Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

WireGuard VS Tor Browser

Compare WireGuard VS Tor Browser and see what are their differences

WireGuard logo WireGuard

Fast, Modern, Secure VPN Tunnel

Tor Browser logo Tor Browser

Tor is free software for enabling anonymous communication.
  • WireGuard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-24
  • Tor Browser Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-14

WireGuard features and specs

  • Simplicity
    WireGuard is noted for its simplicity in terms of codebase and configuration, making it easier to understand, audit, and maintain.
  • Performance
    WireGuard offers high performance, low latency, and minimal overhead, which results in faster connections compared to other VPN protocols.
  • Security
    WireGuard uses state-of-the-art cryptographic protocols and algorithms, providing a high level of security.
  • Cross-Platform
    WireGuard is compatible with many operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
  • Modern Design
    Designed with modern networking use-cases in mind, WireGuard supports advanced features like roaming and easier NAT traversal.
  • Efficient Codebase
    With approximately 4,000 lines of code, WireGuard's minimalism reduces the attack surface and potential for vulnerabilities.

Possible disadvantages of WireGuard

  • Limited Features
    WireGuard primarily focuses on being a secure VPN protocol and lacks some advanced features found in other protocols.
  • Still Evolving
    As a relatively new technology, WireGuard may still undergo significant changes and improvements, which could impact stability and support.
  • Static IP Assignment
    WireGuard assigns static IP addresses to each peer, which can be less flexible compared to dynamic IP allocation in other VPN solutions.
  • Server Compatibility
    Some legacy infrastructures and older systems may not support WireGuard natively, creating challenges for widespread deployment.
  • No Built-in Authentication
    WireGuard itself does not include built-in authentication mechanisms, relying solely on public key cryptography for peer identification.
  • No Built-in Traffic Obfuscation
    WireGuard lacks built-in mechanisms for traffic obfuscation, making it easier for restrictive networks to detect and block WireGuard traffic.

Tor Browser features and specs

  • Anonymity
    The Tor Browser allows users to browse the internet anonymously by routing connections through a network of volunteer-run servers, masking the user's IP address and location.
  • Circumvent Censorship
    Tor can help users bypass government or organizational censorship, allowing access to websites and services that might be blocked in certain regions.
  • Security
    Tor encrypts data multiple times through its network layers (onion routing), making it difficult for attackers to intercept and read communications.
  • Free and Open Source
    Tor Browser is free to use and its source code is publicly available, promoting transparency and trust in its security and privacy features.
  • Access to .onion Sites
    Tor Browser provides access to .onion websites, which are part of the Tor hidden services, offering content that isn't available through traditional web browsers.

Possible disadvantages of Tor Browser

  • Slower Speeds
    Routing traffic through multiple Tor nodes can significantly reduce browsing speed compared to traditional web browsers.
  • Not Fully Immune to Tracking
    Despite its strong privacy features, Tor is not completely immune to sophisticated tracking techniques and cannot protect against all forms of surveillance.
  • Potential for Misuse
    Tor's anonymity features can be exploited for illegal activities, including access to dark web marketplaces and illicit content.
  • Limited Functionality
    Some websites and services may block Tor users or require additional verification steps, reducing the overall usability of the browser.
  • Complexity
    While Tor Browser is generally user-friendly, the underlying concepts and settings can be complex for non-technical users, requiring a learning curve to use effectively.

WireGuard videos

WireGuard Overview

More videos:

  • Review - What is WireGuard? Should You Use it? Best VPN for WireGuard?
  • Review - OpenVPN vs WireGuard vs IKEv2 vs PPTP - Which is the Best VPN Protocol to use in 2020?

Tor Browser videos

Tor Browser How to Use & Download Tor to Access the Dark Web

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to WireGuard and Tor Browser)
VPN
43 43%
57% 57
Security & Privacy
35 35%
65% 65
Cloud VPN
100 100%
0% 0
Web Browsers
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using WireGuard and Tor Browser. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare WireGuard and Tor Browser

WireGuard Reviews

Best Top 20 OpenVPN Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Wireguard is a VPN alternative that is under development. Yet it is faster and carefully designed when compared to other similar products.
6 Types of VPN Protocols, Compared: Which is the Best to Use?
In essence, every VPN has to strengthen WireGuard’s wobbly privacy to benefit from its speed and security. That’s why we recommend using WireGuard-based protocols only if they come from reputable VPN providers. NordVPN, for example, fixes WireGuard’s privacy issues with the so-called “double NAT system” (network address translation). This allows them to establish secure...
Source: vpnoverview.com
OpenVPN vs WireGuard: Which protocol is best?
WireGuard was not designed to obfuscate user traffic to this degree, and only supports UDP. This means that a simple, standalone WireGuard connection is easy to detect. However, as WireGuard is so extensible, most VPN providers have added their own obfuscation methods on top. The efficacy of these varies, but we’ve seen services with WireGuard support that even work in...
The 10 Best Open Source VPN Apps
In addition to using the latest encryption techniques, Mullvad is based on some of the VPN protocols in WireGuard and OpenVPN. So, users will be able to decide for themselves which VPN client to opt for. Also, you can find Mullvad on Windows, macOS, and Linux-based systems, as well as Android and iOS. There is no paid version of Mullvad, either, so you need not worry about...
WireGuard vs OpenVPN
WireGuard was designed for speed and security. It was not specifically designed for people like us, who look to their VPN service for both security and privacy. However, in order to give users the benefits of WireGuard, VPN services have come up with WireGuard solutions that add strong privacy protections without sacrificing what makes WireGuard special. Here’s the problem:

Tor Browser Reviews

Brave Alternative - 8 Privacy-Focused and Reliable Options
If you’re looking for maximum privacy and anonymity on the internet, the best Brave alternative is the Tor browser.
Source: mspoweruser.com
Best Tor Browser Alternative for Risk-Free Web Surfing
Epic Browser is another notable contender among Tor Browser alternatives. Developed by Hidden Reflex, Epic Browser boasts a sleek design and a host of privacy-preserving features. Unlike Tor Browser, Epic Browser uses a proxy server instead of the Tor network, resulting in faster browsing speeds.
5 Most Privacy Focused Web Browsers
Unlike LibreWolf, Tor Browser lets you utilize the Tor network, which could affect your web experience but gives a big privacy boost. You can browse onion sites to fight against censorship, and keep things private at the same time.
Source: itsfoss.com
Avoid The Hack: 6 Best Privacy Browser Picks for Windows
The Brave Browser also has a "Tor" tabs feature, which provides some additional privacy by using the Tor network as a proxy. However, using Brave' Tor Tab feature does not provide the same level of privacy as using the actual Tor browser; users needing or wanting a "true" anonymous browser for anonymous browsing should use Tor.
10 Best FREE Anti Tracking Software In 2023 [TOP SELECTIVE]
Tor is a scripted onion browser that uses onion linking on a multi-server linking technique to access a particular website. Users state that Tor is mainly used to access the dark web and for security purposes, as it’s highly untraceable.

Social recommendations and mentions

Tor Browser might be a bit more popular than WireGuard. We know about 9 links to it since March 2021 and only 9 links to WireGuard. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

WireGuard mentions (9)

  • Remote access from work/corporate network
    Wireguard. Wireguard uses UDP only and runs TCP sockets over UDP. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Central reverse-proxy ssh access?
    Look at Wireguard. I know you don't want Yet Another VPN running alongside your IPSec, but it's less VPN and more encrypted point-to-point UDP. You can set it up on any port you wish, including common ports that might be open on an outbound smart firewall not doing deep packet inspection. That way, it can stay out of the way of your existing IPSec deployment. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Official /r/rust "Who's Hiring" thread for job-seekers and job-offerers [Rust 1.69]
    We use Elixir/Erlang for our control plane, and Rust for our data plane, built on the excellent WireGuard® tunneling protocol. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Globally distributed Elixir over Tailscale
    Both products are based off Wireguard which is available for all new linux distributions. https://wireguard.com . I'm not saying OP's solution is wrong, just curious what the advantages are. Other than potentially simpler client setup, what are the advantages of paying for tailscale. With the opensource tailscale, I'm not sure if you get access to an api you can use to look up the hosts. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Whisper: wraps any Go io.ReadWriter in a secure tunnel using Ed25519/X25519
    Noise Protocol Framework (used by Wireguard). Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Tor Browser mentions (9)

  • What crime are you okay with people committing?
    Https://torproject.org/download and get the correct app for your device and slap. Source: over 2 years ago
  • HOW to 100% ANONYMOUSLY REPORT unsafe working conditions!!
    TL;DR: The method involves utilizing public wifi (NOT from work or from home) and either the Tor Browser (beginner) OR the Tails OS (advanced, slightly more anonymous) AND one of the free .onion email providers seen here (or similar sites) to send truly anonymous email to anyone you want...including CEOs, state health departments, news agencies, credentialing/accreditation bodies...the list goes on. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Do websites get fingerprint from Tor Mobile?
    Or go to https://torproject.org/download and follow the download link for Android to the PlayStore and check that is the app you have installed. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Hidden Wiki
    This? Well I don't think that's malicious (from looking at it for like 3 minutes), but you should delete that app. Only download stuff that's listed at https://torproject.org/download. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Tor Browser 11.0 Alpha 9 Crack 2022
    Https://torproject.org/download gives you the Tor Browser, for free, with nothing locked behind a license. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing WireGuard and Tor Browser, you can also consider the following products

OpenVPN - OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN

Brave - Fast and secure, ad and tracker blocking browser.

ProtonVPN - ProtonVPN is a security focused FREE VPN service, developed by CERN and MIT scientists. Use the web anonymously, unblock websites & encrypt your connection.

Mozilla Firefox - Get the browsers that put your privacy first — and always have

ZeroTier - Extremely simple P2P Encrypted VPN

Hamachi - Hamachi is a VPN service scaled to the unique needs of business owners.