Tim Mocan
Updated on: December 7, 2023
Short on time? Here’s how to safely access sites on the dark web using a VPN in 2024:
- Step 1: Get a good dark web VPN. My top pick is ExpressVPN because all of its servers allow dark web traffic, it provides world-class security features, and it has fast browsing speeds.
- Step 2: Download and install the VPN. The whole process shouldn’t take more than 1–2 minutes.
- Step 3: Download and install the Tor browser. The browser is free to download and use, and the installation process doesn’t take more than 2 minutes.
- Step 4: Open the VPN app. Connect to a VPN server that allows dark web traffic.
- Step 5: Open the Tor browser. Use .onion links to securely browse your favorite sites on the dark web.
There are many legitimate reasons to use the dark web, although most people associate it with criminal activities. For example, some people use it to read news in censorship-heavy countries. You can also use the dark web to access clearnet (publicly accessible internet) sites securely, and to visit sites that aren’t available on the public internet. What’s more, journalists, political activists, and bloggers use the dark web to communicate with sources and each other securely.
Using the dark web is legal in most countries, but navigating it is tricky — especially if this is your first time using it. That’s because there’s not much information about the sites you can browse.
So, I put together a list of the best dark web sites in 2024 to help you get started. I also included instructions on how to access the dark web, and outlined how to stay safe when browsing dark web links (the dark web is also home to many scams and malicious sites).
Browse the Dark Web With ExpressVPN Now
SafetyDetectives doesn’t condone using the dark web for illegal purposes. We also don’t condone using the dark web if it’s illegal to access it in your country. It’s best to do your own research to make sure it’s not against your local laws to browse sites on the dark web.
What You Need to Securely Browse the Dark Web
- The Tor browser — To access the dark web, you’ll need to use the Tor network. It’s a privacy network that sends your traffic through at least 3 servers to change your IP address (concealing your location) and encrypt your traffic, making it unreadable. The easiest way to use Tor is to download the Tor browser, which is a free tool.
- A VPN — A VPN changes your IP address and encrypts your traffic. I recommend using a VPN that supports Tor traffic to get more privacy. While the Tor network is generally secure, it can experience IP leaks. What’s more, anyone can run Tor servers, including malicious actors who want to log your IP address and traffic. However, if you connect to a VPN before you connect to Tor, Tor can’t see any of your data — so even if you suffer an IP leak, only the VPN’s IP address will be exposed, while your real IP stays hidden. I always use ExpressVPN (our #1 pick for the best VPNs in 2024).
- An antivirus — An antivirus is a program that protects your device from malware infections. I recommend using an antivirus when you use Tor because there are many malicious sites out there. My favorite antivirus is Norton 360 (which is also our top pick for the best antiviruses in 2024) because it can detect and remove the newest and most advanced types of malware, and it includes dark web monitoring and ransomware protection.
In addition to these tools, you need to exercise extreme caution when browsing on the dark web because there are tons of phishing and malicious sites on there. Only use .onion links that come from legitimate sources like The Hidden Wiki.
Best Sites on the Dark Web in 2024
1. The Hidden Wiki — Collection of Popular Dark Web Links
The Hidden Wiki is the best way to start browsing the dark web because it contains dozens of links to popular .onion sites.
I really like that there are different site categories (like blogs, email services, file uploaders, forums, etc.) — it makes it very easy to find the content you want. The brief website descriptions are very accurate too. I tested all the website links on The Hidden Wiki and almost all of them work (I was able to access sites like Deep Web Radio and ProPublica without any issues). Only a few links are incorrect or no longer active.
But make sure you’re careful which links you click on — some of them lead to sites that contain illegal content and services. Always read the site’s description before clicking the link.
2. Ahmia — Good Search Engine for the Dark Web
Ahmia is a search engine for .onion sites — you search for a keyword and Ahmia retrieves relevant results. I tested it 10+ times and it always provided me with accurate search results. For example, I used the “radio” keyword and the third result was Deep Web Radio, which is a popular online radio station on the dark web. You can also filter the results by telling Ahmia to only display links from the last day, week, or month.
