The Tor browser is one of the most secure browsers available for anyone who wants to surf the dark web, deep web, or even the surface web. However, this very association with the dark web and a plethora of other issues is the same reason that people are searching for Tor alternatives.
Although Tor holds a reputation as a” secure browser,” its users have to face several issues such as ISP throttling, ISP monitoring, malicious exit nodes, and frustratingly slow speeds. To top it all, Tor provides flimsy security to its users since it only hides data within layers of encryption and does not encrypt it.
The rising awareness regarding online privacy is one of the main reasons people are scrambling to stay secure. And since the Tor browser now seems somewhat unreliable, it is best to opt for one of the best alternatives for Tor for anonymous browsing.
Why VPN Is Always an Ultimate Necessity?
Although Tor is the best among all Tor alternatives, it has security flaws. This makes users switch to other alternatives, but users protect their privacy while browsing Tor by using VPN.
You might find numerous Tor browser alternatives, but the best among them is a VPN. It is an excellent anonymity tool that ensures an anonymous browsing experience while using the Tor browser and helps access the .onion sites.
The best Tor browser VPNs use Tor over VPN technology to provide users greater anonymity and online security on the Onion network. They even offer specialized servers for accessing the Tor browser or the Tor websites that help in accessing the dark web safely and anonymously.
Best Tor Browser Alternatives
The Tor browser alternative provides access to the dark web without compromising users’ online security and privacy. But, finding the best tor browser alternative is a hassle for users. Now, you don’t have to spend more of your time looking for alternatives, as the following section discusses an insight into the alternatives other than a VPN that you can consider using.
- Use VPN: It’s the best alternative for Tor, it’s way better than Tor.
- I2P Browser: Uses darknet technology to ensure safe and secure access to the dark web
- Freenet: Relies on P2P networks to maintain online privacy and helps in accessing the dark web
- GNUnet: Doesn’t record your data and uses decentralized P2P communication to access the dark web.
- Subgraph OS: Uses Tor technology, meta proxy, and firewall to access the dark web.
- Brave Browser: Provides partial encryption by using HTTPS encryption, Brave Shield feature blocks ads, cookies, and trackers
- Epic Privacy Browser: Uses a one-click encrypted proxy to mask your IP address, deletes trackers and cookies.
- DuckDuckGo: Uses smart encryption technology to upgrade the connection, blocks ads, trackers, and cookies automatically.
- Mozilla Firefox: Has a privacy browsing mode that doesn’t record your browsing history, prevents tracking by enhanced tracking protection feature.
- Iridium Browser: Block all cookies and trackers, allows users to use Qwant or DuckDuckGo as the default search engine
- Yandex Browser: Uses security boosting features like an ad-blocker, flash blocker, and site reputation indicator to maintain security.
- Puffin Browser: Uses proxy servers to hide your IP address and an encrypted cloud protection system to prevent leaks.
- Tox: An instant messaging app that uses open-source libraries to encrypt all your communication.
- Freepto: Best for Linux users and uses standard encryption to maintain your online activities
- Peerblock: Helps in torrenting by blocking the malicious IP address.
- Comodo IceDragon: The site inspection feature scans the web pages for malware or viruses, blocks ads, trackers, and strengthens security with a VPN.
- Globus Browser: Blocks cookies and trackers, offers a VPN that protects your online identity and access blocked websites
- Tails: Uses cryptographic tools to encrypt data and email communication, used to bypass internet restrictions.
- IprediaOS Encrypted Browser: Best for Linux, and uses programmed encryption to protect from trackers and data collectors
- Whonix: Uses the Whonix workstation to protect IP addresses, and offers multiple device compatibility.
- Disconnect Browser: Protects users from using sites that use monitoring tools and technologies to track and record online data.
Before you decide on any random browser from the list, it’s better that you first read the brief review of each browser.
01. VPN
VPN isn’t any browser or provides any platform to browse the web. But it’s a privacy tool that makes your regular browser more private. So, you don’t need Tor alternatives to cover it up.
VPN will change your real IP address with encryption. This means you are browsing all around the web anonymously with real encryption. You can enjoy the fastest internet without any ISP throttling, monitoring, and preventing trackbacks.
1. NordVPN: 1. NordVPN: 30-day refund policy, you can enjoy Netflix, Torrenting, and gaming simultaneously. 4800+ servers around the world. Works with Mac, Android, Win, and iPhone. www.nordvpn.com
2. Surfshark: works with Netflix, fastest torrenting, great gaming with low ping. 3200+ servers around the world, compatible with devices. 30-day Free trial www.surfshark.com
3. ProtonVPN: provide fastest servers, and access to US Netflix and also allow torrenting. You can have a great gaming experience. Compatible with all devices. www.protonvpn.com
02. I2P Browser
The Invisible Internet Project (I2P) is one of the best Tor browser alternatives you can use to surf the web anonymously. It uses darknet technology to ensure safe and secure access to the dark web without leaving any tracebacks. Also, it creates a network layer within the TCP and UDP sessions and emerges as a center for network traffic. It even uses public and private keys, provides partial encryption to the users, and ensures that no one can invade your digital privacy.
