The Orbot Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Orbot 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.
Orbot
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source Tor VPN for Android and iPhone
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among VPNs, read from Orbot’s own pages.
Made by Guardian Project · 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 Orbot’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Orbot’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
3.0
GPA, above 44 of the 50 other VPNs we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Orbot, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It stops there: no country-selectable servers, no desktop app, and the per-app choice is only described for Android.
- 1
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.
- 2
It is free
Orbot has no paid plan at all. The app is free and open source; the download page asks for donations to support development.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Android and iOS.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
Tor bridges
Offers a choice of Tor bridges to help stay connected on restricted networks.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 44 of 50
That is against the other VPNs we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Orbot is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Orbot at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- iOS, Android
- Made by
- Guardian Project
- Category
- VPNs
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 3.0 on the App Store, 979 ratings
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no plan, trial or cap to run into. |
| Features | C | Routes 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Android and iPhone only. The pages read list no desktop app and point to Tor Project software for other systems. |
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 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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- People who want specific phone apps to go through Tor
- Users on restricted networks who need Tor bridges
- Anyone who wants an open-source mobile app they can inspect
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.
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
Orbot is free to use.
Free outright, with no plan, trial or cap to run into.
Orbot
$0
A free app with no paid plans.
The free plan
The app is free and open source; the download page asks for donations to support development.
Read from orbot.app on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: iOS and Android
Free, open-source Tor VPN for Android and iPhone. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, vPN.
Routes apps through Tor, with bridges for restricted networks and onion services.
- 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.
Where it runs
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Orbot is made by Guardian Project.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
44/50
Other VPNs it is graded above
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
- AFree plan and trialAbove 43 of 50
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 50
- BEase of useAbove 23 of 50
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 50
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 46 VPNs. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Orbot 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
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Psiphon, Lantern, Outline VPN, Proton VPN and Mullvad VPN
The 5 tools Orbot is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Psiphon
Free plan · from $2.88/mo
Free, open-source circumvention VPN with an ad-free paid tier.
- Only Psiphon lists a Windows app.
- 2.6GPA
Lantern
Free plan · from $3.63/mo
Nonprofit, open-source VPN built to get past censorship.
- Only Lantern lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Lantern is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Lantern also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.0GPA
Outline VPN
Free
Open-source software for running your own VPN server.
- Only Outline VPN lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Outline VPN is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap.
- Only Proton VPN lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Proton VPN lists a browser extension.
- Proton VPN also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 1.8GPA
Mullvad VPN
From €5/mo
Flat-rate Swedish VPN with anonymous numbered accounts.
- Orbot has a free plan. Mullvad VPN does not.
- Only Mullvad VPN lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Mullvad VPN also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Orbot free?
Yes. Orbot is free to use.
How much does Orbot cost?
Orbot lists one plan. Orbot: $0.
What platforms does Orbot work on?
Orbot is available on Android and iOS.
How is Orbot rated?
Orbot's iPhone and iPad app averages 3.0 out of 5 from 979 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
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.
Who makes Orbot?
Orbot is made by Guardian Project.
What are the alternatives to Orbot?
The closest alternatives to Orbot in our directory are Psiphon, Lantern, Outline VPN, Proton VPN and Mullvad VPN.
How does Orbot compare with other VPNs?
Orbot's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 44 of the 50 other VPNs we grade, and level with 4.
Is Orbot good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Orbot A for value for money. Orbot has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Orbot?
Orbot 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 Orbot’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 Orbot'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 Guardian Project. Prices change, so check orbot.app 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
- Orbot, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/orbot
- 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, "Orbot: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/orbot
Know someone choosing between VPNs?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/orbot/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded VPNs after Orbot, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- VPNs Insider's GuideEvery one of the 51 VPNs we grade, compared
- Cloudflare WARP Insider's GuideFree Cloudflare app that encrypts traffic, with an optional paid tier3.2 GPA
- Ultrasurf Insider's GuideFree censorship-circumvention VPN from UltraReach3.2 GPA
- hide.me Insider's GuideMalaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices3.0 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 Orbot’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. Orbot is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Guardian Project. Prices and plans change: check orbot.app before you buy.