9 of the Best Tor Alternatives for Anonymous Browsing

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When you want to remain anonymous online, consider using a browser like Tor. It connects through thousands of relays, making it difficult to pinpoint your location. However, Tor has plenty of drawbacks. If there are too many negatives for you, consider one of these Tor alternatives to remain safe while browsing online.

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1. Hyphanet (Formerly Freenet)

Supports: Windows, Mac, Linux

Price: Free

Hyphanet is the successor of the original Freenet project, used for microblogging in the late 90s and early 2000s. It also helped create many Onion networks, which we now call the dark web. Thus, it’s an early version of the Tor project. You will need Java, which is included in the installer package.

As a Tor alternative, Hyphanet is like a deep ocean full of hidden secrets waiting to be discovered. Check out “Clean Spider,” its automated content index, “Sone,” the social chat tool, “Freemail,” an anonymous email service, and “Flip” for IRC chats.

Hyphanet doesn’t have a central server, so it’s very unlikely to be hacked. Even the people who maintain Hyphanet can’t access users’ information. All stored information is encrypted before it reaches the network of servers, making it impossible for trackers and hackers to access.

Fair warning: dark web browsers like Tor or Hyphanet offer a lot or privacy, but you may run into illegal or criminal content. Avoid them at all costs, as such sites are monitored by the FBI and law enforcement.

2. I2P

Supports: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android

Price: Free

I2P is a Tor alternative that started as a part of Freenet. It is now called the Invisible Internet Project. This network resists censorship by using the same darknet network as Tor with encrypted I2P nodes to redirect Internet traffic. It supports its own email, instant messaging, and websites called eepsites, which end in “.i2p.”

True to its name, the Invisible Internet Project is fully anonymous. ISPs can’t see where a message comes from, what’s in it, or where it’s going. Websites can’t track you, but unlike Tor, I2P can’t hide your browser fingerprint data. Your ISP will know you’re using I2P, but they won’t know what you’re doing.

Tip: check out several dark web websites that you can’t find with a Google search.

3. Whonix

Supports: Windows, Mac, Linux, VirtualBox, KVM, Qubes

Price: Free

Whonix will give you the privacy you’re looking for. It will conceal your IP address when you’re online, and it’s made to function inside a virtual machine and impaired with Tor. It uses “Whonix-Workstation,” a unique network that runs on a private system.

Whonix features two virtual network interfaces. One of them connects to the Web through NAT, which contacts the Tor network. The remaining network interface is coupled with a virtual LAN. For any operating system, first download and install VirtualBox. The installation has a few steps, but once it’s done, the virtual workstation will give you a high degree of anonymity.

4. Disconnect

Supports: Chrome/Edge browsers, iOS, Mac

Cost: Free with premium options

Disconnect is considered more of a supplement rather than an independent Tor alternative. What Disconnect does is disconnect you from sites that it detects are tracking you. It will block the site, keeping your privacy safe. Block or unblock website requests as you like.

The service has a free Chrome extension for basic blocking. Disconnect’s Do Not Track service encrypts DNS and helps you see what you want. With a Privacy Pro subscription, you get a smart VPN for iOS. A full VPN is available for both iOS and Mac with a Premium subscription.

FYI: deep web search engines give you access to anonymous content you can’t find on Google.

5. GNUNet

Supports: Linux

Price: Free

GNUNet is made for privacy and is a network protocol stack, not a browser in the conventional sense. It supports all usual Internet activities, like chat, file sharing, emails, and electronic payments. The users call it an alternative Internet because the core principle is not to expose your metadata to trackers. Instead, GNUNet uses link encryption and decentralized, peer-to-peer networks.

The GNU name system is an alternative to the Domain Name System (DNS). This network gives you great privacy, making you feel separate from everything else on the Web. The biggest downside is the current GNUNet protocol, as it doesn’t have the usual GUI applications and is mainly for developers.

6. ZeroNet

Supports: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Docker

Price: Free

When it comes to fast, free, anonymous, and easy-to-use browsers, ZeroNet is the best. It is fully encrypted with Bitcoins and has many decentralized domains using Namecoin cryptocurrency. With a network of trusted users, friends, and coworkers, you can get the true anonymity you deserve.

After you extract the package, you’ll see an interface that lets you access blogs, websites, email providers, chat rooms, and more. The best thing about ZeroNet is its very fast page-loading time, which doesn’t depend on your Internet speed. You can also access these websites offline. ZeroNet works as an alternative to the Tor browser, but you can use both together on Windows for extra anonymity.

Good to know: apart from anonymous browsers, there are also search engines that help you get maximum privacy.

7. Snowflake

Supports: Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browsers

Price: Free

Would you like to help others bypass censorship in their countries? We’ve listed many Tor browser alternatives. But there’s also a Tor Project spinoff called Snowflake, that enables you to help strangers bypass censorship. As a volunteer, you’ll feel good helping someone who can’t access Facebook or Google.

First, you need to live in a country without heavy censorship. You can readily install it through an extension on your favorite browser on any device. Immediately, Snowflake turns your network connection into a Tor exit node. While you browse normally (the service doesn’t slow your Internet), some stranger can latch on to Tor to access restricted websites and apps.

FYI: check out some of the best browsers (including Epic) with a focus on user privacy and anonymity,

8. Epic Privacy Browser

Supports: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS

Price: Free

Many Tor alternatives need technical skill, but this browser is like Chrome, and you can use it right after it’s installed. The Epic privacy browser has been a great proxy for years and stops trackers and fingerprint attempts very well. The browser is very fast and works quietly. After using it for a while, it will feel just like you’re on Google Chrome.

Epic’s VPN proxies in different countries are very reliable for bypassing restrictions. You can whitelist trusted websites from the proxy. You can also set it to delete all your data when you close the browser. All controls are under one umbrella button at the top.

9. Orbot

Supports: iOS, Android

Price: Free

This is another Tor browser alternative from the Tor project. Orbot is an app that anonymizes your traffic on mobile devices. Once installed, it makes your entire mobile network go through a VPN. With screenshot restriction, you can protect your device from snooping eyes.

The best part is that with Orbot, you can block or unblock specific apps. However, the app says it works best with social media and messenger apps. And, of course, you can connect to any Onion sites right on your mobile device. With a network of Tor bridges, you can remain online even if the network is restrictive.

Now that we’ve seen many alternatives to the Tor browser, if your main issue is Tor’s speed, we have many tips to speed up Tor, even on slower networks.

Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.

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Sayak Boral –
Staff Writer

Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.

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