Free web proxy sites help to protect your online identity and let you browse the internet without exposure. You can use free services instead of spending money on a VPN. They allow you to browse the web without any restrictions. But watch out; many track your online activities and sell that data to advertisers. So, choosing the best ones that protect your privacy is important.
A web proxy acts as a go-between for you and the internet. It routes your internet traffic through its servers, changing your IP address and keeping your online activities private. It also helps bypass firewalls and other internet blocks governments, schools, and companies set up. This article explores the top free proxy services and the extra features they offer to help you bypass internet restrictions.
How Do Proxy Sites Work?
When you visit a website using a browser, your request goes straight to the web server through an IP address. Then, the web server sends back the website data to your browser.
However, a proxy server works differently. It acts as a middleman between you and the website you’re trying to access. Instead of your request going directly to the web server, it first goes to the proxy server.
The proxy server then sends the request on your behalf, collects the response from the web server, and sends the webpage information back to your browser. Proxy servers can modify the data you send while forwarding your requests, keeping your IP address hidden and encrypting your data for added online privacy.
Best Proxy Sites – Detailed List
1. ExtremeVPN Proxy
ExtremeVPN’s free web proxy is the most dependable and speedy proxy we’ve used. It masks your IP address and keeps you protected and anonymous online.
The proxy is operational in countries like the Netherlands, Singapore, and Canada but may be configured manually with numerous options.
The business promises to provide excellent and dependable internet privacy and security. Furthermore, it works exceptionally well with Google Autocomplete searches.
ExtremeVPN proxy bypasses firewalls and allows you to view any website. To protect your privacy, encrypt URLs, ban pages, and turn off cookies.
2. HideMyAss
HideMyAss is a free proxy service that hides online identities and allows access to blocked websites. It operates in Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the US, and the UK. It offers unlimited bandwidth, ad-free browsing, and compatibility with popular devices. However, unlike other proxy services, it lacks the SOCKS5 feature.
3. Hide.me
It offers a free proxy service with a VPN and is good enough to provide internet privacy without a VPN. It has servers in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and Finland. Plus, it supports secure tunnelling protocols for online security. With over 25 million users, it’s compatible with BitTorrent clients and browser extensions.
However, with servers in only three countries, connections may be slower, impacting streaming on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
4. Hidester
Hidester is a really good free proxy that is very simple to use. If you are connected to the Internet through your browser, you can access the site without downloading additional apps or software.
Furthermore, it is also secure, encrypting your connections and keeping your online activities private by not storing cookies or sharing logs. The app is protected against hackers by using SSL tech, and it also works on public Wi-Fi.
It’s a good tool to unblock websites, but the internet may be slower outside the EU and the US.
5. ProxySite
ProxySite is a hand tool for browsing the web without limitations. Also, it has a premium VPN option for the highest security level. It can easily unblock sites like YouTube and Facebook anywhere you want. It uses SSL encryption to ensure your privacy and can bypass firewalls easily.
ProxySite’s speedy network and SOCKS5 support distinguish it from other VPNs. Browsing on ProxySite is super fast. In addition, it has many servers in the UK and the US to keep you anonymous online.
6. VPNBook
VPNBook is always the first one to go to for accessing any site or service you want. It is a free proxy that doesn’t block ports, which means that you can even play games in blocked regions. It is particularly effective in unblocking YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.
They have servers in Canada, France, the UK, and the US, offering good speeds that enable bypassing internet restrictions. They also have security, as they do not log your IP address or connection logs. They rely on 256-bit SSL encryption, which is strong encryption to ensure the safety of your data.
Unlike VPNBook, HMA does not require downloading software and can be used within your browser. It’s an amazing technique for bypassing blockers and remaining unidentified. However, it is not free you may have to suffer from some pop-up ads.
7. Whoer
Whoer is the best VPN provider and offers a free web proxy service. Changing your IP address allows you to bypass internet restrictions and access banned websites. Its server network is not extensive, but it has servers in major places like Amsterdam, London, Moscow, Saint, Paris, and Petersburg.
It helps you to be anonymous online by preventing WebRTC leaks, but there’s a catch: the extension can only work with Firefox, Opera, Chrome, and Yandex browsers. Open the browser, install the extension, and click the “Start” button.
However, there are also some negative aspects. Unlike other proxy servers, its speed is limited, also you can’t select a server from other listed countries.
8. Anonymous
It is the oldest, most accessible, and simple web proxy that prevents ads from appearing when browsing the Internet. It provides unlimited bandwidth and encrypted connections with high-level online security.
