The Onion Browser Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Onion Browser in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Onion Browser
The Insider’s Guide
Free iOS browser that sends traffic through Tor
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among browsers, read from Onion Browser’s own pages.
Made by Tigas Ventures · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Onion Browser’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Onion Browser’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 23 of the 60 other browsers we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Onion Browser, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Apple's required WebKit gives it less anti-tracking control than Tor Browser, traffic is slower, and it runs on iOS only.
- 1
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.
- 2
It is free
Onion Browser has no paid plan at all. Free to download from the App Store; the listing also shows in-app purchases.
- 3
It runs on iOS
iOS.
- 4
Tor routing
Traffic is encrypted and sent through the Tor network, so sites do not see your real IP address.
- 5
No saved history
The site says it does not save history, and tabs do not persist, so each session starts fresh.
- 6
Per-site security levels
Security settings can be adjusted for each website visited.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 23 of 60
That is against the other browsers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Onion Browser is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Onion Browser at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- iOS
- Made by
- Tigas Ventures
- Category
- Browsers
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 3.2 on the App Store, 2,143 ratings
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full app downloads free from the App Store. In-app purchases are shown, but the listing gives no amounts. |
| Features | C | Tor routing, no saved history and per-site security levels, but the project says WebKit gives it less control than Firefox for anti-tracking. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record. You install it and browse, with tabs that close when you are done. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | iOS and iPadOS only. The project points desktop and Android users to Tor Browser. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- iPhone and iPad users who want Tor access
- People on networks that censor sites
- Anyone who wants an app that keeps no browsing history
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Onion Browser is free to use.
The full app downloads free from the App Store.
Free
$0
The full app is free; the App Store listing also shows in-app purchases without amounts.
The free plan
Free to download from the App Store; the listing also shows in-app purchases.
Read from apps.apple.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: iOS
Free iOS browser that sends traffic through Tor. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, web browser.
The project points desktop and Android users to Tor Browser.
- 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.
Where it runs
- iOS
What it works with
- Orbot
Onion Browser is made by Tigas Ventures.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
23/60
Other browsers it is graded above
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
- AFree plan and trialAbove 21 of 60
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 60
- BEase of useAbove 28 of 60
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 60
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 54 browsers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Onion Browser is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Tor Browser, DuckDuckGo Browser, Brave and Safari
The 4 tools Onion Browser is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.4GPA
Tor Browser
Free
Free browser that routes traffic through the Tor network.
- Only Onion Browser lists an iOS app.
- Only Tor Browser lists Windows, macOS, Linux and Android apps.
- 2.8GPA
DuckDuckGo Browser
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Free browser that blocks trackers, ads and cookie pop-ups by default.
- Only DuckDuckGo Browser lists Windows, macOS and Android apps.
- Onion Browser is open source, according to its own site.
- DuckDuckGo Browser also covers password manager.
- 3.8GPA
Brave
Free plan · from $3.00/mo
Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
- Only Brave lists Windows, macOS, Linux and Android apps.
- Brave also covers password manager and video calls.
- 3.2GPA
Safari
Free
Apple's built-in browser for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro.
- Only Safari lists a macOS app.
- Onion Browser is open source, according to its own site.
- Safari also covers passkeys and read later.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Onion Browser free?
Yes. Onion Browser is free to use.
How much does Onion Browser cost?
Onion Browser lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Onion Browser work on?
Onion Browser is available on iOS.
How is Onion Browser rated?
Onion Browser's iPhone and iPad app averages 3.2 out of 5 from 2,143 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
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.
What does Onion Browser integrate with?
Onion Browser's listing names Orbot. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Onion Browser?
Onion Browser is made by Tigas Ventures.
What are the alternatives to Onion Browser?
The closest alternatives to Onion Browser in our directory are Tor Browser, DuckDuckGo Browser, Brave and Safari.
How does Onion Browser compare with other browsers?
Onion Browser's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 23 of the 60 other browsers we grade, and level with 10.
Is Onion Browser good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Onion Browser A for value for money. Onion Browser has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Onion Browser?
Onion Browser is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Onion Browser’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Tigas Ventures. Prices change, so check onionbrowser.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Onion Browser, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/onion-browser
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Onion Browser: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/onion-browser
Know someone choosing between browsers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/onion-browser/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded browsers after Onion Browser, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Browsers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 61 browsers we grade, compared
- Brave Insider's GuideOpen-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default3.8 GPA
- Firefox Insider's GuideFree, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in3.8 GPA
- Vivaldi Insider's GuideCustomizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader3.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Onion Browser’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Onion Browser is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Tigas Ventures. Prices and plans change: check onionbrowser.com before you buy.