Tor VPN Beta extends Tor's protection on Android beyond the browser by routing app traffic through the Tor network using per-app isolated circuits.

The Tor Project announced a wider rollout of the app yesterday, September 9.

Unlike a conventional VPN, which typically sends all traffic through a single tunnel, Tor VPN creates a separate Tor circuit for each app, each with its own exit IP address. The goal is to make it difficult for a network observer to link activity from one app to another, mirroring the cross-tracking protections found in Tor Browser.

Users choose which apps route through Tor; the updated interface includes a search function to manage long lists.

Regarding censorship, beta version 1.4.0 introduced WebTunnel bridges, which make Tor traffic resemble standard encrypted web traffic. Usability tests revealed that some users were selecting an exit node when they actually needed a bridge; consequently, users must now connect to Tor before selecting an exit.

The app is built on Arti (a Rust implementation of Tor) and the Onionmasq network layer, utilizing reproducible builds.

A June 2025 audit by Cure53 found no fundamental flaws in tunnel establishment or routing, though it did identify issues regarding DNS, input validation, and denial-of-service risks—problems the project states it is currently addressing.

It remains beta software and, naturally, does not aim to compete with commercial VPNs on speed. Planned work includes improvements to censorship circumvention, usability, and performance features (such as congestion control) within Arti. In censored environments, it is advisable to configure bridges rather than simply changing the exit country.