3. Freenet
Freenet is another reliable tor browser alternative that you can use to access the dark web safely. It is a free browser to use that relies on P2P networks to maintain your online privacy. You can download it on your Windows, macOS, and Linux devices and can enjoy accessing the deep free internet world.
4. GNUnet
Another browser used as the tor alternative is none other than GNUnet. It doesn’t record much of your PII information and thus maintains your online integrity. Another best thing about the browser is that it uses decentralized P2P communication via the HTTPS, TCP, and UDP ports and ensures that no prying eye can invade your network.
5. Subgraph OS
Though Subgraph OS is an operating system, it uses Tor technology and software to upgrade the user’s digital security and hence is among the best Tor browser alternatives. Besides this, it even uses a meta-proxy and firewall that allows users to enjoy encryption while accessing the dark web.
6. Brave Browser
The Brave browser is private and safe to use and is among the best tor alternatives. Though it is relatively new in the market because of its excellent features, it has managed to attract users. The browser comes with an automatic HTTPS Everywhere and script blocker that prevents ISP and other trackers from tracking and gathering data about your online activities. It provides partial encryption to the users by using HTTPS encryption and stops anyone from knowing what you’re doing on the web.
The most impressive feature of the Brave browser is the Brave Shield that blocks ads, cookies, and trackers. But since it’s not built-in, you have to enable it by configuring the settings. Download the browser on all popular operating systems and start browsing anonymously.
7. Epic Privacy Browser
Epic Privacy Browser is a chromium-based browser that guarantees a secure browsing experience. It offers impressive privacy-centric features and thus is one of the best tor browser alternatives. While using this browser, you don’t have to worry about trackers and cookies or any other locally stored data because it automatically deletes them once you close the browser. Moreover, it blocks web analytics so the website can’t track you and invade your privacy.
It’s best to use the Epic privacy browser because it redirects the DNS requests via the encrypted proxy that enhances your online security, unlike the Tor browser. The browser uses a one-click encrypted proxy that masks your IP address and guarantees anonymity while surfing the web. You can even benefit from the built-in ad and tracker feature and save yourself from becoming a victim of data theft or malware attack. It is available on all Android, Apple, and Windows devices, so download now and enjoy anonymous browsing.
8. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is another popular name privacy browser that you can use as a Tor browser alternative. It offers features that aim to increase users’ online privacy and security. The browser automatically blocks the trackers present on different websites and protects any third party from gathering data about your browsing history. By doing so, even stops advertisers from displaying intrusive pop-up ads.
This Tor browser alternative uses smart encryption technology that upgrades your connection and enables you to use only the encrypted version of the websites. Thus, DuckDuckGo even prevents any snooping eyes from viewing what you’re doing on the web. Besides this, it uses an impressive privacy meter feature that scans a website before using it and warns you if it records data. It offers multiple platform compatibility and can be used on all popular devices and operating systems.
9. Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a reliable and secure browser that provides robust security and privacy to users. It is an impressive browser to use that offers a sleek and user-friendly interface and is easy to use. The browser uses various browser extensions to protect you from online threats. Besides this, it uses multiple security and privacy-centric features like the privacy browsing mode that don’t keep records of your browsing history and login credentials.
Moreover, enabling the enhanced tracking protection feature protects users from trackers that follow them from one site to another. It is also among the few secure private browsers that protect from browser fingerprinting and keep your identity hidden while you surf the web.
10. Iridium Browser
The Iridium browser is a chromium-based browser that focuses on maintaining users’ online privacy during browsing. It is the best tor browser alternative because it provides a safe browsing experience by blocking all cookies and trackers. It also provides a private browsing experience that transfers the data related to any unsecure website back to the developers to maintain a list of such sites.
Moreover, allowing users to use Qwant or DuckDuckGo as their default search engine further increases your digital privacy. However, the browser only works on Mac and Windows so, this might disappoint Android and iOS users.
11. Yandex Browser
Yandex browser also makes the list of the best Tor browser alternatives because of its impressive features. It is a chromium-based browser that allows users to browse the web anonymously. The browser uses various security boosting features like an ad-blocker, flash blocker, and site reputation indicator to maintain your anonymity on the web. Download Yandex browser on Windows, Mac, and Linux devices and increase your digital privacy.
