Needless to say, it takes your data much longer to travel this way, which means dark web links load slowly compared to indexed sites. Opening the onion links is very easy from the Tor browser, which you need to download and install in advance. To search for onion links for any website on the surface web, just copy-paste the URL in a Tor browser window. It will display a message, Onion available, if onions are available for the website.
Is It Illegal To Visit Dark Web Websites?

You can’t access these .onion sites from your normal web browser like the one you’re probably viewing this page on. Before clicking any of the dark web links below, you’ll need to get the Tor Browser (also called the Onion Browser) or another service that provides dark web access, such as the Brave browser. It is easily accessible by the general public and requires no special configuration. You can find sites like Facebook, Wikipedia, e-commerce sites, YouTube, and more here. Blockchain even has an HTTPS security certificate for even better protection.
- No, you cannot reliably access the Hidden Wiki without the Tor Browser because its URLs use the .onion domain, which is only accessible via the Tor network.
- The Tor Browser is a modified version of the Mozilla Firefox browser and includes the TorButton, TorLauncher, NoScript, and HTTPS Everywhere Firefox extensions, along with the Tor proxy.
- Deep web websites have to be hosted somewhere, and Impreza Hosting is one of those anonymous dark web hosting services.
- You can access encrypted email services through the onion site without getting tracked.
This List Contains The Search Engines Most Requested By The Community On The Deep Web:
DuckDuckGo is a reputable US-based software company, so their Tor site itself is safe to use. That said, you still might get malicious links in your search results, so you still need to proceed with caution with any page DuckDuckGo takes you to. Facebook is aware of attempts by many governments to restrict access to a tool that allows strangers across the web to talk and collaborate freely. While its .onion address doesn’t make it much easier to maintain an anonymous account, it does make Facebook more accessible in places where it’s censored. The internet’s favorite alternative to Google made a name for itself by not logging your search activity yet still providing decent results.
DEF CON Media

The platform also supports freedom of expression by granting access to censored or restricted information, making it popular among activists, journalists, and individuals living under oppressive regimes. Furthermore, the Hidden Wiki plays a critical role in censorship resistance, providing uncensored content and services that might be blocked on the surface web. Web crawling as a method is biased towards websites that are frequently linked, and it cannot locate onion websites if there are no links to them. As a separate issue, the sampling includes onion websites that employ multiple alternative onion addresses. Therefore, our methodology favours and estimates popular linked onion websites with several domains – not all possible onion websites.
How Are Onion Sites Hosted?
In this sequel, I’m going to show you some of the not-so-clear-web’s hidden Easter eggs and how to get there. So, without delay, let’s step into the onion patch aka the best 20 dark web websites. So, you took my course on how to get on the dark web and want to explore your newfound superpower? To access the dark web, you will need the Tor browser, which provides the necessary anonymity and security. Download Avast SecureLine VPN to encrypt your internet connection and protect your privacy wherever you go online.
Since the ISP can’t detect you’re accessing dark web URLs, it won’t trigger any alarms about your online activity. A favorite of journalists and their anonymous sources, SecureDrop makes it easy to share confidential information without revealing your identity. Many news publications, like the ones listed above, have a SecureDrop on their .onion sites. Taking the necessary precautions makes tracing your activities on the dark web difficult. Although the Tor browser has sufficient encryption, combining it with a VPN offers better protection. However, you should not see it as an opportunity to engage in illegal activities to avoid trouble with authorities.
Through the dark web, users in places of high censorship can also access information and news. Beneath the surface web that you’re reading right now, many .onion websites remain invisible to Google and other search engines. These “dark websites” significantly enhance your browsing capabilities, but you can’t access them on a regular browser. Instead, this list includes useful, legitimate deep and dark web websites that are easily accessible from Tor browser. Ahmia primarily indexes .onion sites on the dark web, not both surface and dark web content. It is specifically designed to make hidden services on the Tor network more accessible.
What Is The Onion Network?
- It’s not just about hiding your tracks; it’s about ensuring that your online activities remain private and secure.
- This connection can take a few moments, depending on your internet speed and network conditions.
- Together, we can work towards creating a safer online environment for children, where the exploitation and dissemination of explicit material is eradicated, and their rights and well-being are protected.
- The Tor browser provides access to “.onion” websites, which are Tor hidden services that you can only access through the Tor browser.
- Other users appreciate the browser as it allows them to circumvent censorship.
It adds an extra encryption layer and passes your traffic through a secondary server of your choice, preventing anyone from seeing that you are accessing the web via Tor. The Tor browser allows you to browse the internet anonymously and visit inaccessible sites. While Tor offers anonymity on the dark web, your online activities leave breadcrumbs that can reveal your identity. That is why you should only use a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN for additional security and privacy. Some of the deep web sites do not use standard top-level domains (TLD) such as .gov, .com, .net, etc. The anonymity provided by onion routing comes at the cost of slowing your internet considerably.
Best Dark Web Search Engines (With Onion Links) In 2025

While the Tor browser provides a level of anonymity, pairing it with a VPN like Forest VPN adds an extra layer of security. It’s not just about hiding your tracks; it’s about ensuring that your online activities remain private and secure. Forest VPN’s no-log policy ensures that your browsing history is yours alone, free from prying eyes.
What Is The Dark Web And How To Access It?
Though it’s still helpful, a static list isn’t enough (we try to keep our own, the one above, up-to-date, though). The best thing is to actually understand how to find the fresh, new links. This is the best place to get short and reliable links to an unalterable record of any webpage across government and corporate websites. Formerly known as Archive.is, it is one of the best onion sites on the dark web. You are not required to provide your personal information to create an account.
Of The Best Dark Websites Google Won’t Let You Find

I think it’s safe to say that these are unsanctioned exploits, all the more reason to boast them on the dark web. Try ZeroBin, a covert, dark web-based, communication platform that allows you to send media and text messages to your confederate. ZeroBin has a cool autodestruct feature that makes the message go kaboom (not literally) after the recipient reads it.

The production of explicit material featuring minors involves the coercion, abuse, and manipulation of vulnerable individuals who are unable to give their consent. These victims endure severe psychological, emotional, and physical harm, which can have lifelong consequences on their well-being and development. One common method of distributing CP on the dark web is through underground marketplaces specifically designed for illegal transactions. These marketplaces operate similarly to e-commerce platforms, allowing individuals to buy, sell, and trade illegal content, including CP.