Tor is an excellent browser for people who value privacy and security. It allows you to surf the internet without being detected.
Essentially, Tor makes it seamless for individuals like you and me to go to websites without sharing our digital data. In addition, Tor creates layers of encryption for us and we do not have to do it manually.
The result? We can enjoy an anonymous internet browsing experience. No one can know that we visited a website, or track our online activities.
However, Tor could be better. For example, it cannot do things like tracking malware and spyware. As such, it is wise to look for Tor alternatives that can provide anonymity and a higher degree of protection.
There are many browsers available today that are great alternatives to the Tor browser. This article lists some of the very best.
Read on to know more.
Best Tor Browser Alternatives
1. Brave Browser
The Brave browser automatically blocks trackers and ads from the websites you visit. As such, the browser prevents these websites from following you or your activities.
Brave provides several security measures, such as internet browsing in incognito mode. They even offer VPN services to increase your anonymity.
Here are the key features of Brave:
- Blocks ads and website trackers
- It has built-in integration for onion routing
- Available in nearly 160 languages
- It provides faster speeds in a browser – up to three times faster than Chrome
Unlike Tor, Brave offers the possibility of earning cryptocurrency. What this means is that you can earn tokens by merely browsing the internet.
Also, Brave offers a crypto wallet that you can use for multiple crypto-currency types. There is no need to download an extension to the browser.
Brave also has a default ad blocker, which Tor does not have. In addition, I can say that Brave is a faster browser than Tor. While Tor provides anonymity, it is slow compared to regular browsers, even against Brave.
Explore the best alternatives to Brave Browser in this post.
2. Vivaldi
Vivaldi is a fast browser with a customizable user interface. It means you can toggle its settings to make your browsing experience unique.
In its recent update, the browser can load websites two times faster than your typical browser. Because of this, you can surf different websites on different tabs and not worry about speed.
Here are the key features of Vivaldi:
- The browser does not track user behavior or surfing patterns
- Vivaldi blocks trackers from websites
- No one can sniff your browsing history
- There is a report that shows what the browser did for you
One good example of the report I like very much is that I can see how many trackers the browser blocked. I can also see the number of ads it successfully blocked, which gives me the confidence to use the tool more often.
The beauty of Vivaldi is that you can use it as a plug-in extension for Chrome since they built it on the same base, which you cannot do with Tor. The developers of Vivaldi allowed Chrome to work on their system.
In addition, Vivaldi offers many types of customizations you cannot do with Tor. For example, you can toggle the panel, space, clock, page actions, images, separators, and much more.
3. Epic Privacy Browser
Epic Privacy Browser, as the name implies, is a secure web browser that focuses on protecting your privacy. It even comes with a free VPN.
Here are the things that Epic Privacy Browser can do:
- Encrypt your browser data transfers and requests
- Block ads and trackers
- Prevent fingerprinting and malware
- Prevents crypto mining from operations
- Blocks ultrasound signaling
What makes it different from Tor is that it comes with a VPN. Apart from encrypting your browser data, Epic also hides your IP so people cannot track or sniff your activities online.
Unlike Tor, Epic offers its users servers in eight countries, which should be enough for an average user to hide his actual location. On top of anonymity, Epic can also block up to 600 tracking attempts that generally happen in one browsing session.
What I like about Epic is that I can see information about who is attempting to track me. Another thing it does well is that even if I use it to access public websites, the system keeps my personal information private, even from my internet service provider.
4. Avast Secure Browser
Avast is one of the most reliable providers of antivirus programs. Thankfully, they created a secure browser that makes your browsing activities private.
The beauty of Avast is that you can use it on Windows, iOS, Android, and Mac. Regardless of the operating system, it also works fast, enabling a seamless internet-browsing experience.
Here are its features:
- You can use it for securing online financial transactions with the bank mode feature
- You can pair it with the free Avast Antivirus, which escalates your level of protection
- Block malicious websites from downloading malware
- Force unsecured websites to use encryption when you access them
What makes Avast an ideal alternative to Tor is that people can use it for large-scale operations. Tor, on the other hand, is primarily for individuals.
In addition, Avast already automatically blocks ads and other malicious content on top of making you anonymous. Tor’s primary function is to keep you incognito, but it does not provide the same level of protection as Avast.
5. Comodo IceDragon
Comodo IceDragon is also an internet browser that hides your data. Its primary purpose is to allow you to surf the web and maintain privacy.
The Comodo IceDragon system works on top of the core of the Firefox browser. Please note that this is a centralized system, unlike the other alternatives I mentioned here.
The strength of Comodo IceDragon lies in the enhancements and additional features like SiteInspector, malware scanners, and secured DNS.
