Proxy sites are services that let you navigate the web anonymously. With most of them, you’ll just need to type the link of the site you want to visit in their search bar, press “Enter”, and you’re now on that site with a different IP — and usually enhanced protection.
The five best proxy sites based on our extensive tests are:
- ProxySite: A service that will mask your IP and give you access to a decent server network
- hide.me: A VPN provider with a free proxy service that is simple to use
- Whoer: A proxy that you can download as a browser extension
- CroxyPoxy: A user-friendly service with SSL encryption to enhance your online security
- 4everproxy: A good proxy site that will enhance your streaming experience with its US and UK servers
There are many more options, all of them with their advantages and disadvantages. Perhaps most importantly, no proxy site can guarantee 100% safety and anonymity. Only a good VPN like Surfshark will change your IP without exposing your information or heavily limiting your connection speed.
Surfshark
If you want to see our full list of the 13 best proxy sites, or if you’d like to find out more about the best proxy sites and VPNs, keep reading our article below.
Going online without masking your IP address is like walking around with your social security number written on your forehead. Everyone from your ISP to hackers and the authorities will know who you are and what you’re doing online. That is why you should consider using one of the best proxy sites in the market or, better yet, a VPN service.
We always recommend using a VPN to hide your IP and stay completely anonymous. VPNs also encrypt your traffic and let you access sites and services that might be blocked in your country.
Proxies offer a mere fraction of this utility (just IP spoofing), but that might be enough for your personal needs. It’s just important that you know exactly what you’re getting (and what you’re missing).
Our team tested dozens of proxy websites looking for the safest and most functional options. Read our full guide below to learn all about the best proxy sites we tested and how they compare to modern VPNs.
What Are Proxy Sites?
Proxy sites work in a similar way to a VPN: they’ll route your traffic through their own servers, hiding your IP and making you anonymous in the process. There are paid and free proxy sites out there.
However, many of them will record your identity and activity and sell your info to the highest bidder. So your IP may be hidden from the website you’re visiting but not from the proxy provider. They’ll hand this info to the government if ordered to do so. Not to mention that hackers can breach their free proxy servers and use your information to commit identity theft.
Apart from this, even the best proxy sites will limit your bandwidth, serve you ads, and offer little to no security. That’s why you should pick a VPN that can match the speed of a proxy while encrypting your traffic. We recommend going with Surfshark, which is the fastest and most secure VPN out there.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
Unlike VPNs, proxy sites usually have a very limited number of servers. This can prevent you from unblocking Netflix US, for example. It can also ruin your chances of beating censorship in China or other restrictive countries.
Apart from this, proxy sites are much more prone to IP leaks, which defeats the purpose of using them in the first place. They also can’t match the quality of VPN servers, which leads to frequent downtimes. In other words, VPNs are superior tools, no matter how we compare the two.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at our list of the top 13 proxy sites for this year.
The Best Proxy Sites
If you’re after airtight online privacy and security, VPNs are the only solution. However, if you don’t mind risking it just to unblock some great Netflix shows, proxy sites can get the job done.
Here are the best options, according to our expert testers:
1. ProxySite: A proxy website that keeps your IP hidden and offers a decent server network
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: 14 million users/month
- Servers: 36
ProxySite is very simple to navigate, so we had no problem finding our way around. A network of 36 servers would be terrible for a VPN, but it’s quite decent for a proxy service.
When we tested the European sites, ProxySite usually connected us to French servers. So, you can’t quite control where you land, which can be a problem if you want a specific location. We were impressed by the fact that the DNS addresses were also French. ProxySite didn’t leak out IP, which is also a huge plus.
Having said that, ProxySite didn’t work with YouTube for us. Also, if you have an older version of Windows (and an older browser), ProxySite won’t work for you.
The premium subscription just turns the proxy service into a fully-fledged VPN. It’s also quite expensive, sitting at $5.99/month for a yearly subscription. We have many cheaper VPNs out there that offer far more features and flexibility. However, as far as proxy services go, ProxySite is definitely top-tier.
