11 Best Onion Sites to Safely Visit on the Dark Web

12 min readAug 27, 2023

Were you researching the dark web and left wondering “What are onion sites and how can I access them?” If so, stay tuned. We’ll cover everything you need to know about .onion sites and accessing the dark web.

Onion sites are unique websites on the dark web. They use the “.onion” domain extension instead of normal extensions like “.com” or “.net.” Onion sites use The Onion Router (Tor) to create layers of encrypted connections for anonymity and privacy.

Let’s explore what .onion sites are, what the dark web is, and which .onion domains are safe to visit. Believe it or not, making it to the depths of the internet isn’t as hard as you’d imagine. It’s also not exclusively for criminal activity. Turn on CyberGhost VPN and brace your inner Curious George, because we’re going to delve into the internet’s murkiest parts where the most intriguing onion sites reside.

Top 11 Onion Sites to Visit in 2022

1. The Hidden Wiki

The Hidden Wiki is an uncensored link directory that enlists all the important .onion links. Users can edit it anonymously after registering, pretty much like the regular Wikipedia. It’s a great starting resource for exploring the dark web. Be careful though, the link directory is full of dead, scam, and illegal links.

URL: http://zqktlwiuavvvqqt4ybvgvi7tyo4hjl5xgfuvpdf6otjiycgwqbym2qad.onion/

2. Torch

Torch is the oldest and largest search engine on Tor. It lists over one billion .onion pages, so you’ll surely find what you’re looking for. What’s more, Torch won’t censor your search results or keep logs of your search history. It also doesn’t use web trackers or analytics code like Google does.

URL: torchdeedp3i2jigzjdmfpn5ttjhthh5wbmda2rr3jvqjg5p77c54dqd.onion/

3. DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo isn’t just your go-to search engine for privacy on the surface web. It can also help you access the dark web. It won’t log your information or track your dark web sessions. If you couldn’t locate a certain .onion link through Torch, try to find it on DuckDuckGo!

URL: 3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion/

4. ProtonMail

ProtonMail’s .onion version is hands-down the most popular and secure email service on the dark web. Your emails will be end-to-end encrypted, which means no one can intercept your communications. You don’t even need to give your personal details to create a ProtonMail account. It’s ideal for onion site registrations.

URL: protonmailrmez3lotccipshtkleegetolb73fuirgj7r4o4vfu7ozyd.onion/

5. The Intercept

The Intercept is your unfiltered source of fearless journalism. The Intercept always relied on the Tor network to receive anonymous reports and investigate powerful people and organizations. It later launched its onion service so readers could browse their newsroom secretly and bypass government-imposed news censorship.

URL: 27m3p2uv7igmj6kvd4ql3cct5h3sdwrsajovkkndeufumzyfhlfev4qd.onion/

6. ProPublica

ProPublica, another independent, non-profit newsroom, has had an onion version of its website since 2016. ProPublica’s onion site will soon become your go-to news publication source if you’re in an oppressive country and need to hide your digital footprints. It’ll also be good for you if you’re interested in unfiltered, thought-provoking news reports.

URL: p53lf57qovyuvwsc6xnrppyply3vtqm7l6pcobkmyqsiofyeznfu5uqd.onion/

7. SecureDrop

SecureDrop is Tor’s onion service for whistleblowers., It allows them to share sensitive information with news outlets and independent journalists secretly and securely. Several news organizations, including The Intercept, ProPublica, The New York Times, and The Washington Post have set up their own SecureDrop links to receive documents and tips from people anonymously.

If you’re an activist or a dissident, be sure to connect to CyberGhost VPN first. Read our activist’s guide to online privacy and security to stay safe online.

URL: sdolvtfhatvsysc6l34d65ymdwxcujausv7k5jk4cy5ttzhjoi6fzvyd.onion/

8. Hidden Answers

Tor’s Hidden Answers is an unfiltered, uncensored, and anonymous Reddit-style platform. Unlike clearweb forums, it’d never kick you out for asking a politically charged question. Be careful though. Conversations can become creepy or disturbing without any community guidelines, monitoring, or supervision.

URL: answerszuvs3gg2l64e6hmnryudl5zgrmwm3vh65hzszdghblddvfiqd.onion/

9. Archive.Today

Archive.today is an on-demand webpage capture and storage service. If you’d like to request a capture anonymously, use its .onion version. You could also request a retrieval to see how certain websites have evolved over the years. It’s just an interesting time pass… until you discover something controversial on past versions of government or corporate websites. Good luck exploring!

URL: archiveiya74codqgiixo33q62qlrqtkgmcitqx5u2oeqnmn5bpcbiyd.onion/

10. Deep Web Radio

Deep Web Radio is the dark web’s 24/7 onion radio link. It’s nice to have since we recommend not running any other application on the internet while you’re surfing the dark web. Tune into the deep web radio if it’s getting too quiet, and you’ll surely find something of interest. (Psst…it’s on the dark web even though the name suggests otherwise).

