The Best Proxy Software in 2026
We researched proxy software from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core proxy capabilities, value for money and verified features such as network types, rotation controls, protocols and usage limits. This guide helps buyers compare proxy software.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Apache Traffic Server#1 of 349.3/10A self-hosted proxy for caching, TLS termination, traffic control, and extensibility.
Open source
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Runner-up
Squid#2 of 349.1/10A focused open-source choice for caching, reverse proxying, and traffic control.
Free plan
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Top-ranked free plan
Privoxy#3 of 348.7/10A free, open-source proxy for detailed web filtering across desktop systems.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 34 tools, best first
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Best forSelf-hosted web caching and proxy infrastructure
A self-hosted proxy for caching, TLS termination, traffic control, and extensibility.
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Apache ATS -
Best forSelf-hosted caching and reverse proxying
A focused open-source choice for caching, reverse proxying, and traffic control.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Squid -
Best forFiltering and privacy-oriented proxying
A free, open-source proxy for detailed web filtering across desktop systems.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Privoxy -
Best forInspecting and modifying web traffic
A programmable traffic-analysis proxy with broad protocol support and local interfaces.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit mitmproxy -
Best forFree self-hosted multi-protocol proxy servers
A flexible self-hosted proxy server for administrators managing many protocols and traffic rules.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit 3proxy -
Best forBudget-conscious teams needing broad proxy types
Broad proxy coverage, controls and APIs for teams managing varied data-collection workflows.
- API access
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Proxy-Seller -
Best forProxy access across browsers and mobile devices
A broad proxy platform spanning residential, ISP, datacenter, and mobile access.
- API access
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit IPRoyal -
Best forEnterprise residential and mobile proxy access
SOAX combines residential and mobile proxies, rotation, targeting, APIs, and browser integrations.
- API access
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit SOAX -
Best forCloud browser automation with built-in proxies
A cloud browser API for dynamic web data collection with proxy and CAPTCHA capabilities.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Bright Data -
Best forRouting desktop applications through proxies
A capable desktop proxy client for granular routing, monitoring, and proxy chaining.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Proxifier -
Best forAffordable proxy access with a free plan
Webshare combines a free tier with broad proxy types, targeting, rotation, and API access.
- API access
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Webshare -
Best forMature, protocol-rich proxy infrastructure
A mature proxy platform with broad network coverage, targeting, protocols, and usage-based pricing.
- API access
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Rayobyte -
Best forLow-cost proxy variety and integrations
A broad, low-cost proxy platform with flexible targeting and API access.
- API access
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit HProxy -
Best forBroad proxy coverage with global targeting
A broad proxy service with flexible targeting, rotating sessions, and usage-based pricing.
- API access
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit DataImpulse -
Best forSimple residential proxy access
A straightforward $1/GB residential proxy service for targeted public-web access.
- API access
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit PacketStream -
Best forManaged proxy pools with usage-based pricing
A multi-network proxy platform with targeting, rotation, APIs, and usage-based plans.
- API access
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Infatica -
Best forLarge residential proxy teams
A broad proxy platform for teams managing targeted, high-volume web data workflows.
- API access
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit ProxyEmpire -
Best forProxy automation with developer integrations
Broad proxy coverage and developer tooling, with usage-based pricing and no free plan.
- API access
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit KnoxProxy -
Best forLow-cost managed proxy pools
A broad proxy network with flexible targeting, protocols and usage options.
- API access
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Proxiware -
Best forAutomation teams needing many integrations
A broad proxy platform for automation teams that need APIs, targeting and integrations.
- API access
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Proxora -
Best forHigh-concurrency proxy operations
A broad proxy platform for teams running concurrent, location-specific workflows.
- API access
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Bytedocks -
Best forFree SOCKS proxy servers with access control
A configurable self-hosted SOCKS proxy for organizations that need access control.
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Dante -
Best forAdvanced Mac and iOS traffic control
A highly configurable proxy client for advanced Mac and iOS traffic control.
- API access
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Surge -
Best forLightweight self-hosted HTTP proxying
A compact open-source proxy for administrators who want self-hosted control.
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Tinyproxy -
Best forLinux users chaining proxies for command-line apps
A free command-line utility for routing supported TCP apps through configured proxy chains.
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Proxychains-ng -
Best forOperators needing a multi-protocol gateway
A free, self-hosted gateway for protocol-aware proxying and TCP or UDP relay.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit DeleGate -
Best forBrowser users switching among configured proxies
Open-source proxy controls for switching, routing URLs and managing configured connections.
- API access
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit FoxyProxy -
Best forWindows users testing and switching proxy lists
A Windows proxy manager with discovery, testing, organization, and automatic switching.
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Proxy Switcher -
Best forUnlimited-bandwidth private proxy plans
A paid proxy service with unlimited bandwidth, flexible rotation and documented concurrency limits.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Storm Proxies -
Best forResidential and USA mobile proxy access
A flexible proxy service for residential and USA mobile access with targeted sessions.
- API access
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit HydraProxy -
Best forManaged mobile proxy teams
A device-based proxy service with rotation, APIs, webhooks, and team controls.
- API access
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit FalconProxy -
Best forEnterprise SERP scraping with proxy infrastructure
A specialized API for geo-targeted, multi-engine SERP collection at scale.
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Oxylabs -
Best forSERP collection with managed proxy handling
A focused SERP scraping API with managed proxies, geo-targeting, and structured outputs.
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Decodo -
Best forLow-cost proxy deployment with browser support
Flexible proxy coverage with browser tools, API access, and a $0.20 per-proxy entry price.
