1browser is the top Tor alternative in 2025.

It offers powerful VPN browser features, including multiple server locations and enhanced browsing speeds. 1browser also offers robust encryption and stores users’ data on AWS (Amazon Web Services) servers, ensuring data safety and privacy.

Secondly, Brave browser is another best Tor browser alternative, for regions with stringent privacy laws, such as the EU. Other recommendable Tor alternatives are I2P for secure peer-to-peer communication and a VPN for enhanced browsing speed and accessibility.

But that’s not all! In this article, we’ll unveil more Tor alternatives while exploring why each stands out, its pros, and cons.

How We Built The List: Methodology

With hundreds of Tor alternatives, finding a reliable one can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. That’s why we did extensive research to bring you the top 11 Tor alternatives that offer reliable security, privacy, and anonymity.

At first, we identified tens of popular Tor alternatives. Further, we narrowed down the list by thoroughly testing and analyzing the alternatives to ensure only the best made the cut.

Here are the key things we considered in our evaluation:

  • Encryption strength: Strong encryption is key for safeguarding and protecting user data against unauthorized access. For that reason, we prioritized privacy tools that use high-end encryption technologies like AES 256-bit encryption.
  • Privacy features: While hunting for the best privacy tools, we looked for Tor alternatives that can hide users’ IP address without data leaks and hacking. Tools that offer DNS leak protection, no-logs policy, and other advanced privacy features made to the cut.
  • Ease of use: A top Tor alternative shouldn’t be rocket science to use. Thus, we choose easy-to-use privacy tools with a simple user interface. This ensures both beginners and tech-savvy users have options.
  • Speed: Online privacy and anonymity should never come at the expense of slow browsing speeds. Therefore, we thoroughly tested for latency and download speed to ensure that the privacy tools offer a balance of privacy and fast speeds.
  • Compatibility: We are aware users prefer various operating systems for their day-to-day activities. For that reason, we considered the Tor alternatives compatible with a majority of operating systems like Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, and macOS.
  • Reputation and transparency: We investigated each Tor alternative reputation by checking previous user experiences to determine their ability to keep data safe and any known vulnerabilities.  Also, each tool’s transparency on how it operates played a major role in our ranking.
  • Cost: Everyone wishes to get value for their money, so we looked for premium privacy tools that offer privacy features that match the cost. Also, we included several free options that still deliver robust privacy, security, and risk-free anonymity.

By evaluating these key factors in our methodology, we curated a list of the 11 best Tor alternatives that deliver a secure, private, and anonymous online presence without compromising browsing speeds. Keep reading to unveil them!

Top 11 Tor Alternatives in 2025 (Full Overview)

1browser

1Browser is the best Tor alternative. It offers private, secure, and anonymous browsing like no other.

What sets it apart is its network settings where you can set up a proxy IP address for each profile. This means you can access content from anywhere in the world without restrictions. Plus, your privacy is always guaranteed as it masks your IP and strongly encrypts your connection to keep your online activities private and anonymous.

Pro Tip: To solidify your online privacy with 1browser, set up its safe browsing mode and secure DNS to keep you protected against privacy threats. Also, use the network setting to set up the VPN browser proxy to encrypt your connection on each profile and manage your accounts effortlessly without suspension.

Why It Stands Out

  • Robust encryption: 1browser employs AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard user data against unauthorized access.
  • User-friendly: The 1browser’s interface is intuitive, enabling easy navigation for both novice and expert users.
  • Multi-account management: You can simultaneously log in to multiple accounts without suspensions. This is only possible because 1browser masks your IP and encrypts your connection, making your online presence untraceable.
  • IP masking: 1browser offers network settings where you get to choose a proxy IP address. As a result, your real IP remains hidden making you anonymous and undetectable online.
  • Fast browsing speeds: Using 1browser for online privacy and security doesn’t compromise your browsing speeds. The tool offers a balance of online security and fast blazing browsing speeds.

Pros

  • Allows multiple account management without suspensions
  • User-friendly interface
  • Compatible with Windows and macOS computers
  • High-level encryption
  • Regular updates to ensure ultimate safety and performance
  • Free proxy IP addresses.

Cons

  • Not compatible with Android and iOS devices

Brave Browser

Brave browser is another reliable Tor alternative, especially in regions with strict privacy laws like the European Union (EU). This is because of its privacy-focused features such as blocking ads and stopping trackers by default.

Even better, while blocking ads, Brave browser offers an advertising approach that is privacy cautious. With its Brave reward system, you choose which privacy-preserving ads to see and earn a Basic Attention Token (BAT).