What’s more, Ahmia blacklists .onion sites that contain abusive content, so it’s safe to use it to browse sites on the dark web almost anywhere — you don’t have to worry about clicking on a link with a misleading name and being bombarded with disturbing content.
3. Daniel — .Onion Site With Chat, Link Checker & More
Daniel provides access to many tools — it has an online chatroom, an .onion link checker, a list of dark web links, and an option to get an encrypted email address.
The online chat feature is useful for getting information about dark web sites — there are only a few users, but they’re very active. I asked them how to surf the dark web securely and I received a helpful reply in just 30 seconds, which told me to only access links from legitimate sites like The Hidden Wiki, use a VPN, and use an antivirus.
The link checker lets you test a .onion link to see if it’s active or not. Some dark web links take ages to load or don’t work on the first try, so this tool lets you quickly check if they’re active. There’s a list of 100+ dark web links, and each site comes with a quick, helpful description.
You can also get a free encrypted email address with 50 MB of storage, but I recommend using ProtonMail instead because it’s available on the dark web and its free plan comes with up to 1 GB of storage.
4. Facebook — Dark Web Version of Popular Social Media Site
Facebook’s dark web version works just like the clearnet site. You can access Facebook via the Tor network if you travel through or live in restrictive countries, which might block access to the site (you should make sure it’s not illegal to visit Facebook in your current location before going on the dark web version of it).
I tested the dark web version of Facebook and it worked very well — I successfully logged into my account (I only had to verify my identity via an email message), browsed my news feed, and chatted with my friends.
But Facebook’s dark web version will still log your data, so keep that in mind. It can’t see your IP address, but it can still collect information you share on your profile.
5. ProtonMail — Free & Secure Email Services
ProtonMail lets you create and send secure emails for free that come with end-to-end encryption (nobody can share your encrypted emails with third parties).
ProtonMail is based in a privacy-friendly country (Switzerland), and all of its apps are open source, meaning anyone can inspect the code for security vulnerabilities.
Its free plan comes with up to 1 GB of storage, 150 messages per day, and 1 email address. It also includes access to Proton Calendar (keep your schedules private), Proton Drive to store data safely, Proton Pass to create email aliases and secure passwords, and Proton VPN’s free plan, which is good for securely accessing Tor sites. The Mail Plus plan adds up to 15 GB of storage, unlimited messages, and 10 email addresses. The Proton Unlimited plan adds up to 500 GB of storage, 15 email addresses, more Proton Calendar and Proton Drive features, and access to a paid Proton VPN and Proton Pass account.
6. Darknetlive — News Site About the Dark Web
Darknetlive contains articles about everything related to the dark web. Articles are published regularly, and they contain interesting information, images, and quotes from officials.
In addition, Darknetlive has a list of dark web vendors, which is very convenient — it offers detailed information about each vendor, including .onion addresses and frequently asked questions (FAQs). You can use the list to avoid shady or illegal marketplaces.
Darknetlive also has a list of resources for people interested in cryptocurrencies, a list of dark web forums (the descriptions include FAQs, screenshots, and .onion addresses), and a massive list of dark web links, where each site comes with a description.
7. ProPublica — Investigative Journalism News Site
ProPublica exposes corruption and abuses of power through investigative journalism. The articles are very in-depth and informative, and the site is completely free to access — I really like how there are no random paywalls popping up in the middle of articles.
ProPublica has a clearnet site, but its dark web version won’t see your IP address, so you get better privacy. You can also use its .onion link via the Tor network to access the site in restrictive countries, where it might be unavailable.
8. Surveillance Self-Defense — Cybersecurity Blog
This is a blog with cybersecurity tips created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a popular non-profit that specializes in digital privacy. The blog contains tons of useful guides about how you can avoid online surveillance.