Here are the features of Comodo:
- It has an ad blocker
- It comes with a built-in VPN
- It automatically blocks web trackers
- Secures your digital privacy
- Browser compatibility
- Fast and reliable even if it works behind the core of the Firefox browser
Unlike Tor, Comodo offers support 24/7, and this support is live. Tor, on the other hand, only provides support online. In addition, Comodo also provides training, and from time to time, they even host a webinar.
You can also integrate Comodo IceDragon with popular apps and sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. You cannot do this with Tor.
Overall, I can say that this is one of the best alternatives to Tor if you are active on social media. But, of course, your social media identity can still be traced if you use your real name.
6. SRWare Iron
SRWare Iron touts itself as the best browser in the world, complete with privacy and security features that you can access for free. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android platforms.
The SRWare Iron browser rests on the same base as Chrome, which is Chromium. However, SRWare does not create individual user IDs for people who use it, thus making your browsing activities anonymous.
Here are the best things about SRWare:
- It does not record the sites you visit
- The browser does not have bloatware, making it fast
- It can provide one of the fastest browsing experiences you can have
Although SRWare Iron works on the Chromium base, it does not log a user ID the first time you use it; no installation number goes somewhere to track you.
What makes SRWare Iron different from Tor and other alternative browsers is the absence of anything you do not need. For example, it has no cryptocurrency bloatware.
Unlike Tor, you can also use SRWare for daily activities, even banking transactions. On the other hand, Tor is not ideal for daily browsing activities because it does not support modern features.
7. LibreWolf
LibreWolf is a customized version of Firefox. Because Firefox is already secure and partially anonymous, you can enjoy a higher level of privacy with LibreWolf because of what the developers did.
Essentially, LibreWolf is an independent version of Firefox. The two have nothing to do with each other except that they sit on the same technological base.
LibreWolf is an open-source browser, which means people can contribute to its improvement. Because of this, users like us can expect updates for the system from time to time.
Here are the best things about LibreWolf:
- It offers protection against fingerprinting and tracking
- There are patches you can download as the technology improves
- The browser does not collect telemetry and other types of data
- The browser disables features like DRM
- No experiments for the browser affect you, such as adware and other unnecessary annoyances
Unlike Tor, LibreWolf comes with uBlock Origin already pre-installed. uBlock Origin is not just another ad blocker. It is a content blocker that covers a broad spectrum of annoyances in browsing.
LibreWolf also has an advantage over Tor when it comes to privacy. The browser, by default, prevents data tracking, while Tor only specializes in anonymity.
8. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is something you can use for daily activities. It prevents sites like Google and Facebook from taking your personal information.
This browser specializes in tracker blocking. Whenever you access a website that attempts to track your browsing behavior, DuckDuckGo prevents these sites from taking information from you.
When these websites track you, they sell your data to advertisers. It is why when you go to YouTube, you get surprised that there is an ad about a pair of shoes that you looked at or searched for maybe two days ago on Google.
Below are some of the things DuckDuckGo can do:
- Protects you from trackers and information sniffers
- It offers a high level of encryption
- You can do a private search without fear
- You also get email protection
While Tor provides anonymity, DuckDuckGo performs better at keeping trackers at bay. It means that websites cannot get your location, search history, ethnicity, gender, and many other things.
In addition, DuckDuckGo is a search engine, while Tor is not. Because of this, DuckDuckGo gives you more freedom than Tor and you can research without fearing losing your privacy.
Also Read: Best Alternatives To DuckDuckGo
9. Mozilla
Mozilla Firefox is an iconic browser brand with no shady privacy policies. It is too far from Chrome but provides security and privacy like Tor.
Here are the things you can do with Mozilla Firefox:
- Incognito mode – turn it on to enjoy a private browsing experience
- Browser Extensions – many browser extensions can work with Firefox to improve your security
- Antivirus – Firefox is compatible with many antivirus programs to prevent malware or adware from getting into our computer system
- VPN – you can install a VPN to the browser to circumvent geo-blocking
If you want, you can make the incognito mode permanent. You can also customize many features of the browser from the settings.
What makes Firefox preferable over Tor is that Firefox has strong support for HTML5. As a result, you will not have trouble loading websites created in the HTML5 language.
Firefox also recently released the Quantum update, making it a faster browser than Tor. The update makes the browser look at your hardware and automatically optimize itself for a faster browsing experience.
10. Chromium
Chromium may look and feel like Google Chrome, but it does not use all of Chrome’s features, especially the ones that violate your privacy. The main difference between the two is that Chromium is for developers, but that doesn’t mean that you and I can’t use it.
Here are the best things about Chromium:
- You can’t sign into Google from this browser; it keeps your data safe from Google
- Compatible with Chrome store; you can add extensions to increase your security
- It doesn’t collect as much information as Chrome
- It has a regular patch to reduce vulnerability from hacks
Unlike Tor, Chromium is an ideal browser for everyday use. Why? It is because Chromium is almost similar to Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Developers made it for daily internet use.