2. hide.me: A good service provider with a user-friendly interface
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: 2.23 million users/month
- Servers: 3
hide.me is primarily a VPN app, but they also feature a free proxy service on their official website. The tool worked well during our testing, and it didn’t leak our real IP. The proxy is extremely simple to use – just enter the site you wish to visit and hit “Go.”
One glaring downside is the sheer lack of servers. Namely, hide.me proxy offers only three server locations: Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands. This means you won’t be able to unblock and access BBC iPlayer, Netlfix US, and other services outside those countries.
However, you can always go premium and purchase their full VPN. But, if you are looking for a top VPN provider, we recommend going with Surfshark instead. It’s much faster and offers more features and better security.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
Alternatively, you can also read our full hide.me review to learn all about this VPN service.
3. Whoer: One of the best proxy sites with a browser extension
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: 3.73 million users/month
- Servers: 1
Whoer is not a comprehensive free proxy that anyone can use. Compared to the other two entries on this list, the free version of Whoer is much more barebones.
Here’s why:
- You need to download it as a browser extension. There’s no way to jump into Whoer proxy instantly.
- You only get one server – in the Netherlands. So, that’s good if you just want access to censored content in this country.
- The speeds are limited.
Whoer’s redeeming factor is its availability. You can use it as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Yandex. It also has a full VPN service, which we tested for our Whoer review. If that doesn’t sound appealing, we recommend one of the other proxies on this list or a free VPN.
4. CroxyProxy: A provider with enhanced security features
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: 6.02 million users/month
- Servers: 1
CroxyProxy has a quirky name, a decent free version, and it’s extremely easy to use. These are some of the main reasons we have included it in our list of the best proxy sites. It also offers enhanced security with permanent SSL encryption, regardless of whether the site you’re visiting has a certificate or not.
During our testing, CroxyProxy didn’t leak our IP address, and we could access YouTube without any problems. It also offers a number of quick links for easier access without typing (Google, YouTube, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Facebook, Wikipedia, etc.).
CroxyProxy also offers one interesting, unique feature. Namely, you can generate permalinks for all the sites you visit. This means you can easily share interesting discoveries with your friends, regardless of the geo-restrictions that might apply to you or them.
5. 4everproxy: A proxy service that will enhance your streaming experience
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: 2.01 million users/month
- Servers: 12
4everproxy is a good all-around proxy site. It’s one of the few proxies on this list that can access YouTube reliably. During our testing, it didn’t leak our real IP, and it provides 12 servers at the moment. The locations include the US and the UK, which is great news for avid streamers.
However, if you are looking for a wider range of servers, you can consider trying Surfshark VPN, as it offers 3,200 servers in 100 countries.
Privacy and safety-minded users will also enjoy 4everproxy’s customization options. Like most proxies, you can encrypt URLs, deactivate cookies, or even scripts. From there, you can also change your IP while you’re on a site, which is rare for proxy sites in general.
6. Privoxy: A powerful service with an ad-blocker
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: 100,000 users/month
- Servers: 1 (can be set up on multiple personal servers)
Privoxy works on a non-profit model, so you can expect developers that truly care about privacy and security. This is also what makes it one of the best proxy sites. However, Privoxy also has some drawbacks. Privoxy’s UI looks dated, and you need to download their software to run it.
But if you get past that, you’ll find a powerful proxy. It has enhanced security features, flexible customization, and you can even use it on multi-user networks. Not to mention, Privoxy comes with a good ad blocker, which makes it a superb choice for privacy-minded individuals.
Although decent, Privoxy is not easy to use. You’ll have to go through some setup manuals before getting it up and running. So, we don’t recommend it to absolute beginners.
7. TurboHide: A completely free service provider
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: N/A
- Servers: 1
TurboHide continues our line-up of proxies with a terrible interface. They only have one server in Canada, so there’s not a lot of customization available. It also didn’t work with YouTube during our testing circuit.
Unfortunately, TurboHide also won’t allow access to certain websites by design. We don’t have a complete list, but we couldn’t reach Netflix while testing this proxy website.
