Tor browser lies in the grey area. Whenever you access the Onion browser, your ISP will throttle your bandwidth because of the browser’s connection with the Dark web. Therefore, you should use a VPN first to encrypt your activity and then access the private browser.
After thorough research and testing, below are the seven best VPNs for Tor to use in 2024:
- NordVPN: The VPN offers dedicated Tor browser servers and an Onion over VPN feature that ensures a safe browsing experience.
- ExpressVPN: Strong encryption and advanced features keep you safe on the Tor browser.
- CyberGhost: It utilizes strong AES-256-bit encryption, Smart Rules, a dedicated IP address, and No Spy servers that guarantee maximum security on the Tor browser.
- Surfshark: A privacy-focused VPN with multiple features, like camouflage and no borders mode, are great to use while accessing the Tor browser.
- Proton VPN: It uses Tor nodes that establish a new route on every VPN session and has added an anti-censorship protocol to ensure safe and unrestricted access.
- VyprVPN: This VPN uses an Anonabox router that connects users to the Tor browser.
- Private Internet Access (PIA): A reputable VPN service with an extensive server network that has stable and decent speeds.
To know more about how each Tor browser VPN read their short reviews in the latter part of this guide.
The Tor browser is a privacy-focused browser that ensures user anonymity. It helps users to bypass internet censorship, browse the web anonymously, and access the dark web. However, while it does enable safety, over time, the Tor browser has become vulnerable to various security loopholes, which is why it is crucial to use it with the best VPN for Tor.
Nevertheless, Tor is a great security tool, as it’s better than most other private browsers. Its security becomes tenfold when you mitigate these issues by using it with a legitimate VPN provider. Using a VPN with the Tor browser bolsters your online anonymity and privacy. However, finding a good Tor browser VPN is challenging unless you know what to look for.
Why is using a VPN essential on the Tor browser?
Tor browser allows users to surf the internet safely, so people use it for anonymous communications and to bypass internet censorship. It uses partial encryption and many useful security features and settings that make its online activities private.
Tor is relatively safe to use but has developed vulnerabilities with time, and researchers have found flaws. In addition, the Tor browser hides your IP address while hopping your internet traffic into multiple nodes. Though this ensures anonymity, it still poses data privacy issues. ISP can see that you’re using the Tor network and can block your IP address as Tor allows access to the dark web.
Moreover, using the Tor browser also makes you prone to ISP throttling. Since Tor offers layered encryption, this also results in slow browsing speed and hence is incapable of protecting the data at the Tor exit nodes. Thus, a VPN provider is the best way to combat all these issues.
Here’s how using the best Tor browser VPN benefits the users:
- A VPN hides the actual IP address by connecting to a remote VPN server, ensuring greater anonymity.
- You can enjoy fast and stable internet speed by connecting to the fastest VPN servers. In addition, some VPNs offer particular protocols or features, which is a plus point and boosts connection speed.
- The strong VPN encryption helps in preventing the Tor exit nodes’ vulnerabilities.
- The VPN’s Tor-centric features allow safe access to the Tor browser and strengthen digital privacy.
- Because of robust encryption, ISPs, government authorities, or hackers won’t be able to monitor and track your online behavior. Hence, you can do whatever you want while using the Tor browser.
Thus, use a secure and trusted VPN provider for better privacy and security on the Tor browser.
Features to consider while selecting the best Tor browser VPNs
While accessing the Tor browser, you need excellent online protection and security. Therefore, you can’t use any random VPN. It’s essential to focus on the privacy and security aspects of a VPN to ensure that you remain safe.
To help you out, here are the VPN selection criteria that you must follow while picking up the best VPN for the Tor browser:
- Always use a VPN that’s compatible with the Tor browser. In addition, it must provide Tor-specific features that ensure ultimate privacy and security over the Onion network.
- Tor browser already offers slow speed because it routes the traffic in three nodes. Therefore, select a VPN that provides fast speed across all the servers.
- To ensure internet traffic passes securely through the Tor nodes, use a VPN with strong encryption like AES-256.
- Tor browser often provides anonymity but fails to meet privacy standards. Therefore, the VPN must be private and follows a strict no-log policy.
- Look for features like DNS, IP, and WebRTC leak protection that guarantee your VPN is not leaking your data.
- To enhance your digital security on the Tor browser, look for extra features like a kill switch, camouflage mode, or a dedicated IP address. These features maintain privacy and add more value to your overall browsing experience.
Pay attention to all of the features mentioned above. If you don’t, it increases the chance of using an unreliable VPN on the Tor browser and risks your digital privacy.
