11 of the Best Dark Websites Google Won’t Let You Find

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Beneath the surface web that you’re reading right now, many .onion websites remain invisible to Google and other search engines. These “dark websites” significantly enhance your browsing capabilities, but you can’t access them on a regular browser. Instead, this list includes useful, legitimate deep and dark web websites that are easily accessible from Tor browser.

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Note: These scanner sites can
scan the dark web for personal data breaches.

1. The Hidden Wiki

Address: paavlaytlfsqyvkg3yqj7hflfg5jw2jdg2fgkza5ruf6lplwseeqtvyd.onion

The starting point for many people’s journeys into the darker corners of the Internet, “the Hidden Wiki” is a vast repository of many of the more popular dark websites on Tor. It can be a bit of a Wild West, but if that’s the case, then The Hidden Wiki is like a frontier town, where there’s at least some semblance of order.

You’ll find links to many of the sites we’ve covered in this list. The main advantage is that you can also access other dark web directories without running into malware. These include the updated links for “OnionLinks,” “Another Hidden Wiki,” and “The Original Hidden Wiki.”

2. Raddle

Address: c32zjeghcp5tj3kb72pltz56piei66drc63vkhn5yixiyk4cmerrjtid.onion

As you can imagine, the dark web has some forums filled with the types of characters who are best avoided. However, one of the less obscene discussion sites is Raddle, named and styled somewhat in the style of Reddit. It’s as safe as it gets. Timely moderation keeps forum abuse at a minimum.

This is a public domain, where you can talk about anything from crony capitalism and animal liberation to pandemics. Raddle has forums for every subject you want to express yourself on. Speak your mind here without fear, as onion links are immune to censorship. They also enable user privacy on the Internet.

3. DuckDuckGo Onion Search

Address: duckduckgogg42xjoc72x3sjasowoarfbgcmvfimaftt6twagswzczad.onion

To search for the onion URLs, you need access to a deep web search engine. If you’re new to the deep/dark web, DuckDuckGo’s onion link should be your first port of call. This parent site gives access to all other dark websites through a simple search. Click its “Onionize” button to search the onion links for any other dark web websites.

DuckDuckGo is a native search engine for Tor. It further enjoys an excellent reputation for search privacy. Some countries and ISPs may try to prevent access to DuckDuckGo’s direct link. Hence, it’s quite useful to be able to connect to its onion link.

Also read: want to know which search engine is the best? Check out our three-way comparison between Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.

4. Proton

Address: protonmailrmez3lotccipshtkleegetolb73fuirgj7r4o4vfu7ozyd.onion

Switzerland-based Proton (formerly ProtonMail) is one of the most secure email services, and has a reputation for not logging IP addresses. If you care about your privacy on the Internet, no other site comes close. Tim Berners-Lee, one of the founders of the World Wide Web, is currently involved in its operations.

Proton further provides access over the Tor network through its customized onion address. When you create a free Proton account, you get encrypted email with 1 GB storage, two password vaults, and one VPN connection. At $9.99/month, you can migrate to a premium plan with 500 GB storage and unlimited messages.

Tip: wondering about the differences between the deep web and dark web? We have the answers.

5. Keybase

Address: keybase5wmilwokqirssclfnsqrjdsi7jdir5wy7y7iu3tanwmtp6oid.onion

When you’re dealing with sensitive information, nothing feels truly anonymous or private. One genuine exception is a site called Keybase, which helps you securely share files and chat online. It uses public key cryptography to ensure the chats remain anonymous to everyone except the participants.

Clearly, if you want to form your exclusive private club of family members, friends, fellow journalists, or other close-knit groups, Keybase is a wonderful online platform. It also works with Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux, ensuring your co-participants can use any device.

6. SecureDrop

Address: sdolvtfhatvsysc6l34d65ymdwxcujausv7k5jk4cy5ttzhjoi6fzvyd.onion

Among many open-source whistleblower sites, SecureDrop is currently a leading platform. Many prominent media sources and journalists maintain a presence on this website location to securely accept documents from anonymous senders. These include big names, such as Al Jazeera, CBC, Forbes, Huffington Post, The New York Times, and many more.

To contribute a tip, join the community, which can be done anonymously through an approved onion link. The site is strongly resistant to hackers and encrypts your data in transit as well as the rest.

