Orbot review (2026): is it any good?
Free, open-source Tor VPN for Android and iPhone
Orbot report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for sending phone apps through Tor
Orbot is a free, open-source app that sends the traffic of chosen phone apps through the Tor network. It stops there: no country-selectable servers, no desktop app, and the per-app choice is only described for Android.
Who Orbot is for
- Fits if you want chosen apps on your Android phone to go through Tor
- Works for people on restricted networks who need Tor bridges
Who Orbot is not for
- 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
Why Orbot gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for money$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.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright, with no plan, trial or cap to run into.
- CFeaturesRoutes 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.
- BEase of useNo 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.
- CPlatforms and integrationsAndroid and iPhone only. The pages read list no desktop app and point to Tor Project software for other systems.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Orbot'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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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/orbot#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/orbot.svg" alt="Orbot: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Orbot stands among VPNs
Orbot's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 44 of the 50 other VPNs we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 43 of 50) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 1).
Orbot has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 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 51 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. Orbot’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 43 of 50, level with 7
- AFree plan and trialAbove 43 of 50, level with 7
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 50, level with 30
- BEase of useAbove 23 of 50, level with 25
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 50, level with 2
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 46 VPNs. 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 Orbot, or make your own?
Keep it
Orbot is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 44 of the 50 other VPNs we grade.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Orbot’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 Orbot?
Orbot is a free app from the Guardian Project that sends traffic from apps on a phone through the Tor network. On Android you choose which apps go through Tor; it also supports Tor bridges for restricted networks and onion services. It is open source and has no paid tier.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Orbot pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Orbot is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The app is free and open source; the download page asks for donations to support development.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Orbot | $0 | A free app with no paid plans. |
Read from orbot.app on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Orbot before you buy.
How people rate the Orbot app
3.0
out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app
- 5 stars40%
- 4 stars7%
- 3 stars6%
- 2 stars6%
- 1 star41%
979 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
Orbot alternatives
- Orbot vs Psiphon
Free plan · from $2.88/mo
- Orbot vs Lantern
Free plan · from $3.63/mo
- Orbot vs Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
- Orbot vs Mullvad VPN
From €5/mo
Common questions
Does Orbot have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Orbot is listed for Android and iOS.
Does Orbot have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Orbot is listed for Android and iOS.
Is Orbot open source?
Yes. Orbot 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.