Best VPNs for the dark web and darknet for safe, private access

If you’re relying on The Tor Browser to browse the dark web safely, we have some bad news. Unfortunately, your Internet Service Provider can tell that you’re using Tor, and may throttle your connection or attempt to block access entirely. To conceal your Tor usage from ISPs and other third parties, we recommend using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for the dark web.

A VPN encrypts all of your device’s internet traffic and routes it through an intermediary server in your chosen location. This process hides Tor traffic within the encrypted tunnel, ensuring that only you and the VPN provider can detect your Tor usage.

By using a VPN in conjunction with the Tor Browser, you’ll significantly enhance your online security and privacy while exploring the dark web. Unfortunately, not all VPNs are created equal, and it’s important to look beyond the marketing hype at what providers actually offer — which is exactly what we’ve done in this article.

If you don’t want to read it all, here’s a summary of the best dark network VPNs:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 choice dark web VPN. Extremely fast, with a no-logging policy, Tor-over-VPN servers, and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for the dark web.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for the dark web. Zero logs, tons of servers, and a strong layer of security. Supports unlimited device connections.
3. Total VPN: A fast, novice-friendly VPN with the strong security features needed to browse the dark web safely. Strict no-logs policy and 24/7 user support.
4. ProtonVPN: High-speed servers in 120+ countries. Blocks ads and trackers automatically. Verified no-logs policy and 24/7 customer support.
5. ExpressVPN: Security-conscious VPN with an audited no-logs policy. Has a dedicated router app and RAM-only servers in 105+ countries. Accepts Bitcoin for anonymous payment.
6. IPVanish: A secure dark web VPN with no device connection limit. Zero-logs policy, decent speeds, and great privacy features. Offers 24/7 customer support via live chat.
7. CyberGhost: Huge selection of very secure servers in 100+ countries. Great speeds and keeps no logs. Easy to use and perfect for beginners.
8. PureVPN: Quick servers, strong security, and an extensive audit history. Doesn’t keep any logs whatsoever. Allows 10 simultaneous connections.
9. PrivateVPN: Easy to use and comes with modifiable OpenVPN files. One of the most secure VPNs on the market. Works anywhere in the world.

How to use a VPN to access the dark web

There are many ways to connect to Tor, but for brevity’s sake, we’ll assume you’re using the Tor browser.

Here’s how to access the dark web with a VPN:

1. Sign up for and install a VPN. Our top recommendation is NordVPN.
2. Download, install, and open the VPN app.
3. Select a server location and connect to the VPN. Wait for the connection to be established. This will change your IP address.
4. Download and install the Tor Browser.
5. Open the Tor Browser.
6. Enter the .onion URL for the Tor hidden service (dark web site) you want to visit into the address bar. Only use verified URLs from trusted sources.
7. Surf the dark web!

Using this simple setup, your internet traffic is encrypted twice: first by Tor, then by the VPN. It then goes to the VPN server, where the VPN’s layer of encryption is removed, before going on to a Tor entry node. Your ISP only sees encrypted traffic going to a server and cannot detect that you are using Tor or connecting to Tor entry nodes.

The downside is that the VPN provider can see that you’re using Tor, even though your ISP can’t. With that in mind, you must select a trustworthy VPN provider such as those listed below.

Best VPNs dark network VPNs compared

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for the dark web.

Our criteria for excellent dark web VPNs

There are many VPNs on the market, but they don’t all offer the same level of service. We created our list of the best VPNs for the dark web by conducting an in-depth analysis of leading providers. Here are some of the areas we looked at:

• Speed: When you connect to Tor, the additional routing and encryption processes noticeably slow your connection speed. It’s important to choose a VPN that doesn’t exacerbate the problem by slowing your traffic to the point where the internet becomes unusable. We conducted speed tests in five countries to find consistently fast providers.
• Security and privacy: When you connect to Tor using a VPN, the VPN provider can see that you’re using Tor, even though your ISP can’t. With that in mind, you’ll need a VPN provider you can trust. We judge providers’ relative trustworthiness by scoring them on 15 different security and privacy criteria, ranging from the protocols they support to the level of encryption they use.
• Ease of use: To determine which providers offered hassle-free service, we evaluated them on 10 different criteria. We looked at everything from the user-friendliness of their apps to whether they offered router support.
• Value for money: Getting a good deal is about more than just comparing subscription costs. We also take into account things like the existence of a money-back guarantee and the number of allowed connections. In all, we used eight different criteria to calculate a value-for-money score.
• Streaming: One of the bonuses of using a VPN is that it enables you to access geo-restricted streaming content. Some providers are better at this than others. To find out which VPNs are best for streaming, we evaluate them against nine different criteria. These include their compatibility with streaming platforms and whether they have smart DNS.