I read most of the guides on Surveillance Self-Defense, and they’re very useful — they cover everything from phishing attacks and encryption to creating secure passwords and deleting data on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
I also like that the security guides are very easy to read — the format is easy to scan, complicated terms are explained very well, and there are videos and screenshots. It’s great how the site has a Security Scenarios section too, where it offers personalized security tips for specific audiences (activists, academic researchers, journalists, and more).
9. Archive.today — Lets You Save & Look Up Web Pages
Archive.today allows you to take a snapshot of a web page, which will remain online even if the original web page disappears. The site saves text and images, but it can’t save videos and sounds.
You can also search for snapshots using keywords. For example, I looked up google.com and was able to find a snapshot of Google’s home page from 2008.
10. SecureDrop — Secure File Sharing for NGOs, Journalists & News Organizations
SecureDrop is an open-source submission system that nonprofit organizations (NGOs), journalists, and news organizations can use to share and receive sensitive files securely. It’s used by 50+ news organizations, including ABC, Bloomberg News, CBC, and The New York Times.
SecureDrop protects your privacy by encrypting your data, which makes it unreadable. Also, it doesn’t log your IP address or any information about your browser or device. And it doesn’t use third-party servers — the servers are owned by the organizations that use the service.
SecureDrop’s dark web page includes a list of news organizations that use its service — each entry includes a description of the news organization and a link to a submission guide for if you want to share sensitive information with the organization.
11. OnionName — Buy Readable .Onion Domains
OnionName lets you buy readable .onion domains. Dark web domains are generated in a cryptographically secure way, so they look like random strings of 16 characters or more (like 3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion, for example).
OnionName lets you generate an .onion domain name that starts with a specific keyword — like onionamev33r7w4zckyttobq3vrt725iuyr6xessihxifhxrhupixqad.onion/, which is OnionName’s dark web link. The keyword in that example is “onioname,” which is right at the start of the .onion link. With a readable site name like that, people will know what to expect when they click on the link.
OnionName only accepts payments in Bitcoin.
12. Deep Web Radio — Listen to Different Music Genres
Deep Web Radio lets you listen to music while you surf the dark web. It’s easy to navigate and use, and there are around 10 streaming channels available, each with different music — jazz, Baroque, country, folk, Celtic punk, heavy metal, and more.
13. Image Hosting — Upload & Share Images
This is a free service that lets you upload images to share them with other people. This site allows people who live in or travel through restrictive countries to securely access and use image hosting and sharing services, which might be unavailable where they are.
Once you upload an image, the site provides you with shareable links for email messages, instant messaging, message boards, and websites. I tested Image Hosting and was able to upload and share an image on Facebook in less than 10 seconds.
Image Hosting supports 6 image formats and a maximum image size of 3 MB.
14. Google Feud — Fun Trivia Games
Google Feud provides quick and fun Google-themed trivia games. There are different categories — my favorite one is Multiple Choice, where you need to pick the most popular autocomplete answer for a random Google search (like “is it ok to swim with …”).
There are also convenient integrations — for example, you can play Google Feud with chat bots on platforms like Skype and Telegram, or you can play it using only your voice via Alexa.
15. Legal.Cases — Public Court Decisions From Different Countries
This site lets you access public texts of court decisions from around the world. Legal.Cases is useful if you’re a lawyer or law student who needs to research specific cases that are publicly available, or if you’re simply interested in reading court decisions from a specific country.
Legal.Cases lets you pick court decisions from 10+ country categories (including the US, the UK, and Russia). There’s also an International category, where you can find cases from tons of other countries like Austria, Romania, and Portugal.
16. Beneath VT — Exploring Virginia Tech’s Steam Tunnels
Beneath VT is an educational and entertainment blog dedicated to exploring the steam tunnels beneath Virginia Tech. I included Beneath VT in this guide because it stands out from other sites on the dark web, and it’s also interesting and fun to read.
The site contains information about various things, including the dangers of exploring steam tunnels, Virginia Tech’s buildings, and around 10 steam tunnels. Some photos are available, and there’s also an interactive map of the tunnels.
Best VPNs for Browsing the Dark Web Safely in 2024
Quick summary of the best VPNs for browsing the dark web:
- 🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for browsing the dark web in 2024.