Pro Tip: To unlock the full power of Brave browser ensure you use its built-in Shields to block ads, cross-site cookies, phishing, and trackers that can compromise your privacy. Also, remember to enable Brave’s Tor integration to add an extra layer of privacy.

Why It Stands Out

  • Privacy-focused: Brave browser focuses most on user privacy by stopping cross-site trackers and blocking ads by default. As a result, you get a smooth, secure browsing experience without annoying ads pop-ups, and autoplay videos that secretly collect your data.
  • Built-in ad blocker: Brave is equipped with a built-in ad blocker that blocks all distracting ad popups. This in return also improves the page loading speeds, ensuring a fast and secure browsing experience.
  • Brave rewards: With Brave rewards, you earn a Basic Attention Token (BAT) for viewing privacy-respecting ads. You can use the tokens to gift content creators or convert them into other currencies.
  • Ideal for privacy-strict regions: Brave browser is the best privacy browser when you stay or visit regions with strict privacy laws like the EU and Switzerland. This is because of its privacy-rich features such as blocking ads and fingerprinting and a strict no-logs policy.

Pros

  • Built-in ad blocker
  • Cryptocurrency-like reward system for earning tokens
  • Fast blazing browsing speeds
  • User privacy-focused
  • Chromium-based interface hence it is easy to use

Cons

  • Only supports Chrome Web Store extensions, hence a limited support for extensions
  • Potential ethical issues and conflicts relating to its ads-blocking system

I2P

I2P stands for “Invisible Internet Project”. Essentially, it is a decentralized network, designed for secure and anonymous peer-to-peer communication. Unlike Tor which majorly offers anonymous internet browsing, I2P prioritizes creating a hidden environment for private file sharing and communication.

The I2P network is ideal for you if you are a journalist,  activist, or whistle-blower seeking to privately communicate or share files without exposing your identity.

Pro Tip: To get the best out of I2P, use it for secure peer-to-peer communication or file sharing within the I2P network (Eepsites). Remember, it’s not just for anonymous browsing but you can set it up properly to keep your sensitive data private and away from prying eyes!

Why It Stands Out

  • Secure communication: I2P offers you a secure network to communicate with specific groups of people while hiding your identity.
  • Ideal for sensitive file sharing: I2P offers a hidden service functionality. This gives you robust privacy to share highly sensitive files with other users within the private network.
  • Decentralized network: The I2P network architecture is fully decentralized. This means all users on the network act as a node, leaving no room for surveillance or censorship.
  • High privacy level: I2P sites commonly known as Eepsites are made to be available only to users within the I2P network. As a result, this provides you with a high level of privacy when sharing files and communicating through the network.

Pros

  • Anonymous communication
  • Enhanced privacy
  • Secure peer-to-peer file sharing
  • Free and open-source
  • Highly resistant to surveillance and censorship

Cons

  • It requires expert skill to set up and use
  • Reduced speeds compared to other privacy tools

VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an encrypted network connection on your device(s) over the internet. It protects you by encrypting your online traffic data and masking your IP address.

Generally, you can consider VPNs for privacy over Tor because VPNs deliver fast speeds and are user-friendly. Also, VPNs offer robust online security and easily prevent ISPs and government pryings when used properly.

Pro Tip: For a balance of privacy and speed, choose VPNs with a split-tunneling feature like NordVPN, Surfshark, or ExpressVPN. The split-tunneling lets you protect sensitive tasks while keeping casual browsing blazing fast!

Why It Stands Out

  • User-friendliness: VPNs are more user-friendly compared to Tor, with easy configuration and an intuitive app interface for easy navigation.
  • Speed: VPNs are often the best Tor alternative for faster browsing. While not all VPNs are equal, some offer optimized servers and protocols that balance speed with strong online protection.
  • Strong encryption: Some popular VPNs like NordVPN use the market-leading AES 256-bit encryption to secure user data against unauthorized third-party access.
  • Advanced protection features: Top VPNs like Surfshark and ExpressVPN are packed with robust security and privacy features such as kill switches, ad blockers, and no-log policy. This solidifies your online security and privacy whenever surfing the web.

Pros

  • Advanced privacy and security features like the kill switch
  • AES 256-bit encryption
  • Bypasses geo-restrictions and censorships
  • Fast browsing speeds
  • Compatible with most operating systems

Cons

  • Some good VPNs are costly
  • Some VPNs are located in 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance nations

Epic Privacy Browser

Epic browser is another outstanding Tor alternative because of its robust privacy features. The Chrome-based browser was developed by Hidden Reflex with a key focus on providing anonymous and private web surfing.

