14 Best Proxy Servers Review [Update Oct’21] – Top Proxy Service …
Dmitry LeikoEntrepreneur, product owner, SEO specialist, cryptocurrency enthusiast. All you need to know;) [email protected]Privacy and data security are crucial for every Internet user. We all want to keep personal information secure and protect the internal network from any threats or undesirable attacks. That is why so many people benefit from using proxy servers. A proxy server appears to be an intermediary between your computer and the web. It works as a web filter, preventing a flow of excessive information from floating around your internal network. Besides, proxy servers significantly expand opportunities for web surfing. Overall, there are paid and free proxy servers providing different features and types of IP addresses. The final rating in this article includes 13 proxy and VPN portant! As always, I have agreed on special rates for my readers, which will be available only by clicking on my referral links. Enjoy! ;)10 Best PAID Proxies:Smartproxy – The most universal solution;BrightData – Top choice for the business;Proxy-Seller – The most cost-effective packages;RSocks – The most flexible choice; – Large IP pool;ProxyHub – Reliable prices;SmartDNSproxy – Best for streaming platforms;NetNut; – Best for personal use;StormProxies. 3 Best Free Options:Hide My Ass;Hidester; using a proxy server, you do not leave any traces around the web as the details of your internet surfing are saved not to your computer but to this specific server. It makes your web activity more secure and anonymous. However, as the server does store some information about you, sometimes it is possible to identify your web activities. Although, it does not seem to be a problem if you deal with a good and reliable proxy server. Overall, most people use proxies to get rid of intrusive advertiser tracking and annoying privacy instructions. Besides, there are quite enough proxy server providers letting you benefit from paid (or even free) VPN (Virtual Private Network), to provide better privacy and security. So, if you seek a reliable tool to protect your data from unauthorized collection, you’d better consider both of these options or choose an instrument that combines them. More about the difference between Proxy and VPN you can learn more from this video:In other words, if you do not use a proxy, advertisers, government agencies, and hackers can easily track your online activity, type of device, and location when you visit a non-secure website. Unfortunately, the number of such sites dramatically increases over time. This fact makes it possible to block you from browsing through certain content or to overwhelm you with annoying ads. Providing anonymity and online privacy is crucial for most internet users. Thus, using proxies becomes a part of our everyday routine. However, it is not always clear how to choose the best proxy server. Thus, I have prepared this rating of the best proxies in 2021. To select the most appropriate options, I made sure to pay attention to the following criteria:Functionality;High anonymity;Affordability;Reliability;Minimal traffic allowance limitations;Types of IPs in the pool;Any specific features you can benefit I proceed to detailed consider the best proxy servers out there, let’s look into the types of proxies and what they are used is a Proxy? As aforementioned, a proxy is a gateway between your computer and the Internet. The proxy server provides an additional security layer that interacts with any website you visit. Proxies allow using different IP addresses that make it impossible to identify you. Thus, any website you are visiting cannot see your real IP address, but only the IP address provided by a proxy server. Herewith proxies IPs are regularly changed. Proxies are widely used among individual users as well as businesses. There are several reasons why people turn to proxy servers:Getting access to blocked content;Optimizing web surfing and speeding up common requests;Improving security and privacy by data encryption;Gathering information about competitors (data on products, pricing, services, marketing trends, etc. );Providing email security (to avoid any suspicious links or malicious content);Enhancing brand protection by scanning the web to indicate false representation or plagiarized es can significantly benefit from using proxy servers. Otherwise, they would not be able to gather and process competitors’ data. The point is when you try to process a large amount of information from a competitor’s website, where this activity is often identified as suspicious. Thereupon, this website can easily block your IP. But it will never happen if you use a good proxy server that changes IPs over time by a proxy rotator (or rotating proxies). There are different types of proxies – residential / data center, shared, semi-dedicated, and dedicated sidential proxies: they provide genuine IPs that allow imitating user’s behavior;Datacenter proxies: they provide private IPs coming from intermediary organizations. Proxy servers of this type usually guarantee better anonymity and accelerated data request responses. Shared proxies: they provide IPs used by multiple users at the same time. They are cheaper than private proxies but still suitable for getting access to banned content and avoiding other particular restrictions. Semi-dedicated proxies: they are similar to shared proxies but the number of IP users is limited. Only 3 users can benefit from one IP simultaneously. If you use this type of proxy for surfing on social media websites, your account can be blocked because of other users’ suspicious activities. Dedicated proxies: these are private proxies implying you do not share your IP with anyone else. Proxies of this type can guarantee the highest level of security. They are usually used by 10 Best Paid Proxy Service in 2021Disclaimer: In this article, I only describe my experience. 