But why does the world need services like proxies? We hear you ask.
Today, internet users remain at risk of malware threats like botnets and ransomware attacks. Precisely, the most targeted devices include private ones like baby monitors, phones, and PCs, thus posing a continuous risk to online privacy.
Consequently, people keep looking for ways to make their online activities anonymous.
Besides, many other factors compel web users to consider surfing the internet in incognito mode.
For instance, content geo-blocking by an organization, school, or government restricts you from accessing certain websites and information of interest. Such censorship by your university, government, or other institution suppresses your internet freedom.
Another significant reason why more people turn to free proxy servers is privacy. Of course, that is a good thing; you should keep your privacy intact always.
However, many people get confused about web proxies and VPNs, considering them the same. Nonetheless, both are different.
If you’re also confused about the differences in functionalities when comparing a VPN vs. proxy, then look no further. With this article, you’ll find the answers to all your queries and an updated list of the top proxy sites available today.
Best proxy sites 2022 – Quick list
Are you in a rush to get straight to the top proxy websites that work? Then, check out this list of the top 10 free web-based proxies.
- Whoer – Fastest free proxy, but it’s not web-based. It rather comes as an extension for all popular browsers.
- CroxyProxy – Boasts advanced IP hiding technology.
- Tor – Not a proxy, technically. But it is among the most-used services by proxy users online for accessing censored and restricted websites.
- Proxify – Not free for life but offers a free 3-day trial.
- Ninja Cloak – Allows surfing the internet anonymously without costing anything.
- Privoxy – Has advanced filtering facilities.
- UnblockVideo – Excellent compatibility on both desktop and mobile devices’ browsers.
- TurboHide – Provides added privacy features.
- Zend2 – Best for unblocking social media platforms.
- Anonymizing – Boasts robust encryption alongside effective capabilities of keeping sensitive information protected.
Want to discover some more? Read along to get your hands on the complete list of the 31 best free proxies.
Heads-up: If you need to access some sensitive information, perform an online transaction, or become completely anonymous online for any reason, you should only go with a premium VPN like ExpressVPN. However, if you have an insignificant task such as accessing information blocked in your region, free proxy sites online will do the job. Also, some proxy domains are blocked for users in certain countries. In such cases, you’d need to connect to a VPN to be able to use your desired proxy.
What is an online web proxy?
A web proxy is a secure mediator between you and the websites you visit. You often do not need to sign up and log into a web proxy server before accessing any site.
A proxy server acts as a ‘go-between.’ It facilitates your internet traffic flow through it before traveling to the desired website. In this way, it communicates your request to the website using a unique IP address different from your public IP address. It, in turn, hides your identity from the websites you visit.
See Also: Best proxy service providers today
How to unblock a website with a free proxy
After choosing a free proxy, here’s how to unblock your desired website. (While there can be subtle changes in the options, the following steps apply to pretty much all proxy sites listed here.)
- Go to your chosen free proxy site via your web browser.
- Select an appropriate server from the given options to change your IP address.
- Next, paste the URL of your desired website in the given space.
- Press the “Enter” button on your keyboard or click on the given option to start browsing your site.
Top 31 free web proxies in the market today (all working)
Now that you’ve learned all the basics, it is time to jump onto the list of top proxy websites that you can use. You will also find some necessary details about each handpicked (and tested) free proxy site online listed here. Let’s dive in.
1. Whoer
- Direct link: https://whoer.net/webproxy
Voted as one of the best web proxy servers in the world today by users, Whoer is more than your typical free web proxy.
Apart from the usual web proxy security functions, Whoer allows users to change their IP addresses faster than most other rival proxies.
Aside from providing fast speed, the Whoer proxy network allows users to test their internet speeds. It also allows you to follow the information on specific websites and run ping tests to determine server response times.
Users can choose between nine proxy servers scattered in European countries and the United States.
Whoer is not a web-based free proxy online. Instead, it’s available as a browser extension that you need to add to your respective browser. It is available for Opera, Google Chrome, Mozilla, and Yandex browsers.
2. CroxyProxy
- Direct link: https://www.croxyproxy.com/
This web-based proxy service allows users to conduct their online activities in incognito mode. CroxyProxy ensures your security and privacy are unbreakable by hackers and spies. The proxy does that all using its advanced IP hiding technology.
