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Tor Browser
Tor Browser · Winchester, New Hampshire, United States · founded 2006
What it is
Tor Browser is a free, open-source browser that routes its own web traffic through the Tor network to help hide a user's real IP address and resist tracking, surveillance, and censorship. Built on Mozilla Firefox ESR, it adds privacy and security measures such as letterboxing, user-agent spoofing, and first-party isolation to make browser fingerprinting harder. Connections to different websites travel through different Tor circuits, while visits to the same website address use the same circuit. HTTPS-Only Mode upgrades connections to HTTPS where possible. Standard, Safer, and Safest settings restrict browser features to different degrees, which can make some pages work improperly. The browser can access onion services, and users in censored regions can configure bridges during setup. It is available for Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Tor Browser protects only its own traffic; other applications on the device do not automatically use Tor. The Tor Project recommends verifying downloaded files and discourages extra browser add-ons because they can affect privacy, security, or functionality.
For and against
For
- Free and open-source.
- Available for Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Offers three levels of security settings.
- Can access onion services and use bridges.
Against
- Only Tor Browser traffic uses the Tor network.
- Some pages may work improperly at stricter security levels.
- Extra add-ons can affect privacy, security, or functionality.
The verdict
Tor Browser provides Tor routing and multiple privacy protections in a free browser. Remember that it does not route other apps' traffic, and stricter settings or add-ons may affect how browsing works.
Who it suits
Tor Browser suits people who want their browsing traffic routed through Tor to resist tracking, surveillance, or censorship. It is also intended for users who need access to onion services or bridges.
Plans and prices
Tor Browser
Windows 10/11 · macOS 10.15+ · modern Linux · Android 5.0+
Read 19 Oct 2026 · support.torproject.org
On the record
- Add-ons
- Tor Project strongly discourages installing additional browser add-ons because they can affect privacy, security, or functionality, and says it does not support those configurations.support.torproject.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Anonymity limitation
- Tor Project says perfect anonymity cannot be guaranteed and warns that logging into accounts or submitting personal information identifies the user to that site.support.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
- Browser foundation
- Tor Browser is a heavily modified Mozilla Firefox Extended Support Release build with Tor-specific privacy and security patches.support.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
- Censorship circumvention
- Bridges and pluggable transports can help connect when direct Tor access is blocked.support.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
- Chrome OS limitation
- There is no dedicated Chrome OS build, and the Android version running on Chrome OS has not been audited for full privacy behavior.support.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
- Company facts
- LinkedIn lists the organization as founded in 2006, headquartered in Winchester, New Hampshire, with 11–50 employees.linkedin.com · read 19 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- The maker is The Tor Project, Inc., a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit.linkedin.com · read 19 Oct 2026
- Developer protocol
- Tor publishes a version 1 control protocol for programs communicating with a local Tor process and recommends using a library instead of implementing the protocol directly.spec.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The official manual covers installation, updates, bridges, fingerprinting, identities, onion services, troubleshooting, known issues and security guidance.support.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- Tor's living specifications describe its protocols in enough detail to implement compatible software without reading the Tor source code.spec.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- Tor Browser is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.support.torproject.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Download verification
- Tor Project recommends verifying the download signature, and GetTor can provide the package, signature, signing-key fingerprint, and checksum.support.torproject.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Final-site encryption limitation
- Tor encrypts traffic inside the Tor network, but encryption to the destination depends on whether that site supports HTTPS.support.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
- Fingerprinting protection
- Its defenses include letterboxing, user-agent spoofing, and first-party isolation to make browser fingerprinting harder.support.torproject.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Fingerprint resistance
- Tor Browser is designed to make users appear similar by reducing identifying browser and device differences.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
- History clearing
- The browser normally keeps no browsing history, and session cookies expire when the browser closes or a new identity is requested.support.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
- HTTPS
- HTTPS-Only Mode upgrades website connections to HTTPS where possible to help prevent eavesdropping and tampering.support.torproject.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- HTTPS-Only mode
- HTTPS-Only mode upgrades supported connections to HTTPS and warns when only unencrypted HTTP is available.support.torproject.org · read 19 Oct 2026
The review
Overview
Tor Browser is a free, open-source browser built on Mozilla Firefox ESR and modified with privacy and security protections. It is best suited to people who need more control over browsing privacy or need to reach onion services and work around censorship. Its focus is the browser itself, not all the traffic on a device.