1. – The Most Universal SolutionSmartproxy provides data center and residential proxies. They also have mobile IPs available. The pool of rotating residential IPs collates with more than 40 million addresses. Driven by the quick rotation system, proxies provided by the service are rarely banned. While there are certain limitations on the bandwidth in accordance with your pricing plan, the number of concurrent threads you can run is unlimited. The service gives you an opportunity to choose a proxy you need from the list of servers in the dashboard. Thus, you can select an appropriate option according to the type of session, location, or other parameters. Smartproxy provides browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. Besides, pro customers can benefit from a functional API. The service has good customer support that operates 24/7. The prices depend on the types of proxies you need, as well as upon the traffic allowance. For example, the minimal pricing plan including residential proxies and 5 GB of bandwidth will cost you $75 per month. While the minimal plan for data center proxies (with a 100 GB traffic limit) will cost you $50 per month. These two options are suitable for individual professionals and freelancers. Conversely, the service also provides extended and more complex options for businesses. Regarding the range of use, Smartproxy is highly effective in avoiding blocks or cloaking, ad verification, conducting competitor research, affiliate testing, etc. You can also use residential proxies to manage your social media accounts without the risk of being blocked. Pros:Live customer support operates 24/7;Browser extensions provided;Comparatively affordable prices;Unlimited threads;Mobile IPs are available. Cons:Geo-targeting is quite restricted;Traffic limits. 2. BrightData () – Top Choice for the BusinessWhat is so special about this proxy server? First of all, it aggregates more than 72 million IP addresses. Luminati provides all types of proxies including rotating residential IPs, static addresses, and mobile IPs. You can benefit from LPM (Luminati Proxy Manager) which allows optimizing bandwidth usage, setting rules for IP rotation, excluding certain IPs, etc. This tool can be easily integrated with macOS, Windows, or Linux. Luminati is effectively used for business purposes providing all necessary features for data gathering, price comparison, ad verification, brand protection, SEO monitoring, and many more. However, not only companies but also individual professionals can benefit from this platform. For example, affiliate marketers can use Luminati to validate ad placement, verify affiliating links, and optimize marketing sidential proxies provided by Luminati support HTTPS, HTTP and SOCKS5 protocols. Regarding customer service, there are multiple ways to get assistance. If you have any questions about the platform, you can contact them directly by phone, email, social media, or messengers. There are also a lot of tutorials, video lessons, webinars, and documentation to learn more about the product. The service provides various payment plans. For example, you can buy a monthly subscription or make up your own custom plan, paying only for specific features you need. The prices for a monthly subscription start at $500, which is more expensive when making comparisons to other competitors. However, this is one of the best proxy providers, targeting the audience with very specific IP pool;All types of IPs are available;Specific targeting options;Free trial provided;Free proxy manager. Cons:Prices are comparatively high;Minimum deposit $20. 3. Proxy-Seller – The Most Cost-Effective PackagesUse promo code “HACKERNOON15” to get 15% off for any order. Enjoy! The first thing that catches the eye while dealing with Proxy-Seller for the first time is the alluring pricing options. It is fairly ranked first among the most cost-effective and versatile solutions. Though the service is comparatively new and the server network is not that vast, it is earning loyalty for the ease of use, impressive performance, and a variety of proxies available. In particular, you can benefit from SOCKS proxies as well as from packages of IPv4 and IPv6 proxies. While highlighting Proxy-Seller’s affordability, you can buy one proxy for a week just to try the service that will cost you $0. 76. Or you can opt for the 1-month, 2-month, 6-month, or 1-year pricing plan. Plus, the number of proxies in your package can vary according to your needs. You can buy one or one hundred proxies – pick as many as you need, customize your payment plan however you want, and you will find out it is still the most cost-effective solution on the has excellent around-the-clock customer service and various channels to reach them out such as live chat, email, and even social media. Besides, it allows using numerous payment methods, including Bitcoin, QIWI, WebMoney, and some other less popular ones. As for the overall performance, the tests demonstrated great results. The ping duration varies between 50-150 ms, the average speed reaches 50 Mbps, and the upload speed exceeds 350 Mbps in some cases. Although the refund policy is pretty limited, you can get your money back within 24 hours after you have paid for your proxies. Apart from that, refreshing your proxies is possible every month that is a nice touch for SEO variety of pricing plans and opportunities to customize them;24/7 customer support;Numerous payment methods;Money-back guarantees;Great performance. Cons:No free trial;Smaller server network when comparing with competitors. 