Best Proxy Sites and Services 2026: Navigate the Web Privately

The best proxy sites include Oxylabs, Smartproxy, and Bright Data. Browsing the internet isn't as private as you may think. Each time you go online, you're sharing data that someone could use against you. Marketers, internet providers, and hackers are always trying to monitor or exploit this info. Scammers can find you and launch an attack with as little as your IP address.

You need to protect yourself from prying eyes, but even proxy services aren't the best at keeping your data secure. The best VPNs (virtual private networks) can help you stay anonymous online while encrypting your data. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of using a proxy server and explore our top VPN picks.

What is a proxy server?

A proxy is an intermediary between your device and the internet. When you want to visit a website, your device sends a request to a specific web server. These servers are computers that store, process, and deliver web pages to end users.

Proxies are messengers between you and the online resources you're trying to access. In other words, they "talk" to the internet so your devices don’t have to.

This process has several important benefits:

• Masking your real IP: When using a proxy server, everyone will see the proxy server's IP address (IP) instead of yours. This will hide your IP and location, ensure anonymity, and stop marketers from tracking your browsing history.
• Bypassing network restrictions: Proxies can circumvent network restrictions in schools, libraries, and workplaces. Their IP addresses can help you get past restrictions and access blocked content.
• Accessing geo-blocked services: Proxies can let you access foreign IP addresses and unblock websites and services. For example, you can use them to watch Netflix US anywhere in the world or circumvent online censorship in restrictive countries.
• Enhanced security: Since hackers can't get your real IP address, they can't launch IP-based attacks against you.

Top 3 paid proxy services

A paid proxy service can help you stay anonymous and unblock content anywhere in the world. After thorough research and testing, we've picked the three best options. We considered protocols, pricing, trustworthiness, and more.

1. Oxylabs

Oxylabs' proxy network spans 190+ countries and includes over 102 million residential IP addresses. You'll find a proxy server for your location wherever you live.

If security is your main concern, Oxylabs has you covered. It's certified to an information security management system (ISMS) in accordance with ISO/IEC 27001:2017. It meets all regulatory requirements to ensure the safety of your information.

The company is based in Lithuania, which means it operates under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Number of IPs	Over 100 million
Proxy types	Residential, mobile, shared data center, dedicated data center, static residential, rotating ISP, Web Unblocker
Protocols	HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5
Starting price	$10/GB
Free trial	Yes
Customer support	Email, 24/7 live chat

2. Smartproxy

While not as impressive as Oxylabs, Smartproxy still has an extensive network. It offers over 65 million IP addresses in 190+ locations. The large IP pool ensures stability and anonymous browsing.

Smartproxy also has relatively affordable plans, making it ideal for budget-conscious users. Despite the lower price, its servers are super fast, with the average response times under 1.5 seconds.

The company is located in London, which puts it within the Five Eyes Alliance radius. However, it still operates under GDPR and doesn't collect any data that could put you in harm's way.

Number of IPs	Over 65 million
Proxy types	Residential, mobile, shared data center, dedicated data center, ISP, Site Unblocker
Protocols	HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5
Starting price	$8.5/GB
Free trial	Yes
Customer support	Email, 24/7 live chat

3. Bright Data

Bright Data has over 72 million IP addresses across 190+ countries. Its interface is best suited for advanced users and could be intimidating for beginners. We recommend going with one of our previous picks if you're just starting with proxies.

Bright Data follows several compliance regulations, including GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA). It also meets other international and industry standards, including ISO 27001, ISO 27018, and the OWASP Top 10.

Bright Data is based in Israel, which is known for its privacy laws that exceed even GDPR requirements.

Number of IPs	Over 72 million
Proxy types	Residential, mobile, shared data center, dedicated data center, ISP, rotating
Protocols	HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5
Starting price	$10.5/GB
Free trial	Yes
Customer support	Email

Best free proxy websites

A free proxy service is ideal if you're an occasional proxy user. They don't cover many locations and have limited speeds, but you'll get IP masking and limited geo-unblocking. They also have the most beginner-friendly user interfaces. The best thing? You can use them indefinitely, completely free of charge.

Here's how to use free proxy websites:

• Enter the web address of the site you want to visit
• Pick one of the available server locations
• Configure additional options (if available)
• Click the Go button

Before using free proxy sites, we recommend checking their reputation and security. A lot of free proxies are just a front to steal your information. Even if you're on a budget, one of these cheap VPNs can offer far better security than a free proxy service. 

Alternatively, you can try our top VPN picks below:

• hide.me: A well-known VPN provider that offers free proxy servers in Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands. You'll have to use their VPN to access more locations (like getting a U.S. IP address).
• ProxySite: You can choose between 38 U.S. and E.U proxy servers.
• CroxyProxy: You can access CroxyProxy servers using their site or Chrome extension. However, you can't pick specific countries, which can be awkward for geo-unblocking. The premium subscription removes the ads and lets you pick servers in six countries (Germany, Spain, Israel, Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.).

What's the difference between a proxy and a VPN?

Encryption is the key difference between a proxy and a VPN. A proxy server can mask your IP, but won't encrypt your traffic. VPNs mirror proxy functionality while adding an extra layer of security. Apart from encryption, they can also include additional tools such as malware protection and password managers.

Here's a complete overview of the differences between proxies and VPNs:

Feature	Proxy	VPN
IP masking
Encryption
Coverage	One app or browser	All traffic
Geo-unblocking
Bypassing network restrictions
Speed drops	Moderate to high	Low to moderate
Additional security tools		Yes (depending on the provider)

Best VPN services for security and geo-unblocking

A secure and reliable VPN is crucial for safe torrenting, browsing, gaming, and streaming. We've tested dozens of VPN services and recommend NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN as the top VPNs for safely bypassing geo-restrictions.

We recommended NordVPN for thosewho want a high-speed VPN with loads of features, unblocks streaming libraries, and doesn’t compromise on cybersecurity or privacy. It’s one of the best VPN services on the market because it offers an easy-to-use interface and strong security and privacy protections. You can try NordVPN risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

Surfshark offers a high-quality VPN that’s safe and doesn’t skimp on additional features like an ad blocker and Smart DNS. Even better, it’s affordable (starting at $1.99/mo) and boasts 4,500+ servers across 100 countries. With the ability to connect unlimited devices, it can easily protect your entire household. Unlike most competitors, Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial available on all devices as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Although ExpressVPN has a higher price point than top competitors, it’s arguably the most well-known VPN on the planet, offering blazing-fast speeds, top-level security, and an easy-to-use interface. The ExpressVPN app is available on many different devices, unblocking popular streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+. For the price, ExpressVPN provides both quick speeds and advanced security features. ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Bottom line

Proxy servers allow you to browse the internet anonymously and access geo-restricted content. However, VPNs are a better choice if online safety is your main concern. Their encryption provides an extra layer of protection.

They also offer additional security features, such as ad blockers and malware scanning. The best VPNs are also cheaper and have a better price-to-value ratio than proxies. That said, if you just want to unblock something once in a while, a free proxy service should do the trick.

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