Both Tor and VPN are used for anonymity, however, the former only provides one layer of security. VPNs meanwhile add another, keeping all your online activities private and secure. You can’t, however, just use any VPN for Tor, as not all of them are suitable for this particular browser. To help you find not just any but the best VPN for Tor, we’ve compiled a list of the market’s leading platforms, as well as some factors to consider when choosing your privacy-protecting solution.
ExpressVPN is a simple yet efficient VPN with over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, excellent privacy, up to five VPN simultaneous connections, no-logging policy, and excellent streaming efficiency, making it difficult to find any real flaws with this service.
Price: Starting at $12.95/month
Billing options: Monthly, Annually
Free trial: No
CyberGhost boasts 6,000+ servers in 90 countries. The service is compatible with a wide range of devices, and you don't even need an email address or a password to get started — they'll simply generate an account for you.
Price: Starting at $11.99/month
Billing options: Monthly, Annually
Free trial: Yes
This VPN provider, which first started out in 2012, has come a long way, managing more than 5,000 servers in about 60 countries. They use the 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard, which is the norm for the best VPN services.
Price: Starting at $11.96/month
Billing options: Monthly, Annually
Free trial: No
With over 1,500 servers in more than 75 locations and impressive speeds, IPVanish already seems like a promising VPN for gaming. It’s compatible with most platforms and devices, allows unlimited simultaneous connections, and has plenty of superb features.
Price: 4.49/month
Billing options: Monthly, Annually
Free trial: Yes
Private VPN is a growing provider that offers top-notch performance and a long list of incredible security features that will keep you safe online. While it has a relatively small server network, it has been a go-to name for VPN streaming thanks to its fast speeds and reliability.
Price: Starting at $8.99/month
Billing options: Monthly, Annually
Free trial: No
To identify the top Tor VPN services, we put each one to the test and weighed it based on numerous factors, including their level of encryption, security protocols, speed, and special features for Tor users. Finally, we considered user feedback to provide you with a more accurate picture of these tools.
While Tor encrypts your traffic, your ISP can still see that you’re it. In addition, the first Tor node that you connect to can also see your actual IP address. A VPN meanwhile will encrypt your whole traffic, making the use of this browser much safer. We made sure that all the vendors we listed as providing the best Tor VPN services utilize AES-256 bit encryption, security protocols such as OpenVPN and L2TP/IPsec, and strictly abide by its zero-logging policy.
Tor’s main downside is that it can cause some speed drops, and no one enjoys a slow connection. For that reason, it’s important to choose the service that will have the least impact on your connection. As VPNs use their own servers to reroute your data, the more servers they have, the fewer users are likely to be connected to the server at the same time as you. The larger the server network, the faster the speeds.
A zero-logging policy is extremely important, and it can make or break a VPN’s trustworthiness. Many services claim that they do not keep logs and that their users’ privacy is protected but only a few deliver on their claims. Only the best VPNs for Tor will allow you to browse the web without fear of your online activity being recorded or sold.
While most people don’t mind paying for a VPN for Tor with PayPal or a credit card, some people desire a higher level of privacy. Using your personal accounts to pay for these services leaves a paper trail. Payment information, such as account numbers and billing addresses, is stored even by no-log VPN services.
With high speeds all over the world, a vast server network, and incredible security features, ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN for Tor browser. As the industry’s leading service, it is compatible with most devices and platforms, allows up to five simultaneous connections, and easily unblocks geo-restricted content.
ExpressVPN is arguably the best VPN to use with Tor as it is based in British Virgin Island, far away from any surveillance jurisdiction. Its privacy policy has been independently audited by not one but two companies, proving that this service strictly abides by its zero-logs policy.
It owns its onion site, so even if you’re in a region where the internet is censored, you can visit ExpressVPN’s homepage and download the VPN app in a secure, anonymous manner.
While being one of the best, if not the best VPN to use with Tor, ExpressVPNis more expensive than its competitors, with the cheapest plan costing $6.6/month. While you certainly get what you pay for, there are cheaper alternatives.
