Orbot

Name: Orbot
Rating: 3 (876 reviews)
Author: The Tor Project

Tor VPN

Free

876 Ratings
Ages

4+
Years
Category

Utilities
Developer

The Tor Project
Language

EN
+ 9 More
Size

82.9
MB

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 **

Ratings & Reviews

3.0

out of 5

876 Ratings

Workaround for memory issue
Jan 23

DJJaxe
A few other comments mention getting stuck at 50% and not connecting or just hanging on connection. Be sure to kill all of the running applications before trying to connect it does seem to be a bit of a memory hog so other apps will limit the available memory (sometimes enough to prevent a connection) I had this issue and after killing EVERYTHING it connected. This is something tor needs to fix but at least for those who have enough memory with everything closed there is a way around it.
Workaround for memory issue
Jan 23

DJJaxe

A few other comments mention getting stuck at 50% and not connecting or just hanging on connection. Be sure to kill all of the running applications before trying to connect it does seem to be a bit of a memory hog so other apps will limit the available memory (sometimes enough to prevent a connection) I had this issue and after killing EVERYTHING it connected. This is something tor needs to fix but at least for those who have enough memory with everything closed there is a way around it.
Content blocker stopped working for the second time
09/23/2023

burnsac100
I have a couple content blockers I use in safari, and then I have some DNS content blocking going on as well. I’ve always used Orbot to block things that are still there and now, for the second time in around 2 weeks the content blocker has completely stopped. I went through the motions trying to debug it, rebooting my phone, disabling each content blocker and extension leaving only Orbot to run, killing both apps, disabling content blocking entirely, and deleting all of orbots rules did not seem to work. I’m unsure what the issue is. Also, whenever enabling the VPN, if it doesn’t start showing that is has made any progress at all, the cache has to be cleared first and then everything works just fine. Maybe this is more of an iOS issue, but I haven’t done anything differently with my phone anytime recently. I still haven’t updated to iOS 17 eitherA feature request that I would have would be to allow one to disable the content blockers individually within the app without having to delete them. That would be very nice
Content blocker stopped working for the second time
09/23/2023

burnsac100

I have a couple content blockers I use in safari, and then I have some DNS content blocking going on as well. I’ve always used Orbot to block things that are still there and now, for the second time in around 2 weeks the content blocker has completely stopped. I went through the motions trying to debug it, rebooting my phone, disabling each content blocker and extension leaving only Orbot to run, killing both apps, disabling content blocking entirely, and deleting all of orbots rules did not seem to work. I’m unsure what the issue is. Also, whenever enabling the VPN, if it doesn’t start showing that is has made any progress at all, the cache has to be cleared first and then everything works just fine. Maybe this is more of an iOS issue, but I haven’t done anything differently with my phone anytime recently. I still haven’t updated to iOS 17 eitherA feature request that I would have would be to allow one to disable the content blockers individually within the app without having to delete them. That would be very nice
Slightly shady but works
Apr 1

fayfoxxhearts
I do think its atlest a little questionable that this app by "the TOR project" isnt actually made by the Tor project- but it does work pretty well & dose seem to genuinely connect to tor... From what i understand, it dose this by having apple connect to localhost as a vpn, then having localhost perform tor operations locally, no actual VPN servers, but idk mabey em wrong... Id recommend thes tho, there arent many great alternatives from what i know EDIT: Orbot is made by the Tor project officially, they js dont mention it v much EDIT 2: IF ITS LAGGING OR GETTING STUCK AT 50% OR STOPPING AFTER LOADING just turn the store cache setting on it makes it not have to scan thru all the servers manually and take up so much RAM
Slightly shady but works
Apr 1

fayfoxxhearts

I do think its atlest a little questionable that this app by "the TOR project" isnt actually made by the Tor project- but it does work pretty well & dose seem to genuinely connect to tor... From what i understand, it dose this by having apple connect to localhost as a vpn, then having localhost perform tor operations locally, no actual VPN servers, but idk mabey em wrong... Id recommend thes tho, there arent many great alternatives from what i know EDIT: Orbot is made by the Tor project officially, they js dont mention it v much EDIT 2: IF ITS LAGGING OR GETTING STUCK AT 50% OR STOPPING AFTER LOADING just turn the store cache setting on it makes it not have to scan thru all the servers manually and take up so much RAM
I would rate this higher but the devs need to see it and say something to Apple
01/13/2024

bigballerbanana
Orbot flat out doesn’t work. It won’t get past 50% and it won’t keep a session alive for longer than 5 minutes. Tor’s Foundation aren’t negligent, but they’re not on top of this. Something’s going horribly wrong right now where even custom bridges just don’t work. Tor doesn’t work on iOS and it’s completely due to a memory limit hitting the ceiling. The only option that works is a direct connection. That’ll last 5 minutes. I think Apple’s restricting Tor connections completely. I’ve seen the same thing happen on Mac OS if you hit up the Tor Browser with lockdown mode enabled - you just can’t connect no matter what. Apple’s walled garden is hurting Tor, but I have to rate so low and even write because Tor isn’t vocal about what’s happening and assuming it’s known to everyone. It’s not.
I would rate this higher but the devs need to see it and say something to Apple
01/13/2024

bigballerbanana

Orbot flat out doesn’t work. It won’t get past 50% and it won’t keep a session alive for longer than 5 minutes. Tor’s Foundation aren’t negligent, but they’re not on top of this. Something’s going horribly wrong right now where even custom bridges just don’t work. Tor doesn’t work on iOS and it’s completely due to a memory limit hitting the ceiling. The only option that works is a direct connection. That’ll last 5 minutes. I think Apple’s restricting Tor connections completely. I’ve seen the same thing happen on Mac OS if you hit up the Tor Browser with lockdown mode enabled - you just can’t connect no matter what. Apple’s walled garden is hurting Tor, but I have to rate so low and even write because Tor isn’t vocal about what’s happening and assuming it’s known to everyone. It’s not.

- Updated Tor to latest version 0.4.8.20. - Added app icon switcher (iOS). - Fixed bug when setting country limitations while also disallowing GeoIP files to be loaded. (iOS)

Version 1.8.5

Nov 25

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Accessibility

Information

Seller
Size
Category
Compatibility
Languages
Age Rating
Copyright

Developer Website

Privacy Policy

More by The Tor Project

OONI Probe

Measure Internet Censorship

You Might Also Like

Onion Browser

Secure, anonymous web with Tor
TOR Browser + VPN + Ad Blocker

Private Onion Browser & Orbot
TOR Browser: The Onion + VPN

Privacy Browser,Dark Web,Orbot
TOR Web Browser Dark Onion

AdBlock+Private Deep Browsing
Onion Browser - Unlimited VPN

Private Browser, Tor VPN proxy
Mullvad VPN

Protect your online privacy
TOR Browser - TORIN

Private Onion & Dark Web
TOR Browser Private + VPN

Access .onion websites
Orion Browser by Kagi

Fastest mobile browser
Buddy Onion: Tor Browser & VPN

Private Browser with TOR + VPN