Onion Browser review (2026): is it any good?
Free iOS browser that sends traffic through Tor
Onion Browser report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for Tor browsing on an iPhone or iPad
Onion Browser is an open-source iPhone and iPad browser that routes traffic through Tor, with no saved history. Apple's required WebKit gives it less anti-tracking control than Tor Browser, traffic is slower, and it runs on iOS only.
Who Onion Browser is for
- Fits if you want Tor routing on an iPhone or iPad
- Makes sense if you want no history kept between sessions
Who Onion Browser is not for
- Skip it if you use Android or a computer: the project points you to Tor Browser
- Not for you if you want the strongest anti-tracking: the project says WebKit gives less control than Firefox
- Tight if you want speed: traffic passes through volunteer relays and is slower
- Watch out: the App Store listing shows in-app purchases with no amounts
Why Onion Browser gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyThe app is free and open source, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter, though the App Store lists in-app purchases without amounts.
- AFree plan and trialThe full app downloads free from the App Store. In-app purchases are shown, but the listing gives no amounts.
- CFeaturesTor routing, no saved history and per-site security levels, but the project says WebKit gives it less control than Firefox for anti-tracking.
- BEase of useNo rating on record. You install it and browse, with tabs that close when you are done.
- DPlatforms and integrationsiOS and iPadOS only. The project points desktop and Android users to Tor Browser.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Tigas Ventures's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/onion-browser#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/onion-browser.svg" alt="Onion Browser: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Onion Browser stands among browsers
Onion Browser's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 23 of the 60 other browsers we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 22 of 60) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Onion Browser has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 61 browsers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Onion Browser’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 22 of 60, level with 38
- AFree plan and trialAbove 21 of 60, level with 39
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 60, level with 46
- BEase of useAbove 28 of 60, level with 26
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 60, level with 3
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 54 browsers. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Onion Browser, or make your own?
Keep it
Onion Browser is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- A real app for iOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Onion Browser’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Onion Browser?
Onion Browser is an open-source browser for iPhone and iPad that routes traffic through the Tor network. Tabs close when you are done, and history is not saved. Because Apple requires its own WebKit component, the project says it differs from Tor Browser on desktop and Android, which is built on Firefox.
Worth knowing
- iOS and iPadOS only; the project points desktop and Android users to Tor Browser.
- Apple requires the WebKit component, which the project says gives less control than Firefox for anti-tracking.
- Browsing over Tor is slower because traffic passes through volunteer relays.
Key features
- Tor routing
- Traffic is encrypted and sent through the Tor network, so sites do not see your real IP address.
- No saved history
- The site says it does not save history, and tabs do not persist, so each session starts fresh.
- Per-site security levels
- Security settings can be adjusted for each website visited.
- Onion sites and bridges
- Opens onion sites and supports Tor bridges for networks that block Tor.
- Open source
- The code is public, with contributors including Mike Tigas, Benjamin Erhart and the Guardian Project.
Onion Browser pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Onion Browser is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free to download from the App Store; the listing also shows in-app purchases.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full app is free; the App Store listing also shows in-app purchases without amounts. |
Read from apps.apple.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Onion Browser before you buy.
How people rate the Onion Browser app
3.2
out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app
- 5 stars40%
- 4 stars12%
- 3 stars8%
- 2 stars6%
- 1 star33%
2,143 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Nov 13, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing
Works with
- Orbot
Onion Browser alternatives
- Onion Browser vs DuckDuckGo Browser
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
- Onion Browser vs Brave
Free plan · from $3.00/mo
Common questions
Does Onion Browser have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Onion Browser is listed for iOS.
Does Onion Browser have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Onion Browser is listed for iOS.
Is Onion Browser open source?
Yes. Onion Browser is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.