The vendor offers three different pricing plans — monthly for $12.95/month, the 6-month plan for $9.99/month, and the 15-month plan for $6.6/month. While there’s no free trial, you can take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee to try out the service.
You can pay for this service with all major credit and debit cards, online payment services such as PayPal and UnionPay, and bitcoin.
Further cementing its image as the best VPN for Tor browser, ExpressVPN offers a 24/7 live chat, email support, and ticketing system. The support team is friendly, polite, and has deep knowledge about the service and its features.
If you do not need assistance from a real agent, the vendor’s website has plenty of resources, including FAQs, setup guides, and videos.
Located in a privacy-friendly country with over 5,500 servers in more than 59 countries, NordVPN is a great choice for those seeking online privacy and security. It’s fast, affordable, and offers some superb features, so it’s no wonder it’s one of the best Tor VPN options out there.
NordVPN has dedicated servers pre-configured for Tor over VPN, which means that all traffic is routed through the VPN before being rerouted to the Tor network. This is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to use Tor with something other than a browser.
Security-wise, NordVPN was one of the first VPN providers to offer double encryption, which includes routing your traffic through two servers. It further utilizes AES-256 bit encryption, several security protocols, and does not keep any logs. What makes it one of the best VPNs for Tor is that it supports anonymous payments with three different cryptocurrencies: bitcoin, ethereum, and ripple.
If you plan on using the double encryption feature, your connection will be noticeably slower. Tor already causes some speed drops, and combining the two might leave you frustrated as you wait for pages to load.
When looking for a VPN for Tor, the cost is also an important aspect to factor in your decision. While NordVPN’s monthly plan is quite expensive ($11.95/month), the service becomes more affordable with longer subscriptions — the annual package is $4.92/month, and the two-year plan comes in at $4.13/month.
Customers place a high value on how well a service is delivered, so the best VPN for Tor should have a strong support team. The industry standard is 24/7 available support, however, not all services deliver on this promise.
NordVPN’s strongest asset is its customer support. They offer 24/7 live chat, email support, and a ticketing system. For simple inquiries like server locations, how to set up the app on your device, and how to cancel your subscription, you can start a conversation with their chatbot.
You may also search through their comprehensive knowledge base, fully loaded with helpful articles, links, and FAQ sections.
CyberGhost is a big name in the industry, boasting over 6,000 servers and catering to the needs of 10 million people worldwide. It has impressive speeds, robust security features, and a strict zero-logs policy, which helped it secure its spot on our list of the best Tor VPN services.
CyberGhost doesn’t have any Tor-specific features, however, its security and privacy are flawless. The company is based in Romania, which has no mandatory data retention laws, and the vendor strictly abides by its no-logging policy.
CyberGhost further assigns each user a unique anonymous ID, and the email address you use to sign up is encrypted. This prevents third parties from connecting a users’ email address to their CyberGhost account.
The best VPN to use with Tor should include dedicated features for this browser, such as specialized VPN over Onion servers or a multi-hop feature. While we don’t consider the lack of these features a significant shortcoming, we do believe that CyberGhost should have obfuscated servers and provide users with online freedom in censored areas.
CyberGhost is one of the most cost-effective Tor VPN services available. A monthly subscription costs $12.99/month, a one-year subscription is $3.99/month, and a two-year subscription will set you back $3.49/month. For those willing to sign up for the vendor’s three-year plan, the monthly cost is reduced to $2.
All the plans are backed up by a 45-day money-back guarantee that allows users to try out the service before committing. Another thing that helped secure CyberGhost’s spot on our list of the best VPN to use with Tor services is that the vendor accepts multiple payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and crypto.
The vendor offers several support options, including 24/7 live chat in three languages, email support, and online resources. The support team is friendly and will happily assist you at all times.
If you don’t require assistance from an agent, you can look through the knowledgebase, which has numerous tips and articles on typical VPN-related topics.
IPVanish is a highly praised tool for its long list of superb features, fast speeds, and excellent support. It has a relatively small server network of over 1,500 servers, however, the company owns all of those, making this service a good choice when you’re looking for the best VPN to use with Tor browser.
