VPN vs Proxy vs Tor: Which Should UK Users Choose?

When it comes to protecting your privacy online, three tools come up again and again: VPNs, proxies, and Tor. All three can mask your IP address and help you access content that might otherwise be restricted, but they work in fundamentally different ways and offer very different levels of protection. For UK users navigating the complexities of the Investigatory Powers Act and an increasingly surveilled internet, understanding these differences is essential.

In this article, we break down how each technology works, compare their strengths and weaknesses, and help you decide which one — or which combination — is right for your needs. If you have already decided a VPN is the way to go, use our free VPN comparison tool to find the best provider for your situation.

How a VPN Works

A Virtual Private Network creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a server operated by the VPN provider. All of your internet traffic passes through this tunnel, meaning your ISP cannot see what you are doing online. The VPN server then forwards your traffic to its destination, replacing your real IP address with the server's IP address. This effectively masks your identity and location from the websites and services you visit.

The key advantage of a VPN is that it encrypts all traffic from your device at the operating system level. Whether you are browsing the web, streaming video, sending email, or using a mobile app, everything is protected. Modern VPN protocols like WireGuard use state-of-the-art cryptography that is effectively unbreakable with current technology.

VPNs are also fast. The best providers, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN, can deliver speeds exceeding 700 Mbps on a gigabit connection, making them suitable for streaming, gaming, and large downloads. This speed comes from the efficiency of modern protocols and the significant investment top providers make in their server infrastructure.

The primary trade-off with a VPN is trust. You are effectively shifting your trust from your ISP to your VPN provider. Your ISP can no longer see your traffic, but your VPN provider theoretically can. This is why choosing a provider with a verified no-logs policy is so important. Providers like Mullvad VPN, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN have all undergone independent audits confirming that they do not store identifiable user data.

How a Proxy Server Works

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet. When you connect to a website through a proxy, the website sees the proxy server's IP address instead of yours. This provides a basic level of anonymity and can be useful for bypassing simple geo-restrictions.

However, proxies have significant limitations. Most importantly, they do not encrypt your traffic. A standard HTTP or SOCKS proxy simply relays your data without adding any cryptographic protection. This means your ISP, network administrator, or anyone else monitoring your connection can still see exactly what you are doing. The proxy hides your IP from the destination website, but it does nothing to protect the data in transit.

Proxies also typically work on an application-by-application basis rather than at the system level. You might configure your web browser to use a proxy, but your email client, messaging apps, and other software will continue to connect directly. This piecemeal approach leaves gaps in your protection that a VPN does not.

There are some legitimate uses for proxies. Web developers use them for testing, businesses use them for content filtering, and they can be a quick way to access a geo-blocked website in a pinch. But for genuine privacy protection, a proxy is wholly inadequate.

How Tor Works

Tor, short for The Onion Router, is a free and open-source network designed to provide strong anonymity. When you use Tor, your traffic is routed through at least three randomly selected relays (nodes) run by volunteers around the world. Each relay only knows the identity of the relay immediately before and after it in the chain, and your traffic is encrypted in multiple layers — like the layers of an onion. By the time it reaches its destination, it is extremely difficult to trace back to you.

Tor provides a level of anonymity that neither VPNs nor proxies can match. Because no single relay knows both who you are and what you are accessing, even a compromised relay cannot identify you. This makes Tor the tool of choice for journalists, activists, and whistleblowers who face serious threats to their safety.

The trade-off is speed. Because your traffic passes through multiple relays in different countries, Tor is significantly slower than a VPN. Typical speeds on the Tor network range from 2 to 10 Mbps, which is adequate for text-based browsing but unsuitable for streaming video, downloading large files, or any real-time activity like gaming or video calls. The Tor Browser also blocks many common web technologies like JavaScript by default, which can break the functionality of modern websites.

Side-by-Side Comparison

To summarise the key differences:

• Encryption: VPNs encrypt all traffic with strong cryptography. Tor encrypts traffic in multiple layers. Most proxies provide no encryption at all.
• Speed: VPNs are the fastest option, typically retaining 75 to 90 per cent of your base speed. Proxies add minimal overhead. Tor is very slow due to multi-hop routing.
• Coverage: VPNs protect all traffic from your device. Tor protects only traffic routed through the Tor Browser (or configured applications). Proxies protect only the specific application configured to use them.
• Anonymity: Tor provides the strongest anonymity. VPNs provide good privacy but require you to trust the provider. Proxies offer minimal anonymity.
• Ease of use: VPNs are the easiest to set up and use. Tor requires the Tor Browser and some understanding of its limitations. Proxies vary in complexity.
• Cost: Tor is free. Many proxies are free. VPNs typically require a paid subscription for a reliable service, though providers like Proton VPN offer free tiers.
• Streaming: VPNs can unblock streaming services effectively. Tor and proxies generally cannot, due to speed limitations and aggressive blocking.

Which Should UK Users Choose?

For the vast majority of UK users, a VPN is the right choice. It provides strong encryption, fast speeds, comprehensive device coverage, and the ability to unblock geo-restricted content. It protects your browsing history from your ISP under the Investigatory Powers Act and secures your data on public Wi-Fi. A quality provider like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark will cover all of these bases with minimal effort on your part.

Tor is the better choice if you have specific, high-stakes anonymity requirements — for example, if you are a journalist working with sensitive sources or an activist in a hostile environment. For everyday UK users, Tor's speed limitations make it impractical for general browsing.

Proxies are best avoided for privacy purposes. They have their uses in specific technical scenarios, but they offer no meaningful protection for personal privacy.

For most people reading this, a VPN provides the ideal balance of privacy, speed, and convenience. Visit BestVPN UK to read our detailed reviews, or jump straight to our free VPN comparison tool to find the provider that best fits your needs.