NordVPN on the Tor network by buying it anonymously. The VPN provider accepts payment in Bitcoins and can be purchased for $3.67/m.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN claims to be an ideal option to use while accessing the onion router. Its blazing fast connection speeds, extensive server network, and Tor onion sites make it the best VPN for the Tor browser. The VPN provider consists of more than 3000 servers in 94 countries, and all the servers guarantee fast and consistent connection speed, which helps bypass ISP throttling. When you connect to the Tor network, ExpressVPN first hides your IP address, encrypts your data traffic, and boosts your online privacy level.
To maintain your online security, ExpressVPN also protects against various VPN leaks and uses the industry’s highest encryption standard along with secure protocols like its Lightway protocol and OpenVPN. The VPN is truly private because it doesn’t log your IP address or other browsing history and has a verified log audit report. Besides this, ExpressVPN offers various impressive security and privacy-enhancing features like:
- Network lock
- Trusted server technology
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- Stealth Mode
All these features further boost your digital privacy on the Tor browser. Moreover, as the Tor browser’s exit nodes are the most sensitive part because the data goes unencrypted, the exit node can record your data and make it vulnerable to hacking and surveillance. The good news is that ExpressVPN has recently launched the hidden Tor onion services that allow the users to circumvent censorship and access websites like the dark web easily. By using these .onion sites, you can avoid using the exit node and enjoy greater online privacy.
ExpressVPN even allows you to pay via cryptocurrency and keep your identity hidden. Enjoy using ExpressVPN’s onion over Tor feature for just $8.23/m.
3. Surfshark VPN
Surfshark is another excellent choice to consider when it comes to using the Tor browser. Besides being compatible with the Tor browser, it also offers special Tor websites that help access the dark web. You can use the Surfshark VPN on the Tor browser without any doubt because it doesn’t compromise your security and privacy level at all costs. The VPN provider uses AES-256 bit encryption and WireGuard and OpenVPN tunneling protocol to safeguard your online activities from snooping eyes. It means that whatever you do on the Tor browsers remains hidden and inaccessible to online tracking and monitoring.
When it comes to speed, Surfshark VPN is no less. With a decent server network that’s spread in 65 c countries, it ensures reliable and consistent speed across all servers. It means that you won’t face any connectivity issues with Surfshark VPN. The VPN is feature-packed. It offers a wide range of privacy-enriched features, which, despite being relatively new, compete with other top VPN providers. Some of Surfshark’s impressive features include:
- Kill switch
- Dedicated IP address
- RAM-only servers
- Private DNS servers
- VPN leak protection
The VPN is a reliable and secure VPN to use. It’s because it belongs to a privacy-friendly jurisdiction of the British Virgin Island. Also, it exhibits a strict no-log policy that refrains from retaining the user’s logs. It has a verified log audit report to prove that the VPN is living to all its claims. To enjoy the benefits offered by Surfshark, buy it now for just $2.49 per month.
4. VyprVPN
VyprVPN is yet another best option to consider using on the Tor network. It offers an impressive privacy-boosting Anonabox router that enables the users to connect to the Tor network. You need to first connect to this firmware router and then connect to VyprVPN. As soon as you get connected, all your data traffic becomes encrypted and makes you secure on the Tor network. Besides this, VyprVPN uses solid encryption and tunneling protocols to keep users’ data protected while browsing the onion network. Like other service providers, VyprVPN also hides your IP address and ensures that by no means does your IP address or DNS requests get exposed. It uses several security-boosting features, including:
- Kill switch
- Dedicated IP address
- Connection per app
- Site blocker
Since VyprVPN comes with a small server network, it’s assumed that the speeds are slow and interrupt your browsing experience. But, there’s nothing like that. It offers a decent connection speed that doesn’t cause trouble while accessing the Tor network or other sites. Moreover, it is a secure and trustworthy VPN to use. Along with following a no-log policy, the VPN has also audited their log policy so users’ can trust them more.
If you want to use VyprVPN but don’t want to expose your identity while buying it, you can pay via bitcoins. It is pretty cheap in price, and you can get it at the lowest price for $1.67 per month.
Is Tor Browser Safe to Use?
In comparison to other browsers, Tor is generally safe to use. The browser allows anonymity and helps get past censorships, and, doesn’t steal your information. However, the browser has now been around for a considerable period, and during these years, it has developed flaws.
To start, anyone using the browser is vulnerable to ISP throttling issues due to the browser’s P2P activity. Apart from that, Tor’s mechanism also makes its users vulnerable to data privacy issues. The browser ensures anonymity by hiding your IP address and hopping your traffic through various nodes. And while that does ensure anonymity, these nodes are open-source servers, and anyone with the suitable means can intercept and spy through them. Along with that, hopping from node to node significantly reduces browser speeds.
Moreover, Tor is not the best source for protecting your data since it only covers the data within layers of encryption instead of encrypting it, and even these layers come off at the exit node. Therefore, from the exit node to the destination, user data goes on vulnerable to spying. To top it off, most of these exit nodes are known to be compromised and often infect users with malware.
Amidst this, using the Tor browser as a standalone is nothing less than hazardous. The best way to mitigate these risks and enjoy a private, anonymous, and secure online experience is to use Tor alongside a VPN.
How to Select the Best VPN for Tor Browser?
You need greater online protection while accessing the Tor network, so you can’t buy any random VPN and start using it on the onion network. The VPN provided should offer some Tor-centric features that make your access easier while retaining greater online protection. Besides this, you should look for other essential features that enhance your online security and privacy and ensure a safe and secure browsing experience.
