Orbot vs Sentinel dVPN (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Orbot grades higher than Sentinel dVPN: 3.0 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Orbot grades higher on value for money, the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Sentinel dVPN
Blockchain-based peer-to-peer VPN network with open-source apps
Paid
Which one is for you
Pick Orbot if
- Fits if you want chosen apps on your Android phone to go through Tor
- Works for people on restricted networks who need Tor bridges
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to pick a server in another country, as it uses the Tor network, not a server list
- Not for you if you need it on a laptop, because the pages read list no desktop app
- Watch out: choosing which apps go through Tor is described for Android only
- Watch out: traffic goes through Tor, not a commercial server network, so expect nothing like a normal VPN's speed or streaming access
Pick Sentinel dVPN if
- Fits if you are comfortable holding a crypto wallet and paying per use
- Works for developers who want to build a dVPN app on an open network
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a monthly plan with a price on it, because none was read
- Not for you if you need a desktop app, as none is named for the flagship
- Watch out: Sentinel cannot restore a wallet recovery phrase, per its Plan Manager page
- Watch out: third-party apps such as NORSE Labs have their own prices and features
- Watch out: bandwidth is paid in P2P tokens, so what you pay moves with the token
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAOrbotVery good | 1.6GPASentinel dVPNWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$0, open source, no paid plan. The site only asks for donations. A free app anyone can install is the top of this category, where the cheaper quarter starts at $3.99 a month. | CNo fixed plans or prices were read. Bandwidth is paid for in P2P tokens, so the category's $3.99 to $8 a month is no yardstick. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, with no plan, trial or cap to run into. | FNo free plan or free trial is on record in the listing. |
| Features | CRoutes apps through Tor, with bridges for restricted networks and onion services. It is a smaller job than a VPN: the listing notes there are no country-selectable servers. | CPeer-to-peer nodes, WireGuard and V2Ray, and SDKs for people building their own dVPN apps. Features differ between the apps on the network. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating on record, but it is an app you install and start. Nothing to set up in the listing beyond choosing which apps to send. | CNo rating on record. You need a wallet and tokens before the first connection, and Sentinel cannot restore a lost recovery phrase. |
| Platforms and integrations | CAndroid and iPhone only. The pages read list no desktop app and point to Tor Project software for other systems. | CThe flagship app is listed for Android and iOS only, and the pages read name no desktop app. |
| Best for | sending phone apps through Tor | a VPN paid for in tokens, not a subscription |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Orbot and Sentinel dVPN. How we grade
Where they differ
In commonAndroidiOSOpen sourceVPN
At a glance
| Orbot | Sentinel dVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Paid |
| Starts at | Free | Not published |
| Free plan | The app is free and open source; the download page asks for donations to support development. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Guardian Project | Sentinel |
| Price read from | orbot.app | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Orbot
- Runs on Android and iOS only; the pages read list no desktop app, and point to Tor Project software for other systems.
- Per-app choice is described for Android only.
- Traffic goes through the Tor network, not a commercial server network, so there are no country-selectable VPN servers.
- The site says the app is free and asks for donations.
Sentinel dVPN
- No fixed plans or prices were read: the site says bandwidth is paid for in P2P tokens, and subscription pricing sits in separate third-party apps.
- Several dVPN apps use the network, some from other developers such as NORSE Labs, and their pricing and features differ.
- The flagship app is listed for Android and iOS; the pages read name no desktop app for it.
- Wallet recovery phrases cannot be restored by Sentinel, per its Plan Manager page.
Key features
Orbot
- Traffic through Tor
- Encrypts traffic from any app and routes it through the Tor network, which the site says leaves no central log of your traffic or IP address.
- Per-app routing on Android
- Android users can pick which apps go through Tor, so apps that object to Tor traffic can still be used normally.
- Tor bridges
- Offers a choice of Tor bridges to help stay connected on restricted networks.
- Onion services
- Lets any app connect to onion services, and lets the phone host an onion service itself.
- Several ways to install
- Available from Google Play, F-Droid, the Apple App Store, or as a direct APK download from the Guardian Project.
Sentinel dVPN
- Peer-to-peer nodes
- The site cites more than 1,500 bandwidth providers in 70 or more countries, with no central servers; it also quotes 90+ countries elsewhere on the page.
- On-chain sessions
- A signed blockchain transaction creates each session, and a node issues VPN credentials only after checking the chain.
- WireGuard and V2Ray
- The flagship app is described as supporting WireGuard and V2Ray; its Google Play listing also names Amnezia, XRay and OpenVPN.
- Pay nodes in P2P
- Wallets pay node operators directly in the P2P token, and nodes can be picked by country, price or protocol.
- SDKs for builders
- Open-source SDKs in JavaScript, C#, Go and Swift let other developers ship their own dVPN apps on the network.
Plans
Orbot
Orbot$0
A free app with no paid plans.
Sentinel dVPN
Pricing could not be confirmed. See sentinel.co.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Orbot or Sentinel dVPN?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Orbot is free, and Sentinel dVPN has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Orbot or Sentinel dVPN?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Orbot has a free plan. Sentinel dVPN does not.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.