Dark Web vs Deep Web: What's the Actual Difference?

You've probably heard both terms thrown around in tech conversations, news reports, or maybe even that one thriller you binged last weekend. But here's the thing most people get wrong: the dark web and deep web aren't the same thing. Not even close.

According to research compiled in MakeUseOf's comprehensive guide to the hidden internet, this confusion is everywhere. And honestly? It's costing people a real understanding of how the internet actually works.

Let me clear this up once and for all.

The Deep Web: Bigger Than You Think

Picture an iceberg. The tiny bit poking above water? That's the regular internet you use every day. Google searches, social media, news sites. Everything else hiding beneath the surface? That's the deep web.

Here's what the deep web actually is: any content that search engines like Google can't index. Your email inbox. Your online banking portal. That Netflix account you're definitely sharing. Medical records. Government databases. Academic journals locked behind paywalls.

Nothing sinister. Just... private.

Dutch researcher Maurice de Kunder estimates the visible web contains around 5.24 billion pages. The deep web? Somewhere between 10 to 500 times larger. Even conservative estimates put it at a staggering size—and nobody knows for sure because, well, it's not exactly designed to be counted.

The rule of thumb from MakeUseOf's guide puts it perfectly: "If you have to log into an account to access a page, the information you are accessing is on the deep web."

That's it. Your Gmail? Deep web. Your company's internal HR portal? Deep web. That embarrassing 2go account you forgot existed? Probably deep web at this point.

The Dark Web: Intentionally Hidden

Now we're getting somewhere different.

The dark web is what MakeUseOf describes as "an overlay network"—basically a network that sits on top of the regular internet but requires special software to access. You can't just type an address into Chrome and hope to access it.

Most people access it through Tor Browser. Sites end in ".onion" instead of ".com." And here's the crucial bit: the dark web is designed for anonymity. Complete, total anonymity.

While the deep web is massive, the dark web is tiny by comparison. MakeUseOf's guide estimates only 200,000 to 400,000 dark web sites exist. And plenty of those are ransomware notes or completely inaccessible unless you know exactly where to look.

The dark web runs on something called "onion routing"—your internet traffic bounces through multiple random nodes, each one adding a layer of encryption. By the time your request reaches its destination, nobody can trace it back to you. Think of it like sending a letter through twenty different forwarding addresses, with each person only knowing the address before and after them.

Image Generated by ChatGPT

Why the Confusion Exists

Here's where things get messy in public conversation.

When someone says "deep web" in a news article about illegal marketplaces or hacking forums, they usually mean the dark web. As MakeUseOf's guide notes: "When people talk about underground forums, hackers, assassins, purchasing stolen credentials, and credit card trading, they're talking about sites and services hosted on the dark web."

The deep web doesn't have that reputation because it's just... normal internet infrastructure. Password-protected stuff. Nothing to sensationalize.

But "dark web" sounds dangerous. Mysterious. The kind of thing that gets clicks and views. So the terms get mixed up constantly, and suddenly people think their Amazon account exists in some shadowy space — even though if compromised, your credentials may actually be there.

What Actually Lives Where

Let's break down what you'll actually find in each place.

Deep Web contains:

• Banking portals and financial records
• Medical and health information databases
• Company intranets and private networks
• Academic research and paywalled journals
• Government records and tax information
• Your email, cloud storage, and subscription services
• Anything behind a login screen

Dark Web contains:

• Anonymous communication platforms
• Privacy-focused email services (like ProtonMail's .onion site)
• Whistleblower drop boxes (ProPublica runs one)
• Facebook's censorship-resistant mirror site
• Scientific paper repositories (like Sci-Hub's 50+ million papers)
• Yes, illegal marketplaces too—but they're not everywhere
• Forums for countries with heavy internet censorship

According to the MakeUseOf guide, legitimate uses exist all over the dark web. Journalists protecting sources. Activists avoiding government surveillance. Regular people in restricted countries accessing uncensored information.

The Size Question Everyone Asks

People love asking: "How much of the internet is the dark web?"

Honestly? A rounding error.

If the visible web is a city, the deep web is the entire planet's underground infrastructure—subway systems, basements, underground parking, buried cables, sewers, everything beneath surface level.

The dark web? Maybe a few hidden speakeasies scattered across that planet. Present, sure. Intentionally concealed, absolutely. But nowhere near as prevalent as TV shows would have you believe.

MakeUseOf's research points out that most dark web sites are "extremely well-hidden (you cannot find them unless you are told where to look)." You're not going to stumble onto illegal activity by accident. The internet's not structured that way.

The Privacy Angle Nobody Talks About

Here's something worth understanding: both the deep web and dark web exist largely because of privacy needs.

The deep web keeps your personal information secure. Imagine if every email you sent was indexed by Google and searchable by anyone. Nightmare fuel, right? The deep web's lack of indexing protects billions of people's private data every single day.

The dark web takes privacy further—it's built for people who need complete anonymity. Sometimes that's activists in authoritarian countries. Sometimes it's security researchers. Sometimes it's criminals. The technology doesn't discriminate.

As MakeUseOf's guide emphasizes: "The primary reason for anyone accessing or using sites and services on the dark web is anonymity."

So Which One Are You Actually Talking About?

Next time someone brings up either term, here's your quick mental check:

Is it about content that's just password-protected or unindexed? — Deep web

Does it require special software like Tor to access? — Dark web

Are we talking about illegal marketplaces or anonymous forums? — Dark web (most likely)

Is it just your regular online account behind a login? — Deep web

The distinction matters. Conflating them spreads misinformation and makes people unnecessarily paranoid about basic internet infrastructure.

The Bottom Line

The deep web is enormous, mundane, and keeps the internet functional. The dark web is tiny, intentional, and serves specific anonymity needs—both legitimate and otherwise.

They're not interchangeable terms. They're not different names for the same thing. And understanding the difference helps you understand how digital privacy actually works.

According to MakeUseOf's conclusion on this topic: "When people talk about the deep web, they usually mean the dark web."

Now you know better than "most people."

I hope you enjoyed this one. Till next time!

Research and statistics drawn from MakeUseOf's "The Deep and Dark Web Guide" by Gavin Phillips (2020), which provides comprehensive education on navigating hidden internet networks safely and legally.