7. OnionWallet

Address: p2qzxkca42e3wccvqgby7jrcbzlf6g7pnkvybnau4szl5ykdydzmvbid.onion

Whether you’re new to cryptocurrency or a professional trader, you’ll find OnionWallet very useful for private transactions. After a simple, anonymous registration, your Bitcoin address is ready. After you fund your balance using cash deposit, wire transfer or person-to-person transfers, OnionWallet is ready to use.

The service is free to use and does not require any KYC policies. Obviously, a website like this would be subject to government control and blocking. But the onion link works just fine, and the user interface is clean and clutter-free.

Tip: follow our simple tips to use Bitcoins privately without any issues.

8. OnionShare

Address: lldan5gahapx5k7iafb3s4ikijc4ni7gx5iywdflkba5y2ezyg6sjgyd.onion

OnionShare is a powerful open-source platform that lets you share and receive files anonymously, host websites, run an online service, or chat anonymously. The tool is simple to install, fast to learn, and gets you started immediately. It’s supported equally well on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Want to share files of any size without restrictions anonymously? OnionShare is one of the best tools for that purpose, whether on the surface or deep web. The service remains free to use, and the secure design prevents access to third parties, eavesdroppers, and other malicious agents.

Tip: for enhanced privacy, learn how to sign out of Google on all your devices.

9. Dread

Address: g66ol3eb5ujdckzqqfmjsbpdjufmjd5nsgdipvxmsh7rckzlhywlzlqd.onion

Darknet websites are one thing, but darknet markets involve a whole category of websites that may get banned by search engines. If all you need is a discussion to satisfy your curiosities, you have nowhere to turn to.

This is where a site like Dread is really helpful. It offers a Reddit-like interface, where you can learn everything you need to know about darknet websites and spotting the real from the scammers. For the record, there are more scam sites for every genuine one, and it’s good to have a discussion forum about this.

10. ProPublica

Address: p53lf57qovyuvwsc6xnrppyply3vtqm7l6pcobkmyqsiofyeznfu5uqd.onion

ProPublica is one of the leading aggregate sources of investigative journalism reports. These are verified media stories that you will not find on the surface web because of censorship, bans, and other restrictions. The journalists contributing pieces on this website are associated with leading newspapers.

The website has received six Pulitzer Prizes for its grassroots-based journalism. Accessing it through an onion link is much more convenient if you’re unable to directly view it on your screen.

11. Qubes OS

Qubes is a leading Linux-based operating system, well known for privacy. The award-winning software supports Windows, Debian, and Fedora. You have much better control over software customization. Apart from Tails OS, Qubes allows the highest secure connectivity for virtual machine systems.

Qubes is used by journalists, as it is directly used to run SecureDrop, another dark web website on our list. While there are many great Linux distributions to work with, Qubes should be high on your list if you value privacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it Legal to Browse the Dark Web?

As long as you are not looking for anything illegal in the real world, it’s perfectly legitimate to use the dark web to find whatever you need. Nevertheless, the dark web is home to certain disturbing and illegal content you’ll never find on the surface web. It’s not that you can’t find prohibited content on the surface web – it’s just harder to look for it, as Google or Bing filter the most harmful sites. If you stumble upon any websites that seem illegal, just close the window.

How Do I Open Onion Links?

Opening the onion links is very easy from the Tor browser, which you need to download and install in advance. To search for onion links for any website on the surface web, just copy-paste the URL in a Tor browser window. It will display a message, Onion available, if onions are available for the website. Click on the message to view the available link. You can also search for onion links on DuckDuckGo’s onion page by clicking Onionize.

If you’re having trouble opening a specific onion link, or the overall Tor speed is slow, we have detailed tips on how to make Tor faster.

How Can I Stay Safe While Using the Dark Web?

To stay safe while using the dark web:

  • Stay clear of illegal or unethical content, even out of curiosity
  • Beware of scam websites (Use Dread or OnionShare to verify them.)
  • Don’t trust dark websites that require you to install multiple software
  • Avoid dark websites that demand upfront payment

Now that we’ve learned how to use the best dark web websites to find useful and interesting information, perhaps it’s time to explore other interesting websites. For instance, you may want to tease your brain with one of these intellectual websites serving every category.

Image credit: Pixabay. 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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