Updated on: October 7, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for Tor browser in 2024:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : Allows Tor traffic on all servers, comes with industry-leading security features, has a strict no-logs policy that’s been independently audited and verified, maintains superfast speeds, and provides very user-friendly apps. Also covers each purchase with a 30-day guarantee.
Tor provides good privacy, but it can still leave you vulnerable to a number of online threats. When you use the Tor browser without a VPN, your internet service provider (ISP) can see that you’re using Tor and may be able to monitor your activity or throttle your connection. Plus, if your traffic goes through a Tor server that’s run by a cybercriminal, they could collect your IP address.
The best way to stay safe while using the Tor browser is to also use a VPN. This is an online app that encrypts your traffic, making it completely unreadable. What’s more, it also changes your IP address, replacing it with a new IP from one of its servers.
Unfortunately, it’s pretty hard to find a good VPN for the Tor browser. This is because many VPNs leak your online information or don’t offer industry-standard security features. In addition, some VPNs have speeds that are too slow to browse on Tor.
However, there are still some very good Tor VPNs out there. The ones on this list are all great picks, but I like ExpressVPN the most since it allows Tor traffic on all servers, has high-end security features, and is super fast. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Tor Browser
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Tor Browser
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for the Tor browser in 2024. It’s compatible with Tor traffic, provides very strong security and privacy features, and has very good speeds.
All ExpressVPN servers (located in 105 countries) support Tor traffic. This means you can first connect to the VPN before using the Tor browser to access the dark web. That way, your traffic is first secured by ExpressVPN. What’s more, the VPN also prevents Tor servers from seeing your real IP address.
ExpressVPN also has a dark web site that can be accessed through the Tor network, allowing you to install the VPN safely and privately. Plus, it enables you to purchase ExpressVPN if you’re in a country with heavy internet censorship.
The provider also provides excellent security for using the Tor browser. It has advanced security features, including full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy (changes the encryption key for each VPN session), and RAM-only servers, which wipe all data on every server reset. It also comes with an audited no-logs policy, an ad blocker, and Threat Manager, which blocks connections to malicious sites, including the ones on the dark web.
The VPN also offers superfast speeds on local and long-distance servers. This is particularly important when using the Tor browser because Tor is known for being slower than other networks. When I tested ExpressVPN with the Tor browser, most .onion links loaded in around 10 seconds, which is really good.
I also really like that ExpressVPN comes with a split-tunneling feature. This allows you to choose which apps use the VPN connection and which ones don’t. This feature allowed me to only send Tor browser traffic through the VPN, which improved my browsing speeds by about 10%.
The VPN’s apps are also user-friendly — it only takes 4 seconds at most to find and connect to a VPN server. What’s more, there’s Shortcuts, a feature that lets you create 1-click shortcuts for specific sites and apps. So you can use Shortcuts to set up a Tor browser shortcut, which provides you with instant access to the dark web after you connect to an ExpressVPN server.
ExpressVPN offers competitive pricing starting from $4.99 / month. It also backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for the Tor browser. All of its servers allow Tor traffic, and the provider also comes with industry-leading security and privacy features, very good speeds for surfing the dark web, and really intuitive apps. It also backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Customizable Apps With an Excellent Ad Blocker
Private Internet Access (PIA) has apps that offer tons of customization options, such as different levels of encryption, IP and app whitelisting, and automation rules — for example, you can configure it to automatically connect to a server when you connect to an unsecured Wi-Fi network. What’s more, the apps are very simple to navigate and provide helpful explanations for all settings. Also, the VPN allows unlimited connections, so everyone in your house can use it for the Tor browser.
PIA allows Tor traffic on servers in 91 countries and also has MACE, which is the best ad blocker on the market. When I tested MACE, it always got rid of annoying ads on .onion sites, and it also prevented me from visiting shady dark web sites.
The VPN also comes with advanced security features. Like ExpressVPN, it comes with full leak protection (I never saw a leak in my tests), RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy. In addition, the provider has a strict no-logs policy that has been verified by an independent security audit and in several court documents.
