Struggling to pick the best proxy sites from the endless options out there?
Millions of users rely on proxy sites and free servers daily to bypass geo-restrictions, stay anonymous online, and access content without limits.
After testing dozens of popular and lesser-known options, I’ve handpicked the 6 best proxy services and 5 best free proxy sites that work. Whether you’re trying to unblock social media at school or browse with more privacy, these Proxy sites can help you.
What are Proxy Sites/Proxy Servers?
Proxy sites are similar to VPNs because they are intermediaries between your device and the internet.
When you want to access a website, your request goes through a proxy server rather than connecting directly.
How Do Proxy Sites Work?
- Intermediary role: Proxy sites sit between you and the website you want to visit, forwarding requests and responses.
- IP Address Masking: When using a proxy, your real IP address is hidden. The websites you visit only see the proxy server’s IP, not yours.
Benefits of Using Proxy Sites
- Browse Anonymously: Proxy websites help protect your online identity and browsing activity by hiding your real IP address.
- Bypass Internet Restrictions: Whether you’re at school, work, or traveling abroad, proxies can help you access blocked content and geo-restricted websites.
- Improved Security: With your IP address hidden, it’s harder for hackers to track or target you with IP-based attacks.
Overall, proxy sites are convenient tools for maintaining privacy, accessing restricted content, and increasing online security.
6 Best Proxy Sites in 2025
1. MarsProxies: Affordable and High-Performance Proxies
MarsProxies is a stable and affordable proxy server that would be a great choice.
It performs well in terms of proxy speed, IP coverage, and variety of proxy types. You can use it to unlock streaming services, run web scraping bots, and use it with sneaker bots.
Pros:
- Huge IP pool: Access over 1 million IPs in over 190 countries. Unblocks streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and more.
- Wide range of proxies: You can choose from residential proxies, datacenter proxies, ISP proxies, or stalker proxies.
- Flexible pricing: Plans start at just $0.89 per datacenter proxy or $3.49/GB for residential IPs, with no hidden fees.
- High performance: With an official uptime of 99.9%, support for HTTP/HTTPS and SOCKS5, connections are fast and reliable.
- Unlimited traffic and 5G/4G/3G/LTE support.
Cons:
- No free trial
- No browser extensions
Details:
- IP addresses: Over 1 million
- Supported servers: Over 334000
- Protocols: HTTPS, SOCKS5
- Total data consumed: 344+ TB
- Best for: Streaming, sneaker bots, web scraping, price monitoring
2. IPRoyal: Best Proxy Service with a Massive IP Pool
IPRoyal is a versatile proxy service based in the United Arab Emirates. With over 8 million IP addresses, it is one of the most widely used proxy providers on the market.
It supports datacenter, small network, residential, and mobile (3G/4G/5G) proxies. Whether you’re scraping data, managing social media accounts, or unblocking websites, IPRoyal makes it easy to get started.
Pros:
- Multiple proxy types: Residential, mobile, datacenter, and small network proxies for different needs are available.
- Huge IP pool: With 8+ million IPs covering 195+ countries.
- Free proxy IP list: Updated every 10 minutes, perfect for testing or daily browsing.
Cons:
- Slow speed: It is not as fast as some premium providers, especially during peak hours.
- Basic free proxy: The free IPs are mainly for basic browsing and testing.
Details:
- IP Pool Size: 8+ million IPs
- Countries Covered: 195+
- Proxy Types: Datacenter, Residential, Mobile, Sneaker
- Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5
- Free IPs: Yes (updated every 10 minutes)
3. Oxylabs: Enterprise-Grade Proxy Service for Large-Scale Data Projects
Oxylabs is one of the most powerful proxy service providers on the market. It is built for businesses that need large-scale web scraping, data collection, and secure online operations. Oxylabs is headquartered in Lithuania and provides access to more than 100 million IP addresses in 195 countries.
The platform supports all major proxy protocols (HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5), and its network covers residential proxies, data center proxies, ISP proxies, and mobile proxies. Oxylabs is also known for its advanced web scraping APIs, which are designed to bypass anti-bot systems and dynamically load JavaScript-intensive websites.
Pros
- Large IP pool with over 100 million addresses.
- Reliable uptime and strong performance, suitable for enterprise use.
- Web scraper and anti-bot bypass included.
- Strict privacy and compliance standards.
- A 7-day free trial allows teams to test the platform’s performance.
Cons
- More complex to set up compared to user-friendly proxy sites.
- Chrome extension only.
Details:
- Number of IP addresses: Over 100 million
- Number of countries: 195+
- Supported protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5
If you want to unblock more websites securely, use LightningX VPN. It connects to over 2000 servers, with unlimited bandwidth and speed, and strong security such as Shadowsocks, Vless, and WireGuard.
Free Download LightningX VPN for some free nodes and a 30-day money-back!
4. ScraperAPI: Best Proxy API for Scalable Web Scraping
ScraperAPI is a developer-friendly proxy tool. It automates the trickiest parts of data extraction, including managing proxies, rotating IPs, resolving captchas, and rendering websites that contain a lot of JavaScript code.
ScraperAPI is completely API-based, unlike traditional proxy services. This means you can scrape website data with just a simple API request. It also supports geolocation for 12 countries, making it easy to collect data in a specific area.