More on our VPN testing methodology later; first, let’s take a closer look at the providers that impressed us.

The best dark web VPNs

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for the dark web:

1. NordVPN

Nov 2025

NordVPN is our number one VPN choice for the dark web. A veteran VPN provider that stores zero logs about its users’ online activities. These claims have been verified through four independent audits, which suggests the company is invested in its privacy commitments. Furthermore, NordVPN only uses RAM-only servers in its network. This means that no data can be stored on them long-term — and is another privacy plus.

The company has more than 8,000 servers in its network overall, and a presence in 120+ countries. The app makes it easy to find servers and switch between them as desired.

Users who want to get a taste of the dark web without installing the Tor browser can use one of NordVPN’s Onion Over VPN speciality servers. These automatically route your traffic through the Tor network after it leaves the VPN tunnel. Other speciality servers allow users to route their traffic through an additional VPN server (Double VPN) in one of nine countries or obfuscate their traffic using an Obfuscated server. This enables connections in countries such as China that try to block VPNs.

NordVPN has plenty of other useful privacy and security features, including a kill switch, automatic public wi-fi protection, app-based split tunneling, and an ad tracker and malware blocker. The two available connection protocols are OpenVPN and one of NordVPN’s own protocol — NordLynx.

NordVPN has consistently been one of the fastest providers in our tests. To find out whether this was still the case, we tested it again while connected to servers in five different countries. Our base speed before we connected to NordVPN averaged 538.07Mbps.

The provider was fastest using its US server, though speeds were great across the board. On average, NordVPN achieved a speed of 300.02 Mbps. This makes it the fastest provider in this list and the VPN best suited to preserving your base connection speed before it takes a hit using Tor.

NordVPN uses strong 256-bit encryption for all of its apps, ensuring your traffic is safe before reaching the Tor network. Leak protection is built-in, so you needn’t worry about inadvertently revealing your location while connected. We confirmed that there were no leaks by carrying out IP, DNS and WebRTC leak tests. NordVPN has an audited no-logs policy, automatic ad and tracker-blocking, and a special NordWhisper protocol as a faster alternative to its obfuscated servers.

When you’ve had enough of the dark web, you may appreciate NordVPN’s ability to access geo-restricted streaming content. It works with pretty much every platform, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Even if you have no streaming subscriptions, you can use it to access free platforms like BBC iPlayer (if you’re not already in the UK).

NordVPN subscriptions allow users to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously. This is enough for most people, though you can eke out more connections by configuring the VPN on a compatible home router if needed. NordVPN accepts Bitcoin, Ripple, and Ethereum, so you can pay for subscriptions anonymously.

This VPN has its own apps for iOS, Windows, Android, MacOS, and Linux. The support section of its website offers manual setup guides for most routers too.

BEST FOR THE DARK WEB:NordVPN is the best option for browsing the dark web safely. Tor over VPN servers, blazing speeds, and a fantastic security offering. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is the best budget VPN for Tor. It boasts impeccable security and privacy credentials, with a proven zero-logs policy which means that your IP address, activities, connection timestamps, and bandwidth usage aren’t recorded anywhere. There’s also 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. Its NoBorders stealth mode obfuscates your traffic, hiding the fact that you’re using a VPN at all. Surfshark even works in China, whereas most other VPNs don’t.

The apps are very easy to use and come with a full graphical interface, even if you’re using the Linux version. Finding a suitable server is quick and easy, though Surfshark has a network spanning more than 100 countries.

Unlike most VPNs, Surfshark has static IP addresses available, which are useful if you’re hosting a server and want a stable IP address. However, if you’re connecting to Tor, Surfshark’s Rotating IP feature will prove more useful. This changes your IP address mid-connection, making your true location yet more difficult to track.

Other features include an ad, tracker and malware blocker; app-based and IP-based split tunneling; and a choice between the OpenVPN and WireGuard connection protocols.

