While choosing between Tor and VPN just think about the main reason of using it. Both have pros and cons. And don’t forget that some VPN providers (like NordVPN) offer Tor over VPN for those which are concerned about their online anonymity.
If you're still don't know what to choose TOR or VPN here is a short comparative guide.
5 Best VPN services to use
#1. ExpressVPN - No activity logs VPN, all-access pass to global content. 30-day money-back guarantee. 3 Months Special Deal (save up to 49%)
#2. NordVPN - The Most Stable VPN. Protects all your devices, private DNS on every server. Best value deal: save 59% (2 year-Deal)
#3. PureVPN - AES-256 encryption, 6500+ servers in 140+ Countries, 7-day VPN trial. Browsers Extensions available. 31 Days Money-Back Guarantee
#4. Surfshark - Deal of the Day: 59$ for 24 months. Tested on Windows PC - Android - macOS. Split tunneling, Free Trial available
#5. CyberGhost - Ultra Fast Servers, up to 7 devices, no Logs Policy, Special streaming servers, 45-day money back (Incorporated in USA)
How does it work?
VPN provides the server (or in some cases two servers) between the user and destination site. All traffic goes encrypted from your device to VPN server. Also, you are able to choose the server in another country thus pretending to be from this country. This is quite a useful feature if you want to access some geo-restricted content (like HBO or Netflix TV shows).
As for Tor, it passes your traffic through the number of randomly selected relays (or exit nodes). Relays can be from anywhere and you are not able to choose what exactly relay your traffic will pass. So if you need some trick to get access to geo-restricted content Tor is not able to help you.
When use it?
VPN will help you to spoof your IP, to pretend that you’re visiting site or service from the desired location, to hide the nature of your traffic, to encrypt all the data you send or receive.
VPN is the perfect solution when you want to reach geo-restricted content, prevent traffic throttling from your ISP or use P2P file sharing without any hesitation.
Tor is great if you need online anonymity. Even if one relay will be compromised there are still other relays which will transmit your information to the final destination site or service.
Our Top Product Picks
1. ExpressVPN
Price Range: $6.67 - $12.95. Special offer: $99.95 for 15 months
Money-Back: 30-day free trial |
Devices: up to 5 |
Devices: Apple TV, Fire TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Routers |
Platforms: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux |
Express is the de facto leader in the VPN app sector. It has over 3000 servers spread across 94 countries, providing you truly global coverage. The customer support at Express is better than its counterparts. It can stream Amazon Prime, Netflix, BBC iPlayer and provide you the fastest browsing speeds among its peers. It is easy to use, and download and installation take less than 4 minutes. It breaks the toughest geoblocks, including China, with ease and provides quick browsing, streaming, and downloading as well.
It is based in a privacy-friendly location and has a strict no-logs policy that keeps your browsing data and history safe from prying eyes. The VPN works best for global streaming services and makes torrenting speeds faster. It provides DNS on each server and follows 256-bit AES encryption as well. Combined with an AES 256-bit cipher that comes with SHA-512 HMAC authentication and 4096-bit RSA key. Plans start at $6.67 per month.
Try ExpressVPN now and get our special offer!
2. NordVPN
Price Range: $3.49 - $11.95. Special offer: 2-year deal with 68% off
Money-Back: 30-day free trial |
Devices:6 |
Devices: Firestick, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, Raspberry Pi, Chromebook, Chromecast |
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS |
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. You can get this free VPN on your Android, iPhone, and desktop. It has 5,400 servers across the world and comes with the best in class security features as well. It provides an automatic kill switch that shuts your access to the internet as soon as the VPN shield is down. The Panama-based firm keeps you away from prying eyes and helps you get great streaming and download speeds. It bypasses IP throttling and provides access to Netflix and Amazon Prime from almost any country of your choice.
It follows a no-logs policy which provides you better security than a free VPN. It has dedicated P2P servers providing better security and privacy. It allows you to get extra protection with double IP and Onion over a VPN. It can support six devices at once and provides a 30-day money-back guarantee as well. Plans start at $3.39 per month.