Epic’s ad blocker gets the work done by blocking ads, cryptomining scripts, trackers, fingerprinting, and ultrasound signaling to keep your data safe. Also, this privacy browser includes a built-in VPN functionality that encrypts and hides your IP to deliver anonymous browsing.

Pro Tip: Try Epic Privacy Browser if you want privacy without slow speed on Tor. With the built-in VPN functionality, tracker protection, and ad blocker, you get private and anonymous browsing without harming your connection speeds.

Why It Stands Out

  • Built-in VPN-like functionality: The Epic Privacy Browser deploys a built-in VPN functionality that assigns you an encrypted proxy IP. This keeps your online presence undetectable by governments, ISPs, and other third parties.
  • Robust built-in protection: Epic browser has your privacy at heart. It includes strong protection against tracking cookies, agents, ad networks, third-party widgets, and cryptocurrency mining scripts.
  • Ultrasound signal blocking: Epic Privacy Browser employs a system to track and block ultrasound signals sent to your device(s) by tracking websites. Therefore, this keeps your digital footprint untraceable.
  • Speed: Epic is one of the fastest private browsers available. Unlike onion networks, Epic browser uses proxy servers which offer faster browsing speeds than Tor networks.

Pros

  • Robust encrypted proxy
  • Blocks fingerprinting
  • Ultrasound signal blocking
  • Ad and tracker blocking
  • Fast browsing speeds

Cons

  • Not compatible with all password managers
  • Blocks most browser add-ons, causing issues for users who rely on Chrome extensions

Tails

Tails also referred to as The Amnesic Incognito Live System, is an open-source free operating system designed to protect user anonymity and privacy.  Essentially, Tails doesn’t need to be installed on the host computer but runs from a USB drive or a DVD.

Unlike the Tor browser which tends to secure only your browsing activities, Tails routes all your internet connection through the Tor network. That means your entire operating system becomes protected, which enhances online privacy and anonymity.

The most interesting thing about Tails is how it works. It doesn’t store any data on the computer’s hard drive. Instead, it runs entirely on RAM. This means no traces of your identity or activity are left once you shut down the computer.

Pro Tip: To effectively get the best out of Tails as a Tor alternative, set up a Persistent Storage to save your settings and files securely across sessions. This prevents the deletion of selected files or settings when the system shuts down, all while maintaining your privacy!

Why It Stands Out

  • Total anonymity: Tails strongly encrypts your data and runs on RAM without saving information on the host computer’s hard drive. This effectively erases your digital footprint when the computer shuts down, ensuring complete anonymity.
  • Accessibility and portability: Tails run on a USB drive or DVD meaning you can use it on different computers without leaving traces of your activities.
  • Secure communication tools: Tails include instant messaging, encrypted emails, and other pre-configured tools to secure your communication.
  • Robust data protection: Tails includes OpenPGP which supports Thunderbird, VeraCrypt, GnuPG, and other robust tools to store your data safely.

Pros

  • Helps to erase digital footprints
  • Employs Tor network to encrypt and anonymize user connection
  • Useful open-source tools like Thunderbird and KeePassXC
  • Best free alternative to Tor for privacy

Cons

  • Requires technical expertise to use
  • It’s amnesic, meaning it erases all data, so any unsaved information is lost when it shuts down.

Whonix

Founded in 2012, Whonix is a virtual machine designed to offer enhanced online privacy and anonymity to users. Whonix doesn’t run on your computer directly like traditional operating systems. Instead, it creates a separate virtual machine to handle Tor connections, isolating user activity and IP address from the system hardware and operating system. This means your digital footprints remain invisible and untraceable by anyone.

Primarily, the Whonix consists of two virtual machines. There is the Whonix gateway responsible for Tor operations and maintaining online anonymity. On the other hand, the Whonix workstation runs all applications on the isolated network.

Pro Tip: To get maximum protection from Whonix, ensure your system clock is accurate and avoid changing the default UTC settings. This keeps Tor running smoothly and prevents broken internet connectivity that can cause privacy leaks. Also, always update your Whonix system to include the latest security fixes!

