SOCKS5 proxies are versatile, fast, and provide a high level of anonymity. You can use them for web scraping, gaming, video streaming, torrenting, and more. But finding reliable SOCKS5 proxies isn’t easy.
This definitive guide covers the 10 best SOCKS5 proxy services to help you choose the right provider.
What is a SOCKS5 Proxy?
SOCKS5 is an internet protocol that routes traffic through an intermediary server, called a SOCKS proxy. The proxy creates a tunnel between your device and destination site, masking your real IP address.
SOCKS5 was designed to handle almost any protocol or traffic type. It offers key advantages over SOCKS4 proxies and basic HTTP proxies:
- Compatibility with protocols like BitTorrent and gaming platforms
- Support for video streaming and real-time communications
- IPv6 addresses and remote DNS resolving
- More authentication methods
Top 10 Best SOCKS5 Proxy Providers
| Provider | Highlights | Prices From |
|---|---|---|
| Smartproxy | Award-winning support, 14-day refund, fast performance | $8.50/GB residential, $3.50 for 3 datacenter IPs |
| Luminati | Massive pool, top tier success rates, advanced customization | $15/GB residential, $500/month 5 GB datacenter plan |
| Bright Data | Feature-packed, diverse proxy types, extensive tools | $10.50/GB residential, $0.80/IP + usage for datacenter |
| Oxylabs | Very large pool, dedicated support reps, high scalability | $180 for 100 datacenter IPs, $340 for 20 GB ISP |
| GeoSurf | Specializes in residential IPs, unique targeting options | $300/month starter |
| NetNut | Hundreds of subnets, dedicated IPs available | €699/month 1,000 GB plan |
| HighProxies | Backconnect rotating proxies, high anonymity | $80/GB mobile and residential |
| Proxify | Reliable performance, unlimited bandwidth plans | €249/month starter |
| Proxyrack | Pay-as-you-go pricing from a up-and-comer | $4/GB |
| IPRoyal | Budget-friendly provider with flexible plans | $7/GB residential |
Next, let‘s take an in-depth look at each of the top SOCKS5 proxy services.
1. Smartproxy
Smartproxy is the best value SOCKS5 proxy provider. It offers blazing fast residential, datacenter, and mobile proxies starting at just $8.50/GB.
With an impressive 10 million residential IP pool spanning 195 locations, Smartproxy has among the best geographic diversity in the industry. You can target locations at a country, state, or city level with its backconnect residential proxies. Sticky sessions last up to 30 minutes to mimic real browsing behavior.
Smartproxy shines with its polished dashboard, expansive API capabilities, and lauded 24/7 customer support. The service is easy to set up for newcomers but also caters to advanced proxy users.
Highlights:
- Award-winning 24/7 support
- 14-day money-back guarantee
- Browser extension and other tools
- Fast performance and high success rates
Plans and Pricing:
- Residential proxies from $8.50 for 1 GB
- Datacenter proxies from $3.50 for 3 IPs
- Mobile proxies from $20 for 1 GB
2. Luminati (BrightData)
Formerly Luminati and now rebranded as BrightData, this premium proxy provider controls an enormous 70 million IP pool spanning almost every corner of the globe.
Luminati offers all proxy types: residential, datacenter, mobile, and ISP. You can precisely target locations through its Proxy Manager tool. Customize other parameters like carrier type, connection type, IPs per user, and more.
With great power comes great pricing. Luminati isn’t cheap, but you get what you pay for with industry-leading success rates. Enterprise-grade support and an extensive API cater to large-scale proxy users.
Highlights:
- Massive residential proxy pool
- Advanced location targeting
- Feature-packed with proxy manager tool
- 99% success rate with residential IPs
Plans and Pricing:
- Residential plans from $15 per GB
- Datacenter plans from $500 per month for 5 GB
- Usage charged on top based on bandwidth, IPs allocated, etc.
