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Paid proxy servers vs free proxies: Is paying for a proxy service worth it?
Proxy servers are the middlemen of cyberspace. Acting as gateways between our devices and the Internet, proxy servers are used by businesses and individuals worldwide for a variety of tasks.
While proxy servers were once almost exclusively used by companies to redistribute traffic and load or for caching purposes, they now offer a degree of online anonymity for individuals. Requests you make are first sent to the proxy and then forwarded — and this process assigns you a different IP in the process.
Whether you opt for a paid proxy server or a free option depends on your needs. Casual proxy users might prefer to sign up for a free proxy, whereas companies or individuals who want to explore web scraping will likely need the resources a paid service provides.
Also: Proxy vs. VPN: What is the difference, and which do I need?
In this guide, I will outline the key differences between paid and free proxy services and help you determine which option is the best fit for you.
Paid and free proxies, explained
What is a proxy?
As explained in our guide on the differences between proxy servers and VPNs, a proxy server acts as a gateway between your device and the Internet.
Proxy servers were once mainly used by organizations to handle and distribute visitor traffic or to display cached content in a way that improved loading times and user experiences. However, they are now used for a wider variety of purposes, including web scraping, scanning, web filtering, logging, and enhancing security — for individuals and businesses alike.
Proxies can improve anonymity and hide source IP addresses, allow users to rotate through different IP addresses (a practice often used for purchasing items via proxy servers), and bypass geolocation blocks.
What types of proxies are there?
There are many different types of proxy servers, including but not limited to the following:
- Forward proxies: A client-side proxy (such as one set up on your PC) that hides your IP address.
- Reverse proxies: Often used to thwart distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, reverse proxies act as a line of defense and a barrier between clients and end systems.
- Public proxies: Proxies opened up for public use. These types of proxies are often free.
- Anonymous proxies: Anonymous proxies focus on exactly that — anonymity. They may assign or rotate different IPs, provide encryption, and strip out personal identifiers.
- Residential proxies: These proxies use real, residential IP addresses to make requests appear to come from legitimate sources.
- Data center proxies: Data center proxies are offered by companies to users who need unique, solid IPs for resource-heavy tasks.
- Static or rotating proxies: Static proxies assign users a fixed IP address, whereas dynamic or rotating proxies cycle through different IP addresses.
- Mobile proxies: Often expensive, mobile proxies route traffic using cellular connections. A mobile device–related IP address is assigned.
Proxies may also be categorized based on the protocols they are designed for, including HTTP, FTP, POP3, and SOCKS5.
What are the main differences between a paid and a free proxy?
A paid proxy will often provide users with more resources and features than a free proxy.
You can find some worthwhile free proxy services, but they will be limited in scope and application. Many free servers are limited to web-based proxies, and they may be at higher risk of IP blocking, especially if many account holders are taking advantage of free services.
In comparison, paid options will also offer a broader range of proxy services that you will not find for free. Individuals may be most interested in mobile proxies for accessing geoblocked content, or security-focused proxies with high levels of encryption suitable for anonymous browsing. Businesses, however, may opt for paid proxy services, including dedicated IPs supported by data center systems, or proxies suitable for web scraping through IP rotation and API support.
Also: The best VPN extensions for Chrome: Expert tested and reviewed
Another factor you need to consider is reliability. Paid proxies will either offer a resource quota based on your plan or provide unfettered speeds. They often also guarantee — or at least market themselves as providing — a specific measure of uptime. Speeds and access might be throttled under free accounts, and the service might not be as reliable or accessible as a paid proxy.
Additionally, you can’t expect top-tier security practices or proxy defenses if you haven’t opted for a subscription. Therefore, it is not advisable to use a free proxy for sensitive tasks, such as banking or transferring confidential documents.
As operating proxy infrastructure isn’t free, a free account will likely be heavily restricted — or payment will be taken in other ways, such as through the collection and sale of your data or by bombarding you with ads. In our research, we also found that very few free proxy services offer any customer support.
|
Paid proxies |
Free proxies |
|
Vast range of proxies available |
Mainly web/IP-based |
|
Can provide high levels of security |
Usually limited, not suitable for sensitive tasks |
|
Used for unblocking content, avoiding censorship, private browsing, logging, security tasks, scraping, and more |
Used for unblocking content, limited applications and scope |
|
Can handle heavy traffic loads, fast |
Often limited to one user or shared between free account holders, light traffic, slow |
|
Subscriptions can be expensive |
Free service |
|
Ongoing customer support |
Limited or none |
Should I use a paid or free proxy server?
If you want to learn how proxies work or are trying out a free (or demo) version of a paid proxy you’re interested in, a free proxy can help you on your journey. However, if you require a proxy for continuous use, business purposes, or sensitive tasks, you’ll want to invest in a secure proxy with customer support and high uptime levels.
