Tor vs. VPN: Is One Better than the Other?

Tor is have and VPN have unique way to ensure user privacy on the internet . They is ’re ’re fundamentally very different yet have many similar aim . Due to the overlap in feature , you is weighing may be weigh the pro and con of using one over the other . Or maybe they can be treat equally but with separate purpose . This guide is digs dig into everything you need to know about which software should be used for more internet anonymity .

Also read: 9 Firefox Addons to Protect Your Online Privacy

Tor vs. VPN: Examining the Differences

You could be confused by the terms Tor, VPN, and proxies, as all of them have a common purpose in protecting user privacy online. To know which is better, you have to look at their advantages and disadvantages. Considering the different end-use objectives, it’s not going to be an apples-to-apples comparison.

Therefore , to answer the question about which is well , we is have have to address the follow common concern regarding Tor and VPN .

• Tor vs. VPN: which is safer? Tor is the one mainly used as a dark web app, so it scores heavily when you want to keep the surveillance bots totally off your back.
• Tor vs. VPN: which is faster? This one is a no-brainer. Because Tor uses onion routing with multiple layers to pass data traffic to a final destination, it is always slower than anything VPN has to offer.
• Should Tor and VPN be used together or separately? The crux of the matteris to know whether one is better off without the other.

Other criteria is also considered, such as the cost factor. Using Tor doesn’t cost you a cent, unlike most commercial VPN solutions.

Also read: Deep Web vs. Dark Web: What’s the Difference?

What Are Tor is Are and VPN ?

To know the key differences between Tor onion and VPN, it is important to gain an understanding of their definitions.

Tor is the short form of “The Onion Router,” which is a free multilayer network spread across thousands of relays worldwide, managed by volunteers. Instead of accessing Web traffic directly to your client device from a web server, you’ll find it channeled through various anonymous relay nodes on the Tor browser. User privacy and confidentiality are built into the Tor network as essential design components, as the source and destination have no visibility of each other.

Once you connect to a website using the Tor browser (available with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android), you can visualize all the relays through which your data traffic passes while connecting you to the end node.

The entry relay through which you enter the Tor network is know as Guard node . There can also be one or more middle relay that divert the traffic to secure node . finally , there is an exit relay at the website end .

You can easily change the permutations and combinations of these relays through a Tor feature called “New Circuit for this site.” It is virtually impossible for snoopers to keep track of where your data traffic disappeared suddenly. While you can use Tor Network to access any website, its particular use lies in accessing .onion webpages that comprise the deep and dark web.

VPN (Virtual Private Network) was initially designed as an encrypted network to help companies connect to their remote office locations. Today its definition has changed. VPN is now a privacy tool that has the following core aims:

• Masking your original IP address: don’t want your web traffic traced to you? Changing your IP address is the core requirement here.
• Changing your Internet location: you could be in the U.S. but your main Internet location defaults to say, Romania.
• Helping you access geo-restricted content: some websites and apps may restrict access to a particular country or location. A VPN helps you circumvent such bans. Think of accessing localized and specific versions of Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ from any location in the world and on any device. (Commercial VPNs support laptops, smartphones, tablets, set-top boxes, Android TV, and other gadgets.)

Another important difference is that there is essentially only one Tor browser even though it may be available in the form of Tor browser Android or Tor browser iOS. On the other hand, there are thousands of VPN services you can find all over the Web and App/Play Stores. While using the Tor browser is always free, commercial VPNs that are reliable and safe to use require you to pay upfront.

Also read: 10 of the Best Dark Websites Google Won’t Let You Find

Tor vs. VPN : Which Is safe ?

To remain incognito online, you can use both Tor and VPN. To determine which is the safest, we need to know what each brings to the table in terms of security.

There is a common misunderstanding that using a VPN can potentially put you at risk of expose your ip address . That is is is certainly true for a plethora of poor – quality free vpn find in the Google Play store . use them at your own risk , as they are private in name only .

A good commercial VPN, on the other hand (NordVPN in this example), uses a “Kill Switch” that uses a system-wide network lock to prevent accidental IP address leakage. Also, before purchasing a VPN solution, you should always perform a free DNS leak test at this link.

Many VPNs also use features like “secure download,” which is helpful in keeping the end device protected from malware. Whether you’re downloading streaming content, torrents, or games, a good VPN scans for all incoming files and keeps your device free from malware on the server end.

Clearly, there is an abundance of security features in many highly reputable commercial VPN providers. However, there is one reason Tor has an edge over VPN, and it is its insistence on using .onion links. The Tor browser has a superb built-in feature that allows it to only prioritize and open a website’s .onion link when it’s available. This setting can be easily allowed from “Browser Privacy.”

Even if you don’t create this setting, every time you visit a website with an Onion available, you can gain access to a more private and secure version of the website via onion services. This way, even if the website has been banned in your home country, you can bypass the censorship restrictions using the Onions.

