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Head-to-head · Forward Proxy Software

Squid vs Tinyproxy

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Squid #2 in Forward Proxy Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Squid
Tinyproxy #4 in Forward Proxy Software 8.4/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Tinyproxy

Squid leads on 0 checks, Tinyproxy on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSquid · 9.1/10
  • Free planonly Squid

Squid scores higher on our rubric for forward proxy software: 9.1 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

Squid is the better fit for free caching and enterprise-style proxy control. Tinyproxy is the better fit for lightweight self-hosted HTTP proxying.

  • Squid fits best

    Free caching and enterprise-style proxy control

  • Tinyproxy fits best

    Lightweight self-hosted HTTP proxying

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.

Side by side

Feature Squid 9.1/10 Visit ↗ Tinyproxy 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 8.4
Ranking #2 in Forward Proxy Software #4 in Forward Proxy Software
Best for Free caching and enterprise-style proxy control Lightweight self-hosted HTTP proxying
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Linux, macOS
Support Email, Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Squid 0/3 · Tinyproxy 0/3
SSL inspection Not checked yet Not checked yet
Web filtering Not checked yet Not checked yet
User authentication Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment Not checked yet Not checked yet
Proxy protocols Not checked yet Not checked yet
Concurrent connections Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free, open-source deployment with no commercial license tier
  • Caches HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and gopher content in memory or on disk
  • ACLs, cache peering, load balancing, and request logging support control
  • Supports HTTP/HTTPS, transparent, reverse, and upstream proxy modes
  • Provides filtering, authentication, access rules, and header management
  • Runs across Linux, macOS, and self-hosted deployments
Cons
  • Self-hosted deployment requires your team to manage the server
  • Configuration spans proxy, cache, access-control, and peer settings
  • Not a vendor-managed cloud proxy service
  • Self-hosted software requires administrators to manage deployment and operation
  • Focused on proxy administration rather than a hosted proxy network
  • No AI features are included
Our verdict

Squid is an open-source, self-hosted forward proxy caching server for network operators, websites, and organizations managing web traffic. It caches and reuses HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and gopher objects, with support for both in-memory and…

Read the review →

Tinyproxy is an open-source HTTP/HTTPS proxy daemon for POSIX systems and resource-constrained environments. It is suited to administrators managing small networks, embedded deployments, network appliances, and other self-hosted…

Read the review →
  1. SquidForward Proxy Software 9.1Free plan
  2. TinyproxyForward Proxy Software 8.4Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Squid — where it wins

    • Free, open-source deployment with no commercial license tier
    • Caches HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and gopher content in memory or on disk
    • ACLs, cache peering, load balancing, and request logging support control

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires your team to manage the server
    • Configuration spans proxy, cache, access-control, and peer settings
    • Not a vendor-managed cloud proxy service

  • Tinyproxy — where it wins

    • Supports HTTP/HTTPS, transparent, reverse, and upstream proxy modes
    • Provides filtering, authentication, access rules, and header management
    • Runs across Linux, macOS, and self-hosted deployments

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted software requires administrators to manage deployment and operation
    • Focused on proxy administration rather than a hosted proxy network
    • No AI features are included

More comparisons

All forward proxy software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update