7 Best VPNs for Tor Browser in 2025 (Free & Premium)

Yes, you can use your Tor browser and a VPN connection simultaneously.

You will have solid protection this way.

Furthermore, you can transparently use these technologies, and no one will ever know which sites you visit or what information you transmit.

Here you will read about the benefits of these technologies and how to use them correctly.

We will provide a list of the best VPN to use with Tor browser.

Best VPN for Tor Browser in 2025

Below are the very best VPNs for Tor browser in 2025.

1. NordVPN 
2. Surfshark
3. Atlas VPN

1. NordVPN

Recommended Guide: NordVPN Review

For anyone looking to use a VPN for Tor, this provider is excellent.

This service uses Tor over VPN.

First, you need to connect to the VPN.

Then, you can launch the Tor browser. NordVPN offers access to servers preconfigured for use with the Tor network.

This is one of its best features.

What does this mean for you as its user?

You can only use the Tor network in a traditional scheme.

However, it is possible to connect to the Tor network using special Onion servers pre-configured for your application.

NordVPN also offers a double VPN option that can be used with Tor. This option is for paranoid people.

There is a massive server infrastructure that supports all major operating systems.

However, be prepared for a significant speed decrease.

Other strengths include a strict zero-logs policy and reliable 256-bit encryption.

2. Surfshark

Recommended Guide: Surfshark VPN Review

Surfshark offers great value at a low price.

Although it is a newer provider than others on this list, Surfshark has already proved itself to be a solid contender for many uses, including as a Tor VPN.

This provider provides reliable connections that are protected by military-grade encryption and perfect forward secrecy.

All apps come with a kill switch as well as leak protection.

Surfshark offers additional features such as split tunneling, traffic obstruction, traffic obfuscation, and multihop servers. For added privacy, you can pay with a variety of cryptocurrencies.

Surfshark subscriptions have a huge advantage: you don’t have to connect to more than one device.

In addition, the provider offers desktop clients for Windows, MacOS, and Linux and mobile apps for iOS, Android, and MacOS.

Surfshark offers a variety of security features that go beyond the ordinary. For example, it follows a strict no-logs policy and accepts bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies.

In addition, Surfshark offers a 30-day return policy, which includes cryptocurrency payments.

3. Atlas VPN

Recommended Guide: Atlas VPN Review

Atlas VPN is the best free VPN for Tor browser provider. It’s one of the most popular freemium VPN platforms in the world.

It has extensive server infrastructure in 30+ different countries. As a result, Atlas VPN has one of the fastest VPNs for Tor available.

All servers are located in high-speed data centers, which allow for unlimited connection speeds.

The platform is not required to store personal data or share it with security agencies and the government. It does not keep any personal data and has a no-logs policy.

Atlas VPN offers customers military-grade encryption as well as the Kill Switch feature in desktop apps.

This option allows you to disconnect from the Internet if your VPN connection is lost. Atlas VPN doesn’t have any Onion servers, unlike NordVPN.

They do, however, allow Tor to be used. They recommend a scheme.

It’s a Tor-over VPN, so you will need to open a VPN first and then the Tor browser.

4. Private Internet Access

Recommended Guide: Private Internet Access Review

Private Internet Access (PIA), which supports Tor over VPN, is a great choice for those who have very high privacy and security requirements.

PIA is a USA VPN.

However, it has a strict no-logs policy. It also offers the most advanced security features on the market. PIA supports SSL and SSH tunneling, which can help you bypass checks and government restrictions.

PIA’s server network is the largest among all VPNs. It boasts more than 23,000+ servers in 77+ countries. PIA VPN has thousands of servers and 256-bit encryption.

It also offers DNS leak protection, an automatic kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and As a result, DNS leak protection. It works with all major operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

This VPN service is very affordable at $2.08/month, and it allows you to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.

You can also test the VPN and use Tor with no risk by taking a 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. IPVanish

Recommended Guide: IPVanish Review

IPVanish is a trusted service that has been around since the early days and is a suited Tor VPN service. It won’t make your connection stagnant.