IPVanish has obfuscated servers which adds an extra layer of security when you’re accessing the Tor browser. This is especially useful if you’re in a country with high censorship, as it ensures that your ISP doesn’t know you’re using a VPN with Tor.
The service manages to have high speeds without sacrificing security, and it utilizes strong leak protection, high-level encryption, and a strict no-logs policy.
It goes without saying that the best VPN for Tor browser should support anonymous payment options, however, IPVanish currently doesn’t allow any. While this isn’t a major drawback, users seeking maximum anonymity might find another service on our list, such as NordVPN, a better fit.
The vendor offers two different pricing plans — monthly for $9.99 and annual for $7.50/month. While it might appear to be the most expensive VPN on our list, the vendor offers first-month and first-year discounts. If you opt for the monthly plan, you’ll be billed $3.49 for the first month and $2.62/month for the first year if you go for the annual subscription.
IPVanish has a refund policy as well, however, the 30-day money-back guarantee only applies to the annual plan.
IPVanish is the best VPN to use with Tor browser for multiple reasons, however, the most important is customer support. The vendor offers various support options, including phone support. While it is currently available only in seven countries, it’s still a great advantage to this service.
There’s also 24/7 live chat, email support, as well as a comprehensive knowledge base.
Whether you need a VPN to protect your online activities, stream your favorite show, or torrent a file — PrivateVPN has you covered. It’s affordable, easy to use, and goes the extra mile to deliver outstanding value to its users.
If you’re on a tight budget, PrivateVPN might just be the best VPN for Tor browser. Unlike other solutions above that only offer discounts on longer subscriptions, this service offers an unbelievably cheap monthly plan.
PrivateVPN performs very well security-wise, and you can trust it to encrypt your data with the AES-256 cipher and 2048-bit RSA. The service also has an impressive selection of tunneling protocols — OpenVPN with UDP/TCP, L2TP, IPsec, PPTP, and IKEv2. What’s even better is that you can easily change these protocols.
While all other VPNs only allow you to connect to Tor over VPN, which is the recommended approach, Private VPN also allows you to connect to VPN over Tor. It’s a bit of a complex setup, however, the vendor offers a step-by-step explanation on its website.
There aren’t any real shortcomings to this service, however, its limited server network may cause overload and slow down your connection. While it doesn’t have that many servers, the vendor covers a wide range of locations, and we hope it will continue expanding its network.
PrivateVPN is one of the most cost-effective services on our best VPN for Tor list. A monthly subscription costs $9.99/month, a three-month subscription is $6/month, and a biennial subscription costs $2.50/month.
All the plans are backed up by a 30-day money-back guarantee and come with the same premium features.
There are several ways to get in touch with the vendor’s customer support. PrivateVPN, like all the Tor browser VPN services we’ve listed, offers a 24/7 live chat. The support team is friendly, polite, and we received a helpful answer to our inquiry in less than two minutes. You can also contact them by email or through a ticketing system.
PrivateVPN also provides online resources and FAQ sections, however, only the basics are covered.
Data has become a precious commodity, and people will go to great lengths to obtain it. Cyber attacks are also at an all-time high, so it’s crucial to take all required precautions to keep yourself safe from hackers. Although using a VPN with the Tor browser is a winning combo, not all providers are compatible with Tor. Choosing the best VPN for Tor is undoubtedly a difficult task, but hopefully, our list managed to help you narrow down your choices and discover the best solution for you.
Tor and VPN are both encrypted proxies, but there are a few major distinctions. Standard Tor connections are encrypted multiple times and routed through a randomized series of volunteer Tor network nodes. Tor can also be used to access the dark web’s .onion sites.
That depends on the location. Both Tor and VPN are allowed in most countries; however, some governments, such as China, Iraq, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, have prohibited the use of VPNs.
Yes, it is completely safe as Tor will anonymize all your surfing activities, however, a VPN will provide an additional layer of security. The best VPN for Tor will keep your online activities private and anonymous, and also provide some additional features that the browser lacks.