3. PureVPN
Price Range: $1.32 - $10.95. Special offer: 7-day trial for only $0.99
Money-Back: 31-day free trial |
Devices: 10 |
Devices: Routers, Android TV, Amazon FireStick, Microsoft Surface |
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox |
If you like accessing streaming platforms from different counties, then PureVPN is the right choice for you. Though this app is not the fastest among its peers, it could easily stream Hulu, Netflix, HBO GO, and BBC iPlayer in HD. The encryption protocol of the service is also not as strong as its peers, and the customer service is not as good as others. However, it is a relatively cheap option with plans starting at $1.99 per month.
Increasing your encryption will be detrimental to your speed. However, when it comes to streaming, PureVPN works well because of its specialized servers for popular websites. You can select a specialized server for a specific website from the app. The Hong Kong-based firm focuses extensively on privacy protection and lies outside the 14-Eyes jurisdiction. It also claims to have a strict no-logs policy for the users. It can also break the Chinese internet firewall.
Now work, binge & stay secure online with PureVPN
4. Surfshark
Price Range: $1.99 - $11.95. Special offer: Get 81% discount
Money-Back: 30-day free trial |
Devices:Unlimited |
Devices:Android TV, FireTV |
Platforms: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, Chrome |
SurfShark is another reliable and high-speed VPN service provider. It is also one of the cheapest products on the market. If you are unhappy with a free VPN but don’t want to spend a fortune on a paid VPN product, then SurfShark should be the app of your choice. It provides you high-speed servers that allow you to stream in high definition. It also comes with a CleanWeb adblocker, which helps people in avoiding midroll ads in video streaming platforms like YouTube.
It comes with high-speed connections as well, which can go up to 14.52 Mbps upload and 40.92 Mbps download. SurfShark provides P2P sharing, which makes torrenting very speedy. It has industry-standard 256-bit encryption as well and follows a strict no-logs policy. It also provides IP and DNS leak protection. It also works well with P2P clients. It also provides you double VPN protection, which keeps your browsing data safe.
5. CyberGhost
Price Range: $2.75- $12.99. Special offer: 3 extra months for FREE
Money-Back: 45-day free trial |
Devices: 7 |
Devices: Amazon Fire TV & Fire Stick, Android TV, Routers |
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux |
CyberGhost is a reliable provider with strong encryption and extra features that come with a fair price.It allows access to popular social networks and streaming services even in the countries with active censorship. Technical documentation is quite helpful, and the first line support is responsive and friendly. Overall, CyberGhost is a good choice for beginner and intermediate users.
Enjoy a fast and reliable VPN
Is it simple to use?
Now VPN providers pay attention to even non-techie people. So user interface of the most VPN services is quite simple and easy to use. Most VPN providers offer their applications for:
-
Windows,
- MacOS,
- Android,
- iOS.
- Also, Linux versions are available.
As for Tor browser, it also has a simple interface and can be installed for any OS. Tor doesn’t require deep technical knowledge.
Connection Speed
Good reliable VPN providers have a wide network of servers thus ensuring a good connection speed. With VPN you still have the possibility to torrent or watch online videos in full HD quality.
Tor is not very fast. Relays may be in any part of the world and your traffic may go round the globe two or three times until reaching the final destination.
Price
service | $ per month |
---|---|
VPN | 3-12 |
Tor | free |
Most VPN providers offer paid services. It will cost you approximately $10 per month or less for a long-term subscription. Also, a lot of VPN providers offer discounts so you may find good reliable fast VPN for $3 per month.
As for Tor, it is completely free.
Encryption
This is one of the best VPN features. All your traffic goes encrypted from your device to the destination point.
VPN is great when you use open Wi-Fi spots or just want to overcome traffic throttling.
Tor also offers an encryption. But your data is being decrypted while leaving the last relay. That is why it is kindly advised to use SSL certificates to ensure the encryption of your data.
FAQ
- Where to download paid VPN for free?
We do not recommend downloading cracked versions. It could be phishing programs. Better take advantage of the money back guarantee.
- How does the speed change when working with VPN?
Read more about speeds in the article.
- Does VPN and Tor support torrents?
Yes, you can download files through P2P exchanges. We recommend using a VPN for this because the download speed will be faster.
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Written by: Stefany Anderson
Technical Writer, Visit My WebSite Techno-copywriter, Privacy, Internet Security