- 🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great for surfing the dark web on a mobile device.
- 🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Easy to use with convenient automation.
- 4. NordVPN — Good for visiting dark web sites in regular browsers.
- 5. Surfshark — Affordable VPN for the dark web.
- Bonus. Proton VPN — Good free VPN for going on the dark web.
- Comparison of the Best VPNs for Browsing the Dark Web in 2024.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best for Visiting Sites on the Dark Web in 2024
Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for browsing pages on the dark web in 2024 — it supports Tor traffic, provides excellent security and privacy features, and has very fast speeds.
I really like that all of ExpressVPN’s servers support Tor traffic, because I was able to use a nearby VPN server in my country to get faster speeds while accessing dark web links.
On average, I had really good browsing speeds — .onion sites loaded in 2–3 seconds, HD videos loaded in 5 seconds, and there was only minor buffering at the start of the videos.
ExpressVPN provides high-end security features that are ideal for surfing the dark web. It has a no-logs policy that has been independently audited and verified and it uses RAM-only servers, meaning every server reset wipes all data. Perfect forward secrecy (PFS) is also available, which changes your encryption key for each VPN connection to prevent hackers from compromising past or future encryption keys to spy on your traffic.
I also like that ExpressVPN offers split-tunneling, which lets you choose which apps use the VPN and which use your local network. I used ExpressVPN’s split-tunneling feature to only send dark web traffic through the VPN, which increased my speeds by 5–10%.
ExpressVPN is also very easy to use — its apps are intuitive and there’s a quick-connect feature, which automatically connects you to the fastest VPN server for your location.
ExpressVPN has affordable plans that start at $6.67 / month — it’s pricier than some of its competitors, but it provides excellent value. ExpressVPN also backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Best for Visiting Sites on the Dark Web on Mobile
Private Internet Access (PIA) has very user-friendly and customizable apps, allows Tor traffic on all servers, and provides great security.
All of PIA’s apps are very easy to use, but I especially like its mobile apps because they made it simple for me to visit dark web pages on my Android smartphone and iPhone. The interface is simple to navigate, and all features and settings have helpful explanations. Plus, the provider allows unlimited connections, so you can use it to surf dark web sites on as many devices as you want.
Also, PIA’s mobile apps are very customizable — for example, you can change the encryption level (256-bit AES or 128-bit AES) and make the app automatically connect to a VPN server when you use mobile data, so there’s no risk of browsing dark web links without first connecting to the VPN.
PIA has servers in 91 countries that all support Tor traffic, so it’s very easy to find nearby VPN servers for good speeds. That said, PIA isn’t as fast as ExpressVPN. In my speed tests, dark web links took 4 seconds to load, HD videos took 5–6 seconds to load, and I noticed minor buffering while skipping through the videos.
But I like how secure PIA is — it has advanced security features like RAM-only servers, full leak protection, and perfect forward secrecy. Also, its no-logs policy has been proven true in court many times, and all of its apps are open source.
Private Internet Access has very affordable plans, which start at $2.11 / month. It backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — User-Friendly Dark Web VPN With Great Automation
CyberGhost is a great choice if you’re new to VPNs, as it has user-friendly apps for all major platforms. The apps have an intuitive interface that makes it simple to find and connect to a VPN server to start securely surfing the dark web. Also, all settings and features have helpful explanations, which is great.
The VPN also has Smart Rules, which is a feature that lets you personalize your VPN connections. For example, you can configure the CyberGhost VPN app to automatically connect to a desired VPN server and open the Tor browser app on launch.
CyberGhost VPN allows Tor traffic on all of its servers (11,528 servers in 100 countries). It also has good browsing speeds, but it’s not as fast as ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access — in my tests, most dark web sites took around 5 seconds to load, and HD videos loaded in around 7 seconds and I experienced some buffering at the start.
You also get strong security while surfing the dark web. That’s because the provider has advanced features like RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy. Also, its no-logs policy has passed an independent security audit.
