The Best Proxy Sites and Services of 2024: Surf the Web Anonymously

As we spend more of our lives online, securing our privacy is becoming increasingly vital. Each time you visit a website, you leave behind a digital footprint in the form of your IP address, location, and other data that can be tracked and exploited by marketers, hackers, and other prying eyes.

One effective way to protect your online anonymity is by using a proxy server. A proxy acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet, masking your real IP address so websites can only see the proxy‘s IP. This not only keeps your identity and location private, but also allows you to bypass network restrictions and access geographically-blocked content.

But with so many proxy sites and services available, which ones can you trust to keep you secure without slowing you down? We thoroughly tested the top options to bring you this definitive guide to the best proxy solutions for 2024. Whether you opt for a free web-based proxy site for occasional use or a premium dedicated proxy service for maximum performance, you‘ll find the perfect fit here.

The Top Paid Proxy Services of 2024

For the utmost in performance, security, and reliability, it‘s worth investing in a paid proxy service. Running a global network of high-speed proxy servers isn‘t cheap, so free services tend to be slow, limited, and potentially even dangerous.

These are our top recommendations for premium proxy providers this year:

1. Bright Data

Bright Data (formerly Luminati) operates the world‘s largest proxy network with over 72 million IPs across every country in the world. They offer a wide range of proxy types including residential, mobile, data center, and ISP proxies.

Their service is geared more toward enterprise clients and advanced users. The pricing is on the high end starting at $15 per GB for residential IPs and $10.50/GB for data center IPs. But you get unbeatable performance and an industry-leading compliance program that adheres to GDPR, CCPA, and many other privacy standards.

2. Oxylabs

Oxylabs has the second largest residential proxy pool with 100+ million IPs. Their network spans 195 countries, and provides city-level IP targeting for residentials. They‘ve also recently launched a next-gen residential proxy network that utilizes AI and machine learning for the ultimate intelligence and performance.

Both their dedicated datacenter proxies and residential proxies support SOCKS5 for fast, raw TCP connections. And their entire infrastructure is ISO 27001 certified for information security. Pricing starts at $100 for 20GB ($5/GB) of residential, or $180/month for 100 dedicated datacenter proxies ($1.8/IP).

3. MyPrivateProxy

If you‘re looking for the best balance of affordability and performance, look no further than MyPrivateProxy. Their private proxy network spans 30+ countries with over 16,000 IPs and 100 subnets.

You get 1 Gbps speeds and unlimited bandwidth on every proxy. Both standard private proxies and high anonymous proxies (which hide the fact that you‘re using a proxy to target websites) are available. Pricing starts at just $2.49/month per private proxy, plus steep bulk discounts.

The Best Free Proxy Sites for 2024

If you only need a proxy for one-off anonymous browsing sessions, a free web proxy site can do the trick. These let you hide your IP by simply visiting the proxy site, entering the URL you want to access, and browsing privately through the web proxy.

The major downsides are that proxy websites are generally much slower than paid proxy services, have few location options, and may be less secure. Many are also littered with ads. But for quick and easy anonymous browsing, you can‘t beat the price!

Here are our recommendations for the most reliable and user-friendly proxy sites:

1. ProxySite

One of the most established names in web proxies, ProxySite lets you browse anonymously through servers in the US and EU. The site has a clean design with minimal ads. You can enable encryption, block scripts, and remove objects from websites for maximum privacy and security.

2. Hidester

Hidester offers proxy servers in the US, Europe, and Asia. It provides an encrypted SSL connection and the option to block cookies and scripts. However, you do have to create a free account to use it, which requires providing an email address.

3. Whoer

The Whoer proxy site stands out with servers in 17 countries including the US, Canada, Germany, France, and Russia. You can also choose to enable or block cookies, encrypt URLs, and remove scripts.

Proxy vs VPN: What‘s the Difference?

On the surface, proxy servers and VPNs (virtual private networks) seem quite similar. Both mask your real IP address by routing your traffic through an intermediary server.
But there are some key differences:

• VPNs provide end-to-end encryption of all your internet traffic, while most proxy servers only anonymize your IP without encryption.
• VPN apps/clients tunnel your entire internet connection through the VPN server, while proxies typically only reroute traffic from a specific browser or app.
• VPNs tend to be much faster and more reliable than proxy servers, with unlimited bandwidth.
• The best VPNs keep no logs of your online activity, while proxy providers may log data.

For most people, a top-rated VPN service will provide a better balance of privacy, security, and performance than a proxy. Our recommendations for the best VPNs are:

1. ExpressVPN – Best overall with a vast network of ultra-fast servers in 94 countries
2. NordVPN – Top security features like double VPN encryption and malware protection
3. Surfshark – Best budget option that doesn‘t skimp on performance or privacy

Frequently Asked Proxy Questions

Are proxy servers safe?
The best paid proxy services utilize secure proxy protocols and take measures to protect your privacy. But some free proxy servers may not be trustworthy. Stick with reputable providers, and use a VPN when security is critical.

Are proxy sites legal?
Using a proxy site is legal in most jurisdictions, but using one to perform illegal activities like hacking or copyright infringement is obviously not legal. Be aware of your local laws regarding proxies and only use them for lawful purposes.

What‘s the difference between HTTP and SOCKS proxies?
HTTP proxies are designed specifically for web traffic and can only handle HTTP/HTTPS connections. SOCKS proxies can handle any type of TCP or UDP traffic, making them more versatile but sometimes slower.

How do I set up a proxy server on my computer or phone?
You can manually configure proxies in the network settings of your operating system, browser, or specific apps that support proxies. The exact steps vary, so it‘s best to consult instructions from your OS/browser/app developer or proxy service provider.

Final Thoughts on Proxy Servers

A reliable proxy is an invaluable tool for protecting your privacy, avoiding censorship, and accessing geo-locked content online. But it‘s important to choose your proxy provider carefully.

Free proxy websites are fine for one-off anonymous browsing, but their performance limitations and potential logging make them unsuitable for sensitive activities. For serious anonymity and heavy usage, it‘s well worth paying for a premium proxy service like the ones recommended here.

Even then, keep in mind that while proxies do hide your IP address, most do not encrypt your traffic end-to-end like a VPN does. If security and anonymity are paramount, it‘s best to use a highly-rated VPN service that guarantees no-logging of your activities.

We‘ll keep this list updated throughout the year as new proxy players emerge and existing ones evolve. So remember to check back whenever you‘re in the market for a proxy!