Onion Browser vs Paranoia Text Encryption PRO
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 **
Paranoia Text Encryption PRO
Securely encrypt and decrypt sensitive text data using a wide range of advanced algorithms. Protect notes, messages, and cryptocurrency keys. Features steganography to hide data within images and post-quantum key exchange.
- Multiple strong encryption algorithms
- Steganography for image data hiding
- Post-quantum key encapsulation (KEM)
- Unlimited password management
- Cross-platform compatibility (iOS, macOS)
- Copy/paste and file saving
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• Paranoia Text Encryption PRO is a universal text encryption application for iOS (iPhone/iPad/iPod) and macOS by Paranoia Works. • Paranoia Text Encryption ensures the safety of your notes, SMS messages, emails, social networking posts, cryptocurrency keys (seeds, mnemonics), and any other text from all unwanted readers. • The app offers true security, encrypting data using the strongest encryption algorithms available: Threefish 1024-bit, SHACAL-2 512-bit, Paranoia C4 2048-bit (a cascade of Threefish, Serpent, AES, and SHACAL-2), Blowfish 448-bit, AES 256-bit, RC6 256-bit, Serpent 256-bit, and Twofish 256-bit ciphers. • Simply copy and paste text to and from your favorite applications, or save it to a file for future use. • This app does not function as a "Vault application." Instead, a password is set for the current encryption/decryption session, not for entering the app itself. You may have an unlimited number of passwords for any purpose—different files, tasks, people, etc. • Steganography: The application offers steganographic features, allowing you to conceal text or files within a JPEG image. Two algorithms are available: J-UNIWARD (content-adaptive, minimizes visual distortion, harder to detect) and F5 (matrix encoding, efficient embedding). The selected algorithm works with your chosen symmetric cipher to create the final steganogram. • Key Encapsulation (KEM): Securely exchange encryption passwords using the post-quantum ML-KEM mechanism (NIST FIPS 203). Two parties can establish a shared password without ever transmitting it directly, with protection against future quantum computer attacks. ◆ Differences between Free and PRO versions: The PRO version offers additional encryption algorithms, specifically Threefish 1024-bit, SHACAL-2 512-bit, and Paranoia C4 2048-bit (a cascade of Threefish–Serpent–AES–SHACAL-2). While the free version can decrypt data encrypted by these advanced algorithms, the ability to encrypt data using them is exclusive to the PRO version. The PRO version also provides a key to activate the PRO versions of our desktop applications: Paranoia File & Text Encryption for PC, Paranoia Text Encryption for PC, and S.S.E. File Encryptor for PC. • The application is directly compatible with macOS (10.15 and later). Versions for other systems and platforms are available on the application's homepage (download section - https://paranoiaworks.mobi/download/). • An online (web-based) version, utilizing AES and client-side JavaScript, and other utilities are available at https://pteo.paranoiaworks.mobi
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Onion Browser at Free against Paranoia Text Encryption PRO's $3.99. Onion Browser also leads on ratings volume (2.1K vs 52) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Paranoia Text Encryption PRO's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 3.2) and review sentiment (84% vs 41%). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Onion Browser is free to download; Paranoia Text Encryption PRO costs $3.99 up front. Onion Browser sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Paranoia Text Encryption PRO asks for nothing beyond the download.
Paranoia Text Encryption PRO holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Onion Browser has 2.1K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Onion Browser's written reviews are positive against 84% of Paranoia Text Encryption PRO's.
Onion Browser ships an update monthly, Paranoia Text Encryption PRO every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Onion Browser | Paranoia Text Encryption PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 3.2 (2.1K ratings) | 4.7 (52 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 41.2% of reviews | 83.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2.1K — better | 52 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #189 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 83 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mike Tigas | Frantisek Dvorak |
Customer experience
Onion Browser
Paranoia Text Encryption PRO
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
Paranoia Text Encryption PRO
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Onion Browser
- Small Onion Browser Tip$0.99
- Medium Onion Browser Tip$4.99
- Large Onion Browser Tip$9.99
Paranoia Text Encryption PRO
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Onion Browser free?
Is Paranoia Text Encryption PRO free?
Which has better reviews, Onion Browser or Paranoia Text Encryption PRO?
Do Onion Browser or Paranoia Text Encryption PRO have ads?
Which is updated more often, Onion Browser or Paranoia Text Encryption PRO?
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