Generally, CroxyProxy bears a user-friendly interface. While using this service, all it takes is to paste the URL of the target website to unblock it. The service also offers a premium proxy that delivers an ad-free experience.
Based on your country, you might receive an error message such as “this website cannot be reached” or “the site can’t establish a secure connection” when accessing CroxyProxy. If so, you can either connect to a VPN first to unblock it or turn to its Chrome extension to use the proxy that way.
3. Tor
- Direct link: https://www.torproject.org/download/
As one of the most trusted web proxy services, the Tor browser is popular among users who want to hide their identity online, especially while accessing blocked websites.
Technically speaking, Tor is not a free web proxy site. It, instead, is a free project that envisions protecting general users’ privacy and security. Also, it offers all users globally uncensored and unrestricted access to websites.
With Tor, users can easily mask their IP addresses and original location online.
4. Proxify.com
- Direct link: http://proxify.com/
Proxify ensures user anonymity by directing internet traffic through encrypted connections. It works on all major web browsers and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
The service is not entirely free. Instead, it’s a pro proxy with a free 3-day trial. With this proxy, you can choose from over 1000 different servers worldwide. Agreeably, that vast pool of proxy servers can help access blocked websites quickly.
5. Ninja Cloak
- Direct link: https://proxysite.cloud/
Next on this free proxy list is Ninja Cloak, which has now been moved to proxysite.cloud. It is a free website that allows you to surf the internet incognito by masking your IP address.
Besides, Ninja Cloak Proxy also creates a barrier between you and the visited website. That protects you from hackers, trojans, worms, and other malicious stuff online.
6. Privoxy.org
- Direct link: https://www.privoxy.org/
Privoxy is another customizable free proxy that boasts advanced filtering facilities. Specifically, it allows users to enhance privacy by modifying HTTP headers and web page data and controlling access. Plus, this free program also helps remove obnoxious internet junk, such as ads.
Being licensed under the GNU GPLv2, this proxy is free software offering dedicated apps for both multi-user networks and stand-alone systems.
7. UnblockVideo
- Direct link: https://unblockvideo.net/
The UnblockVideo proxy site enables users to unblock video content by proxying their internet connection. Even though it cannot access YouTube, you can still stream from Pluto TV, Xumo, Tubi TV, or platforms that offer unlicensed content using this proxy. It’s among the most-loved proxies for users looking for the best sites to watch movies and TV shows for free but then realize one of those video sites is geo-restricted.
Unfortunately, even though UnblockVideo has comparatively more servers from other entries on our list (6 in Canada, Amsterdam, and Singapore), it does not have a US server. It’s a bummer for people who want to watch US-only content.
Also, UnblockVideo isn’t very user-friendly. When entering a new URL, UnblockVideo displays a white text box (on white background). That means what you type won’t be visible to you. In addition, some sites may not load properly, displaying on-page elements randomly. We encountered this problem when accessing Xumo TV using the service.
Being a simple web proxy, UnblockVideo.net acts as an intermediary server between a user and the internet by changing its original geographical location. That allows users to access blocked websites in a particular jurisdiction.
8. TurboHide.org
- Direct link: https://www.turbohide.org/
TurboHide is another free web proxy service that hides your IP address and offers an SSL encryption feature for better privacy.
9. Zend2
- Direct link: https://zend2.com/
Zend2 is among the best free proxy websites for social media platforms, including YouTube and Facebook.
While not all web proxies available today support social platforms, Zend2 does. That is because it runs on the online anonymous online casino server.
If you are up to watching videos on the Google-owned video-sharing platform Youtube, this is probably the best (and straightforward to use) unblock YouTube proxy you can have.
10. Anonymizing
- Direct link: https://anonymizing.com/
With Anonymizing, you get a proxy site that is simple, but effective. Based in Germany, it gives you access to most websites, including Facebook and YouTube. This proxy service only has one server, but this does not mean it is weak.
A key strength of anonymizing is its security. Encrypting pages and URLs or removing scripts are a few safety options you can enable. Also, all cookies get deleted following a browsing session. The site also employs SSL encryption, making sensitive information secure.