In conjunction with strong encryption, there is perfect forward secrecy. The desktop apps have a kill switch and protection against leaks.

IPVanish does not accept cryptocurrency, but it doesn’t store any user-identifying data. An additional layer of privacy is provided by the option to change your IP address every so often.

You can also use the traffic obfuscation option to make your Tor VPN traffic appear like regular traffic. IPVanish is private and secure. It offers reliable and fast connections and offers a 30-day return policy.

IPVanish apps can be used on Windows, MacOS, and iOS. In addition, an unlimited number of devices can be connected at once.

6. CyberGhost

Recommended Guide: CyberGhost Review

This provider is an excellent choice for people who have never used VPNs before. It offers a variety of feature-rich apps for different platforms and is very simple to use.

It works well with the Tor browser, despite the fact it does not have Tor-specific options.

CyberGhost will use port 443, while Tor will use ports 9001, 9050, and 9051. You don’t need additional settings in most cases.

CyberGhost has many great features. CyberGhost’s zero logs policy means that the company doesn’t store any customer data.

The Kill Switch protection is a combination of powerful encryption and perfect forward secrecy. They all work together to protect you in every situation. They can be used on all major operating systems and devices.

7. AirVPN

Recommended Guide: AirVPN Review

AirVPN is good to use with Tor. It uses the OpenVPN protocol and provides basic security and privacy features.

There are many servers located in different parts of the world. It is based in Italy and does everything it can to get around any restrictions.

AirVPN is a market leader in providing no logs policy, apps for all platforms and devices, strong unbreakable encryption, and the ability to use SSH and SSL tunneling.

In addition, AirVPN is the only service that allows you to configure VPN over Tor. This is the best feature, and it also allows automatic configurations and not complex manual settings during standard application.

What is Tor?

Tor is both a browser as well as the network it runs on. Its abbreviation is The Onion Router. This onion network is named this because it uses multiple layers of encryption to protect users‘ online privacy.

It works in the same way that onions wrap their core. Tor Browser’s main purpose is to hide users’ Internet footprints. This allows you to work anonymously on the network.

Tor is not a VPN or a browser that has a built-in VPN module. This is what many people believe. To protect yourself further, you can use Tor and VPN simultaneously.

These are two different technologies that are meant to increase privacy.

The U.S. Navy’s order protecting negotiations during intelligence operations is the basis for Tor browser development.

Tor is now a non-profit organization that works on anonymity and privacy online.

How Does Tor Work?

The principle of work is very simple. It is based upon traffic encryption by multiple intermediate machines. This is known as onion routing.

The network contains nodes belonging to people who support and promote the technology around the globe. Data transmission is done using three random nodes.

You will need to install Tor Browser to use Tor. It is preconfigured to work with Tor. After entering your address or searching for it, the app will gather.

As a result, your data and send encrypted packages to the Tor network.

Tor will then remove the part of the package header containing the source, size, destination, and time information, which can be used to identify the user.

The encrypted data is then sent to several randomly chosen servers. The system requires at least three nodes, as mentioned previously.

Each server only decrypts and then re-encrypts the data necessary to identify the package’s origin and transfer it further.

So how does it all work?

The Tor browser forwards the package with the encrypted address to the first node. Once it has the key to encryption, the first node forwards the package to its second destination.

This is how the first layer is removed from the onion. The second node received the package and has a key that decrypts the address of the third.

This means that an additional layer is removed from your onion. It’s impossible to see which Tor Browser site you opened, so the system allows for high levels of anonymity.

The encryption layers used to anonymize data packets sent over Tor are similar to onion layers. Keep in mind, however, that the encrypted path (or routing) is only encrypted.

The contents of the packages are not encrypted. Therefore, it is better to encrypt secret data ahead of time (there are many tools available to do this), as there is a high chance that it will be intercepted.

This technology also has many other features:

• Your ISP or another person monitoring your traffic may be able to see that you use Tor. Although it is impossible to know what you are doing online, the truth can sometimes have serious consequences. A VPN connection and Tor browser are one way to avoid this. In this article, we will discuss some of these options.