4. – The most flexible choiceThis service provides data center, residential, and mobile IPs. The pool of proxies exceeds 3 million IPs that you can share with others. The service offers several payment plans and does not set limits on traffic allowance. RSocks supports HTTPS, HTTP andSOCKS5 protocols. One of the most specific features of this platform is that it has particular pricing plans for mobile IP addresses. The list of IPs is regularly updated depending on the payment plan (every 5 minutes, or every hour, or two hours). RSocks has one distinguishing feature that makes it stand out among competitors. If you do not use your proxies for some time, you can pause them saving your money. Similarly, you can benefit from a proxy checker to select shared proxies according to your parameters. RSocks’ pricing plans do not imply limitations on the number of IPs in use or the bandwidth. Instead, you can choose an appropriate option based on your personal needs and requirements. Thus, the prices for shared proxies start at just $10 per month. While the residential proxies’ minimal plan will cost you around $30 per pricing options;Unlimited traffic allowance;Good customer support;Different types of proxies provided;Mobile IPs are availableCons: Geo-targeting options are quite limited. 5. – The Most Flexible ChoiceOxylabs is a Lithuanian company that specializes in providing mainly residential and data center proxies. This is one of the most appropriate options for business purposes. So, if you seek the proxy server that will help you with business intelligence, brand protection, marketing research, and ad verification, you can rely on service provides a great many tools apart from proxies. For example, extracting data tools help in marketing research and brand protection. Oxylabs has a vast pool of data center IPs including more than 2 million addresses covering over 80 locations around the globe. As for residential proxies, they provide even wider choices as there are around 70 million IP addresses in every country and city of the world. You can also opt for static or rotating residential proxies to ensure the speed of your web-performance. Another special feature worth mentioning is next-gen residential proxies based on AI and machine learning. They are meant to improve your overall browsing experience and better bypassing of any for pricing, the minimal plan for the set of residential proxies starts at $300 per month and implies limitations on traffic allowance (20 GB). As for data center proxies, you are freer to define a comfortable pricing plan. For example, you may opt for a set of 100 IPs that will cost you $180 per month or prefer to pay $1. 8 for one IP choice of proxies;A lot of pricing plans; Good customer support;Variety of special all proxies support SOCKS5 protocol;Mobile proxies are only available together with residential proxies. 6. – Reliable pricesThis is probably the most universal solution out there. Both individual users and businesses can benefit from Proxy-Hub. The service provides dedicated and semi-dedicated private proxies. There are no restrictions and limits on the bandwidth. Besides, Proxy-Hub offers various payment options including online wallets, Bitcoin, and credit cards. All proxies support HTTP protocol and guarantee a high level of anonymity. You can get a fresh set of IPs every month or keep the same from the previous oxies provided by the service work well with social media accounts, on such platforms as Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube. Proxy-Hub supports all types of SEO tools (BDM, SrNukeXcr, Scrapebox, GSA, Ultimate, etc. ). Furthermore, you can benefit from the Proxy Manager, which is available on both Chrome and Firefox. Regarding the prices, they depend on the number of proxies you need, as well as their type. Thus, the minimal package including 10 semi-dedicated proxies will cost you $10 per month. While the price for the same number of dedicated proxies reaches $20 per month. The service provides a 3-day trial period and clear refund guarantees. Thus, if you are not satisfied with ProxyHub’s functionality, you can request a refund within 3 days and get full and dedicated proxies provided;Fresh proxies every month;Affordable prices;Refund guarantees;A high level of security and anonymity provided. Cons:Only two types of proxies available. 7. – Best for the streaming platformsThis is one of the most affordable services out there and definitely one of the best options for personal use. Smart DNS Proxy is useful for unblocking content and keeping your private data secure. It also provides a VPN service included in the cost of the subscription. You can use Smart DNS Proxy on every device as there are mobile and desktop apps for Mac, Windows, Android, and service targets the audience of individual users that seek anonymous online surfing and web security. Thus, you can benefit from unblocking websites and streaming platforms, as well as from utilising the VPN service itself. Overall, Smart DNS Proxy aggregates all necessary tools for secure web surfing and protecting personal information within several payment plans. It provides several smart DNS servers in over 30 countries around the globe (the UK, the US, Canada, Europe, plus some regions of South Africa, etc. Moreover, the VPN servers cover even more locations (up to 40 worldwide). However, if you use the VPN service, the speeds can be less impressive while comparing with the smart DNS service providing a much smoother performance. On the other hand, the VPN service provides unlimited bandwidth, great encryption, and no logs. You can rely on a safe connection while using public main advantage of the smart DNS service is that it allows you to get access to over 300 streaming platforms in more than 30 locations, as well as bypassing geo-restrictions. Whilst the level of anonymity and security could have been higher, this is still one of the best solutions for individual users due to its affordability. The prices for a package of basic services (including VPN) start at just $5. 