It offers users some encryption on top of enabling them to unblock all blocked websites free of charge.
11. Megaproxy
- Direct link: https://www.megaproxy.com.ar/en/
Megaproxy is a unique free proxy service. It masks users’ IP addresses and hides the browser and the operating system from prying eyes online (at least as it claims).
12. VPNBook Proxy
- Direct link: https://www.vpnbook.com/webproxy
VPNBook is a robust proxy service offered by a fine VPN service provider.
It provides users with encrypted connections with different IP addresses that support HTTPS.
13. Hidester Proxy
- Direct link: https://hidester.com/proxy/
Hidester is a free web proxy with a Chrome extension that allows limited proxy locations similar to Hide.me proxy.
As with other proxies, Hidester allows you to bypass geo-restrictions. It also supports SSL encryption and protects users from malicious programs and scripts.
14. XRoxy.com
- Direct link: https://www.xroxy.com/
The XRoxy website allows users to hide their IP addresses and access blocked sites easily.
It offers a wide range of unique IP addresses and locations that allow users to access any restricted content.
15. NewIPNow.com
- Direct link: https://newipnow.com/
The NewIPNow model differs from what we have seen so far. There is no free version of the service, and it is a tier-based paid service.
There are different prices per month for the number of servers users want. The cost of 10 private proxies per month is $8.80, and that of 25 private proxies per month is $22.
The customization options and pricing make it only suitable for commercial purposes. It’s much better to spend some money on a tool like VPN if you’re willing to get better anonymity online.
As the name suggests, NewIPNow allows users to select a new IP address that fits their preferences.
It does not choose an IP address automatically but offers its users the liberty to select a foreign IP address that best suits them.
16. FilterByPass
- Direct link: https://www.filterbypass.me/
FilterByPass.me is a web proxy suitable for video sites, providing quick incognito access to several popular platforms.
Being among the top proxy sites for Youtube and other video portals, it supports the leading streaming platforms. The sites include Facebook, YouTube, NowVideo, and DailyMotion, to name a few.
The best thing about this fast and free proxy is it offers a free Chrome extension.
17. Dontfilter.us
- Direct link: http://dontfilter.us/
Dontfilter.us offers its users five outstanding online privacy enhancement options.
Its features include page encryption, URL encryption, and object removal. You can also enable or disable cookies alongside eliminating scripts on a page.
While it is an easy-to-use service, it has a major flaw. The site lacks an SSL certificate, which means your traffic might remain exposed when you use it).
Therefore, you should only use this service for accessing non-sensitive information online.
18. ProxyScrape
- Direct link: https://proxyscrape.com/web-proxy
ProxyScrape’s anonymous proxy is an incredible collection of web proxies allowing users to enjoy the best anonymous browsing experience.
On top of enabling users to access the blocked sites, the site boasts fast speeds and customizability. You can connect to any HTTP, Socks4, or Socks5 proxy by choosing one from the lists of proxies available here.
Unlike most sites listed above, it automatically deploys all the security features without requiring your input. The features include URL encryption, page encryption, scripts, and object removal. It also allows you to enable/disable cookies.
Like many other options on the list, this one might also be blocked by your ISP if you’re in a heavily censored country such as China, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan (to name a few). In that case, you’ll need to connect to a VPN first and then visit the site.
19. SSLSecureProxy.com
- Direct link: https://www.sslsecureproxy.com/
SSLSecureProxy is a fast proxy site with no bandwidth limitations. Like other best proxies listed in this article, SSLSecureProxy helps bypass firewalls and internet filters securely and anonymously. That means you can avoid blocks imposed by offices, schools, or countries.
In essence, the service ensures your online activities remain private while surfing through their servers. It also claims to implement a no-logs policy, and any user data gets automatically deleted within 2 hours.
20. 4everproxy.com
- Direct link: https://www.4everproxy.com/
4everproxy is one of the best free proxy sites for videos. It helps you unblock YouTube and other videos.
The service changes your geographical location without compromising speeds that much.
21. KProxy.com
- Direct link: http://kproxy.com/
KProxy is an ad-free web proxy that is portable and free. The proxy is available as an extension on the leading internet browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome.