Pros
- Designed for large-scale web scraping
- Supports 40+ million IP addresses with automatic rotation and retry
- Can resolve captchas and render JavaScript content
- Easy-to-use API, great for developers
- Free tier includes 1,000 API call tests
Cons
- More suitable for technical users
- Limited browser-based functionality
Details
- IP Pool Size: 40+ million
- Concurrency: 100+ simultaneous connections
- Key Features: IP rotation, CAPTCHA solving, JavaScript rendering
- Geo-Targeting: 12 countries
- Free Tier: Yes (1000 API calls)
5. Storm Proxies: High-Speed, Unlimited Bandwidth
Storm Proxies is an affordable proxy service. While it doesn’t offer the largest IP pool or global coverage, it makes up for it with solid performance, unlimited bandwidth, and a clean user experience.
Storm Proxies offers various proxy types, including rotating residential proxies, dedicated private proxies, and reverse connection proxies. Its rotating residential proxies automatically switch IPs every few minutes, making them a solid choice for data scraping, automation, and managing multiple social media accounts without getting flagged.
While its IP pool is relatively small, it offers fast speeds of up to 50Mbps, and plans include unlimited bandwidth, which is a big plus if you’re running data-intensive tasks.
Pros
- Fast proxies with unlimited bandwidth
- Simple setup and easy-to-use control panel
- Affordable
- Designed for sneaker promotions, tickermasters, and small-scale web scraping
Cons
- Limited global IP coverage (mainly in the US and EU)
- No mobile proxies available
- No live chat or 24/7 support
Details:
- Number of IP addresses: 70000+
- Number of countries: not specified
- Supported protocols: HTTP
6. Hide.me
Hide.me is a Malaysia-based proxy and VPN service prioritizing privacy and ease of use. While it isn’t as well-known as HMA or ScraperAPI, it has built a solid reputation with its no-logging policy and strong encryption standards.
For users who want a quick and hassle-free way to unblock websites or browse anonymously, Hide.me’s free web proxy is a practical option. It works well for bypassing geo-restrictions, protecting your connection on public Wi-Fi, and keeping your online activity private.
Pros
- Simple and easy-to-use interface
- Strong encryption, secure browsing
- Free proxy without registration
- Supports multiple security protocols
- Helps to break through regional restrictions
Cons
- Not suitable for HD streaming or large-scale data scraping
- Lacks advanced features such as automatic IP rotation
- The free version has limited server access and bandwidth
Details:
- Offers a Free Proxy for basic web browsing and paid VPN plans
- Server Locations: Multiple locations to bypass geo-restrictions.
- Supported protocols: SOCKS, PPTP, L2TP.
5 Best Free Proxy Sites
Here are 5 of the best free proxy websites. If your budget is limited, you may consider the following:
1. 4everproxy
4everproxy is a free web proxy with no speed limits. It offers 11 server locations in 9 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and more. You can stream YouTube content and seamlessly switch to other streaming media like Netflix.
Related: 5 Best YouTube Proxies (Reliable, Stable, Affordable)
2. ProxFree
ProxFree helps you bypass Internet restrictions. It has servers in the US and UK, allowing you to change your IP location easily.
3. CroxyProxy
CroxyProxy offers free proxy services that support a variety of websites, including video hosting sites, social networks, and email services. You get unlimited access to Netflix, YouTube, and Discord.
4. Hidester Web Proxy
Hidester allows you to access YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat without geo-blocking or firewall filtering. Its free servers are located across the US and Europe and are ad-free.
5. KProxy
KProxy offers a free version with 10 public servers in different countries. It supports YouTube but not Netflix. KProxy also offers browser extensions for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.
The above free proxy sites provide different needs for different readers. They are proxy websites that are free or offer a free version.
How to Choose the Best Proxy for Your Needs?
After going through the 6 top proxy sites and 5 free proxy servers we listed above, you might still wonder: Which is right for me? Here are some tips to help you make a wise choice:
1. Pay attention to speed limits
Some proxy sites can slow down your internet due to outdated protocols like HTTP and HTTPS. If speed matters to you, especially when watching 4K streaming or data scraping, look for services known for high speed.
2. Rich features
The best proxy services offer extra features. Things like:
- Built-in browser extensions
- Support for multiple devices
- Large IP pools or location targeting
- Discounts on long-term plans
Ensure the proxy fits how you plan to use it, not just how fast it claims to be.
3. Test before you commit
The easiest way to know if a proxy works for you. Many services offer free trials or pay-as-you-go options. This lets you test if it can unblock the sites you need or if the setup is user-friendly.
4. Short-term subscription
Instead of jumping into a long-term subscription, begin with a short-term plan. That way, you’re not locked in if it doesn’t work out. If the service performs well, you can always upgrade later.
With these tips, you can find an agency that fits your needs and budget.
FAQs about Best Proxy Sites
1. Are free proxies safe?
No, Free proxies can provide anonymity but often lack the security measures of premium services. Therefore, free proxy websites are not entirely safe.
It is crucial to choose a reputable provider and review its privacy policy.
2. Are proxy sites illegal?
The legality of using a web proxy depends on how you use it. For example, if you are traveling abroad and want to access paid content from your home country, using a web proxy or VPN is legal to change your IP address back to your home country.
However, before using a proxy website or VPN to bypass geo-restrictions, be sure to read the terms and conditions of the service you want to access.
3. Proxy vs. VPN: What is the difference?
Both proxies and VPNs can change your IP address, but VPNs generally offer greater security and privacy due to their encryption capabilities.
A VPN is a better choice if you need strong security and privacy protection. Don’t forget to try LightningX VPN.