• Tor, unlike VPN and proxy, does not require special hardware. Instead, it uses ordinary computers. What is the result? This secret network’s data transfer speed can be variable, and sometimes it is difficult to view media content.

Why Is It Better for Tor to Be Used With a VPN?

While the working principles behind Tor and a VPN are vastly different, they can be used together for greater security.

It is important to choose the best VPN provider and use the best configurations.

Later, we will discuss two fundamental principles for tying up VPN or Tor.

But let’s now see why it makes sense to combine these technologies.

• VPN encrypts all traffic sent and received on your device. It also directs it to a remote server at the location specified in the settings. Every connection assigns an IP address to the user. This is your online identifier that can be used for tracking the device’s exact location. Any website or online service that receives traffic from a remote server will see its IP address. They will also see the location of the VPN data center.

• VPN providers often offer a no logs policy, promising they will not store or collect any private data. There are, however, some cases where the data has been given to large corporations or the government.

• Tor is a network that volunteers manage, rather than VPN, which has a central authority. Tor alters the traffic route after each request, unlike VPN. Tor can be blocked by the government or Internet service providers in certain countries. This can be easily hidden by using a VPN concurrently.

• VPNs are faster and can be used for any content, including torrents and video streaming. In addition, VPNs are more usable than Tor, which focuses on anonymity.

You should only use trusted and reliable services to get great results.

Is It Possible to Use a Free VPN for Tor?

Technically, you can use a free VPN in place of a paid one.

It can be very attractive not to pay $10 per month for a VPN, but is it worth it?

It is not a good idea to use a VPN that comes with Tor.

Why?

A common misconception is that a free VPN will be as good as a paid one— how will the company manage the server infrastructure?

Free platforms, unlike paid services, can include advertising and keep logs of users’ online activities.

They may also sell personal information to other companies or advertisers.

However, it will also have many other limitations. For example, free services can be slower and have fewer servers or locations.

You can still try a free VPN to see how it works, but we know that a fool-proof VPN is not possible.

How to Use VPN with Tor

Most VPN providers permit you to combine a VPN and the Tor browser.

Two possible configurations are Tor-over VPN and VPN over Tor.

VPN over Tor

This configuration requires first connecting to Tor and then using VPN over Tor to access it. This is the chain: Your computer — VPN and Tor encryption — Tor VPN — the Internet.

This connection is more secure than the first and allows for almost total anonymity and confidentiality when working on the Internet.

Unfortunately, this solution is not supported by many providers. You will need to adjust the settings manually in most cases.

VPN over Tor, if you don’t mind this, is the best option. It is safer.

Two ways to set up VPN over Tor are available:

• First, use the standard Tor browser. However, this approach has a weakness: you’ll need to keep the Tor browser open while using the VPN.
• As a Windows service, install Tor Expert Bundle. Although this configuration is more complex, you will have Tor running on your computer at all times. Therefore, there is no need for you to open the Tor browser before connecting to the VPN.

Contact customer service if your VPN provider offers this connection option.

Tor Over VPN

This is the most dominant and popular connection scheme.

The chain is as follows: your computer — VPN — Tor — the Internet.

First, connect to the VPN.

Next, launch the Tor browser to open the required website. You will most likely need to open the Tor browser.

However, some VPN providers such as NordVPN offer settings that allow you to create Tor over VPN connections without the Tor browser.

However, it is always better to use a Tor browser with end-to-end encryption.

In Summary, the best VPNs in 2025 are;

Conclusion

It is becoming more challenging to protect your privacy online.

Hackers, governments, and Google all have sophisticated ways of tracking user data.

Millions opt to use VPNs.

Although it does have its limitations, the Tor network is an excellent tool to maintain anonymity on the World Wide Web.

However, it doesn’t guarantee anonymity 100% of the time.

You can still protect your privacy with the Tor browser, but it is not the best choice.

Its primary purpose is to provide better anonymity than security.

NordVPN is our top choice as the best VPN for Tor browser in 2025.