What are Proxy Server services?
A proxy is an internet access point that operates as a gateway. A computer server handles all traffic requests to and from a website. This method prevents your true identity from being revealed.
In most cases, employers, schools, and libraries restrict access to specified websites. Some websites, too, are geo-restricted. You can freely access certain online pages by using a proxy.
SSL encryption, audit logs, firewalls, and other security features are available from some of the best private proxy server services. They add another layer of protection between computer systems and external traffic. This is critical in protecting individuals and companies from hackers.
Proxies for Hire vs. Proxies for Free
Both have advantages and disadvantages. While the former offers more features, the latter only has the essentials to get the job done.
The following are the specifics.
Pros
Service providers supply you with free proxy services. Vendors, on the other hand, impose limits on bandwidth, server resources, and other factors. These restrictions are normally in place to ensure service quality. That way, you can do simple chores like browsing and accessing prohibited websites. It enables users to get a feel for the game before going pro.
Paid proxies come with greater functionality for a higher price. You can select from a variety of locales and IP addresses. It also ensures 99 percent online anonymity and privacy. When you browse at full speed, you’ll get speedy connections.
The cost of these services has dropped dramatically as a result of competition over the years. Whoever, for example, costs $9.90 a month and supports up to 5 users. That’s about the same price as a Starbucks coffee.
Cons
The bulk of the top internet proxy server companies provides a free plan. However, the truth is that there is no such thing as a free lunch. This strategy is commonly used by vendors to upsell items and services.
When you visit a website, your web browser saves cookies. These are little files that are created as a result of online user behavior. When you use free proxies, developers gather information about you and sell it to third-party advertisers. Advertisements are served directly to you by vendors like VPNBook. Simply put, you are indirectly paying for the service.
The other disadvantage is security. Your anonymity is not guaranteed when utilizing free proxy server services. IP leaks are unavoidable, and they can reveal you’re true identity. If you’re only using it once in a while, however, you shouldn’t be concerned.
Paid proxies, on the other hand, aren’t always reliable. Server failures and downtimes can happen at any time. It’s exceedingly inconvenient to deal with them.
Best Proxy Server Services In 2022
We have compiled a list of the Best Proxy Server Services, which is as follows:
1. Smartproxy
Smartproxy is one of the most reliable proxy services for both home and corporate use. It’s best used for data harvesting and other simple online scraping operations. You get back-connect proxies, anonymous browsing, and global connectivity, to name a few features.
The installation procedure is simple. You have the option of installing extensions for Firefox or Google Chrome. Both have a very user-friendly dashboard. All of the features are in a logical order. Best of all, support is available via chat at all times to assist you.
2. IPRoyal
IPRoyal is one of the greatest proxy networks, with a diverse product offering. Private, datacenter, residential, sneaker, and 4G mobile proxies are all available from the vendor. It also makes use of a peer-to-peer network with a pool of over two million IP addresses. You also receive HTTPS and SOCKS 5 support to further your security.
The vendor is proud to provide a diverse range of services. It also offers sneaker proxies for sports shoe fans, in addition to the regular ones. It gets over limitations on fashion sites that prevent users from buying in bulk.
3. Bright Data
Bright Data is one of the top free proxy service alternatives available online. It has a lot of useful tools for obtaining data. This seller has gained the trust of over 10,000 professionals throughout the world.
You’ll be greeted by a well-designed dashboard. It includes a quick walkthrough of the services that are offered. A snippet preview is also available for each feature.
Additionally, the console allows you to administer the online proxy server services. This is due to the fact that it provides pay-as-you-go programs (PAYG). It’s simple to assign bandwidth, IP pool size, and network ports here.
4. NetNut
NetNut.io offers one of the most reliable internet proxy server services available. Fast connectivity, unlimited simultaneous connections, and 99.9% guaranteed uptime are all features offered by the business. It’s perfect for gathering information and doing in-depth market research.
It’s very simple to get started. A simple console with instructions for configuring your proxies is included. You can also integrate third-party applications. It also has a Google Chrome browser extension.
NetNut’s anonymous proxy server infrastructure is perhaps the best on the market. Residential IPs are supplied by premium internet service providers (ISPs) through DiviNetworks, which has connections with over 100 carriers across the world.
5. Oxylabs
Oxylabs is one of the most popular proxy server services for businesses. It has a global reach and a pool of over 100 million IP addresses. Its services are appropriate for a variety of proxy-driven tasks, such as marketing intelligence.
It has a vibrant dashboard that is simple to use. You can use it to look up usage statistics. Separate sections are also available for billing and ordering new services.
Proxies cannot be managed from the dashboard. Oxylabs’ products, on the other hand, integrate effectively with proxy-supporting software. Oxylabs even has a Google Chrome addon that allows users to test proxies while browsing the web. Similarly, third-party proxy managers like FoxyProxy function nicely with proxies.
6. Hide.me
Hide.me is one of the most popular free proxy server services available. This solution comes with a long list of useful features, including auto-connect, IP leak protection, and BitTorrent support, to name a few. The best part is that you won’t see any advertising when using this software.
