Tor Browser
AdvancedTor Browser is a solid Google Chrome alternative. The browser for total anonymity. Your traffic passes through three encrypted relays.
Information verified on July 7, 2026
This topic is chapter 2 of the book
Leaving Chrome in Ten Minutes
Here, the big picture. In the book: the full method and the detailed walkthrough.
Description
Tor Browser routes your traffic through three encrypted relays before reaching the site you visit. Nobody can trace it back to you: not your ISP, not the site, not the relays themselves. It's the reference tool for online anonymity, used by journalists, activists and whistleblowers. Browsing is slower than a regular browser, and some sites block Tor.
Key features
- Onion routing (3 nodes)
- Anti-fingerprinting
- Access to .onion sites
- Based on Firefox ESR
- Open source
- Free
Strengths
- + Maximum anonymity
- + Bypasses censorship
- + Supported by a nonprofit foundation
Weaknesses
- − Slow browsing (multi-node routing)
- − Some sites block Tor
- − Not suitable for daily use
Recommended for
- Need for strong anonymity
- Journalists and whistleblowers
- Sensitive browsing
Tor Browser vs Google Chrome: the comparison
| Criterion | Tor Browser | Google Chrome |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free and open source. | Free |
| Targeted ads on your data | No | Yes (feeds Google ad targeting) |
| Source code | Open (auditable) | Proprietary |
| Migration difficulty | Moderate (3/5) | — |
Comparison
Tor Browser offers maximum anonymity at the cost of speed. Firefox with uBlock Origin covers 90% of privacy needs. Brave blocks trackers without slowing browsing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Tor Browser cost?
Free and open source.
How do you switch from Google Chrome to Tor Browser?
Estimated difficulty: Moderate (3/5). Not a main browser. Complementary use for anonymous browsing. Slowness and incompatible sites to expect.
Who is Tor Browser for?
Advanced users needing online anonymity, journalists, activists, whistleblowers.
Similar alternatives
Brave
BeginnerChrome without the trackers. Ads blocked by default, switching takes two minutes.
Firefox
BeginnerThe open source browser that doesn't track you. Twenty years strong, millions of extensions.
Mullvad Browser
IntermediateAnti-fingerprinting browser developed with the Tor Project, designed to minimize tracking without using Tor.