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Is Tox Chat Safe in 2024? Detailed Tox Review

Last updated: June 22, 2021

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Tox is a new open-source peer-to-peer messaging and video-chat platform that lets people talk to their contacts from all corners of the earth.

Now, since video and instant messaging services are nothing new these days, what is it about this Tox alternative that sets it apart from the others?

First, Tox Chat secures its open-source messaging app traffic with end-to-end encryption, so you never have to worry that any private conversations will be leaked, sold, or censored in any way. Next, unique from other similar apps, Tox functions over a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network.

Peer-to-peer network

Given the fact that Tox Chat is barely a year old, how do we really know if it’s as good as the other (group) messaging platforms? Is it really safer to make video calls and to do all of our instant messaging over Tox?

Let’s take a closer look to see if the Tox product is one that users should pay more attention to as an up-and-coming community trend.

Is Tox Chat Safe in 2024

If you are wondering if Tox is safe, the answer, in short, is yes.

Compared to the other messaging app options, Tox Chat is definitely a step up in terms of safety. Tox offers reliable end-to-end encryption on any calls, file transfers, or messages sent on its platform. If you want to make sure your IP address is also hidden, you can pair the Tox client with a reputable VPN, since using the Tox network alone will not give us this complete IP protection.

What Makes Tox Chat a Great Messaging Service

In one word, the most noteworthy feature that makes Tox Chat such a great messaging app is its security.

Of all of the open-source messaging apps, Tox gives users better security and privacy features.

More features that make Tox stand out from the pack are its versatility across platforms — Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS, and clients for Linux; and its reliance on the P2P network to communicate messages.

Tox chat homepage

Tox Chat Features

Chat users can use Tox for P2P network file-sharing, chat on video, instant message, voice chat, and group chats in chat rooms.

On top of all of the typical chat features, your traffic goes through the process of encryption.

All Tox clients support secure messaging, but the different clients for mobile and desktop allow Tox users to access additional features, like profile encryption, video chatting, or conferencing. The client you choose will determine the additional features that aren’t supported by the core networking system.

How You Benefit from Using Tox Chat with a VPN

If you want to add an even higher level of privacy and security to your chat, you can pair a VPN service with Tox Chat.

When you install a VPN client on your device, you get the complete anonymity and protection for which you should be striving online. This way, no one — hackers, governments, authorities, or your Internet Service Provider — will be able to decipher what you are doing online.

On top of this, a VPN gives you features like a Kill Switch, DNS and IP leak protection, and even greater encryption to ensure that you are never left vulnerable on any chat.

How to Choose a Good VPN

If you are trying to find a VPN that will work well with Tox Chat, as well as any other program you are using, here are the key features to keep in mind:

Speed:

If you are trying to chat with anyone online, the last thing you want is to deal with constant buffering or lag. It is important to choose a VPN provider with a reputable server and connection speeds. A larger server network sometimes means better VPN speeds because there is less crowding on those available servers.

Uniform IP address:

If you are doing torrent client on the P2P network, the safest way to do this is with a shared IP address. This means that all of the people who are connected to your VPN server will have the same IP address, making it nearly impossible for anyone trying to find out your identity or to actually connect any activity to you since your IP address looks the same as the others on your server.

Security:

Reputable VPN services have AES 256-bit encryption so hackers, your ISP, or third parties are unable to decipher what you are doing or sending online — even if they somehow get their hands on your activity. IP and DNS leak protection also keep your activity from being leaked, and a kill switch ensures that if your VPN ever cuts out, your online traffic and IP address are never leaked.

No-Logs policy:

Any VPN services you choose these days, especially when using torrent clients, must have a verified no-logs policy. This way, if the provider is ever asked to share information about you, it will have none to share.

Unlimited bandwidth:

It is important to find a VPN provider that offers unlimited bandwidth. Caps on bandwidth will slow your speeds and limit your data usage, which is the last thing you want if you are torrenting or video chatting.

3 Best VPNs for Tox Chat

After extensive reviews, these are the 3 best VPNs that are the very best options for Tox Chat:

Devices compatible with ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our #1 choice for Tox Chat, with over 3,000 high-speed servers in 94 countries around the globe. Your connection speeds when using this VPN service will be consistently, reliably fast, no matter whether you are connecting to a local or long-distance server.

ExpressVPN’s speed bodes well for those of you who are looking for top-notch file-transfer capabilities in your VPN service. Its entire server network supports P2P traffic, and its Smart Location option will automatically choose the best server for you.

Since most households have many different devices under one roof, it’s good to note that you can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously to a single user account, and that adding these devices will not slow the others using your VPN.

As for privacy — ExpressVPN offers military-grade 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and OpenVPN protocol across all platforms, so all of your information will remain private and secure at all times.

ExpressVPN has a verified no-logs policy, and it’s also good to note that ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, so all of your activity and information will remain out of government reach.

Pros:

  • Exceptional speeds
  • Easy to use across platforms
  • 24/7 Live chat Support
  • 5 simultaneous users
  • 30-day refund policy

Cons:

  • More expensive than the other VPNs

2. NordVPN

Devices compatible with NordVPN

NordVPN has over 5,400 VPN servers in 60 countries worldwide and, although it’s not as fast as ExpressVPN, NordVPN consistently delivers good speeds and reliable connections.

This large network offers fast and secure torrenting, with a specialty server network for P2P sharing.

NordVPN protects your activity with its AES 256-bit encryption, IP and DNS leak protection, and OpenVPN and IKEc2/IPSec protocols that will ensure that everything you do online is hidden and private. Its CyberSec feature also provides an extra layer of protection from malware and annoying products’ ads that may pop up.

If you are worried about surveillance, it is good to note that Nord is based in Panama, far from the 14 Eyes surveillance, and it also offers a strict no-logs policy, which we have verified to be reliable.

You can use up to 6 devices simultaneously with a single subscription, which means you’ll be able to use a combination of devices without compromising your speed or quality.

Pros:

  • Very fast streaming speeds
  • DoubleVPN and Obfuscated Servers
  • No-logging policy
  • Cheaper price than ExpressVPN
  • 6 users on a single plan

Cons:

  • Speeds can be slower in advanced mode

Devices compatible with Surfshark

Based on our review, Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for Tox Chat.

Though Surfshark’s speed does not compare to ExpressVPN or NordVPN, it is still plenty fast for torrenting or streaming with hardly any buffering or lag.

Surfshark passes all the tests for security features with its AES 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, double encryption, kill switch, and its special CleanWeb suite, which blocks ads and protects against malware.

Like Nord and Express, Surfshark is located outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, and it has a strict, verified no-logging policy, so you should never be worried that your online activity is ever being tracked or kept.

Part of what pushes Surfshark toward the top is that it allows for unlimited devices to connect on just one account, making it ideal taking into consideration the nature of multi-screen families these days.

Pros:

  • Live chat
  • No-logging policy
  • Unlimited simultaneous users
  • Affordable
  • Ease of use

Cons:

  • Slightly slower speeds

Conclusion

Tox is a great new open-source development that offers people what they want most online these days — socialization that goes hand-in-hand with privacy and security.

Since Tox Chat is still in its formative years, its main struggle is going to be growing its support network and its pool of resources. WhatsApp continues to be in the forefront of people’s minds when looking to chat with people around the world.

Whichever platform you use, keep in mind that using a VPN will only enhance your experience, keeping your online protections intact as you navigate the social scenes on the web freely.

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