KProxy also offers KProxy Browser for users who do not have Firefox or Chrome. KProxy Browser is a downloadable portable Firefox browser configured with the KProxy Extension.
22. CyberGhost free proxy extension
CyberGhost, which primarily is a premium VPN, also offers a free proxy extension that does not require registration. Available for Chrome and Firefox, it provides access to eight servers in four countries (Romania, Germany, US, and Netherlands).
Our testers were instantly connected to CyberGhost proxy’s server after clicking the Power button. We were able to change the IP address within seconds after selecting the server location of our choice. In particular, we were impressed by how smoothly Netflix worked and how no buffering occurred during streaming.
Due to the fact that it is a free proxy, it provides limited protection against WebRTC leaks. There is, understandably, no unlimited bandwidth available in the free version.
23. Hide.me Proxy
- Direct link: https://hide.me/en/proxy
Hide.me is a premium VPN service provider. It offers a free web proxy that does not store any of your databases or IP addresses for a long time.
The firm’s premium VPN services save users from popup windows and annoying advertisements.
Compared with other popular web proxies, Hide.me Proxy has emerged as the fastest free web proxy. The provider has made a name for keeping users anonymous online already.
24. HideMyAss
- Direct link: https://www.hidemyass.com/en-us/proxy
HideMyAss Proxy is the best web proxy option available today as far as the popularity among users is concerned.
HMA is probably the oldest web proxy available on the internet.
It is a collection of VPN proxies from all corners of the world. Like Hide.me and CyberGhost, HMA offers both VPN and proxy services to its customers.
25. ProxySite.com
- Direct link: https://www.proxysite.com/
ProxySite.com is another quality free web proxy offering premium VPN options alongside its wide array of services.
On top of the standard features that other best proxies in this list boast, ProxySite offers some advanced features, too.
You can make changes in the ‘Settings’ tab on ProxySite to set your preferred browser that you want the target site to see. This means you can fake your browser alongside masking IP addresses with ProxySite.
26. ProxFree.com
- Direct link: https://www.proxfree.com/
ProxFree is an authoritative free anonymous proxy site offering four servers in Europe and seven in North America. It serves a wide geographical area with robust security.
27. FreeProxy.Win
- Direct link: https://freeproxy.win/
FreeProxy.Win lets its users choose one of its 13 proxy servers spread across the US and UK.
You can pick a random IP with this relatively new but promising free proxy site.
28. Weboproxy.com
- Direct link: https://weboproxy.com/
Weboproxy is a Tor-powered web proxy that enables users to access blocked sites with additional security online.
It is a compelling proxy option, as you can surf any website with Tor on or off.
29. Anonymizer/nntime.com
- Direct link: http://nntime.com/
Anonymizer is a free and reliable web proxy list provider. It features proxies operating around filters that help unblock social media platforms. Users also use it to access video streaming websites like Facebook and YouTube.
30. GenMirror.com
- Direct link: http://genmirror.com/
The last on this list of free web proxies is GenMirror. Designed to be a YouTube unblocker, it is the preferred proxy for binge-watchers.
31. Bright Data
- Direct link: https://brightdata.com/
It’s not a free proxy but a paid website scraping proxy solution that’s best for small businesses, NGOs, and large enterprises that need to retrieve online data for big data analysis.
Using search engines and websites to scrape information, it collects market intelligence.
With Bright Data, users are able to scrape data anonymously from websites using a large set of proxies. Its pricing range from $2-$10 per GB.
Hold on, where can I get a Netflix proxy?
You should better not waste your time and energy searching for a proxy to unblock Netflix.
Why? We hear you ask.
First up, Netflix filters and detectors are hard to fool. As soon as you access it using a free Netflix proxy, it won’t take the giant media services and production firm to find out that you are spoofing your real location.
Netflix detects that you’re using a proxy and blocks your streaming session within 5-10 minutes at max. (That stands true as per our experience and extensive tests.) Hence, you get that annoying Netflix proxy error to ruin your streaming experience.
Secondly, on top of getting caught, remember that free web proxies are not entirely safe. And your Netflix account boasts your data, including credit or debit card details, that you can’t afford to lose at the hands of perpetrators.