Hide.me is small and simple to set up. All you have to do is add the Google Chrome/Firefox extension to your browser. There’s also an in-browser option for individuals who don’t want to use add-ons.
It becomes intriguing on the features side. Hide.me, unlike Smartproxy, offers SOCKS5 for free. It allows you to experience fast response times while gaming or watching videos. Torrent fans will appreciate the fast peer-to-peer file-sharing capabilities of this free proxy server. You’ll also have unrestricted bandwidth throughout.
7. ScraperAPI
ScraperAPI is one of the top online scraping proxy server services. With a user-friendly scraping tool, it has approximately 40 million IPs from a variety of nations. CAPTCHAs and other forms of bot detection, as well as JavaScript, are supported.
Proxies rotate in the background on their own. Simply type in any website’s URL and you’ll get the raw HTML in response. You can also use a static IP address if you want a more permanent session.
Custom header support, automated retries, and desktop and mobile user agents are also included. To put it another way, you can make your traffic appear to originate from a computer or a phone.
8. KProxy
Regardless of your budget, Kproxy is one of the top proxy server services. This solution is ideal for both novice and experienced users with simple web browsing requirements.
The configuration procedure is simple and quick. You have the option of using Google Chrome or Firefox extensions. If you don’t have either, Kproxy’s proxy browser can help. In addition, the Kiwi Internet Access App for Android is now compatible with the product.
In terms of functionality, Kproxy has a lot to offer. For starters, it chooses a server for you automatically. You can also choose between five countries, including Canada, France, and the United States.
9. HMA
HideMyAss (HMA) is amongst the simple-to-use free proxy server services with basic browsing features. First-time users will undoubtedly appreciate being able to browse the internet anonymously with this solution.
Unlike other developers, HMA does not include any browser plugins. For accessing online sites, it has a simple web-based proxy. All you have to do is type in a web URL and choose a server to connect to.
There are a lot of fantastic features in this solution. Bandwidth usage is unrestricted. You have unrestricted access to browse, mine, and download files. There are no advertisements at all.
10. VPNBook
Get VPNBook if you’re looking for the greatest free HTTPS proxy server. The service comes with a dedicated IP address as well as unlimited surfing sessions. As if that weren’t enough, there’s also a web browser.
It’s simple to get started with this product. It, like HMA, has an internet proxy browser. You have the option of selecting the fastest server. You can also choose a desired data center region from the dropdown menu. A sticky bar is always available during sessions for quickly switching web pages.
When it comes to security, VPNBook is at the top of the best proxy server list. It uses AES-256bit data encryption to allow SSL browsing. WebRTC is in place to prevent your IP address from being leaked.
11. ProxySite
ProxySite ranks first among the best free proxy services in terms of functionality. This solution is not only feature-rich, but it is also well-built. This solution will be very useful to those who need to access websites that have been restricted.
The setup procedure is straightforward. A browser-based proxy is included with ProxySite. It includes shortcuts to major websites like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. You can also choose from a variety of servers in the United States and Europe.
Proxy configurations are included with ProxySite. It has an infinite number of custom presets to choose from. It allows you to imitate common browsers, devices, and operating systems with ease. Blackberry, iPhone, macOS, and Windows 7/10 are among the most well-known.
12. Whoer
Which proxy server software is the best for folks who have many devices? For Windows, Mac, Linux, web browsers, and cellphones, there is an app. It’s perfect for up to 5 people in a family or a group of friends.
You’ll find a specialized application/extension for your favorite device when you use Whoer. It only takes a single click to get started once you’ve installed it. You can only use one server location with the free plan. Premium subscribers can choose from 17 different regions.
WebRTC is used in browser extensions to protect you from IP leaks. A kill switch is also included. When the internet connection goes down, your address is hidden from view. A compelling argument to include Whoer on our list of the Best Proxy Servers.
13. GeoSurf
GeoSurf is one of the most well-known suppliers of proxy services on the internet. With 2.5 million IP addresses, the Tel Aviv-based firm covers every major metropolis on the planet.
It provides both static and residential IP addresses. An API delivers the former on a rotating basis. As a result, you can send as many queries as you want without being blocked or slowed down.
If you prefer a static IP, GeoSurf in the United States covers over 130 nations in over 30 market sectors. They are, however, more susceptible to detection.
14. Zyte
ScrapingHub, a web scraping startup, used Zyte as an internal platform. After almost a decade of using the term Crawlera, the company has changed its name to something a little more inclusive.
It is, however, a continuation of the same rotating proxy network under the hood. It’s one of the greatest bot and scraper proxy sites. Most crucially, it avoids CAPTCHAs and IP limitations.
Zyte does not charge customers based on the number of IPs they have or how clean they are. Instead, it uses its own complicated rotation mechanism to manage IPs that it rents from other companies. That is, rather than purchasing proxies/IPs, you are purchasing a powerful web scraping tool that makes use of them.
Final Thoughts
Finally, the ideal proxy server is a matter of personal preference. Whether you’re looking for something for beginners or professionals, if you’re on a budget or have a lot of money to spend, our list is sure to have something for you. Choose your favorite!