URL: anonyradixhkgh5myfrkarggfnmdzzhhcgoy2v66uf7sml27to5n2tid.onion/

11. Blockchain

We don’t recommend buying off the dark web market, especially if you’re new to the internet’s underground. That said, use Blockchain.info’s onion service if you must purchase something. Typically, Tor’s exit node would expose you if you’re using bitcoins. This link lets you access your bitcoin wallet without ever exiting the Tor network. Just make sure you’re connected to CyberGhost VPN for extra online security!

URL: blockchainbdgpzk.onion/

What Are Onion Sites?

Still wondering what onion sites are and how they work? Here’s a more detailed overview to help you understand the technical side of sites on the dark web.Websites you visit with normal browsers like Chrome or Firefox have familiar URL extensions (.com, .org, .net, or .us). Onion sites have URLs ending with .onion and they don’t follow the typical domain name format. They use more unique and complex domain names. For example, Facebook’s onion link is “facebookcorewwwi.onion.”

Onion sites are not indexed on the regular surface web or “clearnet.” Unlike regular websites, you can’t search onion sites using a regular browser.

They’re not registered in a central database. To access onion sites, you need a private network and browsers — you need Tor. You might be wondering why Facebook has an onion link. Well, onion sites provide anonymity for site visitors. This is especially valuable in countries with oppressive surveillance and censorship regimes.

When governments block Facebook, activists or dissidents can use its onion link to communicate. Bear in mind — increased privacy attracts illegal activity. This is why the dark web is a hub of criminal activity.

Surface Web vs. Deep Web vs. Dark Web: Where to Find Onion Sites?

The internet has different layers and the surface web is the familiar part we use every day. When you browse the surface web, your activity is easy to track. Websites on the surface web can see your IP address when you visit.

Beyond the surface web lies the deep web, which is not indexed by regular search engines. The deep web makes up 90% of the overall internet. Pages behind paywalls, your internet banking, and anything else requiring authentication is part of the deep web. It’s also what keeps the surface web running and it’s mostly hidden background data. This includes web hosting and intranets — the cogs that keep the machine working.

Beyond that exists the mysterious dark web, which makes up about 5% of the deep web. While it’s a hub for criminal syndicates, it’s also a platform for free press and private communication. The dark web hosts .onion sites which are only accessible through the Tor browser. You need to know the .onion dark web links before you can visit these sites as they aren’t all indexed like on Google or Bing. Although some indexing sites exist.

Do you want to learn how to safely visit the dark web? Check out our step-by-step guide to safely connect to the dark web. Keep in mind the dark web is full of scams and you need to be extremely cautious when interacting with anything and anyone there.

Tor, Onion, Dark Web – Connecting the Dots

Now that you have a better idea of what .onion sites are, you might be wondering how to access them. You need Tor to access onion sites on the dark web — what’s Tor, you ask?

Tor is a free open-source browser that facilitates privacy and anonymity. It encrypts communication through 3 layers of encryption and routes traffic through relay servers. Sounds complicated? Let me explain!

When you visit a website through a regular browser, your access request goes directly to the website’s servers through your ISP. The website can see your IP address and your ISP, government, advertisers, and malicious actors can easily track you. When you use the Tor browser, it adds several layers of encryption — like an onion. Then, it sequentially sends your request through three random relay servers.

Note a difference between Tor and VPNs here. Your connection still goes through your ISP first with Tor and it’ll see you’re connected to Tor, but will struggle to see your browsing activity. A VPN encrypts your connection before it reaches your ISP, making it impossible to see what you do. This distinction is important because some ISPs and governments take a special interest in anyone they detect using Tor to track potential criminal activity.

Each Tor node replaces your IP address with its own and removes exactly one layer of encryption. The final server (or the exit node) fully deciphers your request and sends it off to the website you’re trying to reach. That way, outsiders can’t see your original IP address or trace your online activities back to you.

What does that have to do with the dark web or the onion sites?

Tor also uses a similar relay system to let website owners host their websites anonymously. The website URLs end with a .onion domain name extension. They’re encrypted, and users can only access them via the complex and hidden Tor routes. This is the infamous ‘dark web’ where people can publish websites without revealing their identities.

Here’s the catch though: Tor anonymity isn’t foolproof.

Beware! Tor Won’t Keep you Safe on Onion Sites

It may be the most private browser, but Tor still has its fair share of loopholes. Authorities use these flaws to trace criminals and uncover fraudulent organizations. Let’s take a look at a few of the privacy risks of using the dark web:

Unknown volunteers own and control Tor’s server nodes. If your traffic ends up on a bad exit node, malicious website owners could monitor the node and see all your traffic and browsing history.

Tor replaces your IP address at its first relay node. This means your ISP and other snoopers can see your IP address before you connect to Tor. Unless you use a VPN, your ISP knows you’re connected to Tor.

Tor is home to many cybercriminals and creeps. Cybercriminals exploit security vulnerabilities to steal from and de-anonymize you. Law enforcement agencies also spy on onion websites (and have even been reported to operate some Tor nodes) to identify criminal activity. Your seemingly innocent quest could instantly land you in trouble.