Here are the essential factors that you need to consider while selecting the best VPN for the Tor browser:
- Tor-Centric Features: Besides checking For compatibility, do look for some Tor-centric features that ensure that you browse the Tor network anonymously and privately.
- Speed: The VPN you select should come with fast and consistent speed on both local and international servers. The Tor browser is already slow, so make sure that the VPN you use causes any such issue.
- Logging Policy: Choose a private VPN that follows a strict no-log policy. The VPN shouldn’t log or share your IP address, browsing history, or other sensitive data with the government or any third party. To check their claims on the logging policy, try to use a VPN with a verified log audit report.
- Strong Encryption: Do check the encryption the VPN provider is using to protect your data. Usually, VPNs that use AES-256 bit encryption are more reliable to use.
- Tunneling Protocols: Besides encryption, you need to choose a VPN that uses secure protocols for transferring the data. The protocols should maintain both web security and faster connection speed for a hassle-free experience.
- Extra Supported Features: To further increase your digital privacy, pick up a VPN that offers a range of both security and privacy features. These features include a kill switch, VPN leak protection, and a dedicated IP address.
Hopefully, now it would be easy to choose a VPN for the Tor browser.
How Can I Use a VPN With a Tor Browser?
It is evident that if you want to use the Tor browser with total online anonymity and privacy, then you need a VPN. A VPN is used for providing both anonymity and privacy to the users. Moreover, its data encryption feature makes it stand out against the Tor browser. When you decide to use the best VPN for the Tor browser so, you have two options:
Tor Over VPN
It is an easy and more reliable option to consider using. If you choose Tor over the VPN option, you first need to connect to a reliable VPN and access the Tor browser. By using this method, your data will first be routed and then goes to the Tor browser making you more anonymous and private over the web. No one can see your data or online activities but the websites can still block you from accessing the Tor browser. Moreover, the vulnerabilities in the Tor exit nodes can compromise your data. The best VPN for the Tor browser ensures that nothing such an issue ruins your browsing experience. So, nothing to worry about.
VPN Over Tor
It is a complex and less reliable method to connect to the onion network. You can only use this method if you’ve some assistance from the expert because the setup process is complex and challenging to do on your own. In this method, you first need to access the Tor browser and then connect to the VPN. By doing so, your ISP will get to know that you’re using the Tor browser and won’t make you utterly private over the web. Moreover, the Tor exit nodes can also view your IP address and give privacy invaders a chance to track you.
Hence, to have a top-notch level of privacy while browsing the Onion router, make sure that you go with the first option.
Why Use a VPN Along With the Tor Browser?
Despite being one of the most secure browsers, the Tor browser doesn’t provide the desired online protection to the users. The main issue with the Tor browser is that it doesn’t offer privacy and actual data encryption to the users. It’s because it provides layered encryption in which your IP address is routed through the three nodes multiple nodes and then leaves the exit node.
Because of layered encryption, when your data reaches the exit node, it becomes decrypted and can be tracked and hacked easily. This is where VPNs come into play. A VPN is an effective tool that completely encrypts your data traffic and enhances your online privacy. You should use VPN for Tor because:
- By connecting to the nearest fastest server, speeds up the connection and prevents ISP throttling.
- Because of data encryption, your ISP, government agencies, or hackers won’t intercept your data.
- It conceals your IP address and makes it difficult for any snooping eye to monitor and track your online activities.
- Unlike the Tor browser, a VPN doesn’t leak your IP address and enhances your digital privacy.
- It helps in preventing the Tor exit nodes’ risks and vulnerabilities.
Thus, to enjoy maximum online protection, you should use the best VPN for the Tor browser.
Is It Legal to Use a Tor Browser?
There’s nothing wrong with using the Tor browser. The onion router is legal to use, and it depends on how you’re using it and for what purposes. The Tor browser is associated with the dark web, famous for being the center for many illegal activities. Using the network for committing any such activities is illegal. But, if you use it to prevent strict censorship or you’re a journalist or whistleblower who wants to share some secret facts like what Guardian does, it is legal to use the Tor browser.
Can I Get Tracked Using Tor Browser?
Tor Browser doesn’t wholly encrypt your data traffic and thus, makes your data visible to anyone monitoring the exit nodes. It is easy to track you via your activities and puts your privacy at risk. Moreover, when you connect to the Tor browser, your ISP can see that you’re using the onion router, so, even then, they can track you. Once they track and learn that you’re using the Tor browser, they start throttling your connection, and as a result, you experience slow speeds. Even government agencies can track your activities over the Tor network without your consent. With the best VPN for the Tor browser, you can prevent tracking and anonymously access the Tor network.
Can I Use Tor Bridges Instead of a VPN?
A Tor bridge works like a proxy that helps to bypass the restrictions imposed by the network administrator. These bridges add a further layer of protection while you use the Tor network. It disguises your traffic to look like regular traffic and protects your online identity from exposure when using the Tor browser. There’s no major drawback of using a bridge except that you don’t have a complete list of Tor bridges. This might cause ISP to block your access while you use the Tor browser. Thus, for maximum online protection, it is recommended to use a VPN along the Tor bridges.
Final Thoughts
The Tor browser offers great benefits to the users, and online anonymity is the best among them. But, you don’t only need anonymity while you browse the internet. Unfortunately, Tor browse doesn’t guarantee privacy over the web. They provide layered encryption instead of completely encrypting the data until it reaches the final destination. This, along with other security risks that the Tor browser has, makes it unsecure to use. But, there’s a solution to every problem.
By using a combination of Tor and VPN, you can use the Tor browser safely without compromising your privacy. The best VPN for Tor offers solid encryption and uses other supported features to enhance your online privacy so, do consider using the above-recommended VPN provider and enjoy browsing on the onion network.
