Are you looking for a secure way to protect your online activities? You might have heard about Tor and VPNs, two of the most popular online security solutions. But which one should you choose for your needs?
In this article, we’ll take a look at Tor vs. VPNs, their advantages and disadvantages, and help you decide which is the best security solution for you. So read this article till the end!
What is Tor?
Tor is a free security solution that helps you stay anonymous online. It does this by routing your traffic through a series of servers known as Tor nodes. This makes it difficult for anyone to track your activity or determine your location.
Tor is often used by journalists, activists, and whistleblowers who need to keep their identities and activities secret. But it can also be used by anyone who wants to keep their online activity private.
What is VPN?
Perhaps you’ve heard about VPNs, but you aren’t sure exactly what they are. A VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and is a way of encrypting your web traffic so that it’s secure from outside actors. It works by routing your internet connection through a remote server, which masks your IP address, making it harder to trace your online activity.
One of the main advantages of using a VPN is that it provides an extra layer of privacy since all data sent through the network is encrypted. This means that any malicious third parties can’t intercept your data, and it won’t be shared with anyone else either.
Advantages of using Tor
Tor provides several advantages over VPNs. First, Tor is free and open source. This means that the code is available for anyone to inspect, making it far more difficult for anyone to insert malicious code or track devices.
Second, Tor is more secure than free VPNs. VPNs are vulnerable to several attacks, including man-in-the-middle attacks and traffic analysis. Tor is designed specifically to be secure against these types of attacks.
Finally, Tor is more private than free VPNs. VPNs notoriously sell user data to third-party companies, while Tor does not. This makes Tor the better choice for people who need to keep their data private.
Disadvantages of using Tor
Tor has a few notable disadvantages. First and foremost, Tor is slow. Because your traffic is hopping through a series of random nodes, it can take a long time for data to reach its destination.
Another disadvantage of Tor is that it’s not great for streaming videos or downloading large files. The combination of latency and bandwidth-intensive activities can quickly slow down your connection and make using Tor pretty frustrating.
Advantages of using a VPN
Using a premium VPN is one of the most popular methods for keeping your data secure. It stands for Virtual Private Network, and it works by encrypting your data as it’s sent between your device and the internet. This means that if someone tried to snoop on your connection, the information would be unreadable.
One of the big advantages of using a VPN is that you can access content that’s blocked in your country. This includes streaming services, news sites, and even certain websites that may be blocked by your government or ISP.
Another great thing about VPNs is that they can hide your original IP address from anyone who might want to track or monitor it. As long as you connect to a VPN server before browsing the web, you can make sure that nobody will be able to find out who you are or where you’re located.
Finally, since most VPN services offer high levels of encryption and security, they’re perfect for accessing public Wi-Fi networks without worrying about someone spying on you or stealing your data.
Disadvantages of using a VPN
Now that we’ve covered the advantages of using a VPN, let’s talk about the potential downsides. The biggest issue with using a VPN is that you’re relying on a third-party server to encrypt your data and route your traffic. Depending on the provider and their policy, they may also have access to your browsing data.
Plus, there’s always the chance of a security breach or data leak. And lastly, if you’re connecting to a free VPN, your connection may be slow due to the high demand for bandwidth from other users. So if you need fast speeds for streaming or downloading files, then a free VPN won’t cut it.
Tor vs. VPN: which is better for your security needs?
When it comes to your online security and anonymity, VPNs are a much more secure option than the Tor Browser. Although Tor is free and will encrypt your data, it’s very slow, doesn’t provide access to all websites, and can potentially land you in legal trouble. On the other hand, VPNs are faster, encrypt all of your traffic, enable access to any website on the internet and put you in full control over the location you appear to be connecting from.
When selecting a VPN, make sure to install it properly and understand how the company safeguards your information. For instance, NordVPN does not maintain logs and guides you through the setup process. So give it a try!
Top 3 Best VPNs For Your Privacy
1. NordVPN– Privacy Specialist
| 🌐Based in: | Panama |
| 🖥️Total Servers: | 5500+ servers in 58 countries |
| 💾Logs: | No Logs |
| ℹ️Support: | 24/7 Live Chat |
| 🍿Unblock Netflix: | Yes |
| 💵Refund: | 30 Days |
| 🔥Discount: | NordVPN coupon 64% OFF |
NordVPN is the perfect privacy partner (the best VPN in the market). You are completely free from logging (based in Panama). All its privacy policies are audited independently. Encryption wise NordVPN is a nutshell (AES-256 bit) over OpenVPN protocol. Their specially designed protocol NordLynx offers twice the speeds of any standard protocol in the market.