12. Puffin Browser
Puffin browser is also a reliable browser that you can consider using as the best Tor alternative. It relies on proxy servers to mask your IP address and an encrypted cloud protection system to prevent possible data leaks. Moreover, the browser also offers a private browsing mode that keeps you away from trackers mining your data and makes you more private on the web.
13. Tox
Tox is an instant messaging app that you can use as the best tor browser alternative. It uses open-source libraries that encrypt all your communication and ensure that no one can track or spy on your communications.
14. Freepto
Freepto is the best tor browser alternative mainly designed for Linux users. The browser uses standard encryption to protect your online activities from all prying eyes. Because of strong encryption, you can even use this browser to bypass internet censorship and restriction in oppressive regimes.
15. PeerBlock
PeerBlocks are also among the best Tor browser alternatives that ensure an anonymous web browsing experience. They prove to be pretty helpful while downloading torrents. They hide your IP address and block all malicious IP addresses that can track and monitor your online behavior. However, peerblocks come with significant drawbacks. For instance, it doesn’t encrypt the data traffic, and if you use it instead of a Tor browser, you won’t remain fully anonymous. Your ISP or other prying eyes will identify you and learn about your online activities.
16. Comodo IceDragon
Comodo IceDragon is another best tor alternative used for browsing the web privately. It offers a wide range of security-focused features that you won’t find anywhere else. Unlike other alternatives, it uses a site inspection feature that scans the web pages for potential malware or viruses. You can even block trackers and ensure that no one can see your browsing activities. Also, it offers a built-in ad blocker and VPN feature that further increases your online anonymity.
17. Globus Browser
Globus browser also makes the list of the best tor alternatives that you shouldn’t ignore. The most impressive thing about this browser is that it comes with a VPN feature that helps protect your online identity and access blocked websites. Also, it protects against trackers and malware and keeps your activities hidden.
18. Tails
Tails for using cryptographic tools to encrypt your data and email communication is the best alternative. It deletes cookies and tracking from keeping a record of your online activities. Also, since it uses encryption, you can bypass internet restrictions, and access blocked websites.
19. IprediaOS Encrypted Browser
IprediaOS encrypted browser is also one of the best Tor browser alternatives. It uses programmed encryption to protect users from trackers and data collectors. Since it is a Linux-based operating system, it works best on Linux devices.
20. Whonix
Whonix offers top-notch security and privacy to the users and is among the best Tor browser alternatives. It uses the Whonix workstation that uses a private framework to protect your IP address from all snooping eyes. The browser offers multiple device compatibility and can be used on all popular operating systems, including Linux.
21. Disconnect Browser
The disconnect browser allows a safe browsing experience on the web and thus, ranks in the list for the best tor alternatives. It searches websites that use monitoring tools and technologies to track and record users’ online data. The best thing about this browser is that it stops the users from using any websites that track them. When you access any website via the Disconnect browser, and if it is unsecure, the browser disconnects the users and prevents them from accessing it in the future.
Why Should You Use Tor Browser Alternatives?
More than four million users accessed the Tor browser worldwide until the NSA hacked it. Also, the browser came under the radar for judicial breaches that further raise questions on the credibility of the Tor browser. This, along with the Tor browser’s flaws, increases the urge to search for the best tor browser alternatives.
In other words, people wanted to enjoy more digital privacy when accessing the dark web or anonymously browsing the web. The above discussed are the best alternatives that you can use instead of the Tor browser but remember since the encryption they offer is not much stronger so, you have to use a VPN with them.
Tor Alternatives for Accessing the Dark Web Vs. Anonymous Browsing-What’s the Difference?
When users look for the Tor browser alternatives so, they find two types of alternatives:
- The ones that provide help in accessing the dark web
- The ones used for anonymous browsing
When you choose the best tor browser alternative, don’t forget the purpose of your use. If you want to use the dark web, you should use one that comes with features that allow accessing the dark web like freenet, I2P, and subgraph OS. These tor alternatives are mainly designed for the dark web while the others offer features for safe and anonymous browsing. Even if you use them on the dark web, they won’t guarantee protection or a hassle-free connection. So, choose wisely!
Final Thoughts
Tor browser enjoys an excellent reputation among users for providing anonymity and easy access to the dark web. But, since it has developed security issues, users don’t find it the best option to use. This increases the urge to find Tor browser alternatives. The above discussed are some of the best alternatives to the Tor browser. They use advanced technology and features to access the darknet without letting anyone know about their activities.
No matter whichever browser you use, you should use a VPN in combination with them. All these browsers provide encryption that doesn’t match the encryption used by a VPN. Thus, for robust online protection, use a VPN.
