Getting started
Onion Browser: Tor on iPhone
There's no Tor Browser for iPhone or iPad. The app the Tor Project recommends instead is called Onion Browser. It's free and it works well, but it has real limits that are worth understanding before you rely on it. This guide walks you through a safe setup, step by step.
Quick answer
The quick version
Install Onion Browser from the App Store and check that the developer is Mike Tigas. When it asks how to connect, choose Orbot, the safer option, and keep the security level on Silver or Gold. That gets you on the Tor network. Just remember that on iOS, Apple's rules mean you get less protection than Tor Browser offers on a computer.
First: which “onion browser” do you mean?
People use the phrase in two ways. Many say “onion browser” to mean the Tor Browser in general, the free browser for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android that connects to the Tor “onion” network. If that's what you're after, start with our installation guide or Tor on Android.
But Onion Browser is also the actual name of an iOS app: the one the Tor Project recommends for iPhone and iPad. That app is what this guide is about.
Why there's no Tor Browser for iPhone
Tor Browser is built on Firefox's engine, and many of its privacy protections live inside that engine. Apple requires browsers on iOS to use its own engine, WebKit, so the Tor Project can't ship the real Tor Browser there. Its official advice is to use Onion Browser instead, made by a developer who works closely with the Tor Project. The Tor Project also notes that WebKit stops Onion Browser from having the same privacy protections as Tor Browser.
(Apple now lets browsers use other engines for users in the EU, and the team behind Onion Browser has said it plans a full Tor Browser for iOS there. As of this writing, it hasn't shipped.)
Before you install: make sure it's the real app
Search the App Store for “Tor” or “onion” and you'll find plenty of apps with similar names. Some have better star ratings than the real thing, so ratings tell you nothing. A fake “Tor” app can show you ads, collect your data, or never connect to Tor at all. The Tor Project's support team gets reports about fake “Tor Browser” apps on the iOS App Store every month. And remember: real Tor apps are free, so any “Tor Browser” that asks you to pay is a fake.
How to spot the genuine apps
Onion Browser: the developer is Mike Tigas and the app is free. The safest route is the App Store link on its official site, onionbrowser.com. Orbot (optional, explained below): the publisher is The Tor Project. It's built by the Guardian Project, a long-time Tor partner.
How to set up Onion Browser (step by step)
-
Find Onion Browser in the App Store
Search for Onion Browser, or open its App Store page directly. It needs iOS 15 or later.
-
Check the developer
The developer line should say Mike Tigas, and the app should be free. If either is different, it's not the right app.
-
Choose how to connect
On first launch, Onion Browser asks how to reach the Tor network: through Orbot or its built-in Tor. Choose Orbot if you can. We explain the difference in the next section.
-
If you chose Orbot, install and start it
Install Orbot from the App Store (publisher: The Tor Project). Open it, allow it to add a VPN configuration when iOS asks, and tap Start. Then switch back to Onion Browser.
-
Keep a safe security level
Leave the security level on Silver, the default, or switch to Gold for the strongest protection. Avoid Bronze. (Details below.)
-
Confirm you're on Tor
Visit check.torproject.org in Onion Browser. It should tell you you're using Tor.
Orbot or built-in Tor: which should you choose?
Onion Browser can get onto the Tor network in two ways. Its own FAQ sums it up simply: Orbot is safer, the built-in Tor is more stable. Here's what that means in practice.
| What matters | Orbot | Built-in Tor |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | The safer choice | Onion Browser warns it has known security weaknesses |
| Known leaks | Your whole connection goes through Tor | Your real IP can leak to sites through WebRTC, and audio/video can't go through Tor |
| Stability | iOS memory limits can make it restart now and then | More stable |
| What it covers | All apps on the device while it's on | Only Onion Browser |
| Needs | A second free app (iOS 15+) | iOS 17 or later |
Our advice
If you're protecting your identity, use Orbot. The built-in Tor is fine for casual private reading when Orbot keeps dropping. And because Orbot routes your whole device through Tor, other apps will be slower while it's on. Switch it off when you're done.
Security levels: Gold, Silver, and Bronze
Onion Browser has three security presets, which you can also set per website. The stricter levels turn on Apple's Lockdown Mode protections inside the app (iOS 16+), which shut down several known leaks.
| Level | JavaScript | Lockdown Mode | Use it when… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Off | On | You need the strongest protection. Some sites will break. |
| Silver (default) | On | On | Everyday private browsing. A good balance. |
| Bronze | On | Off | Not recommended, even by the app itself. |
If Tor is blocked on your network
In countries or on networks that block Tor, you'll need a bridge, the same fix as on a computer. With the built-in Tor, Onion Browser offers obfs4, Snowflake, and meek bridges, and also lets you paste custom bridges, including WebTunnel. If you connect through Orbot, bridges are set up in Orbot itself. Orbot for iOS dropped bridge support in 2024 to save memory, and it came back in 2026, so update Orbot if you don't see the option. For which bridge to pick and where to get fresh ones, see our Tor bridges guide.
What Onion Browser can't do: the honest limits
-
✘ It isn't as private as Tor Browser
WebKit gives the app far fewer controls, so its protection against browser fingerprinting is weaker than Tor Browser's on desktop or Android. Onion Browser's own advice is not to change settings like the user agent: on iOS, blending in with other iPhone users is your best cover.
-
✘ It won't protect you from yourself
Logging into your personal accounts, or typing your real name, tells sites who you are, Tor or not. (More in is Tor anonymous?)
-
✔ Updates matter, so install them
The developers patch privacy leaks as researchers find them, including fixes released in 2026. Turn on automatic App Store updates for both Onion Browser and Orbot.
-
✔ For high-stakes anonymity, use a computer
If your safety depends on staying anonymous, use the real Tor Browser on a computer or an Android device rather than an iPhone. It's simply the stronger tool. (See is Tor safe?)
The bottom line
On iPhone and iPad, Onion Browser is the way to use Tor that the Tor Project recommends. Get the genuine app (developer: Mike Tigas), connect through Orbot, stay on Silver or Gold, and keep it updated. That's a solid setup for private browsing and getting around censorship. Just treat it as a step below the real Tor Browser, and use a computer when the stakes are high.
Frequently asked questions
Is Onion Browser safe?
The genuine Onion Browser (developer: Mike Tigas) is free, has its source code published on GitHub, and is recommended by the Tor Project, so it's the safest way to use Tor on an iPhone. But because Apple requires iOS browsers to use WebKit, it can't match the protections of Tor Browser on a computer or Android. Use Orbot mode, keep the Silver or Gold security level, keep the app updated, and don't log into personal accounts if you need anonymity.
Is there a Tor Browser for iPhone?
No. The Tor Project doesn't make a Tor Browser for iOS. It recommends Onion Browser instead, developed by someone who works closely with the Tor Project. Any App Store app calling itself “Tor Browser” is not from the Tor Project.
Is Onion Browser the same as Tor Browser?
No. Both connect to the Tor network, but Tor Browser (for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android) is built by the Tor Project with strong anti-fingerprinting protections. Onion Browser is a separate iOS app built on Apple's WebKit, which limits how much it can protect you. People also say “onion browser” casually to mean Tor Browser in general.
Is Onion Browser free and legal?
Yes, it's free on the App Store, with optional donations. Using it is legal wherever using Tor is legal, which includes the United States and most countries. A few governments block or restrict Tor; see Tor laws by country. This is general information, not legal advice.