90 per month. There is a 14 days free trial. Pros:Smooth performance provided by smart DNS service;VPN service is included in the cost of subscription;Affordable prices;5 simultaneous connections;Effective for bypassing geo-restrictions. Cons:The speed can be lower if you use a VPN service;The level of security and anonymity could have been higher. 8. NetNut mainly targets businesses and companies that seek residential proxies together with the highest degree of anonymity and enhanced web performance. This is not the cheapest proxy provider out there, but it is definitely good value for money. NetNut has a pool of more than 10 million residential IP addresses. It provides advanced features for geo-targeting, residential and static IPs, plus different pricing options, etc. Otherwise, you can benefit from a 7-day free has anonymous proxies in every location around the globe. There are two main advantages of this platform. First of all, it is fast; secondly, it is easy to use due to its smart rotation system. NetNut has several payment plans. Some of them are based on the bandwidth, whilst others are request based. The minimal 20GB plan including static residential IP addresses, email support, and Chrome extension, will cost you $300 per month. Subsequently, when using this service you can rely on the highest level of security, full anonymity, and access to any content, in spite of restrictions. This is a classic type of proxy server that conceals your IP when you surf on the Internet. Also, it contributes to the faster web performance as your own server is not used when you browse websites. You are able to contact a customer support manager 24/7. When your package is running out you will get informed by email. The service provides money-back guarantees. So, if it does not meet your expectations, you can request a refund within 7 Huge pool of IPs;Money-back guarantees;Various pricing plans;Free trial;Customer support available 24/ for businesses than for personal use;This is not one of the most affordable services. 9. – Free Proxies and Best VPNI think this is the best choice for personal use. has a skillset similar to SmartDNSproxy, providing a lot of useful tools for secure online surfing. The service targets an audience of individual users and offers multiple content-unblocking functions at affordable prices. The customer support operates around the clock. Additionally, there is a free trial and refund guarantees. Being mainly a VPN provider, the service can guarantee sufficient speed and satisfyingly smooth performance. While using this service, you can rely on the full anonymity and security of your personal data. Yet, by far not every VPN service can satisfy the needs of customers who instead turn to more expensive proxy services. However, appears to be a good alternative. By using this platform, you can benefit from over 300 shared IP addresses, covering more than 81 locations. Thus, there is no problem getting access to the most popular streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. There are various pricing plans that are equally affordable. For example, if you need a monthly subscription, it will cost you $8. While the price of an annual subscription reaches $36 (that is $3 per month). Apart from that, if you think the service does not meet your requirements, you can get a full refund within 30 of the most suitable solutions for personal use;Affordable prices;High level of security and anonymity;24/7 customer support;Good VPN service that does not affect the speed. Cons:There are not so many proxy options. 10. service collects around 70 000 IPs. While the pool of proxies is not that large, the prices are comparatively affordable. StormProxies mainly targets individual users and small-scale businesses. The platform provides multiple types of proxies. You can find private dedicated proxies with data center IP addresses, rotating residential proxies, and more specific backconnect rotating proxies. The last option implies a combination of residential and data center IP addresses. The first thing about StormProxies to highlight is that it does not have limits for traffic allowance. However, the final price of the package depends on the number of IP addresses in use, along with simultaneous connections. The pool of IPs covers a variety of locations. However, if you need a 5-minute rotating residential proxy, consider that their number is more limited (about 40K IP addresses). The service is easy to use and provides 24/7 customer support. All basic requirements such as high levels of anonymity and security are guaranteed. In addition to this, you can benefit from browser extensions and APIs. Regarding the pricing, the platform has various options for different budgets and requirements. Considering the quality of all basic features, this is one of the most effective, competitive and affordable services. The package of 5 private proxies will cost you $10 per month. While if you need backconnect rotating proxies, the minimal price starts at $39 per month (the package includes 40 simultaneous connections). Pros:No limits on the bandwidth;Various types of IPs provided;Affordable prices;Good customer support;High levels of anonymity and security are guaranteed. Cons:The pool of IPs is not huge enough;Geo-targeting options are limited. Overall, paid proxy servers expand opportunities for anonymous online surfing and enhancing the security of your personal information. They are essential for businesses as they allow doing research on competitors, optimizing SEO, verifying ads, and developing brand protection. However, if you