What is Onion over VPN

There is no denying that the Tor network and VPNs can be used as standalone services accordingly. However, both these online privacy solutions have their upsides and downsides too. But when users combine them both, they can take their privacy to a new plane. In short, the onion over VPN feature is a must when you want to surf the web without exposing your actual footprints online.

Read this guide in detail to discover which VPN providers offer such amazing features to their users.

TLDR: Which is the best VPN services for TOR in 2022

How to use the TOR browser with a VPN?

The task of using a Tor browser with a VPN does not need any rocket science. Here is what you should do:

• Subscribe to a VPN service of your choice such as ExpressVPN
• Download and install the VPN app on your device
• Login to your VPN app using login credentials
• Connect to your desired server from the servers’ list
• Open the Tor browser, enjoy secure and anonymous browsing from anywhere

How to select a reliable VPN for TOR?

When selecting a reliable VPN service for the Tor browser, you should consider different factors including:

• Compatibility
• Ease of use
• Availability of security/privacy features
• Server spread

Compatibility

Your chosen VPN service should support all the leading platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. This way, you can use the TOR browser in conjunction with a VPN on your preferred devices trouble-free.

Ease of use

You should not ignore this factor while subscribing to a VPN service that supports the Tor browser. In general, VPNs should be simple and easy to set up with a Tor browser. Hence, you can start web browsing securely without any difficulty.

Availability of security/privacy features

A VPN service must provide different security features like internet kill switch, OpenVPN protocol, 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, multi-logins, etc. This way, you can experience an impressive combination of security and speed while using a VPN service of your choice.

Additionally, you can perform your favorite tasks on the Tor browser, be it streaming, torrenting, and others securely.

Server Spread

Server spread is another important factor while considering a VPN service for Tor. If your VPN service offers a massive server network, you can appropriately connect to the closest available server. As a result, you can overcome issues like slow speeds to a certain extent.

Best VPNs for TOR in 2021

For your sake of convenience, we have curated a list of the best VPN services that are compatible with the Tor browser and offer an impressive combination of privacy and security features to their subscribers. These VPN services include: 

1. ExpressVPN – Offers Onion over VPN feature

ExpressVPN is one of the popular VPNs in the industry that support the Tor browser. This way, you can safeguard your privacy on multiple devices like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS without any hassle.

Apart from this, the BVI (British Virgin Islands) service has its dedicated .onion website ideal for accessing the official website securely in oppressive countries. This way, users can download ExpressVPN apps on their desired devices anonymously. 

Similarly, you can use other essential features such as network lock, DNS leak protection, and 5 multi-logins that significantly boost your online anonymity. Moreover, you can use 256-bit encryption to encrypt your web traffic while using a Tor browser. 

ExpressVPN provides its yearly pricing plan at $6.67/month at an attractive 49% discount and a 30-day refund policy.  

2. Surfshark – Works well with TOR browser

Surfshark, like ExpressVPN, is a BVI (British Virgin Islands) based VPN provider that does not store its users’ information. Besides, the service supports the Tor browser which suggests you can opt for Surfshark to secure your Tor browsing experience. 

Furthermore, the service offers numerous privacy and security features in the shape of camouflage mode, multi-hop, DNS leak protection, whitelister, internet kill switch, unlimited multi-logins, etc., to maximize your online privacy.

Luckily, you can use a multi-hop feature that helps you to route your internet traffic via several servers instantly. Similarly, you can try its eye-catching NoBorders mode feature to use the Tor browser even in highly oppressive countries. 

You can get its 2-year subscription plan at $2.30/month at an incredible 82% discount and a 30-day refund policy.   

3. NordVPN – Provides onion over VPN and other features

NordVPN is a Panama-based VPN provider that offers a reliable no-logs policy feature. No-logs policy feature aside, you can use numerous privacy and security features like an onion over VPN, double VPN, dedicated IP, IP leak protection, internet kill switch, split tunneling, 6 multi-logins, etc. 

Besides, NordVPN provides various security protocols like OpenVPN, SSTP, IPsec/IKEv2, and WireGuard to protect your data from hackers and other cyber goons. 

