Top 10 Free and Paid Proxy Server Providers 2023

Top 10 Free and Paid Proxy Server Providers 2023

Do you want to protect your online privacy?

A proxy server may be useful.

With so many providers to choose from, it might be not easy to find the best one.

However, you are in luck!

You can find the ten best proxy server suppliers on this page.

We’ll also talk about:

• A comparison between free and paid proxies
• Different types of proxy servers
• An actionable guide to picking the best proxy

Let’s start with the basics.

Best proxy server for 2023

Let’s begin by looking at the proxy providers in brief:

• Oxylabs – Best overall
• Smartproxy – Dedicated solutions for multiple operating systems and use cases
• Bright Data – Great option for developers and professional use
• Nimble – Top proxy for SEO professionals
• Hide.me – Best for casual users
• KProxy – Best free proxy
• HMA – Best for non-demanding tasks
• VPNBook – Best for web browsing
• ProxySite – Great for those who want US servers
• Whoer – Versatile and compatible with most browsers

What is a proxy?

A proxy server is a gateway that connects you to the internet. To optimize security and privacy, it processes web requests on your behalf.

The action alters your IP address to avoid geoblocks and internet restrictions. This is useful for quickly unlocking websites and accessing information.

Additionally, proxies enable users to use many IP addresses at once. This allows you to do mass web activities at scale.

Additionally, businesses may utilize proxy servers to protect their networking systems from attackers. They’re good at screening out unwanted traffic to protect critical conversations.

These services also aid in the speeding up of web platforms by caching data. This accelerates websites, resulting in quicker page loading.

It’s time to go into the details best proxy server.

Best proxy service reviews

Find extensive assessments of the market’s top proxy service providers below.

#1 Smartproxy

Smartproxy is an industry-leading vendor that is ideal for doing difficult data mining jobs. Residential, mobile, and data center (DC) proxies are among the services on its list.

The provider’s network features over 65 million IPs across over 195 locations. The top three regions are the US, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The secret IP addresses of Smartproxy are noteworthy. They belong to genuine devices, which contributes to web trust.

We were successful in avoiding captchas and proxy-sensitive websites. When accessing the web, it still guarantees total anonymity best proxy server.

But wait, there’s more.

The vendor offers some of the best free proxy tools available. X Browser allows you to use several internet identities without arousing suspicion.

You’ll find browser plugins for Google Chrome and Firefox. Aside from that, an address generator automates the creation of proxy lists.

Scraper APIs are another feature that developers will like. They are ideal for collecting large amounts of data and syncing information in real-time.

If you’re a sneakerhead, Smartproxy has your back. It features fast sneaker proxies for obtaining limited-edition sneakers in internet marketplaces.

Aside from that, the vendor offers step-by-step instructions for newcomers. Articles, video courses, and technical documents are available in its knowledge base.

If things grow too complicated, help is accessible around the clock. They’re competent, friendly, and quick to respond.

The best part?

Pricing.

This company offers the best proxy options beginning at $8.5 per month. Furthermore, there is a 30-day free trial to evaluate the services without restrictions.

Smartproxy is a great tool for both personal and professional usage. Its extensive network and specific technologies may aid in the acceleration of large-scale projects.

#2 Oxylabs

Get Oxylabs if you want the best mobile proxy server services. It was founded in 2015 and offers best-in-class web scraping solutions for various application cases.

This vendor’s network architecture is unique. It consists of more than 100 residential IP addresses spread over 195 locations.

You may choose areas ranging from the nation to the state level. This kind of function aids in geo-targeting, which improves the accuracy of your data.

Even better, mobile proxies may improve the quality of your research. You may mine data by targeting certain cellular providers’ users.

3G, 4G, and 5G networks are all supported. You may also benefit from auto-IP rotation while on the road.

It, like Bright Data, allows for an infinite number of concurrent connections across all services. As a result, growing your activities will be as easy as pie.

Oxylabs is also the best vendor of anonymous proxy servers.

This is why:

Oxylabs obtains residential and mobile proxies from legal providers in an ethical manner. It also offers significant incentives to third-party partners to increase quality.

The vendor offers HTTPS-secured connections. When scraping the web, this protects your traffic.

On top of that, SOCKS5 improves the security of your connections. As a result, intruders will spend time and effort eavesdropping on your activities.

