Many of us tend to use the default browsers offered by our operating systems, but browsers are not all one and the same. While billions of people use Google Chrome daily, it may be worth considering Tor as an alternative, especially if you’re very privacy focused.
So, what are the key differences between Tor and Chrome, and which is better for you?
Tor vs. Chrome: A Quick Comparison
Before discussing Chrome and Tor in detail, let’s run over a quick comparative table to understand the key features of each offering.
Supported Platforms
Security Features
Performance
Fairly speedy performance, though your internet service provider affects this.
Encryption rounds in onion routing can cause slow speeds, especially when the network is busy.
Now we know the basics, let’s discuss Tor and Chrome in more detail.
1. Accessibility
While Google Chrome is native to ChromeOS, you can download it for free on almost any operating system, including:
You can also download the Chrome app on your smartphone, though it should be there by default if you’re using an Android device.
The Tor browser is available on the following operating systems:
To use Tor on the go, you can download the browser’s smartphone app for free, though it is only available on Android, with no option for iOS.
Download:Google Chrome forAndroid|iOS(Free)
Download:Tor Browser forAndroid(Free)
2. Ease of Use
Both the Tor and Chrome browsers are incredibly user-friendly, and you don’t need much technical expertise to use either. You can instantly search the web after installing and opening Chrome, with Google being the default search engine.
However, you can click on the Yahoo icon on the right-hand side of the page to switch to the Yahoo search engine (thoughthis feature can also be removed). You can also set any search engine you want as default in Chrome’s settings.
Tor will require you to establish a secure connection via onion routing before browsing. Just clickConnect, and you’re good to go.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll be taken to theDuckDuckGo search engine, Tor’s default search engine. Simply type your search request into the text bar, and you’re browsing the web.
Accessing the settings of either browser is also super easy. On Chrome, simply click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the screen and head toSettingson the drop-down list. On Tor, click on the three vertical lines at the top-right of the page, and once again, click theSettingsoption on the drop-down list.
3. Security
Whether you’re researching a topic, streaming content, chatting to friends, or buying goods, you want to be sure that your internet browser is keeping you safe. This is why a Tor and Chrome’s security features are important to consider.
When it comes to privacy, Tor takes the cake over most other browsers. This is due toonion routing, a process used by Tor to keep user data out of the hands of ISPs, governments, and malicious actors.
Onion routing involves sending your data through three nodes: the entry node, relay node, and exit node. Each time the data is sent through one of these nodes, it is encrypted. Tor uses volunteers to facilitate node encryption, though no one can see the data being encrypted.
However, there is a flaw to this node system. Any data arriving at the entry node has not yet been encrypted, and is therefore viewable in plaintext. You can use a VPN to overcome this hurdle, but keep it in mind if you want to use Tor for privacy reasons.
Because Tor uses onion routing, it is an incredibly popular browser option for accessing the dark web, which is mostly made up of websites with “.onion” domains. Chrome does not facilitate dark web access.
Tor also offers three customizable privacy levels:
Depending on your privacy concerns, any of these three levels may be applicable to you. But don’t forget that higher privacy brings added limitations.
Though Tor is very safety-focused, Chrome is by no means lacking in its security integrity. This browser offers a range of safety features for users, such as site isolation, predictive phishing protection, strong password generation, and automatic security updates.
Chrome also has varying safety levels for users, including:
Even the highest level of protection offered by Chrome won’t result in strict feature limitations, but this is because it isn’t as all-encompassing as Tor’s safest level.
4. Performance
No one wants to use a browser that takes half a minute to load a single webpage. A seamless browsing experience is what we’re all aiming for, so what do Tor and Chrome offer in this respect?
The Chrome browser offers a pretty speedy browsing experience, though this will vary based on the quality of your internet connection. In April 2023, Google announced in aChromium blog postthat Chrome had been made faster for Mac and Android devices via a number of updates. Speed is also one of Chrome’s four founding principles, along with security, stability, and simplicity.
Tor, on the other hand, tends to be slower than many other browsers, mostly because of its onion routing feature. Similarly to using a VPN, running your traffic through encryption rounds adds some extra time onto a search request, which can be very frustrating.
A few extra seconds may not seem like much, but when you’re used to websites being loaded almost instantly, that extra chunk of time can make all the difference. Luckily, there are tips and tricks out there that you can use to speed up your Tor browser.
However, if you’re using a VPN and Tor at the same time, you may experience even longer delays due to further encryption rounds. With increased privacy often comes decreased speeds, and this is generally the compromise you make when encrypting your data online.
5. Extensions
Extensions and plugins can be hugely beneficial to your browser. Today, you may use extensions to check your spelling and grammar, provide VPN capabilities, give you quick access to online wallets, and knock money off your purchases with automatic discount codes.
Chrome is known for its huge range of browser extensions. You can find extensions directly via the Chrome store, or go to a company’s dedicated website to download the Chrome version of the extension you want. Within the Chrome extension page, you can enable, disable, and delete extensions as and when you please.
Most Chrome extensions are harmless, but there have been numerous instances of cybercriminals usingmalicious Chrome extensionsto exploit users in the past. ensure you only install extensions that have been thoroughly reviewed and tested by others.
Tor also offers extensions that are available on Firefox, as Tor is based on the Firefox browser. The extensions will still function with the onion routing process, but Tor has stressed that only default Tor extensions, such as NoScript, have been tested on the Tor browser.
Tor vs. Google Chrome: What’s the Verdict?
If you’re very concerned about your online privacy, Tor is likely the better browser option for you. Additionally, if you’re looking to access the dark web, Chrome is a no-go, while Tor supports a huge range of .onion domains, which make up most of this more secretive web layer.
However, Google Chrome offers quality performance speeds while also ensuring users are protected. But given that Chrome doesn’t use a protocol like onion routing, it’s important to remember that your IP address and online traffic is viewable to a range of different parties unless you use a VPN. Chrome has no built-in VPN, so you’ll have to install a separate VPN client or plug-in if you want to keep your data totally private.
Both Tor and Chrome can suit you, depending on your privacy concerns and what you aim to do online. Maybe you want to use both of these browsers for different purposes, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that! So long as you’re aware of the drawbacks and risks of each browser, you shouldn’t run into any nasty surprises in terms of features and interfaces.