If staying anonymous online is your goal, then you’ll no doubt appreciate Surfshark’s Alternative ID feature. This enables you to generate a new persona — with a name, date of birth, and address — in seconds. Addresses are currently available in six countries. The tool is great if you don’t want to hand out personal details while trying to access online services.

To find out what download speeds users might expect from Surfshark, we carried out tests while connected to servers in five different countries. For reference, our base connection speed during testing was 519.42 Mbps.

Speeds were fastest while connected to a server in Germany, though it performed solidly in every test. The provider’s average download speed was 290.89 Mbps, which made it the second-fast VPN we tested. Like NordVPN, Surfshark is a great option if you’re concerned about sluggish speeds while using Tor.

As well as being fast, Surfshark is also great at accessing geo-restricted content. It works with a whole host of big-name streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu.

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. This is one of the only VPNs that lets you secure any number of devices too, increasing its value even further.

Surfshark apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Fire TV, and Android. This service can also be manually installed on most routers — just check Surfshark’s website for setup instructions.

BEST BUDGET OPTION:Surfshark is affordable, reliable, and secure. Servers in 100+ countries. Connect as many devices as you like. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Want to know more? Read our detailed Surfshark review.

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3. Total VPN

Total VPN is a well-respected provider boasting more than 1,800 servers spread throughout 80+ countries. It’s extremely versatile, allowing torrenting across its entire network and easily sidestepping most geographic restrictions (though it won’t work in high-censorship countries unfortunately). You can connect up to five devices at the same time and get help using the service’s 24/7 ticket system.

Tor is notorious for being slow, so it’s vital you get a VPN that’s fast enough to avoid being a second bottleneck. To see if Total VPN was up the to the task, we tested servers from five different countries. This approach also allowed us to see what kind of slowdown you can expect when using a server in a distant country. Let’s take a look at the results:

Total VPN achieved an average speed of 257.54 Mbps and was actually one of the quickest providers in this list. Needless to say, it’s fast enough for any day-to-day task and will allow you to browse the dark web without any additional slowdown. Our experts did notice slightly slower speeds when using faraway servers but nothing significant; even at its slowest, this VPN is still faster than most.

This service has a strong privacy focus and goes the extra mile to make sure your activities stay private. It uses 256-bit AES encryption (which is considered uncrackable), DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch by default, plus there’s a strict no-logs policy in place. Total VPN also supports the Hydra protocol, which was designed to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN at all.

Total VPN has its own apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and MacOS.

PRIVACY AND SPEED:Total VPN is a fast, no-logs service that can be trusted to keep your browsing habits private, both on the darkweb and wider internet. Best of all, long-term plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our full Total VPN review.

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4. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is another solid choice for anyone looking to browse the dark web. It provides one-click access to the Tor network via servers in France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. All in all, this VPN has roughly 15,000 servers spread across more than 120 countries. Paid users can connect up to 10 devices at the same time and speak directly with staff using the 24/7 live chat service.

The provider also has special Secure Core servers that route traffic through ProtonVPN-owned and operated data centers in privacy-friendly countries. However, it’s best not to use these if you’re then planning on entering the Tor network, as they’ll slow your connection down.

So far, so good. But is the provider fast enough to painlessly browse the dark web? In a word, yes. However, it’s best if you use a server close to your actual location. We tested Proton VPN servers in five countries, and our average download speed without a VPN was 489.61 Mbps.

The provider was exceptionally fast in Germany and the UK but much slower in Australia and Brazil. It achieved an average speed of 239.74 Mbps across the five countries tested, which made it the third-fastest provider overall.

ProtonVPN is known for its strong security offering (no suprise given it was created by the team behind privacy-centric email client, Proton Mail). It’s based in Switzerland, which has strong data privacy laws, and has been audited several times to prove that it doesn’t keep logs of your activities. Additional safeguards include a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and automatic tracker-blocking. There’s even a stealth protocol, though this can’t bypass China’s strict online censorship.

Believe it or not, this is just the beginning. ProtonVPN also offers split tunneling and port forwarding functionality and alternative routing in case you’re in a country which tries to stop you from accessing Proton’s various websites.