All of the aforementioned good things come at a cost, however. PAYG subscriptions start at $15/GB. Other regular monthly plans start at $49 or more.

What’s the good news?

Oxylab’s proxy web dashboard is simple and user-friendly. It’s easy to find your way around and free of clutter.

The vendor also offers outstanding customer support. Agents are helpful and accessible at all hours of the day and night.

Overall, Oxylabs is the best choice for scraping using mobile proxies. However, its premium cost is ideal for users with big budgets alone.

#3 Bright Data

For sophisticated users, Bright Data is the best-paid proxy server service. This award-winning vendor has over 70 million IP addresses and over 20,000 clients.

You’ll notice a vast list of developer-friendly tools right away. The first consists of a SERP API for data mining in search engines.

Following that is a web scraper with pre-built features. It contains templates based on JavaScript functions to help you get things done faster.

Novice users are included, thanks to the specialized scrapping browser. It’s ideal for unblocking websites, avoiding captchas, and doing web research.

Another useful tool that you’ll like is the web unlocker. It can, as the name implies, unlock websites with 99.9% accuracy.

Additionally, our studies demonstrate that the tool is adept at solving captchas. Machine learning allows you to do large jobs quickly.

When utilizing several connections, automated IP proxy rotation saves time. You may also establish intervals between queries to prevent internet suspicion.

It gets much better:

Bright Data makes publicly accessible datasets available to help you accelerate your research. The data comprises top businesses and sectors from across the globe.

In addition, the vendor gives useful information for multinational companies. As a result, you may speed up the market information-collecting process.

Residential, data center, and mobile server proxies are all offered by Bright Data. All are perfectly suited to fulfill both lightweight and rigorous requirements.

Other extras include dedicated IP addresses, a user-friendly interface, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Furthermore, customer support is accessible around the clock for your convenience.

Bright Data, on the other hand, is more costly than Smartproxy. Subscriptions begin at $10.13/GB, with PAYG starting at $15.00/GB.

Overall, the vendor is a great choice for developers. Marketers may, however, confidently utilize it to obtain market knowledge.

 

#4 Nimble

Nimble takes pride in being the best proxy site for easily acquiring data. The service suits novices, businesses, and SEO professionals.

The platform is one of the few that use machine learning to power its services. You may be guaranteed to find up-to-date information with such integration.

It is really simple to get started with the service. Nimble offers the Nimble browser, which requires little ability to use.

It provides excellent emulation capabilities for accessing the web securely, yet is simple. Furthermore, proxies are readily accessible to collect data from the internet easily.

You can establish trust online thanks to the browser’s layered fingerprinting. You will then have unfettered access to any web platform.

A powerful API for automating operations with speed is included behind the hood. The user interface is user-friendly and requires no maintenance to function.

You may export all of your data to a cloud storage service. Google Cloud and Amazon S3 are among those that are supported.

Furthermore, Nimble’s proxy software offers an intelligence structure to aggregate data into datasets. This works well with any scraped web platform.

The vendor is not a slacker when it comes to security. To improve privacy, it uses AES-256-bit encryption on API queries.

When interacting with web resources, TLS fingerprinting aids in the establishment of secure connections. You won’t risk bumping into blocks when scrapping because of shady activities.

Unfortunately, Nimble does not provide specialized proxy capabilities for third-party browsers. On PCs and smartphones, however, it is easy to set up.

The beginning price of $255 per month is out of reach for most people. However, it is well worth the money for a machine learning-powered service.

Customer support is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help with simple and difficult concerns. Furthermore, the knowledge base is extensive, with several helpful articles.

Overall, Nimble is a simple but efficient service that works. It is a good choice for users that require a completely automated data collection solution.

#5 Hide.me

Hide. I am the best free proxy vendor for inexperienced users. The service works great for unblocking geo-restricted websites and circumventing internet restrictions.

It has the following features:

For accessing any website, users get an anonymous proxy browser. The tool is cloud-based and requires no installation on your device.

The Netherlands, France, and Finland are only a few server locations. However, for $3.45 a month, you can get access to 70+ regions.

You have the option of utilizing SSL to encrypt traffic and web pages. As a result, intruders with nosy eyes won’t be able to figure out what you’re up to.

Hide. I support the SOCKS5 protocol for safe internet connections. It is worthwhile to appreciate the convenience it offers in avoiding bothersome captchas.