The interface is rather outdated. Anyhow, the usage method remains the same. It does not disclose information about server locations or provide browser extensions or other important capabilities on its home page, such as script removal and cookie blocking. To unblock a certain website, enter the URL.
9. MegaProxy
Megaproxy is a free proxy service that blocks your browser and ensures online anonymity by hiding your IP address. It has servers in Italy, France, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, and the USA. Choose a country, and you can be assured that you surf anonymously with that country’s IP address.
It is fast and instantly opens up sites like Facebook and YouTube. Also, it can get you access to geo-blocked content. The user interface can be quite good with mega proxy but it doesn’t have browser extensions or extra features like other proxies have.
10. IPRoyal
IPRoyal is a popular proxy service with over two million IP addresses and four different proxies: residential, data centre, sneakers, and static residential. It offers a global server network in popular locations like Australia, Canada, China, France, Russia, and the US.
It uses a SOCKS5 proxy and partial HTTPS encryption for security, ensuring anonymous browsing and minimising data breaches. Although not free, IPRoyal proxies start at $3 per GB, making them a worthwhile investment.
11. Kproxy
Kproxy is a very good free proxy service that’s been working for over 14 years. It helps more than one million users, 5 million of whom live privately online. One of its outstanding features is that it is free to use. You don’t need to register before browsing the website without any pop-up advertisements.
Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge are what Kproxy uses to create an encrypted channel for maximum safety. You can select different servers in Canada, France, and the US to access the blocked content.
Kproxy will help you bypass online restrictions and keep your IP addresses secret. The Kproxy Pro version offers even more functions, and a 30-day trial offer is available.
12. SmartProxy
SmartProxy is a first-class proxy provider offering residential and data centre proxies. These proxies modify your IP address daily, making it difficult for ISPs to track you. This VPN service operates over 40 million IP addresses worldwide and has servers in 195 locations, including Canada, India, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US. Hence, it is vast.
SmartProxy employs a rotating proxy network that makes switching between them stress-free. Their customer support is available 24/7 through email or live chat. However, it’s not free; there is a three-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it.
13. GeoSurf
GeoSurf is a first-class proxy service with over 2.5 million IPv4 addresses for residential and static use. It is always on and hard to detect, which allows you to browse freely. The servers are located worldwide, including the best places like Australia, Canada, and the US, so it is fast, and filters can be easily bypassed.
Its speed is based on the network of its giant servers and automatic bandwidth optimisation technology. Besides that, it has an integrated mobile and desktop VPN for more privacy. It’s easy to use and has no pop-up ads, but it’s not free, which might not be good for some people.
How to Use a Free Proxy Site to Access a Banned Website
To unblock a restricted site, follow the steps below with a free proxy site.
- Locate a trustworthy, convenient web proxy server: A good proxy site, like Hide.Me use proxy sites to allow you to access banned websites on your device. It also increases your anonymity by ensuring that your location and IP address are not traced.
- Enter the URL of the prohibited site you want to visit into the address bar. While browsing, the menu bar will display the proxy server’s name, indicating that you are using a proxy address to surf.
- Select the ‘Enter’ or ‘Go’ tab: The web data will be sent through the proxy server before returning to your browser for display. Although browsing may be hindered, you can unblock your preferred websites.
Is It Risky to Use Proxies?
Free proxy services offer anonymous internet browsing without investment, but they also carry risks, including scams and misuse of personal information.
- Slow speed: Most free proxy services have a small server network split over two or more countries. This leads to server overload and sluggish, inconsistent connection speeds.
- Malware: It is not always easy to verify the security of a free proxy service. Not all of them provide an ad-free experience, and the displayed ads may include malware, putting consumer’s digital privacy in danger.
- No security: Free proxy services do not provide complete security and anonymity on the internet. Because of the lack of encryption, your activities can be easily tracked. Also, IP leaks occur, revealing your true identity.
- No HTTPS: A survey discovered that 79% of free proxy services do not use HTTPS encryption, allowing others to see your actions.
The free version of proxies may lack crucial security features and be unsafe to use. However, they can be used for brief periods.
Is It Safe to Use Proxy Sites?
Proxies offer basic security measures. However, most proxies do not have advanced encryption features, and those that protect only your web browser, not your whole network. Therefore, other apps on your device are still not safe.
Besides, most free proxies restrict your data usage and have limited IP addresses blocked by streaming services once detected. Some people might also steal your bandwidth and monitor your internet activity. It is better to use only proxies for browsing. For a more secure and private internet experience, you should use a VPN service like ExtremeVPN.
