Today in this post we are talking about Tor vs VPN. In this post, I will tell you which software you should use in which situation or for the task. And you should also know the difference between VPN and Tor Browser.
Before reading this post, I request you to gain some knowledge about Tor Network and VPN. You should know why, for what purpose, and when you should use VPN and Tor. In this post, we are just comparing both in some cases. It is highly recommended to get some knowledge about VPN and Tor before reading,
Let us first discuss the meaning of Tor and VPN. In the Tor browser, your data is transferred through different IP addresses in an encrypted format. Usually, VPNs have an IP from where you create an encrypted connection directly.
Tor vs VPN
Pricing
Now if we talk about pricing, then the Tor network is free. Talking about VPN, which are providing you really good service are paid. Its price range is from $2-$6 per month. There are also free VPNs, but you will have to pay for a good VPN in most cases.
Speed
The next point is speed. The speed will be much higher in VPN as compared to Tor Network. if you are using VPN then your internet speed may be 5% to 20% lower than the initial speed without a VPN. But if you are using the Tor browser then your internet speed may drop to 90% of the initial internet speed.
For example, if your initial download and upload speed are 110 Mbps and 110 Mbps then after using a reliable VPN, your speed can drop to 99 Mbps download speed and 104 Mbps upload speed. But after using the Tor browser your speed can drop to 11 Mbps download speed and 9 Mbps upload speed.
Tor browsers will see a significant drop in speed as compared to VPN. So for playing games like PUBG, VPN is best
Streaming
You will not be able to stream through the Tor network and should not be streaming as it is a bit risky. But you can do streaming, with the help of a VPN. You can watch a series or a movie from any country with the help of Trusted VPN even if it is banned in your country. Again, VPN won this battle
Location
You cannot select any 1 random location in the Tor network. Tor browser does that work itself. But this is not the case in VPN. In VPN, you can surf the internet by choosing a server from any country. If you want to visit a restricted website from your country, you will need to use a VPN and choose a server from a country in which that website is not banned. What will be your exit node, what will be the exit IP address, and from which country.
App Support
Tor Browser is the easiest and famous software of the Tor network. Tor Browser does not support any app, so you can only visit or access sites through the Tor browser. You can’t use your apps like skype, WhatsApp, etc., through the Tor browser in the Tor network. At the same time, with the help of a VPN, you can use all these apps and all the activities happening on the internet with the help of a VPN. VPN is a better option for app support
P2P Downloading
The Tor network also does not support p2p downloading. Here also you will have to use a VPN for p2p downloading.
Anonymity
When it comes to anonymity, the Tor browser wins. It is a complete circuit, your information bounces/travels to and from various IP addresses, and your information goes in an encrypted format. So it makes the browser a lot more secure and a lot more anonymous as compared to VPN. In VPN, the information goes through only one IP address and that too VPN provider knows that the IP is yours and your location
Both are great if you want to hide information from your ISP. If you use a VPN or Tor browser, then the ISP will not know what you are doing and which websites you are visiting., But ………
Trust
Now here it comes to Trust VPN, you have to trust the VPN provider to keep your data secure. So you should rely on it only after you have read the privacy policy and terms and conditions and then decide which VPN would be best for you. While reading the terms and conditions you have to keep in mind that whether they keep your data secure or not, how long do they keep your data with them? And will they give it to any third party in the future or not? Also, do a bit of research before buying any VPN.
But in the Tor network, you don’t need to trust anyone because information travels through different IP addresses and goes in an encrypted format so there is no major need for trust. But in a VPN you have to trust a company, For that, you will have to read the Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy and do some research with it.
If you want to visit .onion websites then VPN cannot help you in this but you can visit .onion websites using TOR browser. Both are easy to use
What should you use?
If your main objective is to be anonymous and to increase security completely, then you can prefer to use Tor Browser. By using Tor Browser, You will get a lot of anonymity and privacy but you will not get that high-speed internet
If your main objective is to unlock Geo content, do P2P downloading, stream content, or change your location by yourself and if you want high-speed internet then you can use paid VPN only.
You should do a little research before buying a VPN. After reading their terms & conditions, privacy policies, everything, you should decide which VPN is best for you and you also have to trust that company to keep your data safe.
If you want even next-level privacy or security, then you can use both VPN and Tor browser together. Some VPNs support the Tor browser and some VPN do not support the Tor browser. So to use both the Tor browser and VPN together, you will have to do research. So you should decide which one is best for you according to your use case scenario: – Tor browser or VPN.