Another feature we liked was the option to turn off annoying scripts on websites. Getting rid of them helps websites load quicker and saves bandwidth.

But wait, there’s more:

Hide. Me’s free proxy service does not keep track of user activities. When you use the platform, your privacy is in good hands.

When things get out of hand, technical support is accessible. In terms of issue resolution, the agents are fast and clear.

Unfortunately, you cannot rotate your IP addresses. Furthermore, the proxy browser breaks several websites.

A VPN is also provided at no additional cost by the vendor. All users get 10GB per month and five server locations.

Hide. It suits lightweight proxy users well overall. But anticipate nothing extraordinary.

#6 HMA

HideMyAss (HMA) bills itself as the best supplier of free proxy servers. But is this true?

Now let’s find out:

HMA, like its competitors, offers an online proxy browser. It offers basic features for browsing while being simple.

First, it contains an address bar that allows you to open any websites you desire. There are other locations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Encrypting your traffic is essential for improving your privacy. There is also the option to prevent websites from storing undesirable cookie data.

The option to remove scripts from websites is also great. It’s top internet advertisements, tackers, and scripts that delay browsing.

HMA’s proxy server online service does not disclose your location, according to our testing. As a result, you may easily unblock prohibited websites.

The disadvantages:

HideMyAss makes no guarantees about the security of its proxy service. Furthermore, the service is inappropriate for intensive applications such as video streaming.

In reality, the vendor offers a free YouTube-only proxy. However, it is out of date and hardly works on the platform.

Websites also load partly, with important features of web pages missing. However, given its below-average speeds, this is not surprising.

Despite a live chat widget, customer support is always unavailable. Aside from that, browsing the help articles provides little useful assistance.

As a result, HMA has yet to make the list of the best free proxy suppliers. It’s just suitable for casual usage and simple activities.

#7 KProxy

KProxy is yet another free proxy server provider with many bells and whistles. Its collection of features is capable of competing with paid services.

To start, you get an internet browser for unlocking websites. There is also a choice of eleven server locations from which to choose.

Like Hide. Me, it uses 256-bit encryption to protect data from hackers at the top. On public WiFi, we tested the security and found it to be reliable.

KProxy handles sensitive web transactions honestly. You are not concerned about using it for e-commerce or accessing your bank account.

You may find browser extensions for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox. After installation, no complicated setups are required.

What’s the best part?

The vendor offers proxy browsers for both Android and Windows smartphones. It also includes easy instructions for utilizing the service on other internet-enabled devices.

If you want to get more out of KProxy, there is a paid version available. For ten days, prices start as little as $5.

You get unfettered network use with KProxyPro. You will also benefit from top locations like the United States and Germany.

On the negative side, customer support is basic. You can only seek assistance via email. The typical wait time of almost six hours also requires patience.

Aside from that, KProxy is the best free private proxy server service. The service is reliable and suitable for novices. We’re still working on the freebies.

#8 VPNBook

VPNBook belongs to the free public proxy server services bandwagon. The vendor offers a cluttered-free web interface where all of the activity takes place.

It permits you to browse the web safely with 256-bit encryption. As you are aware, this jumbles your traffic and makes hacking harder.

There are several server locations around the United States and Canada. To pick the best-optimized area, auto-selection is also accessible.

Anyone with a web connection may use the service. It is also handy due to the need for registration requirements.

The browsing speeds could be faster, but they are within acceptable bounds. We were able to open various sites throughout testing comfortably.

However, we noticed that it restricts several website features. And this has the potential to deactivate services on feature-rich systems.

This free proxy browser can also not open famous websites on the internet. Facebook, YouTube, GSMArena, and other sites are examples.

According to our findings, VPNBook’s IP addresses are on the blocklist. This might be due to random users misusing the platform.

According to the company’s privacy policies, it gathers connection logs. However, it argues the change is to keep aggressive users away.

VPNBook offers email and social media support. Consider a comparable turnaround time to HMA.

Overall, the service is suitable for accessing simple websites. However, several free internet proxy sites provide more features than they offer.

#9 ProxySite

Get ProxySite if you need a web proxy browser for the United States. It’s simple, clean, and easy to use, like the other options.

This vendor’s network architecture is dominated by 20+ server locations in the United States. However, the European Union (EU) adds 18 additional areas.