So it is advisable never to log into your Netflix account under a proxy site.
Instead of turning to free Netflix proxies, you can opt for reputed VPN services. Use a top Netflix VPN such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN to access Netflix content that you cannot watch in your country otherwise.
Is there any Pirate Bay proxy for me?
You probably have heard about TPB (The Pirate Bay), or perhaps you visit the site regularly. Since Pirate Bay is the biggest torrent website globally, that is not a surprise.
However, there is no guarantee that you can use Pirate Bay whenever you wish to download new music, e-books, software, movies, or other content.
At times, the website may be down for some unknown reason. But mostly, it is blocked for users deliberately by the concerned authorities.
Your ISP might block traffic to TPB purposefully to limit your access to copyrighted content, depending on your location.
Internet service providers also throttle your torrent downloads to control the amount of data you can transfer using torrent websites like TPB or Pirate Bay alternative sites in a specific timeframe.
Most free proxies mentioned above won’t work with Pirate Bay and other torrent portals. That is because even the best torrent websites bring in serious heat from authorities worldwide.
So, for people who want to access torrent sites such as TPB, below is a list of Pirate Bay proxies:
- piratebay-tracker.org
- piratebay-tracker.com
- the-pirate-bay.net
- 1-thepiratebay.org/en
- pirate-bay.online
- piratebay.co.com/en
- tpb-proxy.org/en
- torrentscan.com/pirate-bay
Note: We have picked the Pirate Bay proxies listed above after thoroughly testing numerous proxies. These are all secure (use SSL) and fast. Also, the article is updated regularly as we keep testing all the proxies and replace any that stops working.
Drawbacks of proxy sites
Regardless of which free proxy you pick, you will always face some limitations.
You might notice that you could encrypt only a specific number of cookies each month. And the worst thing about these proxies (especially free ones) is that you get to face traffic limits.
Another notable disadvantage of proxies is that they sometimes make a site display inappropriately, blocking certain elements to keep you safe.
Whether paid or free, all proxy sites only suffice to unblock a specific amount of content and get around firewalls. However, you cannot access all the blocked sites with proxies.
Also, they cannot guarantee you protection against your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or hackers’ monitoring. Also, free proxies always risk your activities to online tracking.
Moreover, you may also experience the following disadvantages of proxies:
- They offer only very basic privacy protection.
- You cannot access blocked sites without needing to access a web proxy first.
- Not all sites can be unblocked.
- Limited servers and traffic restrictions.
- You usually experience bad performance.
If you want robust protection from hackers, malware, and monitoring, you might want to better opt for a premium VPN such as ExpressVPN or Surfshark.
In many aspects, a VPN is the best tool for privacy protection that lets you unblock Youtube or any other site on the planet securely. That is because a VPN hides your IP and encrypts all internet traffic, thus keeping your online activities anonymous.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) – What is it?
The most popular, reliable, and safest way to protect your online activities is through a Virtual Private Network.
Using a virtual private network (or a VPN), you can hide your IP address, similar to a web proxy, but better.
Simply put, connecting to your preferred VPN service provider before going online hides your real identity using a virtual IP address. However, the service also encrypts your data, rendering it uncompromisable as you surf the internet.
You can say robust encryption is what makes VPNs superior to web proxies.
Difference between a web proxy and a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Both VPNs and web proxies assist you in surfing the internet anonymously.
So, the question arises which option among the two is better than the other?
Although they both bypass geolocation restrictions and provide users with internet confidentiality, they differ. Below is a quick look at the key factors that distinguish these two services.
Speed
Virtual Private Networks, particularly the free ones, tend to be slower than proxy servers. That is because web proxies do not encrypt user information.
However, purchasing a premium VPN service ensures you enjoy a faster-online experience that is safe and secure.
Technology
A VPN service and a free online proxy serve a similar purpose as they act as an intermediary. Both service providers mask your IP address and respond to your requests.
Yet, Virtual Private Networks include a tunneling process that facilitates a direct and secure connection between a user and the VPN server.
At the same time, a web proxy is an open port available for internet users.
