VPNs, proxies, and Tor all help hide your IP address, but they work differently and are suited for different use cases. Let's compare them.
Quick Comparison
• VPN: Best overall for privacy + speed. Encrypts all traffic. • Proxy: Simple but no encryption. Good for bypassing basic blocks. • Tor: Maximum anonymity but slow. Free and open source.
When to Use a VPN
- Daily browsing with enhanced privacy
- Streaming geo-restricted content
- Using public WiFi safely
- Hiding activity from your ISP
- Accessing blocked websites at work/school
When to Use Tor
- Accessing the dark web (.onion sites)
- Whistleblowing or journalism in oppressive regimes
- When you need maximum anonymity
- When you can't afford or trust a VPN
When to Use a Proxy
- Quick bypass of geo-restrictions (non-sensitive)
- Testing how websites appear from different locations
- When you only need to mask IP for specific browser traffic
You can combine methods for extra security: use Tor over VPN, or a VPN with a trusted proxy.