The proxy browser of the service includes web shortcuts to prominent online sites. To reach your website of choice, there is still an address bar accessible.

By choosing a preferred user agent, you may change the settings. It’s useful for systems that require specialized browsers.

To protect your privacy, all traffic is routed via ProxySite. The SSL protocol also encrypts connections to and from your device.

To speed up websites, the browser, by default, suppresses JavaScript. If you have a metered connection, it also saves you bandwidth.

There is an option to erase cookies for websites that you have visited. As a result, this frees up valuable space on your device.

However, there is one word of caution:

ProxySite is one of the free Internet proxy sites with an unsettling privacy policy. The vendor collects and sells user data to third parties.

This is typical for service providers that give gratis with no option to upgrade. The service is kept free by gathering and selling information on users.

Moving on, you may reach customer support via phone and email. However, you will need to be patient to get support.

Overall, ProxySite is suitable for accessing geo-blocked material in the United States and the European Union. However, the lack of a no-logs policy might be a deal breaker.

 

#10 Whoer

Who completes the list of free browser-based server proxies? However, its distinct VPN-like approach is certain to capture your interest.

Unlike its competitors, the vendor does not offer internet browsers. Instead, users receive a feature-rich, easy-to-use plugin.

The tool is compatible with all common web-browsing applications. Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Yandex, Vivaldi, and more are examples.

Once installed, a brief instruction will explain to you how it works. You may also change the language to localize the usability.

The free edition offers just server locations in the Netherlands. We are upgrading grants access to 20+ areas, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, among others.

To shield your IP from unintentional disclosure, WebRTC leak protection is built in. AES-256-bit encryption also protects your traffic from attackers.

The best-performing proxy servers provided by the vendor guarantee that you download at maximum speeds. You also get limitless bandwidth for continuous browsing.

It gets much better:

Whoever maintains no records of your browsing activities. As a result, there’s no need to be concerned about your data falling into the wrong hands.

The value of this service lies in its low cost. Prices start at $3.90 monthly and include support for five devices per subscription.

You may contact customer support by live chat at any time. The agents are as fast and helpful as other paid services.

Overall, Whoer is the best proxy server vendor for free users. Fast, reliable, and user-friendly describe it.

So, paid or free proxy – which should you choose?

Paid proxies versus free proxies

You may unblock your internet using both paid and free proxies. They’re ideal for concealing location and unlocking web platforms.

Both services have advantages and disadvantages:

⇒ First, a paid proxy service offers a variety of server locations. Each ensures fast and consistent connection, even during intensive conversations.

Using established protocols like SSL and SOCKS5 provides great security. Similarly, companies do not collect sensitive data without your permission.

Premium service providers also give great support. Proxy Server Smartproxy is a good example since it offers customer service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Paid services may be beyond many people’s reach. To utilize them, you must purchase proxy subscriptions regularly.

In comparison:

⇒ It does not need to pay to utilize free proxies. Most provide a handful of servers from which to switch locations easily.

However, the services need to be revised. Connections, for instance, are seldom reliable.

Connection drops will occur from time to time. The risk of exposing your true location is increased by such incidents.

Worse, you may need help accessing major networks such as YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. You will also need help while attempting to stream videos.

Furthermore, even the best free proxy suppliers cannot ensure your security. Cybercriminals are quite likely to intercept your internet traffic.

Some providers may also collect your data without your knowledge. Good services like ProxySite, on the other hand, explicitly confess to selling the details to other parties.

It’s evident at this time that you should use paid proxies. Free versions may work, but they risk jeopardizing your privacy and security.

Now for something you may be interested in.

Types of Proxies 

It’s easy to find the best proxy servers. However, determining which kind you need will be difficult. Without further ado, here are the details:

• Shared – Shared proxies are available for use by multiple users. They get to utilize the same pool of IP addresses when accessing the internet. As such, use it to hide your location, bypass filters, and unlock websites.
• Semi-dedicated – This works similarly to a shared proxy. However, only approximately three users access the same IP address simultaneously. Its best applications are marketing, web scraping, SEO research, and others.
• Dedicated/Private – A single user is assigned an IP address by the service provider. Because you don’t share it with others, you’re unlikely to get blocked. As a result, you may utilize it for market research, streaming, e-commerce, and so on.
• HTTP – is a proxy protocol that does not encrypt your traffic. It exposes your data and privacy to the internet. Nevertheless, it is good for things like casual browsing.
• HTTPS – HTTPS encrypts your connection using the SSL protocol, as opposed to HTTP. Your traffic is protected and secure against potential hijacking. You may utilize the proxy service to handle sensitive web transactions.
• SOCKS/SOCKS5 – A secure socket (SOCKS) protocol is used to authenticate users. When interacting with web apps, it guarantees that only genuine people are on a network. It’s best for torrenting, VoIP calls, and gaming.

