VPN and Tor are very different animals, but both are privacy technologies with largely overlapping functionality. This means that it is possible to use both VPNs and Tor. In this guide, we will recommend the best VPNs for Tor and provide information and some useful tips on how to use VPNs on The Onion.
NordVPN for TorBrowser
NordVPN is my first choice for a Tor VPN. It is a big player in the industry and offers extremely fast speeds and a large global network of servers. It has a Tor-over-VPN option, which means traffic is automatically routed through the Tor network.
Security is top-notch, including a strict no-logging policy, military-grade encryption, and perfect forwarding secrecy. There’s also automatic WIFI protection, leak protection, and a kill switch (in all apps except Android). The latter can be set to apply only to certain apps. NordVPN offers a special list of obfuscated servers as well as a dual VPN option.
NordVPN desktop client is available for download for Windows, Linux and macOS operating systems, while the mobile app is also available for iOS and Android. Paid packages allow up to six simultaneous connections. This provider accepts a number of different cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple.
ExpressVPN for TorBrowser
ExpressVPN is another good option for Tor. It has its own onion page on the Tor network. This provides a secure, anonymous way to access ExpressVPN sites and download VPN apps, even if you’re in a country that censors VPNs.
ExpressVPN 256-bit encryption masks online traffic, so you’re safe and anonymous on all nodes of the Tor network, including the ingress and egress nodes. TrustedServer technology goes a step further, ensuring that all your servers are always loaded with the latest software. This also applies to its RAM-based servers, which erase all data stored on them every time they are rebooted. This means that ExpressVPN cannot save your data. There are many security protocols to choose from, including OpenVPN. It offers cutting-edge security features with minimal impact on speed.
It offers strict logging prohibitions, and if your VPN server connection is compromised, an automatic kill switch will intervene and terminate your Internet connection. This prevents accidental leaks, such as exposing your real IP to Tor’s entry node.
Choose from over 3,000 servers in 90 countries. If you’re traveling or working in another part of the world, you should always have a server nearby. You can use up to 5 connections at the same time, so you can protect all your devices without having to subscribe to multiple packages.
Take advantage of our 30-day money-back guarantee with a risk-free trial. If you have connection issues or other complications, don’t worry, 24/7 live chat support is always ready to help.
SurfsharkVPN for TorBrowser
Surfshark offers reliable access to Tor, making it a great option to enjoy complete anonymity while surfing. The provider offers an excellent service at a reasonable price. While the provider doesn’t offer any features for Tor, it does offer a “MultiHop” server option that doubles your Internet connection via two VPN servers to double the protection and anonymity.
Using Tor can significantly limit your browsing experience, so it’s important to choose a provider like Surfshark that offers fast download speeds.
These connections are protected by military-grade encryption, kill switches and DNS leak protection, as well as protection against ad blockers, malware, tracking and phishing. Your privacy is well protected by serverless logging policies and cryptocurrency payment options.
Surfshark offers apps for macOS, Windows, Amazon Fire TV, iOS, Android, and Linux device platforms. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also available, and the provider is compatible with many router brands and models.
Surfshark allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections with a single login ID.
CyberGhost VPN for TorBrowser
CyberGhost super-fast speeds, powerful features, and no-logging policy make it another good choice for users looking for a VPN for TOR. There are over 1,000 servers available for customers, each with different speeds. Cyberghost also has a strict no-logging policy, which means that they never collect your private internet data, so the data is never sold to advertisers or given to the authorities. The company encrypts all data with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption that uses a 2048-bit RSA key. Cyberghost only charges $2.90 per month when you sign up for their 2-year plan. The monthly plan costs $10.99, while a 6-month subscription costs $7.99 and an annual subscription costs $4.99. All purchased plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Private Internet AccessVPN for TOR Browser
Since your goal is to double your privacy when surfing the web, it only makes sense to pair your Tor browser with another VPN if you choose the best one on the market. With this in mind, Kape Technologies VPN service – Private Internet Access – takes the top spot.
Thanks to its encrypted connection, the product is extremely reliable, so you won’t be able to get within the reach of outside observers, not even your ISP.
Moreover, thanks to more than 3,400 servers worldwide, you can easily access almost anything you want. This not only prevents geolocation, but also means you’ll never have to deal with region-specific content.
Besides, your Internet connection speed won’t be hindered at all when you browse privately, even with a browser like Tor.
What does TOR Browser do?
The team behind Tor (short for The Onion Router) provides free open-source software that lets you surf the web anonymously. The Tor network was originally developed with the help of the US Navy. The network was developed to allow the U.S. Navy and other military organizations to communicate anonymously over the Internet. Today, Tor focuses on its browser and the development of a number of other privacy tools, which we will briefly discuss later.