However, it’s completely free, which is what got it on our best proxy sites list. It also has a few extra features like deactivating cookies, scripts, or objects. This helps users access exclusive content without fearing for their privacy or bandwidth allocation. Any TurboHide user can also choose to encrypt the page or the URL of a site they access with the service.
8. VPNBook: A free VPN and proxy service
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: 1.13 million users/month
- Servers: 3
VPNBook is a free VPN and proxy service. It’s a very safe IP changer, using 256-bit SSL encryption. The available server locations include the US, the UK, and Canada. They used to offer France in the past, but that option is gone now.
Unfortunately, as indicated in our VPNBook review can’t unlock YouTube, but other than that, most sites people would want to access with a proxy are available. Reddit, Netflix, and social media platforms all load extremely fast. However, BBC iPlayer didn’t work during our testing.
9. NewIPNow: A proxy site with no speed restrictions
- Pricing: $8.80-$88/month
- Engagement: 90,000 users/month
- Servers: 10-100
NewIPNow is a paid service without any kind of free version, and it works in tiers. Users can pay for the number of servers they want. For example, 10 private proxies cost $8.80/month, and 25 servers cost $22/month.
All the pricing tiers also come with multiple benefits, including:
- Configurable location
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Easy set-up
Add to all of that a sleek interface, no speed restrictions, and a plethora of servers to choose from (from all across the globe), and you get a very robust proxy site.
However, considering its pricing and customization options, it’s only one of the best proxy sites for commercial purposes. If you’re willing to spend some money to get guaranteed anonymity online, a tool like Surfshark is much better.
10. FilterBypass: A provider with robust encryption
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: 512,000 users/month
- Servers: 1
FilterBypass is a free proxy equipped with AES-256 encryption. It has instant buttons for several popular sites like Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and DailyMotion. There’s also a Chrome and Firefox extension. During our testing, we were able to access YouTube reliably.
FilterBypass is also very easy to navigate but has only one server (in the UK). It was, therefore, rather odd that we couldn’t unblock BBC iPlayer.
11. Hidester Proxy: A beginner-friendly service with a range of customization options
- Pricing: Free (Premium VPN available)
- Engagement: 1.24 million users/month
- Servers: 2
Hidester Proxy is a simple beginner-friendly service. You only get two server locations (the USA or Europe). There are also some customization options like stripping objects, allowing cookies, encrypting URLs, or removing scripts. Unfortunately, Hidester couldn’t unblock YouTube during our testing.
On the plus side, any other website you want to visit will load very fast. This is a common feature for proxies that also try to sell a VPN: the servers they have are reliable. Hidester is one of these free proxy sites that also promote their own VPN. It’s a pretty expensive one though, so the free proxy is a good stand-in if you like their service but can’t afford their product.
12. Anonymizing: A proxy website with strong security features
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: N/A
- Servers: 1
Anonymizing is a very simple but effective proxy site. It’s based in Germany, and it’ll help you access most websites, including YouTube and Facebook. The service only has one server, but you shouldn’t let this, or the outdated interface, trick you into thinking it’s not of the best proxy sites.
Anonymizing’s strength lies in its security. You have a lot of safety options you can enable, like encrypting pages/URLs or removing scripts. What’s even better is that you can delete all cookies after browsing. Anonymizing also uses SSL encryption, making it quite secure for accessing sensitive sites.
13. Dontfilter.us: A service provider with the ability to access restricted content
- Pricing: Free
- Engagement: N/A
- Servers: 1
Dontfilter.us is a minimalist proxy service. The website design looks like it was put together in a notepad with HTML and not much else. But despite its visual shortcomings, Dontfilter.us is a decent proxy site. it can’t unlock YouTube, but it’s still suitable if you need access to restricted content of any other type.
Just make sure Dontfilter.us is not your first choice. It doesn’t have an SSL certificate, and its servers can get busy at times. Besides slow loading times, this can also mean you can’t access the internet if Dontfilter.us is at capacity.