Proxy vs VPN – What is better?

A virtual private network (VPN) is comparable to a proxy because it offers similar services. Both may hide your location and protect your online privacy.

There are, nevertheless, substantial distinctions between the two.

Please allow us to explain:

VPNs are more secure than proxies. They utilize cutting-edge technology to harden traffic, which increases your security.

WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec are among them. Similarly, some businesses build in-house solutions to provide users with greater options.

NordVPN, which offers NordLynx, is a good example. ExpressVPN, with its Lightway protocol, is just a little behind.

In comparison, public proxy server suppliers use whatever technology is available. They also need to invest in improving security tools for users.

VPN providers also promise that users will not be monitored. The majority takes pleasure in having rigorous no-logs regulations.

Some, such as Surfshark, have independent auditors’ validated testing as evidence. In summary, VPNs value user privacy as a vital service delivery component.

Proxy vendor guarantees do not exist. They admit to gathering user data for marketing reasons.

What’s the cherry on top?

VPNs are compatible with practically every internet platform. You may use them for streaming, torrenting, gaming, and everything else you can think of.

This is because they provide fast and reliable browsing speeds. Furthermore, the services permit critical web page scripts, which improves web compatibility.

When choosing areas, you’ll likewise be spoiled with choice. If you need more clarification, consider CyberGhost, which has over 9,000 VPN locations.

The maximum we’ve recorded for even the best proxy sites is 38 servers on average. Furthermore, most are congested and have slow browsing speeds.

To summarize, if you like browsing, streaming, gaming, and shopping, you should use a VPN. You will benefit from quicker speeds, more security, and increased privacy.

Use proxy scraping, market research, and data collection instead. They give thousands of IPs for concurrent usage, while VPNs often do not.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room.

How to choose the best proxy server?

Finding the best proxy vendor may be a time-consuming process. The following pointers, however, can assist you in making the best pick:

Determine your needs

Begin your trip by determining your requirements. The reason for this is because there are several types of proxies. By picking what suits you, you can choose the best one.

For example, if you’re only browsing, use VPNBook. The service is adequate and is provided for free. You may also use it to open a variety of websites easily.

Look for reliable vendors 

Once you’ve determined your requirements, list the best suppliers. Begin by doing a basic internet search for available providers.

Look for prominent references and user reviews. Compare the features as well as the customer reviews.

Remove the ones that seem suspicious and preserve the ones with good ratings. You may narrow down your search by utilizing the best proxy server list provided above.

Check prices

Compare the pricing of the proxy server providers you’ve picked. Examine your budget while you’re at it to determine where you belong.

For simple operations, free suppliers such as KProxy, Whoer, and ProxySite work well. You can browse the web, avoid geo-blocks, and switch locations.

Get Bright Data for time-consuming activities like market information collecting. Its excellent APIs and low PAYG charges make it an ideal choice.

SmartProxy is a good solution as well. You’ll receive excellent scraping proxies at a reasonable price.

Security and privacy

When searching for the best proxy server, pay attention to security. Your top choices should be Oxylabs or Nimble.

To shield you from online intruders, they encrypt your traffic. Other extras, such as TLS fingerprinting, help you build a good reputation online.

Both have promising no-logs policies to improve user privacy. Stated, they do not collect your data when you use their services.

Customer support

Choose a service provider that offers customer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Furthermore, be certain that the one you choose offers chat or phone support. You certainly want to be safe while you’re in need.

It’s time to call it a day!

Summary

A proxy server is a must-have to protect your online privacy. You may additionally utilize it to unlock websites and evade internet restrictions.

But you’ll confront obstacles when it comes to choosing a service. You also risk jeopardizing your security by falling for low-quality providers.

Fortunately, you now have the list of the best proxy server providers. Go ahead and pick the one that suits your needs.

FAQ