Tor browser is used by millions of people who want to conceal their identity and get access to restricted or hidden information. Unfortunately, this browser is banned in some countries and its users can still be monitored by authorities. The only way to avoid inspection and ensure unrestricted access in privacy-hostile countries is a VPN. This post is dedicated to the best VPN for Tor browser and reasons why you should use it.
Table of Contents
Why Use a VPN with Tor?
Tor is considered to be an anonymous browser but it can’t guarantee absolute privacy. It is because your Internet provider can see when you employ Tor. While using Tor itself is not illegal, the authorities are wary of people who surf the Internet, especially Darknet, using anonymous browsers. In the USA, for instance, all Tor users are considered to be extremists no matter what their true intentions are.
Tor implements encryption when traffic travels across its network. There will be at least 3 relays (IP addresses) the data passes through before it reaches the Internet and a specific URL. It means that your IP address will be changed three times making it almost impossible to trace your location. The problem is that the exit relays (this is where your traffic leaves the Tor network) may be monitored. Moreover, at that point, your data stops being encrypted so if it is intercepted, your online activities and personal information will be exposed.
Tor has several vulnerabilities making it possible for spies or law enforcement agencies to limit its usage. For instance, your ISP is able to block traffic from entering the first relay of the Tor network, or vice versa, the exit relay may be blocked. Additionally, there were documented cases when Tor infrastructure was attacked by cyber departments of Intelligence agencies with the aim to compromise its users.
As you can see, Tor is not able to provide bulletproof protection, and in some instances, the access to its network may be prohibited whatsoever. Luckily, a VPN is designed to solve both problems simultaneously. When routing your traffic through a VPN, your IP gets concealed before it reaches Tor. It means that your ISP is neither able to see that you use this browser nor it can block the access. Moreover, even Tor itself won’t know that your location because all it can see is an IP address of your VPN server. Plus, you can benefit from extra encryption provided by a VPN.
Features to Look for in a VPN for Tor
A combination of Tor and a VPN ensures both anonymity and privacy. The problem is that Tor by itself is not private and some VPNs are not anonymous. A VPN with weak anonymity is not able to fully hide your online traces. Therefore, your goal is a provider that doesn’t keep any records about your connections, your original IP address, and websites you visit. Choose only the VPNs with zero-logging policy.
Since Tor doesn’t offer full encryption, you need to compensate this drawback with strong encryption from your VPN. When using military-grade ciphers and unbreakable connection protocols, your traffic becomes encrypted before it enters the Tor network and stays encrypted after passing through the exit relay.
It not secret that Tor is not the fastest network due to encryption and longer routes your traffic has to travel before it reaches its destination. The same goes for VPNs. The difference between them is that you can’t adjust Tor for a faster connection while it is possible to speed up a VPN. With Tor, relays are assigned randomly and its network is comprised of volunteers which equipment is not optimized for good speeds. When you use a VPN, you can choose what servers to connect to. Many servers in close proximity to your location will ensure a fast connection. Plus, speed-optimized VPN networks prevent significant slow-downs even if you reach a remote server. Therefore, the best VPN for Tor browser must be fast and offer multiple locations.
You also need to make sure that your VPN provider is reliably protected from IP and DNS leaks and that it supports Kill Switch function if a connection with a VPN server is lost. On top of that, pay attention to services that offer integrated Tor Over VPN connection options.
The Best VPNs for Tor
Choosing the best VPN for Tor is a daunting task considering how many providers there are on the market. You definitely have neither time nor money to try them all out yourself and pick the most suitable option. Fortunately, VPNTrends experts have already done all this work for you. Our research showed that these three providers are the perfect match for Tor network users:
- Provider
- User Rating
- Our Review
- Price
PureVPN- 4807 Votes
- $3.24 / month
ExpressVPN- 3795 Votes
- $6.67 / month
Here are small reviews about their most important features for Tor:
NordVPN
NordVPN is considered to be among the best VPNs for Tor browser thanks to an airtight zero-logging policy, jurisdiction in a privacy-friendly country, and strong security functions. The service even offers dedicated Onion Over VPN servers for extra safety and convenience. By default, your connection is secured with top-of-the-line encryption and the unhackable connection protocol OpenVPN, which you can change for other protocols that support better speeds. Speaking of which, NordVPN provides decent speeds when connected to close server locations but connections with remote servers may be slower. Thankfully, the service operates the largest VPN network in the world (5,400+ servers in 60 countries) so there are always plenty of options to choose from. The provider offers dedicated DNS leak protection and a Kill Switch feature. NordVPN offers a reasonably-priced monthly subscription but if you want to get the best deal, there is a 2-year plan with 72% off. Try it out without any fear – the clients are protected with a 30-day money-back guarantee if the service doesn’t live up to your expectations.
PureVPN
PureVPN is an excellent choice for entry-level users and people who want a simple yet powerful service. The provider has no dedicated Tor Over VPN solution but you can install PureVPN client on your device (all popular devices and operating systems are supported) and use Tor browser to surf the web. The service delivers uncompromising encryption thanks to unbreakable ciphers and the most advanced OpenVPN protocol. PureVPN implements IP and DNS leak protection. An Internet Kill Switch will break the connection with your ISP if a VPN tunnel is not stable. The service is present in 140 countries and currently has more than 6,500 servers. It even supplies Ozone Ready servers with Intrusion prevention software and antivirus. PureVPN is registered in Hong Kong that has no mandatory data retention laws so you can be sure that the service doesn’t log your IP address or other sensitive information. PureVPN has very affordable subscriptions especially if you opt for long duration plans. A no-questions-asked 31-day refund policy enables you to try the service without any risk.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the fastest service on the VPN market. It boasts a large network that consists of more than 3,000 servers spread across 94 countries. There may not be servers particularly close to you but it doesn’t matter if the speed is fast across the board. The provider is registered in the British Virgin Islands, a country that doesn’t require recording user activities or handing over data to authorities, which makes ExpressVPN very safe. Another strong point of service is military-grade encryption provided by AES 256-bit cipher and OpenVPN (you are also able to change the encryption settings if you wish). The company has its own DNS servers which means that all users are secured against possible leaks. An Internet Kill Switch is also in place. There are no dedicated Tor Over VPN servers but you can use Tor browser and ExpressVPN if you install its client on your PC or other devices (the service supports a wide range of Operating systems and devices). The service has 3 types of subscription (1 month, 6 months and 1 year). The annual plan is the most beneficial since it comes with a 49% discount. There is no trial period but you can test the service out and if you are not satisfied, you can get your money back within 30 days.
Free VPNs for Tor
You must be very careful when choosing a VPN service since not every provider has the necessary qualities to be paired with Tor. Free VPNs tend to log user activities so the authorities are able to find out what network you use. Their encryptions are usually weaker than the industry standard and the connection is prone to leaking. Finally, all free VPNs with no exception are slow, and when teamed up with Tor, they will be unusable altogether.
Final Thoughts
Tor is an excellent choice for security-paranoid users but it is not able to ensure maximum privacy. Luckily, a top-notch VPN can strengthen Tor’s weaknesses and make all your activities anonymous and secure. If your goal is to find the best VPN for Tor browser, you need to look for trustworthy providers, such as the ones on our list. These services are fast, secure, versatile, and they guarantee you get the best user experience.