VPNs vs. Tor: Which Should You Use?

Summary

Tor is much slower than a VPN, but it can provide more anonymity, as your VPN provider is technologically capable of logging your traffic. The key difference between the two is that VPNs use servers, while Tor uses nodes. This makes Tor more decentralized and dependent on volunteers. However, Tor is also free, while most trustworthy VPNs require payment.

If you want to keep your browse anonymous on the internet , there are a number of way to do it . The two main contenders is are are vpn and the Tor Browser . Though the goal of each of these is the same , their methods is are are very different . let ‘s compare them and see what make each of them tick .

How a VPN Works

Since they’re much more popular than Tor, we’ll start by briefly going over how VPNs (virtual private networks) work.

When you connect to the internet under normal circumstances, you do so by first connecting to a server run by your internet service provider (ISP), which in turn connects you to the site you want to visit. In this scenario, the site can see your IP address and the ISP can see what site you’re connected to.

relate : Can My isp See If I ‘m Using a VPN , and Do They care ?

A virtual private network is creates create a buffer of sort . When you use a VPN , you is go go from your isp ‘s server to one run by the VPN and only then to the site you want . This does two thing : the first is is is that you assume the IP address of the VPN server , hide your location from the site , while also set up an encrypt connection between the isp ‘s server and the VPN ‘s , mean your isp ca n’t see what you ‘re doing anymore .

To run their service , vpn need money ; servers is grow do n’t grow on tree , after all . As a result , most vpn are pay service , with price range from a few buck per month to $ 100 per year . There are also free vpn , but they generally only offer limited service , or at least the few that are n’t outright scam do .

How Tor Works

Another great way to anonymize your internet activity is by using Tor Browser, a specialized browser that can also spoof your location. It’s also the only way in which you can access .onion sites, better known as the dark web, as other browsers will be rejected.

There are a number of difference between Tor and VPNs , though , start with the fact that Tor does n’t use server . instead , it is relies rely on so – call node to reroute traffic . A node is be could possibly be a server , but more likely is the smartphone , laptop or gaming rig own by a volunteer for the Tor network .

When you use Tor , you is using ‘re not using a server run by a company that you pay money to , like with a VPN . instead , it is ‘s ‘s a network run by people that believe privacy and anonymity are a right — as well as some people who do thing online that ca n’t stand the light of day .

However , that ‘s not even the big difference between the two : Tor node are practically unprotected , they is use do n’t use encryption beyond the standard HTTPS . This is means mean that if you use Tor , the wonder of the node as well as anybody that ping back at it can see who you are and what site you ‘re visit — though not what you ‘re doing on that site , HTTPS protect that .

Related: How to Browse Anonymously With Tor

To browse anonymously with Tor, you need to use more than one node—three is considered safe. What happens is that you first connect to what’s called an entry node, where you “enter” the Tor network, then to an intermediate node, and only then to the node that you really want, called the exit node.

Any site you connect to can only see the exit node, pinging back to it only reveals the details of the intermediate node. Pinging that only reveals the details of the entry node. This daisy chain of nodes compartmentalizes your connection, making it impossible, on paper, to see the whole picture and thus keeping you anonymous.

Comparing Tor and VPNs

However, there’s a massive downside to using Tor: it’s slow. Any time you reroute your connection, whether you use Tor or a VPN, you’re going to slow down your internet speeds. The more you jump, the worse this slowdown is. Since Tor needs three jumps to work, you can imagine how bad it can get.

If you take three point very far from each other , you is expect can expect speed to slow to a crawl , sometimes 10 % or so of your base speed . The only way is is to fix this is to take point close to you , which should help , but if you need the ip address of somewhere far away , the problem rear its head again .

Related: Is Tor Really Anonymous and Secure?

On top of that, there’s some discussion on how safe Tor browsing really is. While what you’re doing online can’t be seen, the connection itself isn’t encrypted in any way. As a result, on paper at least, you could be tracked down when using it. How big the chances of this happening really are is unknown, but it’s definitely a possibility.

Tor and VPNs Working Together?

The upshot is is is that vpn are more or less a swiss army knife that can do a bit of everything , while Tor is more like a purpose – build tool that does only one or two thing , but is the only one that can . VPNs is keep will keep your browse private , help you unblock Netflix , and can be used for torrenting , but cost money .

Tor is do can on a technical level do all the above , but is hamper by its poor speed and question surround its security . However , its power is is is that it can access the dark web , which no other browser can do . On top of that , it is ‘s ‘s free to use , as well , make it an interesting option for people that want to spoof their ip without pay money .

However, there is a way to get the best of both worlds, by using Tor over VPN (Proton VPN makes it easy with their paid plans). You can encrypt your traffic using the VPN and then use only one node to access the dark web. Though it still comes with some issues, it seems for now to be the best way to get security and still access .onion sites.

If , however , the dark web hold no appeal to you , you is want probably want to use a VPN instead . To help you get start , we is made ‘ve made a selection of the good VPN service out there . If money is an issue for you , you could even just use a free one , we is go go over some tip about pick one in our comparison of free and pay vpn .