Guides

Tor vs VPN vs Proxy: What's the Difference?

All three promise to “hide” you online, which makes them easy to mix up, but they work in very different ways and protect you to very different degrees. Here's a plain-English comparison of what each one actually does, what it costs you, and which one fits your situation.

By the Tor Browser Guide editors · Updated

Quick answer

The short version

A proxy is one middleman server that swaps your IP address, and most add no encryption of their own. A VPN encrypts everything between you and one company's server: good everyday privacy, but that company sees your IP and the sites you visit. Tor routes your browsing through three relays with layered encryption, so no single relay knows both who you are and where you're going. It gives the strongest anonymity of the three, and it's free, open-source, and run by a non-profit. Rough rule: proxy = quick IP change, VPN = everyday privacy, Tor = real anonymity.

What is a proxy?

A proxy is a single server that sits between you and a website: you send your request to the proxy, the proxy forwards it, and the site usually sees the proxy's IP address instead of yours. (Some “transparent” proxies still pass your real IP along.) Most basic proxies add no encryption of their own, so you're only as protected as the site you visit: pages on https sites stay encrypted, plain http pages don't. Either way, the proxy's owner can see which sites you visit, and your internet provider usually can too.

Proxies are typically set up per app or per browser, which makes them handy for one-off tasks and easy to forget about everywhere else. Browser extensions sold as “VPNs” are often just proxies for that one browser. A special caution for free public proxies: researchers who tested thousands of open proxies found that many altered the pages passing through them, some maliciously. If privacy is the goal, a random free proxy is usually a step backwards.

What is a VPN?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the provider's server, and usually routes all your device's traffic through it. Websites see the VPN server's location, and your internet provider sees only an encrypted connection to a VPN. It's easy and usually only slightly slower than normal. The catch is that the VPN company sees your real IP, which sites you visit, and anything not protected by HTTPS, so your privacy rests on trusting one company. (We compare Tor and VPNs in depth in Tor vs VPN.)

What is Tor?

Tor (The Onion Router) routes your traffic through three volunteer-run relays, wrapping it in layers of encryption. The entry relay knows who you are but not where you're going; the exit relay knows the destination but not who you are. No single relay, and no single company, sees the whole picture. Most people use it through the free Tor Browser, which works like a normal browser and also blocks trackers and resists fingerprinting. That design is why Tor gives the strongest anonymity of the three. (How strong exactly? See is Tor anonymous?)

Tor vs VPN vs proxy: side-by-side

A comparison of Tor, VPNs, and proxies across encryption, what they hide, trust, coverage, speed, cost, and best use.
Feature Tor VPN Proxy
Encryption Three layers inside Tor; the last hop is encrypted only with HTTPS Yes, to the VPN server Usually adds none (HTTPS sites stay encrypted)
Hides your IP from sites Yes Yes Usually (some pass your IP along)
Hides which sites you visit from your ISP Yes Yes Mostly no
Hides that you're using it Only with a bridge No (ISP sees a VPN) Often not
Who you trust No single point: 3 relays One company One server, often unknown
Covers The Tor Browser Usually the whole device One app or browser
Speed Slower (3 relays) Usually close to normal Varies, often unstable
Cost Free, open-source Usually paid Free or paid
Best for Anonymity, sensitive research, censorship Everyday privacy, changing location Quick IP change for one app, nothing sensitive

A note on names: the Tor Project also makes an Android app called Tor VPN (in beta). It routes your other apps through the Tor network for free; it isn't a commercial VPN. For private browsing, Tor Browser is still the right tool.

Which one should you use?

  • Use a proxy if…

    …you just need a quick IP change for one app or task, nothing sensitive is involved, and you're using a proxy you actually trust. For anything involving privacy, look further down this list.

  • Use a VPN if…

    …you want everyday privacy for your whole device at near-normal speed, such as on Wi-Fi you don't trust or to keep your browsing from your ISP, and you're comfortable trusting a reputable provider.

  • Use Tor if…

    …you want real anonymity: sensitive research, avoiding tracking, getting around censorship, or simply not trusting any single company with your browsing. It's free, and it's the strongest option of the three.

  • Thinking of combining them?

    Don't add a proxy or VPN to Tor Browser “for extra privacy.” The Tor Project generally recommends against adding a separate VPN, and its free bridges cover the main reason people want one. Details: do you need a VPN with Tor?

Seeing “Proxy server is refusing connection” in Tor?

Tor Browser uses a small proxy on your own computer to talk to Tor, so this error is usually a Tor connection problem, not a real proxy. See Tor not connecting?

The bottom line

Proxy, VPN, and Tor sit on a ladder of protection: a proxy changes your IP and little else; a VPN adds real encryption but asks you to trust one company; Tor spreads that trust across three relays and gives you the strongest anonymity, for free. Whichever you use, logging into your personal accounts still tells sites who you are. Pick the rung that matches what you're protecting: convenience, everyday privacy, or anonymity.

Download Tor Browser New to Tor? Start here

Frequently asked questions

Is a proxy safer than a VPN?

Generally, no. A basic proxy adds no encryption of its own, so the proxy owner can see where you go, and your internet provider usually can too. A VPN encrypts everything between you and its server. And free public proxies are often run by unknown parties who can watch or alter your traffic, so treat them with caution.

Is Tor just a proxy?

Not really. A proxy is a single middleman server; Tor is a network of three relays with layered encryption, designed so no single relay sees both who you are and where you're going. Tor is sometimes described as “a network of proxies,” but the encryption and the three-hop design make it a far stronger tool for anonymity.

Do I need a VPN if I already use Tor?

For most people, no. Tor is designed to protect you on its own, and the Tor Project generally advises against adding a VPN. A VPN mainly helps hide the fact that you use Tor from your internet provider, and Tor's free bridges make that much harder to spot too. Full breakdown: do you need a VPN with Tor?

Are free proxies safe?

Be careful with them. Free public proxies are run by unknown operators who can log your activity, inject ads, or alter unencrypted pages. If privacy matters at all, the free and trustworthy option isn't a random proxy; it's the Tor Browser, which is open-source and run by a non-profit.

Sources

We base this guide on official Tor Project documentation and independent sources. Links checked October 8, 2026.