NordVPN doesn’t have any DNS/IPv6 leaks so far there is a kill switch to protect your identity (when your connection drops). Along with its simple user interface connects you from 5500+ Servers. Its One-Tap “Quick Connect” connects to the fastest servers only. Know more about NordVPN with a full review.
Key Features
- Independently Audited
- Strict No-Logs Policy
- Obfuscated Servers
- AES-256-bit Encryption
- 5500+ Servers
- Dedicated P2P Servers
- Onion and Double VPN
- CyberSec Ad Blocker
- Split-Tunneling
- Dedicated IP Addresses
- Kill Switch
- Threat Protection
- NordLynx Protocol
- SmartPlay Streaming
- SmartDNS
Hiding your activities from ISP or any government surveillance. Do Whatever you want with NordVPN on your Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Well crafted to be effectively used by a beginner. Also a great choice for unblocking the geo-blocked content in different platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and other streaming Apps.
Double VPN + Onion over VPN Support is the specialty of NordVPN. While you can use this VPN simultaneously on 6 devices with a single account. It’s worth trying it as they are offering 30 days of the money-back guarantee program. You can request an instant refund (if you don’t like their service).
Pricing Plan
| Standard Subscription | Plus Subscription | Complete Subscription | |
| 2-year Plan | $3.69/mo + 3 months FREE | $4.69/mo + 3 months FREE | $5.99/mo + 3 months FREE |
| 1-year Plan | $4.49/mo + 3 months FREE | $5.49/mo + 3 months FREE | $6.79/mo + 3 months FREE |
| Monthly Plan | $11.99/mo | $12.99 | $14.29 |
Pros:
- Stable Ping for Valorant
- Fastest VPN
- Independently Audited
- Top Notch Encryption
- Great Server Coverage
- Streaming & Torrenting Support
- 30-Day Refund Policy
- 24/7 Live Chat Support
Cons:
- Slow Speeds on Distant Servers
Who It’s Best Suited To
NordVPN is best suited to people that care about their digital freedom. It uses the highest encryption system to encrypt your data traffic and also hides your IP address from everyone.
Overall, you get the best combination of security, stability, privacy, and speed with NordVPN whilst torrenting.
2. Surfshark– Budget Privacy Choice
| 🌐Based in: | the Netherlands |
| 🖥️Total Servers: | 3200+ Servers in 65 Countries |
| 💾Logs: | No Logs |
| ℹ️Support: | 24/7 Live Chat |
| 🍿Unblock Netflix: | Yes |
| 💵Refund: | 30 Days |
| 🔥Discount: | SurfsharkVPN coupon 81% OFF |
Surfshark is the best budget privacy protector. Though it sounds newer to you, this VPN is highly secure and did perform well. Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands (No logs anymore). You will get this VPN without much strain at very cheap prices. Surfshark keeps your information more private (AES-256 bit) with perfect forward secrecy.
Key Features
- Independently Audited
- Strict No-Logs Policy
- Obfuscated Servers
- AES-256-bit Encryption
- 3200+ Servers
- Kill Switch
- CleanWeb
- Whitelister
- Wifi Protection
- MultiHop
- No Barriers Mode
- Virtual Servers
- Static IP Servers
- RAM Only Servers
- Torrent Support
Surfshark has a reliable kill switch and protection against any DNS, IP leaks along with split tunneling, you can choose from a wide range of server networks with 3200+ servers in different countries. With them, you can unblock almost all the streaming services (Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and others).
The best part about this VPN is “Unlimited device connections“. You can torrent on dedicated P2P servers (without any bandwidth limitations). Also, they offer 45 days risk-free money-back guarantee program. If you don’t want to empty your pockets for a VPN consider this one as an option.
