Navigating the dark web safely requires specialist software, but this leaves a huge footprint in your internet traffic logs that tell your ISP you’re accessing the dark web. If you’re interested in keeping your activity truly private, investing in a dark web VPN will keep your ISP in the dark and give you access to some extra security features that make browsing the dark web less of a scary experience. Let’s check out some of the VPNs I’d recommend if you want to browse the dark web.
A great dark web VPN needs rock-solid privacy and that’s exactly what you get with NordVPN. An audited no-logging policy means you can be confident no one is monitoring your dark web browsing, a built-in security suite protects you from dark web dangers, and you’ll also get excellent speeds and ultra-powerful unblocking. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and it’s excellent value too—with plans starting from just $3.39 a month.
While it’s a bit more expensive at $6.67 a month, ExpressVPN’s ultra-slick apps and top-notch customer support make it a great dark web VPN for beginners. It’s secure, fast, and powerful, with one of the best user experiences out there. A 30-day money-back guarantee lets you easily see whether ExpressVPN is right for you and you can currently get 3 months free when you sign up.
If you’re on a strict budget then Surfshark is the answer. A whopping 86% discount means a two-year plan costs just $2.19 a month and you get 3 months of free coverage. For that, you’ll get robust security, great speeds, powerful unblocking, and unlimited simultaneous connections – perfect for a house full of tech fanatics. As you’d expect, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test drive Sursfhsark for free.
The reason NordVPN tops our list of dark web VPNs isn’t just that we consider it the Best VPN overall. Normally, when you connect to Tor over a VPN, you have to download separate software like the Tor Browser or Tails OS to connect to Tor first. That’s not the case with NordVPN. Tor support comes built-in, so all you have to do is select “Specialty Servers” from the server list once you’ve downloaded NordVPN and pick an “Onion over VPN” server. This makes browsing the dark web as easy as possible, as you can’t check out dark web sites without making a connection to the Tor network.
Whatever you’re doing on the dark web, privacy is paramount and you need a VPN that you can trust. Some providers just claim they have a no-logging policy but NordVPN can back up its claims. In November 2022, Deloitte conducted a meticulous audit of the company involving a tech deep dive and employee interviews. What Deloitte found backs up NordVPN’s claims – you can be confident that the company isn’t logging your online activity.
If you’re worried about your credentials being leaked on the dark web, NordVPN also runs an identity theft monitor. It continuously scans dark web sites and forums for credentials associated with your email address and lets you know if they appear in a data breach. NordVPN also runs a top-notch antivirus scanner inside the VPN app so if you do accidentally download any malware, NordVPN can identify it instantly.
My only real issue with NordVPN is that it’s not a beginner-friendly VPN. It’s a little overwhelming when you’re presented with all of the different features of NordVPN up-front, whereas a VPN like ExpressVPN allows you to just set up and deploy with a single click. If you can get over the lack of hand-holding though, there’s none better than NordVPN.
These really are minor quibbles though and, for the vast majority of users, NordVPN is an excellent dark web VPN with rock-solid privacy, blistering speeds, and first-class unblocking. Plus, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try our top pick risk-free.
ExpressVPN is a great choice whether you’re trying to access the dark web or just need an all-around great VPN. While NordVPN offers slightly better value for money, ExpressVPN is close behind and might even be a better choice if you need to unblock niche streams.
That said, we’re here to talk about the dark web. While ExpressVPN doesn’t have the same Tor-native servers that NordVPN does, it does allow you to use the Tor browser to connect to onion sites over its servers. This doubles up on the security you’ll receive from just using the Tor service, as your ISP provider won’t be able to tell you’re using Tor. When combined with ExpressVPN’s obfuscation technology that disguises the VPN protocol too, you’ll be able to use Tor even in countries where ISPs are obligated to block it.
Technically impressive, but that wouldn’t mean anything if ExpressVPN didn’t have an outstanding commitment to privacy. Thankfully, it does. Regular third-party audits show that ExpressVPN doesn’t keep logs of users’ online activities or personal information. This is thanks to TrustedServer, a RAM-only server architecture which wipes all the data stored on ExpressVPN’s servers every time they’re rebooted. There’s no data to store, and nothing to hand over to a law enforcement request.
My only problem with ExpressVPN is the cost. It’s a little more expensive than its competitors without bringing much more to the table unless you’re using it from a jurisdiction with highly restricted internet access. It costs $12.95 per month, but this goes down to $9.99 when you purchase for 6 months or $6.67 when you purchase for 12 months.
While NordVPN just pips it overall, ExpressVPN is a first-class dark web VPN. The colorful, clean apps will be a perfect fit for anyone who loves simple design or has less experience with VPNs, the outstanding and fully audited privacy policy should reassure even the most paranoid dark web user, and all the standard VPN boxes are ticked with aplomb. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can sign up and check out this slick VPN with no risk to your wallet.
Surfshark is another provider that’s both a great all-around choice for a VPN and one of the best ways to access the dark web. Tor is supported on all of Surfshark’s servers so you’re not restricted based on your location. However, you’ll need to download the Tor browser before you can connect to Tor. While Surfshark also supports VPN over Tor, I wouldn’t recommend it. It slows your bandwidth to an absolute crawl and the only real security benefit you get is hiding your traffic from the Tor exit node.
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