CyberGhost VPN has affordable plans that start at $2.03 / month. It backs the longest plans with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee and the shortest plan with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
4. NordVPN — Good for Surfing Dark Web Sites in Normal Browsers
NordVPN allows Tor traffic on all servers and also has Onion Over VPN servers in 2 countries (Switzerland and the Netherlands). Onion Over VPN servers automatically route your traffic through the Tor network, so they allow you to visit dark web sites in regular browsers like Firefox and Chrome, which is very convenient.
The provider comes with 6,036 servers in 61 countries and good speeds — when I ran tests, it usually took .onion sites around 6–7 seconds to load, while HD videos loaded in 8–9 seconds and there was some noticeable buffering while skipping through them. The speeds are decent, but ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and CyberGhost VPN were much faster.
I also like how secure this VPN is. It comes with advanced features like full leak protection, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy, and it also has a no-logs policy that has passed several independent audits. In addition, it has Threat Protection, which blocks ads, malicious sites, and even protects you from malware-infected downloads — in my tests, it got rid of most ads on dark web sites and stopped me from connecting to malicious links.
NordVPN has paid plans that start at $3.39 / month. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee for all purchases.
5. Surfshark — Good, Affordable VPN for Browsing the Dark Web
Surfshark has some of the most affordable plans on the market, making it a great pick for anyone who needs a secure VPN to visit dark web sites and is also on a tight budget.
The VPN allows Tor traffic on 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, which is great. It also has pretty good speeds — when I used it to surf dark web sites, .onion links took around 8 seconds to load, while HD videos loaded in 10 seconds and I experienced some buffering while skipping through them. But I had much faster speeds with ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
Surfshark is also really user-friendly, as its apps are all intuitive and make it very simple to find and connect to servers. Plus, I like how the provider allows unlimited connections.
You also get strong security features, as the VPN has RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, an audited no-logs policy, and DNS leak protection. But I think it’s a shame how it’s missing WebRTC and IPv6 leak protection (ExpressVPN has full leak protection) — still, I never experienced any leaks in my tests.
Surfshark’s plans start at only $1.99 / month. What’s more, the provider backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Surfshark review
Bonus. Proton VPN — Great Free VPN for Surfing the Dark Web
Proton VPN has a really good free plan for browsing dark web links since it allows unlimited data. In fact, this is actually one of the best free VPNs on the market.
The free plan comes with Tor-friendly servers in the US, the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, and Japan. This makes it hard to connect to nearby servers, so you might experience noticeable slowdowns — luckily, you get access to VPN Accelerator, which can boost speeds on distant servers.
The free version provides strong security — it has full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, full-disk encryption (keeps all data on a server safe even if it’s compromised), an audited no-logs policy, and open-source and audited apps.
Upgrading to the paid version adds more perks — access to 3,097 servers in 71 countries (ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access have servers in more countries, though), Tor over VPN servers that let you access Tor links in regular browsers, and a really good ad blocker.
Proton VPN has plans starting at $4.99 / month and comes with a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Proton VPN review
Comparison of the Best VPNs for Accessing the Dark Web in 2024
How to Choose the Best VPN for Browsing the Dark Web in 2024
- Get a VPN with Tor support. If the VPN doesn’t support Tor traffic on its servers, you can’t use it to visit sites on the dark web. All the VPNs I recommend allow Tor connections on all their servers.
- Pick a VPN with strong security. Security and privacy are vital when accessing the dark web, so I only recommend VPNs that have industry-standard VPN security features. They all come with 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch (which disables online access if the VPN connection drops), leak protection, and a no-logs policy (ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has even been independently audited several times).
- Go for a VPN that has fast speeds. VPNs slow down your speeds due to the encryption they use. Combined with Tor (which adds 3 layers of encryption), the slowdown is even bigger. But the best VPNs (like the ones on this list) minimize the speed loss to provide smooth browsing.
- Select a VPN that’s easy to use. All the brands on this list are easy to install and come with intuitive apps for popular platforms, making it simple to find and connect to servers that allow dark web traffic.