How do I set up a proxy?
Every proxy service is different, and so are its setup procedures. However, you will usually need to sign up for an account before using either a paid or free proxy, and you will typically provide some basic information, such as an email address and, in the case of a paid proxy, payment details.
Also: How Cisco plans to stop rogue AI agent attacks inside your network
If you are renting proxy server infrastructure, the provider should provide you with the necessary details to configure your proxy once you have signed up successfully.
Alternatively, if you are using your own hardware and devices to set up a basic proxy at home, you can follow the guides provided by Microsoft (for Windows) or Apple (for macOS).
Our recommended proxy services
ZDNET has thoroughly researched a number of popular proxy services, taking into account our own experiences, customer feedback, service offerings, and pricing structures while compiling our recommendations. If you’re interested in exploring what proxy server services can do for you or your business, these are some of our top picks:
Also: The best proxy server services: Expert recommended
Also: How to turn on Android’s Private DNS Mode – and why your security depends on it
Are paid proxy services faster than free ones?
Yes, in almost every circumstance. Free proxy servers usually handle requests from an entire pool of free account holders, thereby reducing their overall capacity, bandwidth, and resources. If you’re paying for a proxy server service, you won’t have to share with so many other users.
Will I get better uptime with a paid proxy service?
It’s likely. Many proxy server services say they offer uptime of 99-something percent, but this may only be provable with paid servers that are under less user strain or have investment poured into them. Free proxies deliver basic proxy functionality and may be more prone to slowness, disconnection, and downtime.
Also: How to remove your personal info from Google Search – it’s quick and easy
Are free proxies safe to use for sensitive or private online activities?
No. If you intend to use a proxy for sensitive activities, confidential document transfers, banking, and so on, you should either use a VPN or sign up for a paid proxy service. Free services do not guarantee security, but paid options usually offer encryption at a minimum.
Can you detect if someone is using a proxy?
Yes, it is possible for websites and online services to detect the use of a proxy — but not always. Bot detection systems, IP blacklists, behavioral analytics services, header and traffic monitoring, and machine learning–based algorithms may be able to detect IP addresses, network and user patterns that suggest the use of a proxy. It’s more likely to happen if a free proxy service is in use.
Are free proxies a cybersecurity risk?
Not always, but there are potential risks that you need to be aware of. Some shady “free” proxy services may compromise your privacy by logging and selling your data. Others aren’t proxy servers at all, and will instead try to lure you into downloading and installing malware.
Also: The best free VPNs: Secure, safe, and tested solutions
That’s not to say all free proxies are scams — far from it. However, they are unlikely to be inherently secure; they may not encrypt your data, and you may be at risk of exposure or data theft.
Do proxies support protocols like SOCKS5 or HTTPS?
Absolutely. The most commonly supported protocols are HTTP and SOCKS. However, depending on their intended use, proxy servers can support a variety of protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS, SOCKS5, TCP, FTP, and ICMP.
Can I use a proxy to unblock streaming services?
Yes. Proxies may offer you a dedicated, static IP address that can help you avoid geoblocked streaming services. Alternatively, you may be able to cycle through IP addresses. However, on occasion, IP addresses associated with proxies may be blocked by streaming platforms and similar services, and so you might have to switch your IP address via your proxy for access.
Should I pay for a proxy if I want to use it casually?
This really depends on what you want to use a proxy for. If you just want occasional access to a website that has been blocked by your ISP or country, a free proxy should be enough. But to reiterate our previous warning: Do not use a free proxy for sensitive tasks. You will also need to expect lower speeds, potentially poor reliability, and a risk of dropped connections.
How do I check to see if a proxy service is a scam?
The first and easiest way is to find out if anyone has had a poor experience with the service you’re considering. Type its name into a search engine along with a phrase such as “proxy.com customer reviews.” You’ll be able to find out what other people are saying. You can also look up the company on Trustpilot.
There are a few signs, too, that a service isn’t what it claims to be. Look for suspicious pop-ups and unwanted downloads, oddly cheap pricing, no customer support channels, and a lack of transparency about the company’s location, number of customers, and whether it adheres to basic security practices. Any of these could indicate that a proxy service is a scam.
What are the main differences between a proxy and a VPN?
A proxy acts as a gateway that is capable of disguising your IP address and spoofing web traffic. A VPN can also disguise your original IP address and assign you a new one, but it encrypts and routes your traffic through its own server networks. This can help prevent you from being tracked.
Also: Best VPNs: I’ve tested countless VPNs to find the fastest and most secure services
Furthermore, VPNs often offer additional security and privacy controls, such as ad and tracker blockers, data leak alerts, and “double VPN” connections to further disguise your online activities.
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