If you are looking for a service with more robust encryption to keep you safe online and a wider range of servers that will give you access to blocked content, give Surfshark a try.
What to Look for When Choosing One of the Best Proxy Sites
The most important aspects to keep in mind when choosing free proxies are privacy and security. The safer you are when changing your IP, the better a free proxy site is. But the topic is a bit more complicated. For our roundup, these are the criteria we considered:
- Server variety: The more servers a free proxy has, the more likely it is to help you unlock restricted content and stay anonymous wherever you live.
- Security: If a proxy service keeps logs on when you use their service, it won’t be much in the way of security. Governments and ISPs can still see your location and navigation history. In heavily censored countries, that’s especially a problem. If you believe you may suffer oppression because of the sites you visit, we only recommend you use a free proxy to download another VPN and bypass online censorship.
- Extra features: If a proxy has other features like a Chrome extension or a mobile app, it will come in handy more.
If you don’t want to use any of our picks above, you can use these criteria to do your own research.
A VPN or a Proxy?
There are apparent differences between a free proxy and a VPN. Virtual private networks require a paid subscription, but they also pack a stronger punch. Their encryption is stronger, they have more features, and the best VPNs don’t keep any logs. Above all, you get faster speeds.
There are some VPNs that also offer proxy servers, but they lack the required security features.
So our recommendation is always a VPN instead of a proxy. Here’s why:
- It’s safer. VPNs don’t keep logs of your activity. Most of them also have extra security features, like a kill switch that shuts down your connection in case it’s infected.
- It’s easier to use. Proxies can also be extremely easy to use, and using proxies is simpler. But a lot of proxies have clunkier navigation and UX, while VPNs are usually extremely beginner-friendly.
- It’s faster. The best VPNs are relatively fast, resulting in a minimal loss in speed.
- It has more features. Most VPNs have extra tools to help you stream online content, protect your connection, or even enhance your privacy. However, don’t expect private emailing with a proxy. For that, you can choose one of the top secure email providers.
If you want to find out more about VPNs, we’ve got you covered. Our VPN Information section will get you started with everything you need to know. For those of you that don’t want to bother doing all the research, you can just give Surfshark a try. It’s affordable, and it can do anything that the best free proxy sites can – but better.
Are the Best Proxy Sites a Good Choice for Anonymous Browsing?
A proxy site isn’t usually a complex service. You can type in a URL and instantly change your IP to use the internet anonymously. Nonetheless, considering the limited server variety, even the best proxy sites might not always be your safest pick to browse the web anonymously. If you want to take the risk, however, you can always try out any of the options on our list – or have a look at free proxy servers.
Proxies are great, but they aren’t generally useful for things like accessing blocked websites in countries that really clamp down on censorship. Instead, you can use a VPN to unblock TikTok in Russia, for example.
If you liked this article, we recommend you also check out our list of the best VPNs in the market. A VPN offers more safety and better anonymity.
Here’s some extra recommended reading on VPNs:
If you have any more questions about browsing the web anonymously, you’re in the right place. Below, you’ll find our answers to the most frequently asked questions about proxy sites.
The best free proxy site is the aptly named ProxySite. It has a decent free proxy server variety, it’s free to use, and it guarantees access to regionally restricted content. The creators of ProxySite also sell a VPN service if you want to upgrade to a stronger version of their tool.
ProxySite is just one of the best proxy sites out there. If you want more options, check out our full list of best proxy sites.
Contrary to popular belief, web proxy sites are easy to use. You don’t need tech experience to use one, you just need to open it in your browser. Most web proxy sites have a search bar similar to that of Google. Just paste the URL of the site you want to visit there, and you’re navigating more anonymously through the proxy.
Free proxy servers can be safe, but they don’t offer you full safety and online privacy. A safe free proxy server should:
- Be configured correctly
- Not log your data
- Allow for HTTPS
If your free proxy doesn’t do these things, it is potentially unsafe. To make sure you have the best online protection, it’s better to opt for a VPN.