Paid Proxy Server
1. Bright Data
Bright Data provides a huge pool of proxies, with 72 million IP addresses covering all countries and cities worldwide. It offers rotating, static, and mobile IPs for especially difficult targets. In addition, it provides a Proxy Manager tool for IP control and bandwidth optimisation.
Though the product has the latest features, Bright Data’s pricing is higher than others. It has different payment plans such as monthly, yearly, and pay-as-you-go for the users.
2. Oxylabs
Oxylabs owns over 70 million proxies worldwide, including each country and city. They provide residential IPs that can be manually configured for targeting and static proxies for reliability and speed. Similarly, these are SOCKS5 protocols supporting their 2 million data centre IPs.
Their residential proxy with AI to bypass captchas and blocks is advanced and provides a tool for web scraping. Their payment plans differ, but they can be very economical if you commit for a long time.
3. Rampage Retail
Rampage is crystal clear about where its proxies are coming from and how much they cost. They are selling them at wholesale prices. They buy proxies from the best providers, like Oxylabs, Smartproxy, or Geosurf, and then sell them to customers at affordable prices.
Rampage Retail is a proxy provider with a wide range of proxies that can withstand even the most sophisticated bots at an affordable price. Although the lack of customer support, free trials, or self-help content limits their usefulness, they are still a good choice if you look for cheap proxies.
4. Webshare
Webshare is a proxy service that prioritises user privacy and connection speed. It provides the fastest proxies and a global network with strong encryption. It offers SOCKS5 and HTTP protocols, multi-factor authentication and even has a free plan, although it is limited to 10 IP addresses, which may not be enough for large projects.
It is an attractive option with strong security, a friendly user interface, and different pricing plans. Nevertheless, it’s expensive, and it lacks customer support and IPs. Nevertheless, considering its advantages, it is worth a try.
5. PacketStream
PacketStream is a residential proxy network that doesn’t have mobile or stable ISP-based proxies. Conversely, it acquires additional capacity from other users and leases it. It provides 99% uptime without any restrictions for anonymous surfing.
It is unique, with tiered pricing and benefits for other providers. However, this program does not have direct support, city/state targeting, or self-help support. It’s an excellent choice for low-cost operations.
What’s Better: A VPN or a Proxy?
A proxy and a VPN are privacy-enhancing solutions that serve the same function but perform differently. A proxy hides your IP address. However, a VPN doesn’t allow anyone to track your online activities. It is more secure and reliable rather then a proxy.
Aside from this, there are other situations where a VPN prevails over a free proxy, including:
- A VPN has a big network of servers with lower ping times and, thus, provides a fast connection.
- You can unblock websites and watch content from anywhere.
- A VPN enhances security, personalisation, and reliability.
- They do not keep any logs and do not serve you any adverts.
Therefore, a reliable VPN provider is recommended if you value your privacy and want anonymity for extended periods.
Best VPN Options Beyond Proxy Websites
1. ExtremeVPN
ExtremeVPN is a top choice among alternatives to proxy sites and traditional systems. It allows unlimited users to use one account at a time and works with various systems, such as Smart Windows, TVs, Linux, macOS, and iOS.
Moreover, it has extra features like split tunnelling, port forwarding, and a strict no-logs policy to improve privacy.
Its broad network of 6,500+ servers in 78+ countries. Provides users with constant and fast speeds suitable for streaming services like Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix. It also offers a 30-day refund policy, meaning you can try its features for a risk-free period of 30 days.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has over 3,000+ servers in 94+ countries. Provide users fast speed and the highest security. It has AES-256 military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, and private DNS to ensure the user is safe. The ExpressVPN service is a P2P connection provider, a split tunnelling enabler and a threat manager. You can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
It is perfect for streaming and removing the geo-blocking of content on platforms like Netflix. Besides, it is compatible with Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and routers so that it can be used with different devices.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN provides more than 5,000 servers in 59 countries, making browsing, streaming, and torrenting speeds fast and reliable. Its advanced security features, such as Tor over VPN and AES 256-bit encryption, ensure your data is secure. You can link up to 6 devices simultaneously and have a no-logs policy. NordVPN also offers other features, such as double VPN and SOCKS5 proxy, that improve privacy.
NordVPN is compatible with popular operating systems such as Windows, iOS, and Android. It has a user-friendly app and good customer support through live chat. Besides, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee to test it at no risk.
Conclusion
Free proxy sites are a proper way to browse the internet anonymously and access restricted content. However, they also have risks, such as slow speeds, malware, and a lack of complete security. Opting for the best-trusted proxy site and putting user privacy first is necessary.
We advise using a paid proxy or VPN provider for more security and reliability. Both provide encryption, more anonymity than proxies and secure online activities and data.