- API access
5.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Proxy-Cheap
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Proxy networks | IP rotation | Supported protocols | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apache Traffic Server | Free | 9.3 | ||||
| 2 | Squid | Yes | Free | 9.1 | |||
| 3 | Privoxy | Yes | Free | 8.7 | |||
| 4 | mitmproxy | Yes | Free | 8.6 | |||
| 5 | 3proxy | Yes | Free | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, SOCKS4.5, SOCKS5, FTP, POP3, SMTP, IMAP, DNS, TCP, UDP | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, SOCKS4.5, SOCKS5, FTP, TCP, UDP | 8.5 | |
| 6 | Proxy-Seller | No | $1.45/GB/mo | residential, ISP, mobile, datacenter, IPv4, IPv6 | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 8.4 |
| 7 | IPRoyal | No | Residential, ISP, Datacenter, Mobile | Both | HTTP/HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 8.3 | |
| 8 | SOAX | Yes | $200/mo | residential, mobile | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 8.2 |
| 9 | Bright Data Browser API | Yes | $499/mo | 8.1 | |||
| 10 | Proxifier | No | $39.95/device one-time | SOCKS4, SOCKS4A, SOCKS5, HTTPS, HTTP | 7.9 | ||
| 11 | Webshare | Yes | $2.99/mo | datacenter, static residential/ISP, rotating residential | Both | HTTP, SOCKS5 | 7.9 |
| 12 | Rayobyte | Yes | $0.23/GB usage-based | residential, ISP, datacenter, mobile | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5, SOCKS5 UDP, HTTP/3, STUN | 7.8 |
| 13 | HProxy | No | $0.10/device/mo | residential, datacenter, ISP, mobile | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 7.7 |
| 14 | DataImpulse | No | $5/GB usage-based | residential, mobile, datacenter, premium residential | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 7.6 |
| 15 | PacketStream | No | $1/GB usage-based | residential | Both | HTTPS, SOCKS5, HTTP | 7.5 |
| 16 | Infatica | No | $1/device/mo | residential, residential IPv6, mobile, static ISP, shared datacenter, dedicated datacenter | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 7.4 |
| 17 | ProxyEmpire | No | $2/device/mo | rotating residential, static residential, rotating mobile, dedicated mobile, rotating datacenter, unlimited residential | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5, HTTP/2 | 7.3 |
| 18 | KnoxProxy | No | $1.65/GB/mo | residential, ISP, mobile, datacenter, rotating, dedicated, IPv6 | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 7.2 |
| 19 | Proxiware | No | $0.50/device/mo | residential, mobile, ISP, datacenter | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 7.1 |
| 20 | Proxora | No | $0.23/device/mo | rotating residential, rotating mobile, rotating datacenter, static residential, datacenter IPv4, datacenter IPv6 | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 6.9 |
| 21 | Bytedocks | No | residential, premium residential, mobile, ISP, datacenter | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5, HTTP/3 | 6.8 | |
| 22 | Dante | Yes | Free | SOCKS 4, SOCKS 5, HTTP CONNECT, UPnP | 6.7 | ||
| 23 | Surge | No | HTTP, HTTPS, HTTP/2 CONNECT, SOCKS5, SOCKS5-TLS, Shadowsocks, Snell, VMess, Trojan, TUIC, Hysteria 2, MASQUE, AnyTLS, Trust Tunnel, SSH, WireGuard, Tailscale | HTTP, HTTPS, HTTP/2 CONNECT, SOCKS5, SOCKS5-TLS, Shadowsocks, Snell, VMess, Trojan, TUIC, Hysteria 2, MASQUE, AnyTLS, Trust Tunnel, SSH, WireGuard, Tailscale | 6.6 | ||
| 24 | Tinyproxy | Free | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, SOCKS5 | 6.5 | |||
| 25 | Proxychains-ng | Yes | Free | SOCKS4a, SOCKS5, HTTP | 6.4 | ||
| 26 | DeleGate | Yes | Free | HTTP, SOCKS, TCP, UDP | HTTP, FTP, Telnet, NNTP, SMTP, POP, IMAP, LPR, LDAP, ICP, DNS, SSL, SOCKS, TCP, UDP | 6.3 | |
| 27 | FoxyProxy | Yes | $7.49/mo | Datacenter proxies | Static | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 6.2 |
| 28 | Proxy Switcher | Yes | HTTP, SOCKS v4, SOCKS v5, Elite, Elite-SSL, password-protected/private proxies | Both | HTTP, HTTPS/SSL, SOCKS v4, SOCKS v5 | 6.1 | |
| 29 | Storm Proxies | No | residential, datacenter | Both | 6.0 | ||
| 30 | HydraProxy | No | residential, mobile, static mobile, international mobile, ISP | Both | HTTPS, SOCKS | 5.9 | |
| 31 | FalconProxy | No | $96/device/yr | mobile, residential | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 5.8 |
| 32 | Oxylabs SERP Scraper API | No | $49/mo | 5.7 | |||
| 33 | Decodo SERP Scraping API | Yes | $19/mo | 5.6 | |||
| 34 | Proxy-Cheap | No | $0.20/device/mo | residential, ISP, datacenter, mobile | Both | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | 5.5 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- Apache Traffic Server vs Squid
- Apache Traffic Server vs Privoxy
- Apache Traffic Server vs mitmproxy
- Apache Traffic Server vs 3proxy
- Apache Traffic Server vs Proxy-Seller
- Apache Traffic Server vs IPRoyal
- Apache Traffic Server vs SOAX
- Squid vs Privoxy
- Squid vs mitmproxy
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How we rank proxy software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update