Pro Tip: If you’re using Tor as a regular browser for anonymity on the open internet, it’s best to encrypt your traffic before it leaves your device.

How to Access Onion Sites

Using dark web onion sites is totally legal as long as you avoid illegal activities. You’ll need a few things before you can get access. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started safely.

1. Download Tor Browser

The Tor Browser is the only way to safely access .onion sites. While proxies like Tor2Web let you visit onion sites without running Tor, it’s not at all private. You can download Tor at The Tor Project for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. If you’re an iPhone user, you can download Tor from the App Store.

2. Install/Update Your Anti-Malware

Many dark web websites are malware hotspots and without the right protection, you could get infected before you know it. While it’s best to stick to links you know are safe, you should also protect yourself from accidental clicks. A strong up-to-date anti-malware with real-time protection will make a big difference if you’re subject to cyber attacks. Although no program will be able to protect your device against everything.

3. Know How to Navigate Tor Safely

Here’s our checklist of extra precautions that’ll keep you safe:

Always use a VPN with Tor

Don’t click on unfamiliar .onion links

Always double check the link address

Never give out personal information

Cover your webcam

Don’t download anything from the dark web

Close all other apps while using Tor

Avoid buying anything on the dark web

4. Should I Use A VPN?

It’s absolutely essential to protect yourself with a VPN on Tor. We really don’t recommend connecting to the Tor browser without one. Tor hides your IP address but your ISP can see you’re connected to Tor and loopholes exist if your government is motivated enough to track what you’re doing.

If you don’t connect to a VPN, your ISP will be able to see what you’re up to. ISPs and governments tend to keep a closer watch on people who visit the dark web. When you connect to a VPN before connecting to Tor, it’s called a Tor-over-VPN connection. It’s the best and most popular way to connect safely to .onion sites.

You might be tempted to use a free VPN for this, but it wouldn’t be a wise move. Free VPNs are often unreliable and if they let you down on the dark web, it could be serious. CyberGhost VPN’s automatic Kill Switch keeps you protected even if your VPN connection drops. Our Kill Switch stops all traffic to and from your device until you’re safely connected again. This means cybercriminals can’t take advantage of you when your guard is down.

With our DNS leak protection, you’ll never face accidental information leaks and our unwavering No-Logs Policy ensures we never store or share your activity data. Even Deloitte agrees in their independent audit. A single CyberGhost VPN subscription lets you connect up to 7 devices at any time. Not sure if you’re ready to make the investment?

Get CyberGhost VPN with our 45-day money-back guarantee.

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FAQ

How do Onion sites work?

Onion sites are websites on the dark web with the ‘.onion’ domain name extension. They use Tor’s hidden services to hide their location and their owner’s identities. You need the Tor browser to access .onion domains, and it encrypts and routes your requests, and obscures your IP address. This ensures that onion sites and other snoopers remain unaware of your identity, general online activity, and location.
Get CyberGhost VPN to enhance your privacy and encryption while using Tor. Our friendly customer support team is available 24/7 via email or live chat for further assistance and details.

Should I access Onion sites with a VPN?

Yes, it’s recommended to use a VPN when you access .onion sites on the dark web. While Tor provides anonymity and encryption, using a VPN adds an extra layer of security and privacy. A VPN can also mask your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic on your network side. This ensures your ISP (and other snoopers) won’t be able to see what you’re up to online.

Are Onion sites anonymous?

In theory, onion sites should be anonymous, but loopholes and security flaws exist. Connect to a VPN before you access dark web websites for extra protection against malicious actors. CyberGhost VPN’s automatic Kill Switch disconnects you from the internet if your VPN connection ever fails. You’ll be safe from data leaks even when temporarily disconnected.

Are Onion sites deep web or dark web?

Onion sites are on the dark web. The deep web and the dark web aren’t the same. The deep web is where password-protected, private, or intranet-based web pages reside. This includes your social media home page and your office’s internal website. Dark web websites, or .onion sites, can only be accessed using the Tor browser. The only similarity between deep web pages and .onion sites is that search engines can’t index them.

What is the .onion address?

The .onion address is a special top-level domain for websites on the Tor network — the dark web. Unlike traditional domain names, .onion domains are specifically designed for anonymous and encrypted communication. Dark web websites use .onion domains to ensure privacy and anonymity for website owners and visitors alike.

What does .onion available mean?

The term “.onion available” means a .onion domain website is functioning and accessible on Tor. When a website or service is marked “.onion available,” it means it’s been set up and you can access the web page with Tor, so long as you know the correct URL. Get CyberGhost VPN to visit the dark web safely.

AuthorIsra Batool

A software engineer by education, Isra started out as a technical writer and a requirements analyst. As a part of her job, she was constantly looking at the information and permissions that applications gather and use all the time. That’s what sparked her interest in data privacy and cybersecurity, and finally, landed her here at CyberGhost VPN.

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Written by Ruwaxo