- Choose a VPN that provides good value. I only recommend VPNs that have affordable plans and have a free plan or back all purchases with a generous money-back guarantee.
What Is the Dark Web & How to Stay Safe
The dark web is the part of the internet that’s not indexed by public search engines like Google. It’s made up of forums, marketplaces, and websites you can’t find with a Google search and requires specialized software to access, such as the Tor Browser. The Tor Browser redirects your web traffic through multiple routers and masks your IP address, providing a layer of anonymity you don’t get on the public internet (but I still recommend using a VPN for the dark web to secure your browsing).
The dark web is a small part of the much larger “deep web,” which also isn’t indexed by search engines — but authorized users can access it using common web browsers. The deep web is made up of email platforms, workplace portals, subscription services, and banking websites — basically anything that requires a login. The “surface web,” on the other hand, is the publicly available part of the internet that search engines index.
Because of its extra anonymity, the dark web is a haven for privacy-conscious users, like whistleblowers, activists, investigative journalists, and ordinary people living under repressive regimes. It’s also a playground for cybercriminals, illegal activities, and shady stuff.
Staying safe on the dark web requires even more vigilance than the public internet. Scammers and criminals are lurking everywhere to take advantage of the unwary. Follow the pointers below to avoid becoming a victim if accessing the dark web.
- Don’t click willy-nilly: Be cautious about clicking on links that don’t come from official sources. Scammers love to lure you into traps using slight misspellings of popular URLs or scampages that look convincingly like they come from legitimate businesses. To be safe, only visit dark web sites from The Hidden Wiki.
- Don’t use personal info: Create an anonymous email account for use on the dark web and never, ever share personal details with any website.
- Be password-smart: Always use strong, randomly generated passwords when creating any accounts on the dark web. The longer, the better.
- Use a VPN: Double up your anonymity by using a VPN along with Tor or I2P. I recommend ExpressVPN because all of its servers support Tor traffic.
- Keep your cyber guard up: Make sure your antivirus software is up-to-date and always make sure it’s on when browsing the dark web. I recommend Norton 360 because it reliably removes the latest and most advanced malware and ransomware. Download software or apps only from a trusted repository on the dark web to avoid the risk of disguised malware.
- Avoid purchases. Purchases on the dark web are a rabbit hole of safety issues. If you absolutely must buy something on the dark web, consider using cryptocurrency or a virtual credit card number from your bank that you disable after using.
- Disable Javascript in the Tor browser. Hackers have been known to exploit the security vulnerabilities in Javascript, and the Tor browser leaves Javascript enabled by default. To disable it, go to Settings then Security and look for the option to disable Javascript.
- Don’t look for illegal content or services. Recent research suggests 30% of websites on the dark web are offering illegal content or services, such as illegal drugs, stolen data, or hacking services. Given enough time and resources, law enforcement can track you down despite using the Tor browser or other security measures. They sometimes even disguise themselves as vendors on the dark web!
Legitimate Reasons Why People Use the Dark Web
- In regions with stringent online censorship, activists advocating for democracy often turn to the dark web. Its encryption and anonymity safeguards give them a platform to freely access and distribute information otherwise suppressed.
- People in restrictive countries use it to visit social media sites like Facebook, which might be unavailable where they live due to government censorship.
- Journalists use the dark web to protect their privacy and the privacy of their sources.
- The majority of people access the dark web for reasons related to privacy, such as stopping others from monitoring their online activities, traffic, and location.
- Some people use it to get medical advice, as they are not comfortable discussing their medical issues with doctors face to face.
How to Browse the Dark Web on Any Device
How to Browse the Dark Web on a Windows PC
- Get the Tor browser. Download and install the free Tor browser — the whole process only takes 1–2 minutes. I also recommend getting a VPN like ExpressVPN, which allows Tor traffic on all of its servers.
- Open the Tor browser. Wait a few seconds until the browser connects to the Tor network.
- Surf dark web links. Copy-paste .onion links in the search field to visit your favorite sites on the dark web.
