As a reliable VPN for the dark web, it stores no logs of your digital footprint, which has been proven in court many times and audited by Deloitte. Private Internet Access uses Private DNS plus RAM-only servers, so it can wipe clean any server simply by restarting it. ExpressVPN cemented its presence in over 105 countries, so you have ample to choose from.
- It comprises websites, resources and services that aren’t indexed by regular web crawlers.
- Surfshark provides macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux apps and can be manually configured to work with wireless routers.
- While “free” is definitely an attractive price, the realities of “free” VPN providers is far from alluring.
- While free VPNs are appealing for obvious financial reasons, they often come with limitations and potential risks.
Our Criteria For Excellent Dark Web VPNs
- This helps them determine inappropriate use, identify fraud, or complete certain actions.
- Many VPN services are simply not trustworthy enough and often log your internet activity data, which is especially dangerous when using Tor and accessing the Dark Web.
- This is an estimated reading time to let you know how long it will take you to read all the content on this particular PrivacySavvy.com page.
- You can compare these details and choose the one that best satisfies your needs.
- That‘s why having the right privacy tools is critical before accessing hidden .onion sites or services through Tor.
- If you’re expecting simultaneous connections, you’re in for disappointment.
Due to its invasive logging policy, Hotspot Shield’s US jurisdiction is problematic. Further below we’ve also analyzed two 100% free Tor VPNs, although they underperformed top-rated services. They will enhance your internet privacy when browsing the Dark Web, particularly using the Onion over VPN method of combining the two technologies. When used correctly, these VPNs will hide your IP address from Tor’s entry nodes and allow you to use Tor more safely. We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives.

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In this comprehensive guide, I will endeavor to answer those questions and many more. I’ll go into how the Tor system works, explain the Onion Network, what a relay is, and how to make the Tor Browser work best to protect your online privacy and anonymity. Please check your local laws to ensure your use of VPN complies with statutory requirements. Yes, using a VPN can effectively prevent your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from tracking your activities on the Dark Web. While an ISP can typically see that you’re using Tor without a VPN, they can’t see what you’re doing on it. However, when you use a VPN, your ISP can’t even see that you’re connecting to Tor.
Helpful Safety Tips For Using The Dark Web
Subscriptions are very cheap — particularly the two-year plan, which cost the equivalent of $1.99 a month. Privacy-conscious internet users can pay in Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Ripple and use a disposable email address to register almost entirely anonymously. Subscriptions include unlimited device connections, which makes it even better value. Before you rush and get a VPN for the dark web, please stop and think.
How To Remove Yourself From The Internet: A Comprehensive Guide
Websites and data on the dark web do typically require a special tool to access. We also have RAM-only NoSpy servers located in Romania, outside the Eyes jurisdictions. Neither your ISP nor the government will be able to see what you’re doing online when the VPN is turned on either. The Tor browser is currently available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. CyberGhost VPN also has dedicated apps for all these devices so you can surf the dark web however you want. Use a VPN to protect your identity and keep your browsing private when surfing the dark web.
By following these steps, you can use a VPN to access the dark web safely and anonymously. Just remember to choose a reputable VPN provider and always use caution when browsing the dark web. Split tunneling is a feature that allows you to route some of your internet traffic through the VPN while allowing other traffic to bypass the VPN. This can be useful if you need to access both dark web and regular internet content at the same time.
How To Browse The Dark Web Legally
This makes it difficult for interlopers to monitor the traffic or trace any legal or criminal activity back to you. Dark web sites are hidden by non-indexing, making them completely anonymous. You’ll need a purpose-built browser that uses The Onion Router (TOR) to access dark web content. Because of their anonymity, dark web sites are breeding grounds for illegal activity and transactions. Dark web encryption allows website owners and users to stay completely anonymous during their engagement. The dark web is part of the deep web and is hosted on darknets and encrypted networks like Tor, Freenet and Riffle.
🥉3 Proton VPN — Privacy-Friendly VPN + Dedicated Tor Over VPN Servers
For instance, acceptance of cryptocurrencies is a great feature all VPNs for the deep web should have. Although more expensive than its competition, ExpressVPN is known as one of the most robust VPNs in the industry. Plus, focusing on the main topic of this guide, it also has a .onion site.
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PIA isn’t slow, especially if you’re on a regular domestic connection, but Surfshark and NordVPN are much faster. It’s also a fantastic torrenting VPN, primarily because all of its servers are P2P-optimized, unlike most of the competition. The best VPN for beginners doesn’t scrimp on performance, either, reaching peak speeds of over 750 Mbps in my latest tests. That’s fast enough for everything, including torrenting, gaming, streaming, and more. Surfing the dark web is both easy and secure if you have ExpressVPN.
The Best Free Dark Web VPN: Proton VPN

Between its countless audits and world-class privacy features, ExpressVPN continues to sit among the best VPNs for privacy-focused folks. Founded in 2013, the site’s mission is to help users around the world reclaim their right to privacy. Here is a quick rundown of our recommendations for the best dark web VPNs. If you want more detailed information about each provider, keep scrolling. This information can be used to target ads and monitor your internet usage. We score each metric and then combine them to produce a total score out of ten, which we can use to easily compare providers.

Check out more information about the best VPN providers for Tor. VPN Over Tor is when you first connect to the Tor network and then connect to your VPN. While the Tor Browser does an excellent job of protecting your privacy and anonymity, you really shouldn’t use it as your daily driver browser. Also, since the Tor Browser is based on the Mozilla Firefox platform, it’s susceptible to the same attacks that other browsers are. Go to the directory where you downloaded the Tor Browser installation file.
When selecting a VPN for the dark web, security is the top priority. The ideal VPN should offer strong encryption standards, a no-logs policy, secure protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard, and additional features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection. These features ensure that your identity and data do not get exposed, even if the connection drops unexpectedly.
You don’t even need to use Tor Browser, but keep in mind other browsers can still pass identifying information through the network. Alternatively, there’s IPVanish who claim to be the world’s number one VPN for Tor and comes highly recommended, you can save 60% on the annual plan here. Journalists and whistleblowers, including Edward Snowden himself, often use the dark web and Tor to exchange sensitive information. For instance, the Ashley Madison data dump was posted to a site only accessible to Tor users. You should always assume that agencies like the FBI, CIA, and NSA are constantly monitoring the dark web.