3. Bright Data
BrightData (formerly Luminati) is a top contender in the premium proxy space. Its diverse product portfolio includes residential IPs covering 100 million IP addresses.
The Bright Proxy Manager provides innovative proxy management solutions like intelligent load balancing. And features like the Chrome extension, unlimited bandwidth options, and pool targeting cement Bright Data‘s positioning as an enterprise-level provider.
If you need the highest quality proxies and money is no object, Bright Data has among the best performing IPs with 99% success rates. Just be prepared for the associated pricing and stringent KYC requirements.
Highlights:
- All proxy types offered
- Advanced features like Proxy Manager
- Huge pool with precise targeting parameters
- Blazing fast speeds and reliability
Plans and Pricing:
- Residential proxies from $10.50 per GB
- Datacenter proxies from $0.80 per IP plus usage fees
4. Oxylabs
Oxylabs focuses exclusively on premium private datacenter and residential proxies for businesses. It controls over 2 million IPs spanning every location imaginable.
The company offers expert consultation services. Dedicated account reps can advise the best proxy solutions tailored to your specific use case. They also provide customized integration assistance with Oxylabs‘ robust APIs.
With enterprise-tier proxies come scalability. Oxylabs promises high concurrency support to handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. For those that value quality over cost, Oxylabs delivers.
Highlights:
- Very large proxy pool
- Dedicated account managers
- Custom integrations with API
- High scalability for large projects
Plans and Pricing:
- Datacenter proxies from $180 per 100 IPs
- ISP proxies from $340 per 20 GB
5. GeoSurf
As a purely residential proxy provider, GeoSurf has honed its core competency in the space. The service offers unlimited bandwidth options and location targeting down to the metro area.
GeoSurf also uniquely categorizes its 1 million IP addresses across parameters like connection types, carriers, VPNs, and autonomous system numbers. This allows superior customization potential.
For serious residential proxy users, GeoSurf deserves a close look. Just expect limited concurrency capabilities relative to its premium proxy competitors. But for targeted web scraping and related activities, you will struggle to find a better residential provider than GeoSurf.
Highlights:
- Specialized in backconnect residential IPs
- Unique advanced targeting capabilities
- 1 million IP pool and growing
- Unlimited bandwidth options
Plans and Pricing:
- Custom packages from $300 per month
6. NetNut
This Netherlands-based company offers private datacenter, residential, mobile, and ISP proxies. NetNut provides over 1,600 proxy subnets spanning North America and Europe.
The provider lets you test locations before integrating them through the API. You can also access performance analytics to optimize decisions. For utmost privacy, dedicated static IPs are available.
If you operate in Europe, NetNut merits consideration. From performance to support, few providers can compete with NetNut on its home turf. Just keep an eye out for the above average costs of most plans.
Highlights:
- Hundreds of proxy subnets
- Location targeting across Europe and NA
- Dedicated static IPs available
- Advanced analytics reporting
Plans and Pricing:
- Plans from €699 per month for 1,000 GB
7. HighProxies
This up-and-coming vendor focuses exclusively on extremely anonymous backconnect proxies. It offers a medium-sized pool of mobile and residential IPs expected to grow quickly in 2024.
We love HighProxies’ out-of-the-box thinking compared to established incumbents. For example, its mobile proxies use hundreds of IP addresses that frequently rotate to prevent fingerprinting. HighProxies also provides specialized proxy solutions for sneaker bots.
For peak anonymity needs, HighProxies should float to the top of your research list. Backconnect rotating proxies power intense use cases like carding that prove too demanding for lesser proxies. Just prepare for HighProxies‘ steep learning curve. This service best suits technical experts.
Highlights:
- SPECIALIZED IN backconnect rotating proxies
- Hundreds of mobile IPs for maximum anonymity
- Frequently updated IP pools
- Sneaker bot proxy packages
Plans and Pricing:
- Residential and mobile proxies from $80 per GB
8. Proxify
With a compact proxy network spanning North America and Europe, Sweden‘s Proxify promises reliable SOCKS5 proxies for light to mid-level usage.
