Onion Browser vs Orbot
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Onion Browser
This app provides a secure and private way to browse the internet using the Tor network. It protects your privacy from trackers, secures your traffic on public Wi-Fi, and allows access to .onion sites. It also offers features to block scripts and clear cookies automatically.
- Browse internet over Tor
- Protect privacy from website tracking
- Secure traffic on insecure networks
- Access .onion sites
- Block scripts
- Automatically clear cookies and tabs
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Onion Browser is the original free and open-source Tor-powered web browser for iOS. Onion Browser helps you access the internet with more safety and privacy, and no extra cost to you. “The best Tor-related offering on iOS right now is Onion Browser” - The Daily Dot, October 14, 2015. Featured in: The New York Times, The Guardian, Salon, TechCrunch, Gizmodo, Boing Boing, Lifehacker, Macworld, The Daily Dot, & others. FEATURES: • Browse the internet over Tor: - Protect your privacy from website tracking - Secure your traffic from insecure wireless networks and ISPs - Access .onion sites that are only accessible over Tor. • Fight online tracking: block scripts and automatically clear cookies and tabs, based on your preferences. • And more privacy-enhancing features! DISCLAIMERS: - Web browsing is much slower than through a normal web browser or a VPN because your traffic is encrypted and relayed through the Tor network. - Onion Browser might not work on networks with advanced network restrictions. If the app does not connect, try using bridges (or a different type of bridge), force-quit, and then restart the app. - Use of Onion Browser is at your own risk; remember that sensitive data does not always belong on a mobile device. ** Onion Browser is free and open-source software. You can read more about Onion Browser and how to support development of Tor on iOS by visiting onionbrowser.com **
Orbot
This app provides a free and open-source Tor-powered VPN for enhanced internet safety and privacy. It allows users to browse the web over Tor, secure their traffic, and access .onion sites. While it offers increased privacy, users should be aware that browsing speeds may be slower than a standard VPN.
- Browse internet over Tor
- Secure traffic from insecure networks
- Access .onion sites
- Free and open-source
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Orbot is the original free and open-source Tor-powered VPN for iOS and macOS. Orbot helps you access the internet with more safety and privacy, and no extra cost to you. FEATURES: - Browse the internet over Tor. - Secure your traffic from insecure wireless networks and ISPs. - Access .onion sites that are only accessible over Tor. DISCLAIMERS: - Web browsing is much slower than through a normal VPN because your traffic is encrypted and relayed through the Tor network. - Orbot might not work on networks with advanced network restrictions. If the app does not connect, try using bridges (or a different type of bridge). - Use of Orbot is at your own risk; remember that sensitive data does not always belong on a mobile device. ** Orbot is free and open-source software. You can read more about Orbot and how to support development of Tor on iOS by visiting orbot.app **
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Orbot at none against Onion Browser's 3. Onion Browser's advantage is review sentiment (41% vs 25%) and rating (3.2 vs 3.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Onion Browser sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Orbot asks for nothing beyond the download.
Onion Browser holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.1K and 951 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Onion Browser's written reviews are positive against 25% of Orbot's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Onion Browser | Orbot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (2.1K ratings) — better | 3.0 (951 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 41.2% of reviews — better | 25.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2.1K — better | 951 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 83 MB | 115 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mike Tigas | The Tor Project |
Customer experience
Onion Browser
Orbot
User reviews
Onion Browser
From 2.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and stable
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Recommended by Tor Project
- 💡 Customizable security settings
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and reconnections
- 🐛 Unstable and unreliable
- 🐛 Endless permission loops
- 🐛 Bookmarking issues
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
Orbot
From 951 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and reliable connection
- 🔒 Secure and private browsing
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 🌐 Bypasses censorship and internet restrictions
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and unstable connection
- 🔋 High battery drain
- ⚠️ Incompatible with some iOS versions and devices
- 🕰️ Slow connection speeds
Bugs and requests
Onion Browser
Reported bugs
4 issues- Fails to connect to Tor network
- Crashes or freezes when switching apps
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Inability to disable JavaScript completely
Requested features
4 requests- Add option to disable JavaScript
- Improve tab management and browsing experience
- Integrate with more privacy-focused search engines
- Allow setting custom default search engine
Orbot
Reported bugs
4 issues- Fails to connect at 50% or gets stuck in a connection loop
- Causes Wi-Fi or mobile data connection issues
- Randomly disconnects without warning
- Onion Browser integration is unreliable
Requested features
4 requests- Add manual bridge configuration options
- Implement a kill switch to block internet access when VPN disconnects
- Improve compatibility with other iOS apps and services
- Provide more detailed connection logs and diagnostics
In-app purchases
Onion Browser
- Small Onion Browser Tip$0.99
- Medium Onion Browser Tip$4.99
- Large Onion Browser Tip$9.99
Orbot
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Onion Browser free?
Is Orbot free?
Which has better reviews, Onion Browser or Orbot?
Do Onion Browser or Orbot have ads?
Which is updated more often, Onion Browser or Orbot?
Other comparisons