Detailed overview of the best VPNs for Tor browser
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is the best VPN for the Tor browser; all credit goes to its solid security, fastest connection speed, and Tor-centric features. The VPN offers an impressive Tor over VPN feature that hides the IP address at the Tor entry nodes and protects the users from ISP monitoring and hackers looking for the chance to invade your privacy.
It offers dedicated Tor browser servers, making NordVPN a great VPN. Connecting to these specialized servers sends all the data traffic to the VPN servers and then redirects it via the Tor network. It doesn’t require users to download the Tor browser separately, a rare feature that other VPN providers lack. All these dedicated servers ensure the fastest connection speed.
On top of that, NordVPN uses the NordLynx protocol, arguably the best in the industry, further boosting internet speed.
Moreover, NordVPN has incredible security and privacy-centric features that are excellent to pair with when using the Tor browser. Some of these features are:
- Obfuscation mode
- Double VPN
- Multi-factor authentication
- Dedicated IP address
What’s more impressive about NordVPN is that it also offers a dark web monitoring feature. It scans for leaked or compromised NordVPN account credentials on the dark web. Therefore, it protects the accounts associated with the VPN so users can take appropriate security steps immediately. Apart from this, the VPN service also includes a handful of core VPN features like a kill switch and split tunneling features that further maintain security on the Tor browser.
Regarding security and privacy, NordVPN is the users’ most preferred choice. It deploys the industry’s highest encryption standards and follows a verified no-log policy that makes it highly secure and capable of safeguarding users’ online privacy within the Onion network.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the safest VPN provider for the Onion browser. It offers hidden Onion services that provide excellent privacy on the Tor browser and ensure that ISPs or other prying eyes don’t monitor users’ online activities. This feature enables users to circumvent censorship and prevent the Tor exit nodes’ vulnerability. By using the hidden Tor services, users can also access the dark web and sign up for the best dark web news sites to read news stories unavailable on the surface web.
ExpressVPN is a feature-packed VPN provider that offers several features for a safe and secure browsing experience on the Tor browser. Below are some of the valuable features that ExpressVPN comes with:
- Trusted-Server technology
- Private DNS
- Stealth mode
- Split tunneling
ExpressVPN uses virtually uncrackable encryption standards and secure tunneling protocols to protect users’ data from all prying eyes. It deploys its proprietary Lightway protocol, optimized for maximum security and speed. The VPN provides the fastest connection speed across all servers, making it the fastest Tor browser VPN.
Also, while choosing the ExpressVPN server, users can perform a speed test to determin if the servers will give the best connection speeds.
The VPN service provider thrives on respecting users’ online privacy. They follow a no-log policy and use volatile memory that permanently deletes the users’ data from their servers after every session.
3. CyberGhost
CyberGhost ranks as one of the best VPN service providers for the Onion browser. It uses AES-256-bit encryption, a 4096-bit RSA key, and an SHA-256 authentication key to encrypt data traffic. With such advanced encryption, anyone monitoring Tor’s entry nodes will only see the encrypted traffic.
The VPN provider offers an extensive server network across the globe that ensures consistently fast browsing speed. It also means that CyberGhost VPN prevents ISP throttling, which is another reason why users prefer using it. Though CyberGhost VPN doesn’t offer any Tor-specific features, it has many superb features that guarantee protection while using the Tor browser. Some of the CyberGhost’s distinctive features include:
- NoSpy servers
- Smart Play
- Dedicated IP address
The NoSpy servers are the most impressive CyberGhost feature on the Tor browser. These self-owned CyberGhost servers ensure lightning-fast speeds and ultimate privacy and security. With the dedicated IP address, you get a static IP address that’s untraceable and keeps all the Tor-related activities private. Also, connecting to the Smart Play feature quickly enables choosing a specific server within a country and enhances the Tor browsing experience.
Besides this, CyberGhost VPN is a private VPN provider that follows a strict no-log policy and prevents keeping any users’ data.
4. Surfshark
Surfshark VPN is another great VPN provider for the Tor browser that offers a Tor over VPN feature. It allows users to access the Tor browser anonymously and ensure no one can track their online activities. In addition, the VPN also offers the best Tor websites that enable users to access the dark web safely.
The VPN provider has several valuable features that make it a great pick on the Tor browser. Some of these features are as follows:
- Multihop
- Bypasser
- Two-Factor Authentication
- Camouflage mode
- No Borders mode
The Camouflage and No Borders modes work as obfuscation technology and greatly help access the Tor browser. The Camouflage mode hides the VPN traces by disguising the VPN traffic as regular internet traffic. At the same time, the No Borders mode allows users to use Surfshark VPN in restrictive regions.
Nevertheless, all these features help users bypass internet censorship and restrictions.