Also, I love how the VPN’s apps are all open-source, which means anyone can inspect the code for security issues. And the provider also publishes transparency reports that detail all requests for user data it receives from governments, and how it doesn’t comply with them.
PIA also has very good speeds, even browsing the dark web. In my tests, most dark web links I accessed took around 11–12 seconds to fully load, which is pretty good (they usually take 8–9 seconds without a VPN).
Private Internet Access is one of the most affordable VPNs out there, with prices starting at just $2.19 / month. And The VPN covers each plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access offers customizable apps and the best ad blocker on the market. In addition, its apps are very user-friendly, and the VPN also allows unlimited connections. Also, PIA comes with strong security and privacy features, Tor support on all servers, and good speeds. It backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editors' Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Good Automation & Ultra-Secure NoSpy Servers
CyberGhost VPN has apps that provide convenient automation via Smart Rules. For example, you can configure the VPN app to automatically connect you to the fastest VPN server and open the Tor browser on launch. Alternatively, you can set the VPN app to automatically connect to a VPN server when you open the Tor browser.
The VPN allows Tor traffic on servers in 100 countries and on its NoSpy servers, which are super secure since they’re housed in the provider’s headquarters in Romania (a privacy-friendly country). What’s more, only CyberGhost’s staff has access to the NoSpy servers, which provides even more security.
CyberGhost also offers more security features, including strong leak protection, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy. It also has Content Blocker, a feature that protects you from ads and malicious websites. I think it’s great that the VPN has an audited no-logs policy and that it releases regular transparency reports.
And CyberGhost’s apps are also easy to use — there’s a quick-connect feature, it’s really simple to navigate the interface so you never feel lost while using the apps, and pretty much all features have quick and helpful explanations.
The provider also has good speeds for the dark web, though it’s a bit slower than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. In my tests, most .onion websites took around 14 seconds to load.
CyberGhost VPN is a very cheap VPN ($2.19 / month). Its long-term plans come with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, while its shortest plan includes a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN lets you automate your VPN and Tor surfing experience. In addition, it also provides access to very good security and privacy features, including RAM-only servers, an audited no-logs policy, and NoSpy servers. It also has good speeds, easy-to-use apps, and a generous 45-day money-back guarantee for all long-term plans.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editors' Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
4. NordVPN — Strong Security & Onion Over VPN Servers
NordVPN secures your Tor traffic with high-end security and privacy features, including full leak protection, RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and an audited no-logs policy. I also really like its Threat Protection feature, which gets rid of ads, stops you from accidentally accessing shady .onion links, and even protects you from malware-infected downloads.
What’s more, the provider also has a dark web monitoring feature, which notifies you if a data breach has compromised any personal information associated with your account’s email address.
NordVPN allows Tor traffic on all servers and also has Onion Over VPN servers, which automatically route your traffic through Tor servers. That means you can surf dark web sites in regular browsers like Chrome and Firefox, which might be more convenient for some people than installing and using the Tor browser.
When I tested NordVPN’s servers, I had good speeds while using Tor Browser. In my tests, most Tor links loaded in around 16 seconds — that’s pretty good but still slower than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
And the provider also has user-friendly apps. You get a quick-connect tool, and there’s also a digital map that lets you connect to server locations, which is really convenient and engaging.
NordVPN offers tier-based subscriptions starting at $2.99 / month. Plus, all of its plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN provides very strong security for the Tor browser and also has Onion Over VPN servers, which let you access dark web sites in regular browsers. The VPN also has pretty good speeds for surfing the dark web and user-friendly apps. Also, all of its plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark — Very Affordable Plan & Intuitive Apps
Surfshark has some of the cheapest plans on the market, making this VPN a good pick for anyone who needs a good Tor VPN but is on a tight budget. I also like how the VPN allows Tor traffic on all of its servers, which are located in 100 countries.
