Privacy is so important that some people go to great lengths to delete themselves from the internet. Others rely on certain tools to stay anonymous online. Some of these tools—VPNs, browsers, incognito mode—talk about hiding you, but can still leave traces behind the scenes. I’ve spent years going through a lot of them, and more often than I’d like, I end up with a familiar feeling: I was just redirected, not anonymous.

So when I stumbled upon Carburetor, I didn’t have high hopes. However, this Linux app is interesting because it doesn’t sell itself as a VPN, a browser, or even a service. Rather, it’s a quiet background tool that gives you privacy without any company in between. It’s unique, and that’s why it’s caught my interest.

The problem with the usual “private browsing” solutions

VPNs and Tor aren’t as straightforward as we think

When we think about private browsing, we often go for one of two solutions: a VPN or the Tor browser. They sound like quick and simple fixes; in reality, they solve different problems—but not the entire problem.

A VPN routes your connection through a centralized third-party server to mask your IP from websites. Even though this secures your traffic, the VPN company becomes a single point of authority that can see your activity. So, you’re entirely relying on the VPN’s no-logs policy.

Tor’s approach anonymizes your traffic by bouncing it through an entry, middle, and exit relay. This solution is powerful, but it isn’t convenient. It covers only what happens within the browser, leaving other apps to use your regular internet connection.

This is a real gap. We’re either using tools that protect too little or demand too much setup. Between these extremes, there could be something simpler that protects system‑wide, locally, and unobtrusively.

What Carburetor actually is—and why it’s different

A lightweight Linux app that gives you Tor-level privacy without the browser baggage

Carburetor balances control and convenience. This small, open-source Linux app runs a local Tor proxy on your computer. It acts as a background privacy layer, quietly routing your connections through the Tor network without the need for a dedicated Tor browser. There’s no need for another specialized browser either, and you don’t have to deal with complicated setup or configuration files. It’s also different from VPNs, as it doesn’t use a centralized third-party server.

Carburetor’s architecture ensures you aren’t trusting any single company’s logging policy (like a VPN does), and unlike Tor, it doesn’t limit coverage to web browsers. As long as you’re using apps like browsers, email clients, or even download managers that support SOCKS5 proxies, Carburetor will protect those connections.

It also has a clean interface—a single toggle to connect and one status indicator to show status. It doesn’t hit you with login walls or surprise prompts. The app isn’t reinventing anonymity, but bringing Tor to your desktop in a transparent, native-like manner.

Carburetor

OS Linux

Developer Tractor

Pricing model Free

Carburetor is an application that routes connections on your Linux computer through the TOR network. Unlike the TOR browser, it offers TOR routing beyond the browser level.

The experience of using it

Simpler, quieter, and more transparent than any privacy tool I’ve tried

My experience using Carburetor was “uneventful,” and that’s exactly why I think this may be a great tool. I installed it via Flatpak by running this command: flatpak install flathub io.frama.tractor.carburetor.

After that, I launched it from the application menu. Carburetor opens a minimalist window where all you need to do is click the Connect button, and the app launches the local Tor service in seconds. You don’t get a maze of configuration dialogs. It just launches and works in the background.

You can also access advanced options through the Preferences menu. These options allow you to inspect connection logs, change your proxy port, or set up a bridge if you are in a location that restricts Tor.

You won’t notice any difference at first. However, if you launch the browser, set the SOCKS5 proxy to localhost, and check your IP, you’ll get a new IP from an entirely different location. I notice that sites load a bit slower—just like with Tor—even though Carburetor provides a smoother overall experience than Tor. Like I did, you may also find it reassuring to watch the logs or status indicators flicker in real time. You see exactly what’s happening.

Privacy without paranoia

Carburetor doesn’t collect or phone home—and that matters

Many modern privacy tools require you to blindly trust the company’s promises. In lots of cases, this is a promise not to log data or to only collect data that’s necessary for improvement. Carburetor takes a different path, not just because it’s open source, but also because it runs entirely on your local machine. It doesn’t require cloud sync. You don’t need to create or log in to any accounts, and there’s no telemetry.

The philosophy is simple: what happens inside your system stays there, and you can open Carburetor’s source code to see exactly how that works. It doesn’t make any more background calls than what Tor requires, and it also doesn’t require root access to run. When some privacy tools expect you to trade your data for convenience, Carburetor ensures this convenience doesn’t come at the expense of autonomy.

A quiet recommendation for people who care about privacy but hate complexity

I love this tool, but I don’t think it’s for everybody. I certainly wouldn’t use it if I wanted maximum speed or if I were streaming or gaming. For most of these, you’d be better off using a VPN. Of course, you should be careful to avoid VPNs with certain red flags. But if you need to communicate or work in real privacy, then Carburetor will come in handy.

This tool isn’t selling a privacy dream; it fills a gap by allowing you to trust third parties less and maintain control closer to yourself.