Why It Stands Out

  • Compatibility: Whonix is compatible with all major operating systems. Also, it supports various hardware platforms like the Raspberry Pi 3 and Talos.
  • Strong anonymity: Whonix integration with the Tor network makes it impossible to expose your IP address or location. This means your online presence is strongly anonymized, preventing potential privacy breaches.
  • Enhanced security: Whonix provides strong online security and anonymity by using separate virtual machines to isolate your activities. This ensures your real identity and data remain ever protected.
  • Based on Tor: Whonix is designed to enforce all your traffic through the Tor anonymity network. That way, you get reliable IP hiding and advanced online security and privacy.

Pros

  • Advanced security features like DNS leak protection
  • Strong user activity protection through isolation
  • Robust anonymity hence no tracking of user activity
  • Unparalleled privacy with Tor integration
  • Vibrant and active community support base for valuable troubleshooting tips

Cons

  • Reduced speeds due to reliance on the Tor network
  • Requires expert knowledge to configure and use

Orbot

Orbot is another impressive free Tor alternative, which is primarily designed to offer internet anonymity and privacy to Android and iOS users. The free VPN and proxy app uses the Tor network to encrypt your internet traffic. It also anonymizes your online activities by bouncing through series on multiple computers around the world.

Unlike Tor, Orbot is more flexible. It provides privacy to all apps on your mobile device without solely focusing on anonymous web browsing like the latter.

Pro Tip: Avoid using Orbot and VPN at the same time. This is counterintuitive and would cause Orbot to develop issues and fail to provide the ultimate online privacy and anonymity.

Why It Stands Out

  • Highly flexible: Orbot routes traffic from all apps on your Android and iOS device through Tor. This keeps all your activities safe online when using any app on your device, unlike Tor which protects solely your web browser activities.
  • Free and open source: Orbot is developed by a non-profit organization (Guardian Project) which focuses on digital privacy. Therefore, you get a strong defense against surveillance and any form of privacy breaches at no cost.
  • Bypassing censorship: Orbot is a VPN and proxy app that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through the Tor network to hide your IP address. That way, you can access restricted websites and content with ease.
  • Enhanced privacy and anonymity: Orbot boosts your privacy by encrypting traffic from all apps on your device and routing it through the Tor network. It also protects your identity by bouncing your data through multiple servers worldwide, making it hard to trace.

Pros

  • Encrypts and routes user traffic through the Tor network to ensure privacy
  • Freely licensed open-source privacy application for mobile devices
  • Simple to install, configure, and use
  • Bypasses censorship and restrictions

Cons

  • Slow speeds due to the use of the Tor network
  • Limited to mobile device users only

Hyphanet

Hyphanet is another decentralized free and open-source Tor alternative designed for peer-to-peer interaction. Established in 2001, Hyphanet was named Freenet until mid-2023 when it was renamed.

The main idea behind Hyphanet is to enable you to communicate and share files anonymously with peers in the same network. Once you join the Hyphanet network, part of your hard drive is allocated and encrypted for storing files. Other members also contribute to the Hyphanet network in the same way, after which members can download and upload content anonymously.

Furthermore, as a Hyphanet network member, you can safely browse “freesites” (sites only accessible through Hyphanet). You can also communicate in forums and access online information privately and anonymously.

Pro Tip: While sharing files on the Hyphanet network, always consider encrypting them with tools like AES or GPG before uploading. This adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring your files and data are private.

Why It Stands Out

  • Secure data storage: Hyphanet network members contribute a percentage of their local disk space, which is strongly encrypted to ensure safe data storage.
  • Anonymous communication: Hyphanet allows you to communicate anonymously with peers in the forum.
  • Censorship-resistant: Hyphanet uses decentralized architecture, meaning it lacks a central point of control. Therefore, it becomes hard to censor specific content.
  • Overcoming surveillance: Hyphanet uses robust encryption to protect users’ data. Also, coupled with reliance on requests, it becomes difficult to know who uploaded or downloaded given content from the Hyphanet network.

Pros

  • High-level encryption of user data
  • Hyphanet’s decentralized system helps to bypass censorship
  • Best for secure P2P file sharing
  • Uses robust anonymization to guard user privacy

Cons

  • High latency which makes it unsuitable for fast-speed tasks like real-time gaming
  • Complex to set up and use hence requires some expertise

Mullvad Browser

Mullvand browser, founded in April 2023, is a Tor browser without the Tor network. In other words, the Mullvad browser is a version of the Tor browser that uses the Mullvad VPN instead of the Tor network to protect users’ privacy.

So, the Mullvad browser is the perfect choice if you are looking for VPN-like security and privacy. The privacy browser boasts features like anti-fingerprinting technology, one-click profile reset, and private browsing mode, ensuring your digital footprints are concealed.