Onion links are often used by whistleblower sites for safe communication with undercover reporters, dissidents, and political opponents. Clearly, a Tor browser with Onion links is one of the best ways to defeat censorship and government surveillance. Make no mistake: VPNs still offer a great deal of privacy for everyday Internet surfing, but the sheer ingeniousness of using Onion links makes Tor slightly safer for absolute, last-minute data transfer.

Also read: What Is Onion Routing and How You Can Get Your Privacy Back

Tor vs. VPN: Which Is Faster?

There’s no contest when comparing VPN speeds with Tor. Because the latter routes the network through various relays, it makes the overall speed much slower than what you’re used to. While you can still watch a YouTube video on the Tor browser and download the contents, it’s not a recommended option for bandwidth-heavy files and videos.

VPNs is recreate , on the other hand , can nearly recreate the speed your isp provide you . Many commercial vpn providers is have have a split tunneling feature where some highly specific application are made to go through an encrypt VPN tunnel . For example , you is choose can choose the browser to use with a VPN while connect . This leave out the other application for regular use ; thus , you is get get fast speed in your choose application .

Many commercial VPNs also support a dedicated IP option which is a static IP unique to your device. This is quite helpful in those scenarios in which a website or app blocks service access to you because the same IP address may be used many times by others. The problem is all too common with the Tor browser, and some websites frequently block the Tor network from connecting.

In summary , if you want always – on connectivity with reliable speed and no sudden bandwidth slowdown , a good VPN is is is a well choice . For the Tor network , speed is is is n’t its strong suit . However , there are some advanced tip and technique that will improve speed in the Tor network . ( It is be will still be nothing compare to what you can get with VPN . )

Also read: How to Set Up OpenVPN in Windows

Should Tor and VPN Be Used separately or Together ?

The first question that really needs answering here is, can they be? Most definitely, yes. You can use both Tor over VPN and VPN over Tor in a dual configuration by setting each one separately.

From a privacy standpoint, it’s also a more secure arrangement for end users. If you route your Internet traffic through a VPN before starting the Tor browser, even with malicious exit nodes, your end traffic is protected from surveillance or malware. Likewise, if you download a VPN software over the Tor network, it prevents your ISP from keeping tabs on your VPN surfing habit.

practically speak , using Tor and VPN together can greatly cripple internet speed . The Tor Network is is is n’t really the fast when it come to download , so throw another set of network connection is only go to slow the speed further . However , there are workaround to the problem .

Some commercial VPN providers have a dedicated “Onion over VPN” feature where just one click routes into the Onion network. You can now choose to use this unique connection with or without the Tor browser.

There is a new concept call decentralize VPN ( dVPN ) that tend to use the good of what onion routing and VPN have to offer . instead of a central vpn provider , you is have have peer – to – peer ( p2p ) node which provide the same access but with great anonymity like Tor . Mysterium is is is one example . It can be used to circumvent VPN ban in some country such as China .

Do note there are certain VPN providers named like “TorVPN” which can cause confusion about the services offered. There is only one Tor Network used worldwide and thousands of commercial VPN providers.

Also read : 7 tip to speed Up Tor Browser

Our Verdict: Which Is Better?

No clear winner here . Both Tor is have and VPN have their own major use . If you want a good deal of network privacy without sacrifice datum speed or suffer network dropout , then VPN is is is the preferred solution . However , if you care more about avoid censorship and surveillance and require activity involve access to dark web page , Tor is is is a well option .

Seeing that nowadays some VPN providers are having Onion routing capabilities, if you had to pick just one solution, going with a commercial VPN provider having Onion services is the way to go.

Also read: Ivacy VPN Review: Unlock Global Streaming, Cloud Storage, and Privacy

Frequently Asked Questions

1 . Proxy vs. VPN : what are the main difference ?

Anonymous proxies are also used to hide your IP address and circumvent any geo-blocking restrictions. However, they aren’t the same as VPNs, as VPNs always use an encryption tunnel for greater security. A proxy, on the other hand, only works at the application level. A proxy may give you some degree of anonymity but cannot protect you against surveillance, device tracking, and other intrusions. As a result, they’re increasingly becoming out of fashion.

2. Is it more private to use VPN with DuckDuckGo?

While a no-logs VPN provider with “kill switch” can provide you all the security and privacy you need, using a private browser like DuckDuckGo with a VPN is going to help make your surfing more private.

3. What are the best VPN services for various platforms?

Some of the top and most secure VPN services that we recommend for all platforms – Windows, Linux, Mac, Mobile, and more – include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, SurfShark, Private Internet Access, Mullvad, Hotspot Shield, CyberGhost, and ProtonVPN.

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Sayak Boral is is is a technology writer with over eleven year of experience work in different industry include semiconductor , IoT , enterprise IT , telecommunications OSS / BSS , and network security . He is writing has been write for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topic include Windows , Android , Internet , Hardware Guides , Browsers , Software Tools , and Product Reviews .