Besides, web proxy users share a single IP address, while VPN users are assigned different IP addresses every time they connect to a server. While most VPN servers also have shared IPs, not dedicated ones, they offer more IP addresses than free proxy servers.
Cost
Thanks to the lesser technology costs involved for the provider compared to VPNs, web proxies are usually cheaper or even free.
Yes, VPNs are affordable nowadays (costing as little as 3.5 US dollars per month). Yet, the market is flooded by good free proxies that promise stealthy security and privacy.
Both services do the job if you wish to access a restricted site. But using a VPN service is great if you can afford to pay a few bucks a month.
Why? Because VPNs provide the highest possible level of security, especially if you expect the service provider to take care of your digital safety and privacy.
Though there are a few reliable free VPN services in the market, users should approach them cautiously. Anything free today boasts a hidden cost; in the case of free VPNs, this cost might be your privacy.
Security
As mentioned above, even the best online web proxy is usually less secure than VPNs.
A web proxy will only grant you access to a geo-blocked site by replacing your IP address without encrypting your data. While a quality VPN like NordVPN or ExpressVPN will do both.
Please note a VPN or any security tool alone cannot cover all your digital tracks. Some advanced methods can allow third parties to uncover your online identity.
Two such techniques include browser fingerprinting and WebRTC leaks. However, in most cases, a VPN shields you against both, at least better than a proxy would do.
Things to consider before picking a free proxy
Like anything free online, free web proxies boast some constraints. But web proxies serve a good purpose if one needs to access the blocked content for a quick session or short-term anonymity online.
Of course, every proxy service claims to be the best, which isn’t the case. Therefore, you should research well before picking one to use.
Before choosing a free proxy service, here are a few key points to consider.
Reliability of the proxy provider
Reputation is everything. The first thing you should consider in a free web proxy website is its credibility. Besides carrying a risk of adware and other malware, untested or unknown proxies might not perform as advertised.
Servers offered
You first must check the variety and number of servers among the proxy features. The more, the better.
Also, your chosen proxy service should have servers near your location. That’s because a nearby server will likely offer faster internet speeds, which you might not get when connected to a distant server.
You should be skeptical if a proxy site doesn’t provide service details or allow you to pick them yourself. However, it isn’t a weird behavior since even some of the best free proxies do not offer server selection.
Here again, the reputation comes in. If other people have had a satisfactory experience with the service, you might be okay with letting the proxy service automatically choose a server for you.
Customizability
Besides hiding your IP address, a top free web proxy should also offer some additional customizability. For instance, look for the options to disable cookies, encrypt page content and URLs, and block objects and scripts.
Fortunately, most web proxies in this post boast these additional security features and customizability. Hence, you can expect to get decent protection online when using these proxies without paying anything.
But remember, if you fancy the absolute best protection tool, nothing beats a top-quality VPN.
Ironically, you might even need a premium VPN to unblock proxy sites sometimes. However, that’s mostly at places like schools and offices since they often block proxy servers.
Note: Since proxies merely unblock sites and hide one’s IP address, they are not an alternative to VPNs. In cases where you need absolute protection online or a proxy asks you to upgrade, you should better use a tested VPN like ExpressVPN.
Conclusion
All the proxy services listed above are good options to consider when choosing a reliable proxy site for your short-term secure browsing session.
Yet, even the very best free proxy sites online are inferior to virtual private networks (VPNs). That is because they cannot offer 100 percent anonymity.
If you want to know about VPNs in detail, please read this beginner’s VPN guide.
FAQs
Most free proxy services are safe to use. However, you should avoid using free proxy sites lacking HTTPS encryption. That’s because browsing activities through these sites remain visible online, risking your privacy.
Usually, free proxy services are traceable. Since most log users’ data, they can hand over your details to your governments as and when required. Besides, tracing identities is also possible via paid proxy services using your payment information. However, if your chosen proxy service provider does not log users’ data and accepts anonymous payments, it’s difficult for third parties to trace your activities with a proxy.
Using proxy services is legal in most countries, particularly those that mark VPNs legal. However, for repressive regions like China, North Korea, or Iran that prohibit VPN use, using proxies can cause legal troubles for the users.
Featured image courtesy of Pixabay.