Pro Tip: While it’s possible to use the Mullvad browser with other VPNs, it’s advisable to stick to Mullvad VPN for optimal performance and protection. Also, you should avoid altering the default browser settings to maintain a consistent digital fingerprint for better anonymity.

Why It Stands Out

  • VPN integration: The Mullvad browser uses a VPN server to route your traffic instead of the Tor network. This allows faster connection speeds and a smooth browsing experience.
  • Ease of use: Unlike Tor, the Mullvad browser is easy to set up and has an intuitive interface that proves to be user-friendly.
  • Ideal for general uses: The Mullvad browser is a good choice if you seek privacy for your online activities without compromising the browsing speeds. Also, the ability to seamlessly bypass geo-blocks and censorship puts Mullvad ahead of the competition.
  • Built-in privacy features: Strong privacy features such as third-party tracker blocking, automatic cookie blocking, and advanced fingerprinting protection make the Mullvad browser an outstanding Tor alternative.

Pros

  • Simple and user-friendly interface
  • Enhanced speeds as it routes traffic through VPN servers instead of Tor Network
  • Blocks browser fingerprinting
  • Privacy-focused web browser with automatic cookie and tracker-blocking

Cons

  • Still new in the market with a limited user base compared to its competitors
  • Currently, it’s limited to Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, with no options for mobile devices

Opera Browser

Opera is another safer alternative to Tor, boasting strong privacy and security features. The internet browser comes with a built-in VPN, which assigns you a virtual IP address to hide your online activities from ISPs, hackers, and snoopers.

Also, the Opera browser has anti-phishing, tracker protection, and ad-blocking features to protect you against invasive ads and malicious sites. The browser’s simple and user-friendly interface also makes it a solid choice for most users looking for the best alternative to Tor.

Pro Tip: To make Opera more private and safe, turn on the built-in VPN and block ads and trackers in Settings > Privacy & Security.  Also, block third-party cookies and clear browsing data regularly to stay more anonymous while browsing.

Why It Stands Out

  • Built-in VPN: Opera browser has a built-in VPN that masks your IP address to hide your online presence. Also, the built-in VPN offers a simple way to activate your privacy protection without the hassles of installing and configuring separate VPN applications.
  • Solid privacy features: Besides the built-in VPN, the Opera browser offers tracking protection, ad blocking, and blocks cryptomining scripts to enhance your online privacy.
  • User-friendly interface: The Opera browser is built with a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate. Also, it’s a Chromium-based browser, making it familiar to most users.
  • Compatibility: The Opera browser is built on Chromium, ensuring minimal site compatibility issues. It works seamlessly across major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Pros

  • Extensive customization options
  • Built-in VPN to hide user online activity behind a virtual IP address
  • Built-in ad blocker for a private and ad-free browsing experience
  • Innovative privacy features such as tracker protection and cyrptomining blocking

Cons

  • Reduced speeds compared to competitor private browsers
  • Lacks a minimalist interface due to its sidebars and buttons on its design

FAQs on Best Tor Alternatives

What Is the Best Browser for Anonymous Browsing?

1browser is the best browser for anonymous browsing, thanks to its robust encryption and proxy IP network for routing user traffic. Also, features like safe browsing mode, secure DNS leak protection, and third-party cookie blocking put 1browser far ahead of the competition in terms of secure, private, and anonymous browsing.

What Is a Good Alternative to Tor for Privacy, Security, and Anonymity?

A good alternative to Tor offers strong encryption to protect your data and online activities. It should also include robust privacy features like a no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, and tracking prevention to safeguard your privacy. Additionally, it must effectively prevent surveillance, bypass censorship, and maintain fast connection speeds for smooth browsing. Good examples are anonymous VPN browsers like 1browser and decentralized networks like  I2P, which tick almost all these criteria.

What Are Some Free Alternatives to Tor?

I2P and Hyphanet are some of the free alternatives to Tor. Essentially they are open-source networks that offer you anonymity and privacy at no cost. On the other hand, 1browser is also a reliable free Tor alternative, with an option to upgrade to a paid version to unblock more browser privacy features.

Best Tor Alternatives for Anonymous Browsing Discovered

Tor is a trusted tool for privacy and anonymity, but it has drawbacks like slow speeds and limited compatibility. Thankfully, we have compiled a list 11 best Tor alternatives to explore.

However, if you’re looking for the ultimate Tor alternative, 1browser is the clear winner. It offers unmatched security, blazing-fast speeds, and robust encryption. With its AWS-backed data protection and user-friendly design, it’s perfect for safe and anonymous browsing.