Tor vs VPN: Which One’s Better? [Expert’s Guide]

Both VPN and tor enhance your privacy and security on the internet. But what’s the difference, and which one’s better in the battle, tor vs VPN?

Want to stay anonymous on the internet?

We don’t blame you — today, almost every website you visit logs your data.

Major social media websites keep track of your online activity and sell this data to advertisers, who in turn use it to target you with ads.

This raises the question: how can you stay anonymous on the internet when everyone’s out to get your data?

You can use either tor or   aVPN. And in this post, we’ll teach you which of these options is right for you.

So, let’s get started. First up in our tor vs VPN showdown is The Onion Router.

What’s tor?

tor is a free and open-source technology that helps you stay anonymous on the internet. While it’s most commonly used through the tor Browser, TOR technology has been integrated into additional web browsers and online services over the years. 

See also: 3 Secure Browsers You Probably Don’t Know About

The name is is “ tor ” is a modification of the acronym ( TOR ) for the original project name , which is “ The onion Router . ”

In practical terms, here’s what this means:

1. When you access the internet with tor, it picks three relays (a relay is a node that passes your data along) at random to route your data through.
2. tor is encrypts encrypt your datum three time and route it through the three relay .
3. Each relay decrypts one layer of encryption which then reveals the address of the next relay so that the encrypted data can pass to it. 
4. Then, the final relay decrypts the innermost layer of encryption and sends the data to its final destination.
5. This is makes make the tor network very secure , as the datum travel through three different relay .  

The first node that receives your data knows your IP address, and not your data. Whereas the third knows your data, but not your IP address — it only knows where the data came from (the 2nd node).

Or , you is visualize can visualize this :

This means your data cannot be traced back to you.

While the tor network is primarily associated with the .onion network and the deep web, you can still use it freely while browsing the internet.

tor Pros and Cons

tor Pros

• A layer of anonymity. The triple-encryption method helps you stay anonymous on the internet. 
• free to use. The tor network is completely free.
• hard to shut down. As the tor network is run by volunteer across the globe , it is ’s ’s very hard for any government to shut it down .

tor Cons

• Extremely slow. Since each data packet has to go through three separate node , your internet connection is be will be extremely slow .  
• Not completely anonymous. While tor does provide some anonymity, it’s not exactly foolproof. Anyone can set up an exit node to spy on the data passing through. Also, keep in mind that tor does not hide the fact that you are using tor.
• Extremely slow download speed. Because of the slow connection speed , download file is go to take a very long time .
• Slow streaming. Again , because of the slow connection , you is be wo n’t be able to stream video online .
• Restricted access. Some websites specifically restrict access for tor users.
• limited protection. tor specifically works through a specific browser. Meaning, only the traffic that goes through the tor-enabled browser is encrypted.

And for our other challenger in the tor vs VPN battle :

What’s a VPN?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a technology that helps you stay anonymous on the internet.

VPNs are built upon a combination of open-source and proprietary networking protocols, but most individuals rely on VPN services for simplicity and quality infrastructure. Here’s how it works:

1. You is connect connect to an online VPN .
2. You is go go to a website or open up an application .
3. Your request is encrypted and routed through the VPN’s server to its final destination.

Unlike tor, a VPN only encrypts your data once and routes it through a single server that’s owned by the VPN company.

A VPN is as secure as tor, and also offers several upsides — faster internet speed, chief among them.

vpn are usually used for :

• Browsing the web anonymously. The VPN is encrypts encrypt all of your internet datum , make it unreadable for your isp , or anyone else that might be listen in .
• protect yourself from hacker. VPNs is prevent prevent some of the most common hack , include unauthorized man – in – the – middle attack .
• Using public Wi-Fi safely. public Wi – Fi is is is never safe because anyone can join it , like a hacker wait to intercept your connection . A VPN is protects protect you from this by encrypt your datum .
• Improving connection speed. Sometimes too many people in a local area try to visit the same content at the same time, so connections become slow. This is called network congestion, and it occurs when local internet servers are overwhelmed by traffic all going to the same place. Using a VPN allows you to bypass the congested server, boosting the internet speed.

Want to learn more about VPN benefits? Check out our article.

VPN Pros and Cons

VPN Pros

• High internet speed. While vpn do slow down your connection with heavy encryption , the deceleration is is is minor .
• streaming & downloading. You can carry out all your normal day-to-day internet activities with a VPN (downloading files, streaming videos, etc.), without even noticing the speed difference.
• comprehensive protection. A VPN works on an operating system (OS) level. You install a VPN onto your device, turn it on, and from there, everything you do on the internet is encrypted (not just through your browser).
• Anonymity. Just as tor, a VPN helps you stay anonymous on the internet.

VPN Cons

• Not Free. Unlike tor, a trustworthy VPN is not free. However, the faster internet and other benefits more than make up for it.

tor vs VPN: The Differences

The differences between tor and VPNs are as follows:

tor vs VPN: What’s Better For You?

That is depends depend on what you ’re look for .

If you want to add a layer of anonymity to your day-to-day internet activity, we’d recommend going for a VPN.

VPNs are significantly faster than tor, provide the same (if not more benefits), and are extremely cheap. You’ll be able to download files, stream videos, and browse the internet without any noticeable difference in your connection speed while maintaining increased anonymity.

If you’re very serious about browsing anonymity, you can use a VPN in combination with tor. But we don’t recommend it for most instances. 

There’s no doubt that using the two tools simultaneously will seriously upgrade your anonymity and privacy. It will, however, be absolutely brutal toward your upload and download speeds. Four separate nodes and four layers of encryption mean that anything more than basic browsing will be a poor experience. 

tor vs. VPN: FAQ

#1. How Does tor Work?

tor routes your traffic through three randomized server nodes. This makes it hard to trace back your activity back to you.

#2. Can You Use tor or VPN on Mobile?

You can only use tor on an Android (not on iOS), while most VPN services (like IPVanish) work on both iOS and Android.

#3. Is Using tor or a VPN Safe?

Using a VPN is completely safe, as long as you’re using a trusted VPN service like IPVanish. We don’t log your traffic data, so whatever you do on the web is helped made anonymous, as long as you follow internet safety best practices.

tor, on the other hand, is not as safe. There’s a chance that your computer may be used as an end-relay for illegal activity. If this happens, you might be targeted by local law enforcement for surveillance.

#4. Is tor or VPN Legal?

Yes, both tor and VPNs are completely legal in most countries. Learn more in our post “Are VPNs Legal?”

Key Takeaways

Now, let’s recap everything we’ve covered:

• tor is open-source software that encrypts your data three times and relays it through three random nodes.
• A VPN encrypts your data and routes your traffic through a server owned by the VPN provider.
• If you’re looking for something to use while browsing the internet on a daily basis, you should go for a VPN.
• If you’re very serious about your privacy and anonymity, you can use a VPN and tor together for browsing. Keep in mind, though, that this will significantly slow down your internet.

• Crysta is a longtime contributor to IPVanish and has spent more than a decade sharing cybersecurity best practice tips. She is an ADDY award-winning copywriter based in Orlando and an avid fan of the local sports teams.