The Virtual Private Network also uses a kill switch feature that prevents IP address leaks when the VPN connection malfunctions. Besides this, the VPN safeguards the data on the Tor network by using top-notch encryption and tunneling protocols. It uses the modern WireGuard protocol, which is best suited for increased security and speed. The overall speed of Surfshark VPN is also stable and won’t cause any connectivity issues.
Moreover, Surfshark’s verified no-log policy makes it a reliable Tor browser VPN. It doesn’t keep any information, including the user’s IP address and browsing history, thus guaranteeing a private browsing experience.
5. Proton VPN
Proton VPN is another excellent VPN for the Onion browser that you can consider using. It has the Tor over VPN feature like other top VPN providers. It also offers specialized Tor nodes that establish a new route upon every VPN connection and ensure greater anonymity.
In addition, the VPN provider offers various features that bolster security and privacy on the Tor network. Here are the names of the security and privacy-focused features that Proton VPN offers:
- Full-disk encryption
- Perfect Forward Secrecy
- Kill switch
- Split tunneling
- Alternate Routing Technology
Additionally, the VPN recently launched a Stealth protocol that further enhances the Tor users’ experience. It is a unique protocol that evades firewalls and censorship, ensuring that everyone across the globe can access the Tor browser. Besides, it offers reliable, consistent, and fast browsing speed on the Tor browser. You can also enable the VPN accelerator feature that maximizes VPN speed and promises no throttling and connection lags.
Apart from this, Proton VPN promises to provide users with the highest security and privacy. It protects the users’ Tor traffic using military-grade AES-256-bit encryption or ChaCha20, making it impossible for snooping eyes to monitor and track your activities.
Proton VPN’s no-log policy also makes it an excellent option to use with the Tor browser. It prevents collecting data or browsing logs and has undergone an independent log audit process to prove it is safe to use along with the Tor browser.
6. VyprVPN
VyprVPN is a less popular yet secure VPN provider for accessing the Onion network. It uses an Anonabox that enables users to connect to the Tor browser from setups localized to the router. This privacy-focused router is powered by modified OpenWRT firmware.
As soon as Anonabox connects with VyprVPN, it wholly encrypts internet traffic, including location and activities. The best thing about Anonabox is that it allows users to access blocked sites, thus making it a reliable VPN on the Tor browser.
It uses the Chameleon protocol, which works on obfuscation mechanisms and helps bypass internet censorship. Hence, regardless of your restrictive regime, use VyprVPN and enjoy safe and secure access to the Tor browser. The VPN speed is not very impressive, but this protocol guarantees stable internet speed.
Unlike other top-tier VPN providers, VyprVPN isn’t feature-enriched but includes all the necessary features that offer excellent security and privacy on the Tor browser. Some of the features that VyprVPN offers include:
- Kill switch
- NAT Firewall
- Connection Per App
- VyprDNS
The VPN provider uses the highest and uncrackable encryption to protect most data traffic from ISPs and other spying eyes. It is also a private VPN that doesn’t record or share users’ IP addresses, connection timestamps, or browsing histories. Plus, it has undergone a log audit process, which concludes that it is safe to use.
7. Private Internet Access (PIA)
PIA has over 35,000 servers spread across 90 countries globally. It is ideal for unblocking popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and HBO Max. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, to test it risk-free.
The VPN is suitable for using Tor because it offers multiple protocols like OpenVPN and Shadowsocks, which use the same HTTPS port to help bypass any censorship. It also helps mask your identity to keep you completely anonymous while using the Tor browser.
PIA employs robust, customizable encryption of AES 128-bit or AES 256-bit and 4096-RSA keys to enhance your security by encrypting your web traffic. Also, the solid encryption prevents anyone from tracking Tor’s entry nodes and can only see your encrypted web traffic. The VPN follows a strict no-logs policy, making it a good choice with the Tor browser.
It does not store or collect your information, like data logs, bandwidth usage, browsing history, or IP address. The company provides transparency reports that detail all data requests received from authorities.
How do we test VPNs for Tor?
We only recommend VPN services that are safe, encrypt your data, are malware-free, and do not collect or leak any of your data. Below are the main factors that we consider when testing the best VPNs to use for Tor.
- Privacy: We select VPNs with a zero-logs policy to ensure your online activities are not leaked. They are also based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions, allowing you to use the Tor browser anonymously.
- Security: VPN providers must offer at least IPV6 leak protection, AES-256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and DNS to be included in our top list. The VPNs also have monitoring blockers and masking features to enable you to access Tor from any location without being identified.
- Unblocking ability: We recommend VPNs that can unblock geo-restricted content abroad from popular platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. This means they are also favorable for unblocking Tor in restricted locations.