plan to use proxies for personal needs such as bypassing geo-restrictions or getting access to blocked content, SmartDNSproxy and are the best options. Although they cannot guarantee the highest level of anonymity or provide a variety of proxies, they are the most affordable and still 3 Best Free Proxy Servers in 2021Free proxy servers can give you the same benefits as paid ones. However, the highest level of security and anonymity is rarely guaranteed. Correspondingly, free proxy servers cannot offer so many types of proxies to choose from. Also, they rarely deal with dedicated proxies. While using these services, you can face technical bugs that are a common thing among free options. If you succeed to find a reliable free proxy server, take into account that one day it could become a paid one. Regarding reliability, free proxy services can unexpectedly leave the market forcing you to search for alternatives. Besides, there are no strong guarantees that your data is absolutely secure when you use a free proxy server. Overall, it is much easier to lose a reliable free platform than to find one. As a rule of thumb, they do not consistently offer customer support, trials, or a huge pool of IPs. However, if this is not an issue for you, let’s look into the best free proxy servers. – Best Choice for Free and Paid PlansHideMyAss does not require you to install any extensions or software. You can benefit from a wide range of proxy servers for free, enhanced speeds, and a strong encryption system. While using this service, you can rely on fully anonymous surfing and the security of personal data. HMA gives you an opportunity to choose a particular city or a preferred IP address. It is a nice touch while considering that by far, not every free proxy service can offer such an option. There are available servers in the US and European cities. Overall, this service is fairly reliable. However, HMA can collect some of your personal details (IP, URLs, files, etc. ) and store them for 30 encryption system;An opportunity to select a server in a particular city;Sufficient speed;No limits on the bandwidth. Cons:The service stores some personal information for 30 days. – Best Free Web ProxyThis service hides users’ browsing activities and allows bypassing geo-restrictions. While using Hidester there is no reason to worry about anonymity as nobody will be able to track your web activity. The service is very easy to use. You do not need to sign up or download any software. The only thing it requires you to do is to enter a web address of the site you want to browse on Hidester. There are a pool of US and European IPs and some basic features to protect your privacy. For example, the service provides URL encryption, along with an opportunity to turn off cookies and remove scripts. Conclusively, there are no logs during sessions. The service assures you that it does not share your personal data with other resources or websites. According to customer reviews, the service seems to be reliable. Nevertheless, Hidester is a comparatively new platform, so nobody can guarantee how long it will be available for users. The service also provides some additional tools to ensure your web security. For example, there is a DNS leak test and a password level of privacy and security is assured;Useful features and tools;Easy to use;Cons:It does not have an extension for Firefox. mThis service has extensions for both Chrome and Firefox, including a portable Firefox version with all of the necessary tools integrated. KProxy provides proxy servers coming from Munich and Montreal for free. Overall it is a quite reliable proxy service for personal use, improving anonymity and the security of personal data. KProxy supports an HTTPS protocol and does not imply any limits on the speed. Still, there are some limitations on the bandwidth. In this regard, you can use a service for 3 hours at a stretch for free. Then, you have two available options – to pay for further use or to reconnect in 30 minutes. While taking into account this limitation, this service is still recommended due to the number of servers you can use. There are about ten available proxy servers that can guarantee at least 90% privacy and to use;Multiple proxy options;Two available extensions including a portable Firefox version;High level of security and anonymity. Cons:Limitations on time and traffic allowance for the free version. FAQ1. What is a Proxy? A proxy is a gateway between your computer and the Internet. Thus, any website you are visiting cannot see your real IP address, but only the IP address provided by the proxy server. Herewith proxies IPs are regularly changed. 2. Why Should I use a Proxy? There are numerous reasons why people use proxies. First, they provide anonymous online surfing, better speed, the security of your personal data, and so on. Second, proxies allow bypassing restrictions and getting access to any content at any time. Third, some people use proxy servers for business purposes. For example, it allows doing research on competitors, checking the correctness of ad placement, and improving brand protection. 3. How do Proxies Improve Web Security? Every Internet user has an IP (Internet protocol) that makes it possible to identify you as a user and get some of your personal details such as location. Websites you visit can get access to this information as well. That makes any internet user vulnerable to hacker attacks, obtrusive advertising, or even identity theft. It happens because we leave a lot of personal information all around the web. However, if you use a proxy server, you create a gateway between you and the Internet. When you visit any website it cannot see your real IP as the proxy server connects it instead of you and then redirect all necessary information. In this case, nobody can get your personal data and track your online activity. Thus, you can browse any website even if it is banned in your country. 