Key features
Tor routes the browser’s web traffic through its network to help conceal a user’s real IP address and resist tracking, surveillance, and censorship. Connections to different websites use different Tor circuits, while connections to the same website share a circuit. That separation is useful for privacy-conscious browsing, but it does not make other apps on the device use Tor.
Letterboxing, user-agent spoofing, and first-party isolation make browser fingerprinting harder. HTTPS-Only Mode upgrades connections to HTTPS where possible, helping guard against eavesdropping and tampering. These protections make Tor Browser a more specialized privacy choice than a general-purpose browser, not a substitute for securing traffic from other applications.
Standard, Safer, and Safest security levels restrict browser features to varying degrees. Choosing a stricter level can mean accepting pages that do not work properly, a real compatibility cost for people who depend on complex websites. Tor Browser also opens onion services, whose locations and IP addresses are hidden and whose traffic with Tor users is end-to-end encrypted.
People in censored regions can configure bridges during setup to connect to Tor. For added download confidence, Tor Project recommends signature verification; GetTor can provide the package, signature, signing-key fingerprint, and checksum. Additional browser add-ons are discouraged because they can affect privacy, security, or functionality, and Tor Project does not support those configurations.
Pricing
Tor Browser is free and open source. Its Tor Browser plan costs nothing, with no paid tier or trial to weigh against the privacy features. That makes it a straightforward fit for anyone seeking Tor routing without a subscription; the trade-off is that the browser protects only its own traffic.
Platforms
Downloads are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. Tor Project provides a user support team and recommends its public forum for help; support channels focus on assisting Tor users in censored regions.
Who it's for
Choose Tor Browser when concealing your browsing origin, resisting tracking, or reaching onion services is more important than seamless compatibility on every page. It is also relevant to users in censored regions who can configure bridges. Look elsewhere if you need Tor routing for all device apps, or if strict privacy settings and limited add-on support would interfere with your everyday browsing needs.
Pros and cons
- Pros: Free and open source, with Tor routing, fingerprinting defenses, HTTPS-Only Mode, and onion-service access in one browser.
- Pros: Bridges can help users in censored regions connect to Tor.
- Cons: Other applications are not protected automatically, so browser routing alone is not device-wide coverage.
- Cons: Stricter security levels may break page functionality, and add-ons can compromise privacy, security, or functionality.
Alternatives
Brave Browser is a free, open-source option with ad and tracker blocking; its freemium model also includes a $59.99 per on Brave Origin plan. Waterfox is another free, open-source browser with no premium tier or payment required. DuckDuckGo Browser offers a free browser with search and browsing protections, alongside a $9.99 a month Plus Monthly plan.
IronFox is a free, open-source Android-only alternative for users looking for a browser limited to that platform. SnowHaze may suit readers seeking a free iOS privacy browser with tracker blocking, an ad blocker, fingerprinting protection, and Tor integration. Temple Browser includes all browser features in its free plan and has no paid tier or pro upsell.
Orion Browser is another freemium option, with an Orion+ monthly plan at $50 a month. Epic Privacy Browser is a free privacy-focused Chromium browser with built-in ad and tracker blocking and an encrypted proxy available.
For more options, see Privacy browsers or Web browsers.
Verdict
Tor Browser is the right choice for privacy-conscious readers who want Tor routing, fingerprinting defenses, and onion-service access at no cost. Its clearest reason to choose it is that concentrated privacy toolkit; its clearest reason to look elsewhere is that it covers only browser traffic and can trade site compatibility for stricter security.