In general, NordVPN is one of the fastest VPN services in the market that allows you to surf the web on the Tor browser without reducing your network speeds. If you want to subscribe to NordVPN, you can avail of its 2-year plan at $3.49/month at a reasonable 70% discount and a 30-day refund policy. 

4. CyberGhost – Compatible with TOR browser

CyberGhost mainly operates from Romania and offers an attractive no-logging policy feature. Furthermore, the provider does have different features in its armory like Tor support, kill switch, WebRTC leak protection, DNS leak protection, etc., to improve your online anonymity appreciably. 

Likewise, you can use its other excellent features like OpenVPN protocol that offers a great blend of speed and security simultaneously. Above all, CyberGhost is easy to use and protects your web browsing activities on the Tor browser hassle-free.

In terms of pricing, you will need to pay $2.25/month to obtain its 3-year package (3 months free) at an excellent 83% discount and a generous 45-day refund policy.  

5. Private Internet Access – Supports TOR browser

Private Internet Access is another VPN service you can trust while using the Tor browser. The service does not take half measures when protecting its users’ privacy as it offers an excellent no-logging policy feature.

It means the service does not store its users’ data and secures their digital footprints with a kill switch, IP leak protection, WebRTC leak protection, and other security features. 

If we discuss its performance speed-wise, it offers decent connection speeds that let you accomplish your Tor browsing needs efficiently. 

You will need to pay $2.03/month to obtain its 3-year subscription plan + 3 free months deal (Halloween Sale) at a massive 83% discount and a 30-day refund policy.  

6. IPVanish – Provides an impressive mix of security/privacy features

IPVanish is a US-based VPN service that offers 1600+ servers in 60+ countries globally. Besides, the service is compatible with the Tor browser, which means you can easily use IPVanish alongside a Tor browser to enhance your online anonymity to new heights.

If we discuss its other privacy and security features, you can use obfuscated servers, DNS leak protection, kill switch, 10 simultaneous connections, etc. Interestingly, you can avail its impressive 10 multi-logins feature that helps you share your credentials with your loved ones stress-free.

IPVanish offers its yearly pricing plan that you can avail at $2.62/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why should I use a VPN and TOR browser simultaneously?

When you use a VPN and a TOR browser in parallel, you can encrypt your whole web traffic through VPN’s military-grade encryption hassle-free. Consequently, you can keep notorious elements like hackers, scammers, etc., at bay easily.

Apart from this, you can use different privacy and security features such as internet kill switch, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, etc., to boost your online privacy significantly.

Similarly, you can perform various online tasks like gaming, streaming, torrenting, and others without exposing your actual whereabouts. In case you do not connect to a VPN server while using a Tor browser, you cannot encrypt your data altogether.

Besides, you will not be able to use security and privacy features, as mentioned above.
Considering the importance of a VPN, it is always better to use a VPN in conjunction with a Tor browser.

Is TOR legal and safe to use?

Tor is legal and safe to use as long as you use it for all the right reasons. You had better use the Tor browser continually because its constant use may drag you in hot waters.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals use the Tor browser to hide their illegal activities from law enforcement agencies. Therefore, you should refrain from using it for a lengthy period; otherwise, ISPs and other surveillance actors may start keeping an eye on your browsing activities.

Pros and Cons of TOR

Performance aside, Tor does have some major advantages and disadvantages, which you must keep in mind:

Pros

• It is free to use
• Tor browser is simple to use and does not need any rocket science
• It keeps your internet browsing activities anonymous

Cons

• reduces internet connections’ speed
• Final Tor node can expose users’ actual whereabouts
• Hackers can target Tor users

FAQs

Wrapping Up

Summing up, the onion over VPN feature is a must for users who want to protect their digital footprints from the prying eyes of ISPs and other surveillance actors, including hackers, identity thieves, etc. 

Furthermore, the Tor browser is legal and safe to use because it helps you browse the web anonymously. When you use it alongside a VPN, you can enhance your online privacy to the next level.