4. What types of proxy servers exist? There are four main types of proxies – residential and data center, shared proxies, semi-dedicated, and sidential proxies: they provide genuine IPs that allow imitating user’s behavior;Datacenter proxies: they provide private IPs coming from intermediary organizations. This type of proxy server usually guarantees better anonymity and accelerated data request responses. Shared proxies: they provide IPs used by multiple users at the same time. If you use this type of proxy surfing on social media websites, your account can be blocked because of other users’ suspicious activities. Dedicated proxies: these are private proxies implying you do not share your IP with anyone else. They are usually used by nclusionOverall, proxy servers can significantly improve your user experience due to numerous factors. Better privacy, anonymity, and security are essential for every individual user. Today, the web is the main source of information about us. Our private life spreads on the Internet. And it is not a secret that corporations thrive on selling and manipulating our personal data. And the consequences can be quite disappointing. Proxy servers help to prevent any security leak contributing to our positive user experience. For businesses, proxies appear to be the basic and most effective way to remain competitive. With the wide range of tools provided by proxy services, it is much easier to manage brand reputation, gather marketing information, optimize SEO and overall web performance. In the near future, proxy servers will become an integral part of any business success. So, I hope this rating will help you sort out the types of proxy servers and select the most appropriate all my articles:Best Crypto Hardware Wallets;Best Free and Paid Crypto Trading Bots;Best Crypto Lendings;Best VPN Service. TagsJoin Hacker Noon Create your free account to unlock your custom reading experience.
Is using a proxy server legal?
Yes, it is legal to use a proxy server. Proxies have many different uses, including enabling remote work; setting up a support system for users who are located outside a particular network; protecting networks and Internet users from malicious content; streaming online content from outside a country and more.
When are Proxy Servers Illegal?
Keep in mind that there are some circumstances in which using a proxy server is illegal. For example, some websites stream content that is only available to audiences who have paid their license fees to access it. If you did not pay license fees and tried to access that content via a proxy server, that act would be considered illegal.
Why Use a Proxy Server?
Let’s say you are living in the United Kingdom, and trying to log onto a U. S. based website to watch educational documentaries or your favorite TV programme. However, you discovered that IP addresses in the UK have been blocked. Don’t feel down just yet because proxies allow you to circumvent web filters that are blocking you from your geographical location.
There is content out there that may have been produced for individuals to view for free, so why shouldn’t you be able to view or access it? As long as using proxies do not appear to be an infringement of copyright law, you can use proxies to stream content while enjoying complete peace of mind.
Good Practices for Using Proxies Legally
Before you use a proxy server to stream any content that has been blocked in your geographical location, you should carefully read the target website’s terms and conditions. This practice ensures you avoid breaking any terms and conditions that may lead the target website to take legal action against you.
At Proxy Key, we offer stellar proxies that grant you instant access to your favorite content online with just a few clicks. Contact us today for more information.
Where to buy proxies? A complete guide – KnowTechie
Proxies are very important when it comes to security, privacy, and marketing. Whether you need a good proxy for your business or personal needs, you might’ve realized that buying one can be a brainer sometimes. Why? Well, we are aware that there are so many options on the market. Usually, it is so hard to choose one, simply because you need some clarifications on certain things regarding the proxies themselves.
In the following lines, we’ll discuss everything there is to know about buying proxies. We’ll try to explain the difference between public and private proxies, dedicated and residential, and try to see why do you need to buy a proxy in the first place. We present to you our ultimate guide on where to buy proxies.
What are Proxies?
Simply put, proxies are intermediary servers that stand between the websites a person is browsing and the system that the person is accessing. Proxy servers allow you to hide your IP address from websites serves including all other information that can be essential.
For example, let’s say that you’re accessing the internet without a proxy. Automatically, you will provide all of your information to a certain website that you’re browsing at the moment. Why? Well, in order to connect you need to provide your IP address. So since you’re not using a proxy, your IP address will be visible to the website. If a certain website receives your IP address, it will also receive all other identifying information. That means that someone can and maybe will use all that information to identify you or your location.
Moreover, some of the work you do on the internet, like collecting a large amount of data for your business, might put you at the risk of getting blocked by websites, resulting in a lot of frustration and loss of hard work.
