Tor is more anonymous but extremely slow. VPN is fast but requires trusting your provider. Use Tor for maximum anonymity, VPN for everyday privacy.
Factor
VPN
Tor Browser
Speed
โญโญโญโญโญ Fast
โญ Very Slow
Anonymity
โญโญโญโญ Very Good
โญโญโญโญโญ Maximum
Ease of Use
โ Very Easy
โ ๏ธ More Complex
Cost
$3-10/month
โ Free
VPN
Commercial privacy service that encrypts your traffic.
โ Pros
Fast speeds
Works with all apps
Easy to use
Streaming support
24/7 customer support
โ Cons
Requires trust in VPN provider
Costs money
VPN can see your IP
Tor Browser
Free anonymity network routing through volunteer nodes.
โ Pros
Maximum anonymity
Free
No single point of failure
No trust required
โ Cons
Extremely slow
Only works in Tor Browser
No streaming
Blocked by many sites
Exit nodes can spy on unencrypted traffic
The Verdict
Use VPN for everyday privacy (browsing, streaming, torrenting). Use Tor only when you need maximum anonymity and don't care about speed. Most people should use VPN.