In addition to being fast enough for using with the Tor network, ProtonVPN is a great choice for streaming. We successfully used it to stream UHD video from a range of platforms, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

There is a free ProtonVPN plan, but you’ll have to upgrade if you want to choose a location manually, use its specialty servers, or access geo-blocked content. Still, ProtonVPN’s long-term plans are pretty affordable, so we’d say it’s worth it.

Apps are available for iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and MacOS. Subscribers are allowed use these with up to 10 devices simultaneously. A ProtonVPN connection can also be configured on a variety of home routers if needed.

KEEPS NO LOGS:ProtonVPN has been independently-audited to prove it’s as secure as it claims. Impressive speeds and one-click Tor access, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

Why not take a look at our in-depth ProtonVPN review?

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5. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a versatile and intuitive service that asks very little of its users. There are RAM-only servers in more than 105 countries and these are completely wiped whenever they’re rebooted. Additionally, this VPN replaces the operating system of each server on a weekly basis. As a result, it’s virtually impossible for anyone to tell what you’ve been up to if a server is seized or compromised.

Although the provider has a lot going on in the background, its apps are pleasingly simple to use. Users can connect to the displayed location or click on it to bring up the list of available countries. There’s also a fairly sparse but well-described settings menu that’s perfect for novice users.

We used five different ExpressVPN servers to gauge what sort of speeds users might expect while connected. Note that our base connection speed when not connected to a VPN server was 515.64 Mbps.

ExpressVPN was extremely fast in the UK, and also performed very well in Brazil, Germany and the US. The provider averaged 201.04 Mbps across all five countries, which makes it the fourth fastest in this list. Needless to say, this is quick enough for any day to day task including streaming, gaming, making video calls, or browsing the dark web.

When it comes to security, ExpressVPN has a lot to offer. To begin with, it obfuscates your traffic automatically when it realizes you’re in a country with extreme censorship. There’s also 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, app-based split tunneling, and a custom protocol named Lightway that can secure your connection even when switching networks. ExpressVPN has been audited multiple times and doesn’t keep any logs of your online activities.

ExpressVPN is also good at evading detection by streaming platforms. It consistently works with all the big-name providers, including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

This VPN recently reworked its pricing system which not only cut the overall cost but actually improved its overall value. ExpressVPN now costs less and allows a higher number of simultaneous connections than ever before (10 on the Basic Plan and up to 14 if you’re a Pro subscriber).

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. ExpressVPN is notable for also making an app for routers. This replaces your router’s firmware and simplifies the process of configuring a VPN connection. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to protect every device on their home network, but isn’t technically minded.

PRIVACY FIRST:ExpressVPN makes it easy to use the dark web safely. Offers fast speeds, solid security, an app for routers, knowledgeable customer service, and a 30-day guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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6. IPVanish

IPVanish has more than 3,200 50 servers spread across 100 countries. These are owned outright and RAM-only, meaning they’re completely wiped whenever they’re turned off. The server selection screen lets you choose individual servers and even shows the current ping and load of each, which makes it easy to find a speedy, low-latency connection, wherever you are in the world.

Apps are easy to set up and use. Once connected, users are shown a real-time graph of the data being transferred, together with a map showing the location of the current connection. This makes it easy for newbies to check that they are actually connected.

We also tested IPVanish’s download speeds. Using a virtual machine with an average download speed of 418.01 Mbps, we measure our speeds while connected to IPVanish servers in five different countries.

Speeds were consistently fast, with the exception of Australia, where we connected to a fairly slow server. On average, though, the provider pegged a decent speed of 175.62 Mbps.

This provider has a phenomenal security offering. For starters, IPVanish uses unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks. There’s a strict no-logs policy in place, with industry-approved protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2), as well as automatic ad and tracker-blocking. Recent updates added multi-hop servers and a tool that can tell if links are actually safe to open or not. Finally, it’s possible to scramble OpenVPN data, hiding the fact that you’re using a VPN in the first place.

As most people want a VPN for more than just accessing the dark web, we tested IPVanish out with streaming platforms. It worked with all of the services we tried, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer.

IPVanish subscriptions are competitively priced. The best deal is the two-year plan, which costs the equivalent of $2.19 a month, while our coupon below gives you the cheapest possible one-month subscription with no ongoing commitment. All subscriptions allow unlimited simultaneous device connections and come with free access to a SOCKS5 proxy.