Now, what happens if you decide to use a proxy? Let’s assume that you’re maybe living in France. But, you bought a proxy that is located in Turkey. Everytime you connect to a certain website, it will automatically identify your location as Turkey. That means that both your real location and identifying information will be safe. It also means that you are safe from getting blocked by any website because you are connected to it through a proxy.
So, basically, this would be the simplest explanation as to what proxies actually are. However, there are other important things that you should know about proxies. So stay with us, as we will explain them in detail.
The Main Difference Between Free Public and Private Proxies
The main thing we must decide on when choosing a proxy is whether we’ll go with a public or a private one. Even though they have the same purpose, they are different in nature. To put it simply, a public proxy is a server that can be accessed by anyone. On the other hand, access to private proxy servers usually must be bought.
So what are the differences between the two? Let’s take a closer look. First, let’s see what defines public proxies.
Public Proxies
Public proxies are numerous. They are free to use, and any internet user can access them. Just by googling public or free proxies you will be able to find dozens of websites that offer huge lists of available proxies.
Using a public proxy is a great way for a quick fix. Let’s say that a certain YouTube video is not available in your country for some reason. You want to see it badly, because, for example, that video is a new song from your favorite artist. Thus, the only way to do it is to access a public proxy server that offers location from the country where that song is available.
Public proxies also have other benefits. Just imagine that a new website goes online, and goes viral too. Millions of internet users hurl to see the content. When a website is hit with an enormous amount of requests it becomes inaccessible for everyone. But, if all those users used public proxies that wouldn’t be a case. Why?
Well, simply because 1 million users that tried to visit the website separately would now use their proxies of choice. That means that maybe a thousand users would connect through one proxy. Hence, the website wouldn’t get a thousand stand-alone requests, but only one. Thus, the number of requests would be much smaller and the website would handle them with ease.
However, using a public proxy also has its disadvantages. Usually, you won’t be able to use a certain proxy for more than a few hours. Also, no one can guarantee that they’re safe to use. Also if your computer is, let’s say, infected by malware, it can run as an open proxy server without you knowing it.
Pros
Public proxies are are free to way to easily bypass censorshipFewer requests to websites
Cons
Connection can’t last are easily found and one can guarantee that your information is safe.
Private Proxies
Private proxy servers are usually used in business. Why? Well, simply because they offer anonymity and they are reliable. If your business is related to SEO or online marketing then a private proxy is a must.
One of the best benefits of private proxies is that you will get a single IP address per user. That means that you won’t have to share your IPs with others. Thus, you will be able to operate your business more effectively.
As we’ve mentioned before, websites track your IP. That means that your computer can easily become a target of different malicious software and internet hackers. If you use a private proxy, not only does your IP give a different location, but all of your information will be safe from such attacks. That fact alone is vital if you’re running a business.
When it comes to disadvantages of a private proxy, they are almost non-existent. The only thing that you should look for is to find a reliable vendor and a good price. Some of them will even offer a discount if you need 10 or more different proxies.
DedicatedReliableYour information will be safeOne IP per user
They can be expensive
Residential VS Dedicated Proxies
OK, so let’s say that you’ve figured out whether you’re going to go for public or private proxies. The next step would be to decide on Residential or Dedicated one. Let’s see how they differ so that you can decide which one suits you the most.
Residential Proxies
Residential IPs are the foundation of residential proxies. Every time you connect, you will give out your residential IP. It is a part of every set up connection.
The first and the best benefit of such proxies is that they will provide you with legitimate IP addresses. That means that the chances to get blacklisted from certain websites are almost non-existent. If someone takes a look at such IP addresses, it would appear as if a regular person is surfing the web.
However, many companies that offer such proxies usually lie and instead give you regular proxies. So always be careful when you’re buying.
Gives you a regular IP like the one you’re using to detect and get blacklisted by websites
Many companies scam their users by giving them regular proxies
Dedicated Proxies
Dedicated proxies are more common than residential ones. They offer a lot of benefits. First of all, their IP addresses aren’t connected to your internet provider. Using a dedicated proxy is one of the easiest ways to conceal your identity quickly. Each proxy has its own IP address, and you can buy them in bulk. They are affordable and usually cost a few dollars per month.
However, the main drawback of dedicated proxies is that they aren’t linked to a certain internet provider. That means that if someone inspects the proxy that you’re using, it will be obvious that you are the one behind it.
Very commonAffordableYou can buy them in a bulk
They don’t link to an internet service provider
Do You Need To Buy Proxies?