In addition, Chromium allows you to block cookies and scripts. The good news is that you don’t even need extensions to do this. On the other hand, Tor only makes you anonymous, but some scripts may still run in the background.
Finally, you can restrict data gathering, transfer, sniffing, manage your history and downloads, and clear all your cache and cookies anytime.
11. Opera
Opera offers five different types of browsers you can use for various purposes. For example, they have a browser for cryptocurrency and gamers.
The personal browser is what you want as an alternative to Tor. It works on several platforms like Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Here are the best features of Opera:
- Easy control over the browser for a fast experience
- You can listen to music or chat on the sidebar of the browser
- You can use multiple windows, like playing video in the background of another browser
- You can share files with Pinboards across several devices
Opera is an excellent Tor alternative because it has ad and pop-up blockers, which work on desktop and mobile devices. In addition, Opera comes with a free VPN and tracker-blocking system.
The browser also has a resource management feature. It automatically detects how it uses your RAM, making it optimized.
Opera is also significantly faster than Tor, which is known for being sluggish. It owes its speed to its built-in VPN, which encrypts your browsing activity faster than Tor.
12. Bromite
Bromite is a fork of Chromium – the same technology that powers Google Chrome and Chromium Browser. What Bromite does differently from Tor is that it has a built-in ad blocker, plus some privacy enhancement features.
Bromite has a focus on what people call “de-googling.” It means that you are getting away from the prying eyes of Google, even if you go inside Google’s internet “universe.”
Here are the things I love about Bromite:
- It has an ad-blocking engine and a fast one at that
- It has features that protect your privacy
- There are free patches available when the technology improves
- The browser can scramble data, making it hard for apps and websites to identify you
- It optimizes the use of your RAM
- You can customize the ad blocker
The advantage of Bromite over Tor is that it uses DNS over HTTPS. However, this method is a new protocol, and what it does is encryption of your requests, making them private.
Bromite also gives you leverage by allowing you to always be in incognito mode. As a result, you no longer need to worry about cookies and browsing data being cached in the browser.
13. AXplorer
AXplorer is a fast and secure browser that also comes with a free VPN. With this browser, you can access sites you usually cannot access with ordinary browsers.
The free VPN of AXplorer allows you to make transactions without the fear of tracking. It does not matter if you are online. The system will keep trackers at bay.
Here are the things I like about AXplorer:
- The browser has a crypto wallet that you can use for crypto transactions
- The system blocks cookies, ads, and trackers
- You get AXIA Coin rewards for using the browser
What makes AXplorer better than Tor is that you get paid with cryptocurrency for using it. Tor is merely a browser, but AXplorer pays you with crypto coins you can use to transact.
Another advantage of AXplorer over Tor is the VPN. While Tor can mask who you are, a VPN allows you to access geo-blocked content. You can even pretend to be accessing a site from another country.
14. Pale Moon
Pale Moon is a browser for Linux and Windows, and its main focus is customization, so you can get the most out of it when you surf the internet. It is a secure and private browser that is also a fork of Firefox.
Here are some of the things I like about Pale Moon:
- It allows the use of some plug-ins, including Adobe Flash
- It has an add-on store, similar to Google Chrome, where you can download extensions
- You can create a sync key, but this key will stay on your PC, not in the cloud
- The browser does not save your data permanently
- It does not claim any telemetry data
An edge that Pale Moon has over Tor is the permission manager. With Pale Moon, you can instruct the browser to ask you whether or not to load images, store cookies, passwords, etc.
Pale Moon, being independent, also tops Tor because of its add-ons. You can install add-ons to your Pale Moon browser to improve its security. With Tor, it is the opposite – installing add-ons in Tor makes it less secure.
15. Waterfox
Waterfox is a privacy-oriented browser that prevents trackers from fingerprinting your identity and activities. In addition, it has the power to block malware.
Waterfox gives you control over your browsing activities. The browser, by default, does not save your browsing details or history, making it completely free of trace.
Here are the best things about Waterfox:
- Does not gather telemetric data
- Does not store cookies
- Can work offline (this is a future update)
- Can integrate with Google Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
- Works faster than Firefox
One advantage of Waterfox over Tor is its reliability. Waterfox never freezes, and I can say that it can perform better than Tor in this regard, especially if you are browsing gaming sites heavy on videos and images.
Waterfox also implements the Ant Download Manager, which Tor does not. It is a tool that allows you to increase the speed of file downloads.
Summary
The best alternative that I recommend is Brave.
Brave makes you anonymous even if you regularly browse or use incognito mode. It has everything Tor has and offers more layers of protection and security.
The browser uses encryption at several levels to guarantee that no one traces you. Overall, Brave is the best alternative to Tor in my book.