- Speed: The Tor browser is relatively slow because it routes web traffic through several nodes. Our top VPNs have fast local speeds that only experience a minimal drop down from the average rate.
- Accessibility: Our best VPNs are user-friendly, with apps for the most common operating systems. They also include additional features like knowledgeable 24/7 customer support, unlimited connections, and VPN over Tor servers for a seamless browsing experience.
How to use Tor with a VPN
If you already have the Tor browser installed on your device, follow the steps below:
- Subscribe to a top-notch VPN service like NordVPN.
- Download and install the VPN app.
- Open the VPN app and connect to a server.
- Launch the Tor Browser.
- Start Browsing!
In this case, your web traffic is routed initially via the VPN server and then via the Tor network. This means that your data travels through 2 phases before leaving your gadget, making it difficult for your ISP to see that you are using Tor.
Is it recommended to use a free VPN with the Tor browser?
You can use a free VPN provider with the Tor browser, but it’s not recommended. While free VPN providers might look tempting, they do more harm than good. Most lack the core and advanced Tor-centric and security-enhancing features necessary to increase security while browsing the internet via the Tor network.
Moreover, they have a limited server network, leading to slow browsing speed and allowing ISP to track users’ activities. In addition, they don’t follow a zero-logging policy and often log and share users’ data without their consent. Therefore, instead of using any free provider, it’s better to use a VPN with free-trial versions like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
VPNs that Tor users should avoid
Some VPN providers are unreliable because they log your data and may compromise your security when using Tor to access the dark web. So, you should avoid using the following VPN services when accessing the Tor browser.
- HideMyAss: It is an England-based VPN service with poor logging policies, which led to the arrest of a few users after the company shared their data with authorities. Also, the UK recently passed more invasive data collection laws. Therefore, you should avoid using this VPN to maintain your privacy and anonymity while using the Tor browser.
- Hotspot Shield: It is not a suitable VPN for Tor because it logs users’ data and sells information to third parties for profit. It also logs metadata such as location, IP address, domain names, bandwidth usage, and timestamps. This means that Hotspot Shield invades your online privacy and undermines your security, making it unfavorable to use with the Tor browser.
- PureVPN: This China-based VPN is not the safest because one of its users was recently apprehended on allegations of being a cybercriminal. This individual tried to conceal his identity using PureVPN, but the provider shared his logs with the authorities, leading to his arrest. Although the VPN recently updated the zero-logs policy, you should avoid the VPN to maintain safety and anonymity.
VPN over Tor vs. Tor over VPN – Which is better
Security experts recommend using a reliable VPN provider to maintain privacy over the Tor browser. There are two ways to use a VPN on the Onion network; here’s how each method works:
Tor over VPN
You can use Tor over VPN by connecting to a VPN first and accessing the internet via the Tor browser. This method doesn’t require technical assistance and can easily be understood by non-tech-savvy users. In this method, the entire internet connection is encrypted, making it impossible for the ISP to know you’re using the Tor network.
In addition, it prevents prying eyes from seeing the Tor entry nodes, making you anonymous on the Onion network. However, this method has some drawbacks. As you connect to the VPN first, this won’t protect the internet traffic from malicious exit nodes. Besides this, some websites can block your access because they have seen the Tor traffic.
VPN over Tor
Using a VPN over Tor is another way to use a VPN with the Tor browser. Under this method, you first connect to the Tor browser and then to the VPN, meaning the traffic is not protected at the entry nodes. As a result, the ISPs or other surveillance eyes know that you’re connected to the Tor browser, which is a significant drawback. Also, it doesn’t offer any option to connect to the remote .onion sites. Besides this, it requires configuration on the VPN server, which is tricky; only some know about it.
However, if your prime concern is avoiding Tor exit node vulnerabilities and accessing websites blocking Tor traffic, use this method.
There’s a long debate about using VPN over Tor or Tor over VPN. However, from the above analysis, it’s clear that Tor over VPN is more secure and reliable. It increases privacy, while VPN over Tor guarantees maximum security. However, since the primary purpose of using a VPN on the Tor browser is to boost privacy, you should always opt to use Tor over VPN.
What are end-to-end timing (e2e) attacks?
It is a method used to de-anonymize VPN and Tor users by linking the time they were connected to the time of their anonymous online conduct. Executing an end-to-end timing attack against a Tor user can be challenging for almost everyone except the NSA, who is suspected of running a significant percentage of the global Tor exit nodes.
Fortunately, if an e2e attack is made against you while accessing Tor, a reliable VPN service like NordVPN will offer an extra layer of security.
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About the Author
Rebecca James is an IT consultant with forward thinking approach toward developing IT infrastructures of SMEs. She writes to engage with individuals and raise awareness of digital security, privacy, and better IT infrastructure.
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