I’m currently working on a concept for a privacy-focused social media app that looks and feels like Instagram – but routes all traffic through the Tor network, ensuring maximum anonymity for users.
🧩 Core concept:
The app runs natively on any smartphone (Android/iOS) – no special OS or setup required. However, all network traffic is automatically routed via Tor in the background.
Think: mainstream UX + deep Tor integration, similar to how Orbot/OnionBrowser work, but fully embedded in the app itself.
🔐 Planned Features:
📸 Posts, stories, likes, comments, follow/unfollow
🔐 Fully end-to-end encrypted private chats (e.g. using Signal Protocol)
🛒 In-chat peer-to-peer ordering (platform can’t see contents)
💰 Monthly subscription via BTC/XMR
No payment gateway, no custody
But payment verification is built into the system
🌐 Platform is only available via .onion
A separate clearnet website will provide onboarding instructions and info
✅ Goals:
Max privacy & anonymity by design
No advertising, no tracking, no algorithms
Easy-to-use, mobile-first UI/UX – just like mainstream apps
Not a “darknet app” – but a mainstream social network built on private infrastructure
💬 What I’d love to hear from you:
Would you use a social app like this – or is Tor a dealbreaker for the average user?
Which features would be essential for it to feel like a real Instagram alternative?
Would a monthly crypto subscription (BTC/XMR) feel fair – or be a barrier to entry?
What are the biggest UX challenges you foresee for a Tor-based mobile app?
Any honest feedback is welcome – critical, skeptical or visionary.
The goal isn’t another “privacy niche app”, but a real, ethical alternative to data-hungry, algorithm-driven networks.
Thanks in advance 🙏
General
📱🕵️♂️ Project Idea: Anonymous Instagram-Alternative – runs like a normal app, but fully over Tor
Started by eijisc · Aug 8, 2025
I'm afraid there's a few things wrong with this idea. So sorry :}
I think I can pinpoint one:
> The app runs natively on any smartphone (Android/iOS) – no special OS or setup required.
> Max privacy & anonymity by design
These two simply don't go together. For starters: how did you think users were going to install the app? Via the application stores/managers? There goes your anonymity, for both user and developer. Not to mention you can absolutely forget about a crypto payment system.
So bypass the app store? You'll probably need a rooted phone, so extra setup required. Don't think that will guarantee anonymity and privacy though.
When using default Android or iOS there could be a hundred different systems that would somehow have access to the usage information of your app and report it to some third party. Surely stuff can be blocked or deactivated, but good luck in figuring out all those functionalities to prevent leaks. And again, for sure root access to the phone would be needed and your app will have to do some freaky shit to "hide" itself if that is possible at all.
I think I can pinpoint one:
> The app runs natively on any smartphone (Android/iOS) – no special OS or setup required.
> Max privacy & anonymity by design
These two simply don't go together. For starters: how did you think users were going to install the app? Via the application stores/managers? There goes your anonymity, for both user and developer. Not to mention you can absolutely forget about a crypto payment system.
So bypass the app store? You'll probably need a rooted phone, so extra setup required. Don't think that will guarantee anonymity and privacy though.
When using default Android or iOS there could be a hundred different systems that would somehow have access to the usage information of your app and report it to some third party. Surely stuff can be blocked or deactivated, but good luck in figuring out all those functionalities to prevent leaks. And again, for sure root access to the phone would be needed and your app will have to do some freaky shit to "hide" itself if that is possible at all.
I can see a market for such an app so yes I think people would use it, I think an "instagram alternative" would be hard to pull off but not impossible if you think about it instagram took a long time to get where it is and if you're thinking of implementing a subscription from the get go it would indeed be a barrier to entry.
You would need to make profits from it somehow so perhaps due what all social media apps are doing by offering a subscription fee for higher engagement or perhaps what Brave is doing with its less-intrusive ads system.
Overall I think its not a bad idea.
You would need to make profits from it somehow so perhaps due what all social media apps are doing by offering a subscription fee for higher engagement or perhaps what Brave is doing with its less-intrusive ads system.
Overall I think its not a bad idea.
Anonymity on IOS and Android while also being on the AppStore/PlayStore, good luck.
Also you'd need encryption and routing like something that Session uses (for messages. Routing to a few nodes then getting the message to the receiver), including the (probably upcoming) EU laws that basically will include a "backdoor"-like function to any chatting apps, it would be impossible to host it on the AppStore/PlayStore (also as stated above, privacy).
Also as others stated, Pitch is already there, i guess you want something similar but on phones. And probably a bigger audience, maybe 100s or thousands
But then people might not like going to a 3rd party app or website to download your app, and the people who aren't bothered by this are already using pitch or tforum.
Cool concept though, if you get by these 2 or 3 things, it might be possible
Also you'd need encryption and routing like something that Session uses (for messages. Routing to a few nodes then getting the message to the receiver), including the (probably upcoming) EU laws that basically will include a "backdoor"-like function to any chatting apps, it would be impossible to host it on the AppStore/PlayStore (also as stated above, privacy).
Also as others stated, Pitch is already there, i guess you want something similar but on phones. And probably a bigger audience, maybe 100s or thousands
But then people might not like going to a 3rd party app or website to download your app, and the people who aren't bothered by this are already using pitch or tforum.
Cool concept though, if you get by these 2 or 3 things, it might be possible
Concept is strong combining mainstream UX with native Tor routing would hit a real gap between niche privacy tools and mass-market platforms.
A few points to think about:
– Onboarding: Tor bootstrap times + connection instability will frustrate non-technical users. Consider caching feeds and async posting to mask latency.
– Payment model: Subscription in BTC/XMR is clean, but many privacy-conscious users still prefer free entry with optional paid tiers. Could be freemium with perks for subscribers.
– Trust layer: Being over Tor means you’ll need strong in-app verification to combat spam/bots without forcing KYC.
– UX parity: If you want Instagram feel, invest heavily in media handling image compression, smooth scrolling, story transitions these are where “privacy apps” usually feel clunky.
– Security surface: Signal Protocol is good, but keep it sandboxed from app-level metadata leaks (push notifications, crash logs, etc.).
Tor isn’t the dealbreaker friction is. If it feels as fluid as a clearnet app, people will use it.
A few points to think about:
– Onboarding: Tor bootstrap times + connection instability will frustrate non-technical users. Consider caching feeds and async posting to mask latency.
– Payment model: Subscription in BTC/XMR is clean, but many privacy-conscious users still prefer free entry with optional paid tiers. Could be freemium with perks for subscribers.
– Trust layer: Being over Tor means you’ll need strong in-app verification to combat spam/bots without forcing KYC.
– UX parity: If you want Instagram feel, invest heavily in media handling image compression, smooth scrolling, story transitions these are where “privacy apps” usually feel clunky.
– Security surface: Signal Protocol is good, but keep it sandboxed from app-level metadata leaks (push notifications, crash logs, etc.).
Tor isn’t the dealbreaker friction is. If it feels as fluid as a clearnet app, people will use it.