For individuals facing internet blackouts, content restrictions, or surveillance-heavy networks, IPVanish’s Advanced plan is well worth considering. It combines an unlimited VPN, 1 TB of cloud storage, and a remote browsing tool that isolates your activity from local networks. This not only makes the VPN insanely good value for money (the cost of 1 TB cloud storage for $3.29 essentially makes the VPN free) but also offers users an additional route to get online privacy.

This solution takes your browsing off your device entirely, which ensures that nobody on the local network, or your ISP, will be able to detect the websites you are visiting. And you can use it to browse from 10 different countries, which is pretty awesome for bypassing region locks. Whether you’re a journalist investigating government corruption, an activist accessing censored social media, or a student researching banned academic resources, you can do so without leaving a trace. The only caveat? It was a touch slow in our tests so it may not be the best for HD streaming.

IPVanish has its own apps for iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows. If you’d like to install this VPN on Linux systems or routers, just follow manual setup instructions.

FAST & SECURE:IPVanish offers a great combination of speed and security, plus unlimited connections. Perfect for streaming, gaming, or accessing the dark web safely. Long-term subscriptions include a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is based in Romania, a country with no mandatory data retention laws. Its network spans an impressive 100+ countries, with the server list broken down into several categories (“For gaming”, “For streaming”, and so on). The apps themselves are intuitive and extremely easy to use, though if you run into any problems, you can get in touch with customer support using CyberGhost’s 24/7 live chat service.

So how fast is this provider? To find out, our team tested CyberGhost’s servers in five different countries using a 437.38 Mbps connection. You’ll find our results in the chart below:

The provider exceeded 100 Mbps in all five locations, and had an average of 140.31 Mbps, a good result though slower than other providers on this list. We had no problem browsing the dark web while connected.

Although CyberGhost is seemingly tailor-made for streaming it provides plenty of security and privacy features that make it good for exploring the dark web. For instance, it uses unbreakable AES-256 encryption and a kill switch, as well as DNS and IPv6 leak protection to keep you safe. Users can choose from several industry-approved protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2) and take advantage of automatic ad, tracker, and malware blocking.

Furthermore, it adheres to a strict no-logs policy with regard to users’ IP addresses and online activities. These claims have been checked out by third-party auditors, and are reinforced by the use of RAM-only servers that prevent it storing user data long-term even if it wished to do so. CyberGhost has some useful automation features that can establish public wi-fi protection or launch the Tor browser when a CyberGhost connection is established.

CyberGhost works with numerous streaming platforms, and has servers specifically optimized for named services. We’ve tested these out before, and they work well, though you don’t have to religiously stick to the recommendations.

CyberGhost subscriptions are good value, particularly the two-year plan. This costs the equivalent of $2.19 a month and allows up to seven simultaneous device connections. Router configuration is possible if you need to connect more devices.

Apps are available for iOS, MacOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup instructions to get CyberGhost running on your router.

VALUE AND PERFORMANCE:CyberGhost is a good value proposition for dark web users who don’t want to compromise on security. Long-term plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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8. PureVPN

PureVPN is another affordable option for anyone hoping to browse the dark web safely. It has more than 6,000 servers spread across 65 countries and can reliably access stubborn geo-blocked platforms like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video from abroad. Users can connect up to 10 devices at the same time and get help using PureVPN’s 24/7 live chat service.

To find out how fast PureVPN was, we tested its download speeds while connected to servers in five different countries. During testing, our average download speed without a VPN was 521.47 Mbps.

Although PureVPN has a good reputation for speed, in our tests it was one of the slower providers. It’s still fast, mind you — just not as fast. It only went below 100 Mbps in one country and had an average speed of 140.58 Mbps, which is a good result. We had no problems using it while connected to Tor network.

PureVPN also fares very well where privacy is concerned. It secures your connection using uncrackable 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and a professionally-audited no-logs policy. There are three supported protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2) as well as automatic obfuscation, meaning you’ll be able to browse the darknet in places like China. Finally, this VPN supports app-based split tunneling and can block ads and trackers outright.

PureVPN is a great choice if you want to save money over the long term. Its five-year plan costs the equivalent of $2.16 a month. Most VPN providers only offer introductory deals that last two years, so this is unusually long.

Apps all have a full GUI and are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. PureVPN also has setup guides for dozens of different routers.

USER-FRIENDLY:PureVPN has everything you’ll need to browse the dark web safely. It’s very easy to use, well-documented and offers around-the-clock support. There’s also a 31-day money-back guarantee for new users.