How to Browse the Dark Web on a Mac
- Download and install the Tor browser. The program is 100% free to use. Also, you should get a secure VPN — my top pick is ExpressVPN for its world-class security features.
- Run the Tor browser. You’ll need to wait up to 10 seconds (sometimes more) for the browser to connect to the Tor network.
- Use .onion links. Copy-paste them into the URL bar to start surfing pages on the dark web.
How to Browse the Dark Web on a Linux System
- Download and install the Tor browser. It’s free and easy to set up — just follow the prompts. And for a more secure dark web experience, consider pairing it with a VPN like ExpressVPN.
- Open the browser. Start the Tor browser and wait for it to connect to the Tor network (on average, it takes up to 10 seconds).
- Visit sites on the dark web. Use .onion links in the search field to browse dark web pages.
How to Browse the Dark Web on an iPhone or iPad
- Get the Onion Browser. Download and install it from the App Store — it shouldn’t take more than 2 minutes. In addition, you should get a secure VPN like ExpressVPN, which supports dark web traffic on all of its servers.
- Open the browser app. Wait a few seconds for it to connect you to the Tor network.
- Surf the dark web. Use .onion links to visit tons of sites on the dark web.
How to Browse the Dark Web on an Android Device
- Install the Tor browser. Look for the Tor browser app on the Google Play Store, download it, and wait for the installation process to finish. You should also get a good VPN for visiting dark web links — I recommend ExpressVPN for its state-of-the-art security features and lightning-fast speeds.
- Open the Tor browser. Tap Connect and wait a few seconds until the app connects to the Tor network. If you’re prompted to choose a security level, pick Safest.
- Browse the dark web. Start using .onion links to surf your favorite sites on the dark web.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to visit .onion sites on the dark web?
Yes, but you need to be cautious because there are many malicious sites on the dark web. Always make sure you’re using the correct .onion link. The best way to do that is to get the link from legitimate sources, like The Hidden Wiki. What’s more, you should always use a VPN (like ExpressVPN) with Tor to protect yourself from IP leaks. I also recommend using an antivirus (like Norton 360) to protect your device from malware infections.
Is it illegal to use the dark web?
It depends on what country you’re in. It’s legal to use the dark web in most countries, but there are places where using the dark web might be against the law. I strongly advise doing your own research to make sure you’re not breaking any local laws by visiting the dark web. Also, even in countries where accessing the dark web is legal, it’s still against the law to use or host sites that promote criminal activities.
Is it safe to visit the dark web on an iOS or Android device?
Yes, but you need to take some precautions to avoid cyber threats. In addition to the Tor browser, you should use an antivirus program (like Norton 360) to protect your device from malware infections, and a VPN (like ExpressVPN) to secure your IP address and traffic. Also, only use .onion links from legitimate sources like The Hidden Wiki.
Which is better — Tor over VPN or VPN over Tor?
Here’s the difference between the two:
- Tor over VPN. This means you’re first connecting to a VPN and then to Tor.
- VPN over Tor. This means you’re first connecting to Tor and then to a VPN.
I personally recommend Tor over VPN because it’s the safer option — the VPN encrypts your traffic and changes your IP address, so the Tor network can’t see them. That’s helpful because Tor can suffer IP leaks and malicious actors can run Tor servers. Basically, if a Tor IP leak occurs before you connect to the VPN, your real IP address will be exposed. But if you connect to the VPN before connecting to Tor and an IP leak occurs, only the VPN’s IP address will be exposed.
If you need a great Tor VPN, I recommend ExpressVPN — all its servers allow Tor traffic, it has excellent security and privacy features, and it provides fast browsing speeds.
What’s the difference between the dark web and deep web?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same. Here’s the difference:
- Deep web. This is a part of the internet that doesn’t show up on conventional search engines — basically, it includes unindexed web pages like pages hidden behind paywalls, medical records, and email accounts. So, this is the internet that search engines can’t access.
- Dark web. This is a part of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and is fully encrypted. Regular search engines can’t access it — it can only be accessed via the Tor browser.
