The Tor Browser Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Tor 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.
Tor Browser
The Insider’s Guide
Free browser that routes traffic through the Tor network
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among browsers, read from Tor Browser’s own pages.
Made by The Tor Project, Inc. · checked Nov 12, 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 Tor Browser’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Tor Browser’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.4
GPA, above 18 of the 25 other browsers we grade
Tor Browser is a free browser from the Tor Project, a nonprofit. It sends traffic through three locations on the Tor network, isolates each site you visit, and clears cookies and history when you finish. It also opens .onion sites and is used to get around blocked sites. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Tor Browser, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install it and browse, though traffic goes through three relays.
- 1
Best for browsing without being tracked across sites
Pages load more slowly that way, the project says not to add extensions or a separate VPN, and there's no iPhone version.
- 2
It is free
Tor Browser has no paid plan at all. Tor Browser is free. The Tor Project is a nonprofit and asks for donations; it says it does not sell user data to make money.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
- 4
Three-hop routing
Tor Browser encrypts traffic and routes it through three locations, so someone watching your connection sees only that you are using Tor.
- 5
Site isolation and automatic clean-up
Each website is isolated so third-party trackers and ads cannot follow you across sites, and cookies and browsing history are cleared when you finish.
- 6
Onion sites
It opens .onion domains, which some publishers run only on Tor and which the project says are harder to shut down or censor.
- 7
A 3.4 GPA, above 18 of 25
That is against the other browsers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Tor Browser is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Tor Browser at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, Android
- Made by
- The Tor Project, Inc.
- Category
- Browsers
- Our grade
- 3.4 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for browsing without being tracked across sites
Tor Browser sends your traffic through three Tor relays and isolates each website, so someone watching your connection sees only that you use Tor. Pages load more slowly that way, the project says not to add extensions or a separate VPN, and there's no iPhone version.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free, from a nonprofit that says it doesn't sell user data. A program anyone can download and run. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole browser is free, with no account or paid tier. |
| Features | B | Three-hop routing, site isolation, automatic clean-up and .onion sites cover its job. The listing's limits are plain: no extra plugins, no separate VPN and no torrenting over Tor. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. You install it and browse, though traffic goes through three relays. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, Linux and Android. There's no iOS version on the download page. |
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 Tor Browser is for
- Fits if you want your traffic routed so a network watcher can't see which sites you visit
- Works for reaching sites that a government, ISP or home network blocks
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want fast browsing, as traffic passes through three relays
- Skip it if you want extensions: the download page says not to add plugins or add-ons
- Not for you if you use an iPhone, as there's no iOS version
- Watch out: the project's own Tor VPN for Android is labeled beta
Good to know
Good for
- People who need anonymity from trackers or a network watcher
- Reaching sites blocked by a network or country
- Opening .onion sites
Worth knowing
- The download page says not to use a separate VPN, install extra plugins or add-ons, or torrent over Tor.
- There is no iOS version on the download page; the Android app is listed separately.
- Traffic passes through three relays, so pages are not routed the way a regular browser sends them.
- The Tor Project's own Tor VPN for Android is labeled beta.
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
Tor Browser is free to use.
Free, from a nonprofit that says it doesn't sell user data.
Free
$0
Tor Browser for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, with no account and no paid tier.
The free plan
Tor Browser is free. The Tor Project is a nonprofit and asks for donations; it says it does not sell user data to make money.
Read from torproject.org on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux and Android
Free browser that routes traffic through the Tor network. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, web browser.
Three-hop routing, site isolation, automatic clean-up and .onion sites cover its job.
- Three-hop routing
- Tor Browser encrypts traffic and routes it through three locations, so someone watching your connection sees only that you are using Tor.
- Site isolation and automatic clean-up
- Each website is isolated so third-party trackers and ads cannot follow you across sites, and cookies and browsing history are cleared when you finish.
- Onion sites
- It opens .onion domains, which some publishers run only on Tor and which the project says are harder to shut down or censor.
- Censorship circumvention
- The project says it can reach sites that a government, ISP or home network has blocked.
- Related Tor apps
- The Tor Project also offers Tor VPN for Android (labeled beta) and Tails, a portable operating system, alongside the browser.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Tor Browser is made by The Tor Project, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
18/25
Other browsers it is graded above
Tor Browser's GPA of 3.4 is higher than 18 of the 25 other browsers we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 10 of 25) and worst on ease of use (B, above 8).
Tor Browser has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 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 26 browsers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Tor Browser’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 10 of 25
- AFree plan and trialAbove 8 of 25
- BFeaturesAbove 14 of 25
- BEase of useAbove 8 of 25
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 13 of 25
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 24 browsers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Tor 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
Tor Browser 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 3.4 is higher than 18 of the 25 other browsers we grade.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Tor 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
Brave, LibreWolf, Firefox and DuckDuckGo Browser
The 4 tools Tor Browser is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.8GPA
Brave
Free plan · from $3.00/mo
Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
- Only Brave lists an iOS app.
- Brave also covers password manager and video calls.
- 2.8GPA
LibreWolf
Free
Free, privacy-hardened browser built on Firefox.
- Only Tor Browser lists an Android app.
- LibreWolf also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 3.8GPA
Firefox
Free
Free, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in.
- Only Firefox lists an iOS app.
- Firefox is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Firefox also covers password manager.
- 2.8GPA
DuckDuckGo Browser
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Free browser that blocks trackers, ads and cookie pop-ups by default.
- Only Tor Browser lists a Linux app.
- Only DuckDuckGo Browser lists an iOS app.
- Tor Browser is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
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 Tor Browser free?
Yes. Tor Browser is free to use.
How much does Tor Browser cost?
Tor Browser lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Tor Browser work on?
Tor Browser is available on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
Does Tor Browser have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Tor Browser is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
Is Tor Browser open source?
Yes. Tor Browser is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Tor Browser?
Tor Browser is made by The Tor Project, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Tor Browser?
The closest alternatives to Tor Browser in our directory are Brave, LibreWolf, Firefox and DuckDuckGo Browser.
How does Tor Browser compare with other browsers?
Tor Browser's GPA of 3.4 is higher than 18 of the 25 other browsers we grade, and level with 1.
Is Tor Browser good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Tor Browser A for value for money. Tor Browser has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Tor Browser?
Tor 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 Tor Browser’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Tor Browser's own pages on 12 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 The Tor Project, Inc. Prices change, so check torproject.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Tor Browser, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/tor-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, "Tor Browser: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/tor-browser
Know someone choosing between browsers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/tor-browser/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded browsers after Tor Browser, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Browsers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 26 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 Tor 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. Tor Browser is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by The Tor Project, Inc. Prices and plans change: check torproject.org before you buy.