Plus, the provider also has beginner-friendly apps for all major platforms. The interface is well-designed and simple to navigate, it’s very easy to find and enable all features, and Surfshark also allows unlimited connections.
The VPN also offers great security features, such as CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware, giving you a safer Tor browsing experience. I also really like its IP Rotator feature, which regularly changes your IP address to make it harder for someone to track your location. In addition, the VPN comes with RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and an audited no-logs policy.
Surfshark provided me with decent speeds, but it was still slower than ExpressVPN and the other VPNs on this list. When I ran speed tests, most .onion links took around 18–20 seconds to load.
Surfshark’s prices start as low as $1.99 / month. Plus, it backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market, and it’s also beginner-friendly. What’s more, it allows unlimited connections, provides access to good security and privacy features, has pretty good speeds, and backs all of its plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
How to Choose the Best VPN for Tor Browser in 2024
- Get a VPN with Tor support. To use a VPN together with the Tor browser while surfing the dark web, you’ll need a provider that allows Tor traffic on its servers — all of the VPNs on my list provide that.
- Look for a VPN with strong security features. To browse safely on Tor, you should pick a VPN that has 256-bit AES encryption, strong leak protection, and a kill switch that protects you from traffic leaks if the VPN connection drops.
- Ensure that the VPN has a strict no-logs policy. The VPN shouldn’t log your IP address and your browsing traffic. Ideally, it should also have an audited no-logs policy, like all of the VPNs on my list.
- Pick a provider with fast speeds. VPNs always slow down your speeds due to the encryption process, and the Tor browser will cause even bigger slowdowns. So you need to get a VPN that provides smooth speeds across all of its servers. All the VPNs on my list are really fast, but ExpressVPN provided me with the fastest dark web surfing.
- Select a VPN that’s easy to use. I recommend only picking VPNs that have intuitive apps for all major platforms that make it simple to find and connect to a server before you start using the Tor browser.
- Get a VPN that provides good value. Look for VPN services that come with extras (like split-tunneling or an ad blocker), allow a minimum of 5 simultaneous connections, and provide competitive pricing and generous money-back guarantees.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- DroidVPN. This is a free VPN, but I don’t recommend it since it lacks many essential security features and it also leaks user data.
- Norton Secure VPN. This VPN is pretty secure, and it supports Tor traffic on its servers, but multiple support reps confirmed the provider doesn’t recommend using its servers together with the Tor browser.
- ActiVPN. The provider is dangerous to use because it’s missing a kill switch and a no-logs policy. Plus, in my tests, it also leaked my data multiple times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Tor browser without a VPN?
Yes, but I don’t recommend it. That’s because the browser has suffered security issues in the past that have leaked users’ IP addresses. In addition, anyone can run a Tor server, including a malicious actor that might try to collect your IP address or spy on your traffic.
If you use a VPN together with Tor, you get better privacy. The VPN encrypts your traffic and changes your IP address, so Tor server operators can’t collect that information.
Will a VPN slow down my internet speed when using Tor?
Yes, as all VPNs cause slowdowns due to the encryption process. What’s more, Tor slows down your speeds even more since it routes your traffic through at least three encrypted servers.
Luckily, all of the VPNs on my list provide smooth connections for accessing the dark web. My top pick is ExpressVPN since it provided me with the fastest Tor speeds in my tests (.onion links only took 10 seconds to load).
Can I use a free VPN for Tor?
You can, but I don’t really recommend it. While some free VPNs allow Tor traffic, they still come with noticeable limitations, like a limited number of servers or data caps. And other free VPNs lack essential security features, so they can compromise your privacy.
Instead, I recommend getting an affordable top VPN like ExpressVPN — it allows Tor traffic on servers in 105 countries, has industry-leading security features, is super fast, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What’s the best VPN for the Tor browser?
My favorite provider is ExpressVPN since it allows Tor traffic on all of its servers (located in 105 countries), has really good speeds for surfing the dark web, and provides very strong security and privacy features. That said, all of the other VPNs on my list provide a good Tor experience.