We like how Proxify bundles unlimited bandwidth with all plans. And starting prices beat most comparable options while still providing satisfactory speeds. Support and documentation meet expectations too.
So if you prioritize no surprises over blazing fast speeds or broad location targeting, Proxify warrants a look. Just don‘t expect much customization at this price point beyond basic filtering parameters.
Highlights:
- Solid performance and uptime
- Unlimited bandwidth on all plans
- Decent support and getting started guides
- NA and EU location targeting
Plans and Pricing:
- From €249 per month
9. ProxyRack
As a capable new industry player, ProxyRack shows immense promise in bringing competition back to the proxy space. The company currently offers datacenter IPs and residential backconnect pools.
We especially like ProxyRack’s pay-as-you-go pricing. At $4 per GB, you can test drive its services at a very reasonable rate compared to fixed monthly plans. Support and documentation still need polish but satisfy for basic proxy usage.
If you‘re searching for an emerging proxy option, ProxyRack checks the right boxes on pricing, anonymity, and domestic feedback. As the provider scales globally, expect exciting product and pricing enhancements through 2023.
Highlights:
- Pay-as-you-go pricing
- Lower entry costs than competitors
- Backconnect support and rotating IPs
- Rapidly improving features
Plans and Pricing:
- From $4 per GB data usage
10. IPRoyal
Ranking among the most affordable SOCKS5 services, IPRoyal suits budget-minded individuals and smaller businesses. It sells residential, datacenter, and ISP proxies from a few thousand-strong pool.
We wouldn‘t choose IPRoyal proxies for mission-critical, heavy-load projects. But with its location targeting, rotating settings, and transparent pricing, you can still achieve respectable results.
For light web scraping, research, and related casual activities, IPRoyal gets the job done without breaking your wallet. It offers a solid bang for your buck within its reasonable performance envelope.
Highlights:
- Budget-friendly proxy plans
- Decent features like location targeting
- Transparent pricing and policies
- Pay-as-you-go residential proxies
Plans and Pricing:
- Residential proxies from $7 per GB
- Datacenter proxies from around $2 per IP
Choosing the Best SOCKS5 Proxy Provider
With so many options to evaluate, use this checklist when assessing your shortlist:
Pool Size and Locations – Prioritize larger pools with abundant locations for optimal performance and targeting flexibility.
Features – Seek out convenient extras like browser extensions, APIs, advanced targeting parameters, etc. These separate the premier vendors.
Performance Rates – What do unbiased third-parties report regarding success rates and speeds? Prioritize proxies delivering 99%+ success rates.
Support and Documentation – Proxies functions prove complex for beginners. Lean on providers with robust self-help resources and knowledgeable technical assistance.
Budget – Finally, match the best performing service aligned with your budget parameters. Paying more nets higher quality proxies in most cases.
Why Free SOCKS5 Proxies Fall Short
We advise avoiding free public SOCKS5 proxy lists in favor of reputable paid providers.
Free SOCKS5 proxies attract tons of abuse and often deliver disappointing results like:
- Very slow speeds – They get overloaded from heavy use.
- Frequent downtime and rotating IP addresses – Providers rarely maintain free proxies.
- They sell your bandwidth and data – Not very private!
- High risk of malware infections from sketchy free hosts.
For best results, invest in reliable SOCKS5 proxies tailored to your usage requirements.
Wrapping Up
SOCKS5 proxies enable you to scrape websites, unblock content, enjoy gaming or streaming media anonymously, and more – without exposing your IP address. They form the backbone of tools used by security analysts to ethical hackers alike.
We hope this breakdown of the best SOCKS5 proxy services helps guide your buying decision in finding the right provider for your needs and budget. Just remember to conduct due diligence in researching current prices, features, and independent performance data on short-listed vendors.