As mentioned earlier, the Tor browser is an important enabler of online privacy and, to some extent, security. The browser uses the large worldwide network of servers that make up the Tor network. When you use the browser, your data passes through various Tor servers (or “nodes”). Traffic is heavily encrypted and slowly decrypted layer by layer at different nodes. This means that anyone trying to identify you based on your online traffic will only stumble upon the last server or “exit node” that your traffic passes through. In other words, this browser makes it impossible, or at least very difficult, to identify the user.
How to use TOR Browser VPN
There are two ways to use Tor’s VPN. The first is Tor over VPN, which is the easiest and most secure method. The second option is VPN over Tor. While this is not the easiest method, it is almost as secure and therefore a viable option.
Tor Over VPN
Anyone can set up Tor over a VPN. Simply connect to the VPN and open the Tor browser. All outgoing internet traffic is then encrypted by Tor and the VPN server. This makes it doubly difficult for others to detect your activity.
VPN Over Tor
The first step to setting up a VPN on Tor is to open the Tor browser. Only after this is done do you activate the VPN and then connect to the server.
In case you’re wondering: The difference with a VPN on Tor is that your outgoing traffic is encrypted and then routed through the Tor network to your VPN server. Therefore, you don’t get the same level of protection. However, you don’t have to worry because many experts agree that besides a VPN, a VPN over Tor is also a very secure way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a free VPN on Tor?
Yes, but you might do more harm than good with it. Technically, there is nothing stopping you from logging into a free VPN service and launching the Tor browser. Be careful with free VPNs. They may look tempting on the surface, but in reality they often use inadequate encryption, are not secure, force users to queue connections, and impose data or bandwidth limits on users. They usually have fewer servers and IP addresses, which makes it easier to track individual users. Many inject ads and tracking cookies into users browsers, sacrificing their privacy rather than improving it.
Is Tor a free VPN?
Tor is free, but it is not a VPN. Tor and VPN are both encrypted proxies, but there are some fundamental differences.
Standard Tor connections are multi-encrypted and traverse multiple voluntary Tor network nodes in random order tor can also be used to access .onion sites on the dark web.
A standard VPN encrypts the connection once and routes it through a single server. This server is operated by the VPN company and the user has more control over the location of the server. It cannot be used to access Onion sites on the dark web.
If I use Tor, will I be tracked?
Tor has its own weaknesses and is not immune to attacks that can be used to track users. In most of these attacks, an exit node is compromised – the last relay in a series of servers.
However, such attacks are usually costly, targeted, and successful only against well-armed adversaries. tor’s anonymity and security are more than sufficient for the vast majority of users.
Please Note: That users can also compromise their privacy if they are not careful. For example, if you use your real email address and password to log in to a website, Tor won’t be able to prevent tracking.
What is the best free VPN for deep web browsing?
Don’t rely on free VPNs for your privacy. If you don’t want to spend money, it’s best to try a paid VPN and cancel it before the warranty expires.
Is it legal to use Tor’s VPN?
Yes, in the vast majority of countries it is perfectly legal to use a VPN, Tor, or both together. If you’re not sure what the rules are where you live, check out our article on where it’s illegal to use a VPN.
Is Tor safe?
Tor is widely considered to be a secure tool. It uses strong multi-layered encryption and eliminates many of the vulnerabilities found in other browsers, such as scripting and tracking cookies. While it is conceivable that a well-funded adversary could launch a relevant attack to identify Tor users, the vast majority of users are not at risk.
Should I use Tor for all my browsing?
You can try, but you probably won’t do a very good job. Many sites directly block connections from Tor exit nodes. Blocking Tor scripts and deleting cookies will cause many sites to stop working or work awkwardly. You may have to deal with more Captcha. On top of that, Tor connections are slow, so websites take a long time to load and videos often stop buffering.
Can I use Tor on iOS and Android?
For Android devices, there is the official Tor browser from the Google Play Store. You can also try a third-party provider, but it’s been around for much longer.
There is only one third-party option for iOS users, the Onion browser. This is an open-source browser powered by the Tor project. However, it probably suffers from the same flaws that prevented the official Tor browser from being released on iOS.
Summary
Based on our research, we recommend the five VPNs mentioned above for Tor. These VPN services are proven to be able to unblock streaming services and offer excellent security. These VPN services ensure that your connection is secure and even hide the fact that you are using the Tor network from your ISP. If you are still unsure about which VPN to use for Tor, we recommend NordVPN, which has the Tor Onion over VPN feature.
AWSM TIPS
Fritz!Box, stylised as FRITZ!Box, is a product line of gateway devices for home users manufactured by AVM GmbH in Germany. In 2010, the product line had an estimated market share of 68% in the German market for digital subscriber line (DSL) equipment. Check out Fritz!Box, to install VPN in router.