It is advisable that you actually buy a proxy. Why? Well, buying a proxy is the only reliable way to have a stable IP that would hide your identity for good. There are also other benefits, for example:
Bypass restrictions set by your employerBypass geographic restrictions set by websitesScrape websites (however, you’ll either need multiple proxies in order to be successful or rotating proxies)Increase the number of followers and likes on social mediaForget about targeted advertisingUse bots to automate blog comments
Before Buying, Consider These Factors
There are many things that you should consider before actually buying a proxy. Some of them are a staple, and shouldn’t be overlooked.
Proxy Type
Choose the right type of proxy that will suit you the most. We’ve already discussed dedicated proxies. However, there are also semi-dedicated and rotating proxies out there. You can go for semi-dedicated proxies if you want to surf the web.
Rotating proxies, on the other hand, are what you need if you want to prevent yourself from getting blocked for your web usage, as can happen when you are web scraping – or collecting large amounts of data from many websites. Rotating proxies assign you new IP addresses every few minutes so it becomes difficult to determine your identity even though you are engaged in a lot of web activity. Whether you want a residential, dedicated or rotating proxy, you must consider your particular usage and data requirements and choose the best one from the large number of proxy services available.
Dedicated proxies are perfect for managing social media accounts and doing many other things. Rotating proxies, however, are optimized for scrapping simply because your IP address will change every 10 minutes or so.
Always Check Proxy Speed
Some proxy providers limit the speed, and you can be easily stuck with a slow connection. Make sure to always check the limitations and read the terms of use carefully.
Choose a Good Location
Some countries are considered to be high risk when it comes to scams and spam content. That means that if you buy a proxy that traces back to their location, you can actually get banned by different websites easily. Always buy proxies that trace back to countries that are trusted.
Proxy Protocol
Having a good proxy protocol is really important, simply because they allow proxy programs to send your IP to the server programs. Your IP is a part of your online identity, so that means that proxy protocol must be secure and stable.
Number of IPs
The number of IPs that you’ll get when buying a proxy is something that should always be considered. Some companies offer more than others for the money you plan to invest. So always make sure to find the best option out there.
Provider
Choosing a good and reliable provider is very important. Always choose someone that you can trust, as your personal information and IP will be visible to them. Also, make sure that your provider has good support in case something goes wrong.
Where to Buy Proxies?
When you decide to buy private proxies, there are many options to choose from. But, have you heard of SSLPrivateProxy? They are currently one of the leading proxy providers in the world. They offer great and reliable service with good support that you can count on.
Their proxies are hosted on extremely fast servers that sport the 1000Mbps internet connection and have more than 120 thousand dedicated IP addresses. You will be able to choose from multiple locations in the USA and Europe, which means that your proxies will be traced back to trusted countries.
They also offer proxy packages that are optimized for Instagram, Pinterest, Classified Ads and other. So how much will that cost you? We chose to take a look at one of the packages that SSLPrivateProxy offers. Basically, from $15 per month, you will be able to get five dedicated proxies. They are highly anonymous, with locations in different cities, optimized for social media, and with multiple subnets.
Sslprivateproxy is a great way to start, especially if you haven’t bought a proxy before. You will get a reliable service, that is fast, secure and highly anonymous.
To Sum It All Up
Before buying a proxy you need to consider multiple factors. Always make sure to choose a type that will suit you the most. Double-check the proxy provider that you’re planning to buy from, and always look for a reliable proxy that has a great connection speed. Also, make sure that your proxy traces back to trusted countries like the USA.
We hope that we managed to help you understand everything there is to know about buying proxies. Feel free to come back to this article whenever you’re in doubt and need some clarification on the matter.
Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.
Editors’ Recommendations:
How to set up a SOCKS proxy? The best antivirus software you should be using for internet securityAre VPNs here to stay and why should you be rooting for it? Most dangerous types of spyware: How to choose the best anti-spywareGoogle alternatives that respect your privacy
Frequently Asked Questions about buy a proxy server
How much does a proxy server cost?
For example, you can get a residential proxy for $0.80/GB or a data center proxy for $1.30/proxy with unlimited bandwidth. At the same time, the price of sneaker proxies starts at $0.80 per proxy.Feb 28, 2021
Is it illegal to use a proxy server?
Yes, it is legal to use a proxy server. Proxies have many different uses, including enabling remote work; setting up a support system for users who are located outside a particular network; protecting networks and Internet users from malicious content; streaming online content from outside a country and more.
Can you buy proxy?
Each proxy has its own IP address, and you can buy them in bulk. They are affordable and usually cost a few dollars per month. However, the main drawback of dedicated proxies is that they aren’t linked to a certain internet provider.Jan 18, 2019