Interested? Check out our complete PureVPN review.

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9. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN not only works with Tor in the “Tor-over-VPN” setup we’ve described above, but also offers an alternative option: VPN-over-Tor. PrivateVPN’s website includes a helpful guide on how to modify the OpenVPN configuration files included with the app so that your internet traffic first passes through the Tor network, and then through the VPN.

This is useful if you want to use Tor to access sites on the clear web that don’t normally allow Tor connections since your IP address will be that of the VPN server. Note that if you don’t want your ISP to see that you’re connecting to Tor, it’s best to use a normal VPN connection and the Tor browser.

This provider only has around 200 servers in 63 countries. However, these are all owned and operated in-house, reducing the number of people who have access to your traffic. However, due to its smaller network, some locations may be temporarily unavailable as they’re taken down for maintenance. On the plus side, it works well with numerous streaming platforms. We’ve successfully tested it with Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video and more.

PrivateVPN has never been the fastest provider on the market but it generally performs well enough for most tasks. To find out how quick PrivateVPN servers were, we carried out speed tests in five locations. For reference, our base connection speed was 504.7 Mbps

PrivateVPN was the slowest provider in this list, though it performed well enough in the UK. In the other four countries, speeds were below 100 Mbps and the average was 72.65 Mbps. That said,we didn’t have any issues using it with the dark web, though this was largely because our base connection speed was fast to start with. We’d recommend using one of our other recommended providers if you have a slow connection.

This provider goes above and beyond to keep you safe. Its security tools include adjustable encryption (128-bit or 256-bit AES), a customizable kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. PrivateVPN also boasts a Stealth VPN mode capable of bypassing the world’s strictest online censorship. It’s based in Sweden, a country with no mandatory data-retention laws and accordingly refuses to keep any logs of your activities. PrivateVPN even supports port forwarding as standard.

Subscriptions are great value — particularly the three-year plan. This costs the equivalent of $2 a month. Subscribers are allowed up to 10 simultaneous device connections. Router configuration is possible and PrivateVPN’s customer support team can provide remote control assistance if needed. Note that you still have to manually configure WireGuard connections.

PrivateVPN has apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS, with manual setup required for Linux systems and routers.

PRIVATE AND SECURE:PrivateVPN allows VPN-over-Tor and port forwarding. Customizable apps and cheap subscriptions. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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Using a free VPN for the dark web

Free VPN service providers are generally a bad idea if your aim is to remain anonymous online. They tend to be less secure, and many will log your online and dark web activity to sell to third parties. Others inject advertisements into your browser, and some even carry malware payloads.

Aside from privacy and online security risks, free VPNs are slow. If you’re using the Tor browser, your bandwidth will already be pretty limited, and a free VPN will only hamper it further. Server congestion, bandwidth limits, and data caps all contribute to a slow experience. You’ll also have to contend with a low monthly bandwidth cap, meaning you’re forced to choose between privacy and convenience.

Paid providers have a vested interest in keeping your activity private, so we strongly recommend avoiding free alternatives.

The best free VPN for the dark web: ProtonVPN

If you absolutely have to use a free VPN while browsing the dark web, we’d suggest ProtonVPN. This service has a fantastic reputation where privacy is concerned and delivers impressive speeds while being highly-customizable. Most importantly, ProtonVPN’s free plans have no bandwidth limits though you will only have access to five server locations and can only connect a single device.

Tor over VPN vs VPN over Tor

When you connect to a VPN and then fire up the Tor browser, outgoing internet traffic first goes through the VPN, and then through the Tor network. This setup is called Tor over VPN, and if you want to use a VPN while on the dark web, is the preferred option. Your ISP cannot detect that Tor is being used, but websites and other online services can see your traffic coming from a Tor exit node.

VPN over Tor works the opposite way, where outgoing traffic is sent through the Tor network first, and then through the VPN. Your ISP will be able to see that you’re using Tor, but websites and online services will see the internet connection coming from the VPN server. This setup is rarely useful but can be used to access websites that normally block Tor users. It can’t be used to access the darknet, though.

If you want your Tor traffic to exit the network in a specific country, a better option would be to use Tor country codes.

Related post: Dark Web Monitoring Tools

Using a VPN to access the dark web: FAQs