Pricing Plan
| 2-year Plan | 1-year Plan | Monthly Plan | |
| Promotional Price | $2.05/mo + 2 months FREE | $3.99/mo | $12.95/mo |
| Total | $53.28 for 26 months | $47.88 for 12 months | $12.95 for 1 month |
| Renewal Price | $59.76 | $59.76 | $12.95 |
| SurfShark One | $92.02 for 26 months ($53.28 + $38.74) | $65.76 for 12 months ($47.88 + $17.88) | $14.44 for 1 month ($12.95 + $1.49) |
| SurfShark One Renewal | $77.64 Annually ($59.76 + $17.88) | $77.64 Annually ($59.76 + $17.88) | $14.44 ($12.95 + $1.49) |
Pros:
- Good For Valorant
- Independently Audited
- AES-256-Bit Encryption
- High Speeds
- Streaming and Torrenting Beast
- Good Server Coverage
- 30-Days-Refund Policy
- 24/7 Live Chat Support
Cons:
- Distant Servers Take Time To Connect
- OpenVPN Protocol is slow
Who It’s Best Suited To
SurfShark is best suited to people that love streaming, torrenting, and gaming. It also keeps you secure from all digital threats and respects your privacy.
Overall, SurfShark does well in speed, privacy, streaming, and security. The SurfShark One Bundle also offers an in-built antivirus and real-time alerts system.
3. ExpressVPN – Better Privacy
ExpressVPN takes another privacy-protector VPN with tough encryption. Running its own DNS server (No one can trace your identity), further, it is secured by encryption (AES-256 over OpenVPN) along with HMAC authentication. There is a reliable kill switch for all of its applications. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands (free from any surveillance groups).
Key Features
- Independently Audited
- Strict No-Logs Policy
- Obfuscated Servers
- AES-256-bit Encryption
- Zero Knowledge DNS
- Kill Switch
- ExpressVPN Keys
- Trusted RAM-Only Servers
- Network Lock
- P2P File Sharing
- Lightway Protocol
- 3000+ Servers
- Stealth Technology
- Virtual Servers
- Shared IP Addresses
- Smart DNS
- Split Tunneling
- Private DNS
- Threat Manager
ExpressVPN boats OpenVPN, Ikev2, and L2Tp-IPSec, and the most reliable protocols. Ability to choose from 3000+ servers across 94 countries to unblock geo-blocked content or streaming services. While you use this VPN on 5 devices simultaneously with a single account. You can enjoy unlimited torrenting without any data caps.
The prices of this VPN are the same as the features (high). But yet they manage to offer a 30-day risk-free money-back program (Try without any risks) and 24/7 live chat support for all of your problems. If you want then there is a hidden page for low-price subscriptions.
Pricing Plans
| 1 Year Plan | 6 Months Plan | 1 Month Plan |
| $6.67/mo + 3 Months FREE | $9.99/mo | $12.95 |
| Roughly $80/year | Roughly $60 For 6 Months | $12.95 Per Month |
Pros:
- Independently Audited
- Top-Notch Encryption
- Premium Speeds with consistent connection
- Defend DDoS & DoS attacks
- Privacy Friendly VPN with zero log policy
- Unblocks any streaming service & website
- Top-Class Customer Support
- Torrenting support on every server
Cons:
- Maximum 5 device connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Tor browser on my smartphones and other devices?
Yes, you can use the Tor browser, According to professionals, For Android users, you must download Tor Browser and for IOS users, you need to download The Onion browser app, Both apps are different, but their objective is the same.
Using VPN is Legal?
The answer to this question lies in the country where you reside. Because in some countries it is legal to use VPN. In some countries like Iran or Iraq, it is considered illegal. If you want to check if it is legal in your country, here is the list.
Which VPN to use (Free or Paid VPN)?
We will recommend using Paid VPN. Since most of the free VPNs will log your activities and sell the user data while some are not. So it is always better you go for paid VPN.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, picking the best security solution for you will come down to what you need it for and which one fits better with your lifestyle. Think about all the factors we’ve discussed—from pricing to speed, encryption type to user experience—and what’s most important for your needs.
If you need something free and easy to use but don’t mind slower speeds, then Tor is probably the best choice. On the other hand, if you want reliability and security but don’t mind spending a bit of money, then a VPN could be the way to go. Whichever one you choose, just remember that your online privacy is important and there are tools available to help you stay secure.
