How Does a Web Proxy Work?
A web proxy allows you to mask your own IP address. When you use a web proxy, your requests to websites are routed through a proxy server - a web server that sits in between your computer and the resources you want to access. By the time your request makes it to the blocked website address, it looks like it has come from a completely different location.
Who Needs a Web Proxy?
A web proxy is useful for many reasons. Some people use an anonymous web proxy for privacy - so that other machines on the internet cannot tell where their traffic is coming from, protecting them from malicious attacks. Some proxy servers also provide a VPN - an encrypted connection for increased security and privacy.
Another use case for a web proxy is to disguise your actual IP address so that it looks like requests from your machine are coming from a different location. In this way, you can use a web proxy to make it look like your machine is in the same country as the website address you are trying to access.
For example, if you live in Colombia, but the Youtube you content you want to access is only available in the US, you can use a web proxy to make it look like your computer is actually in the US.
Best Free Web Proxies
Now that we've discussed how web proxies work and what they can be used for, let's take a look at some of the top free web proxy service solutions available today.
1. Kproxy - Best for most people
Kproxy gives you access to 10 different servers to choose from, in different locations around the world. It's easy to use as you can access blocked websites directly through your browser. Just navigate to the Kproxy homepage and type the website address into their search bar. You'll be taken to the web page through their proxy server.
Kproxy also offers browser extensions so you can access blocked content at any time, without having to go through their website. To use the Kproxy browser extension, just add it via the Chrome, Edge, or Firefox web store. Once added, the extension can be enabled and all your browser traffic will be routed through a remote server. You can choose servers in Canada or Germany for free - if you want a server in the US, you will need to upgrade, so for those specifically looking for a way to access blocked content in the US, this may not be the best option.
Pros
- completely free for life
- can use straight from their homepage without any software installation
- Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browser extensions available
- free downloadable browser that can be used instead of Firefox, Chrome, or Edge
Cons
- no mobile device app
- free servers are sometimes overloaded
Pricing
The browser extension and homepage solution are free, but there is a limit on how much data you can use. If you want unlimited downloads, no ads, and guaranteed no downtime, upgrade to Kproxy Pro, which has three tiers:
- 10 days for $5
- 30 days for $10
- 180 days for $30
Customer Reviews
Excellent proxy, for those of you saying there is no browsing anonymity, you are wrong. On the same computer, with 2 different tabs, one with the KProxy browser, the other with my regular browser (Chrome).
Best For
Best for people who need a quick, easy, one-time proxy and don't want to log in, install software, or create an account
2. Proxysite - Best for people who want to access blocked content
Proxysite has almost twice as many available free servers as Kproxy and is one of the most popular proxy server options to access content on sites like Youtube, Reddit, Facebook, and Imgur. The proxy includes quick links to those sites which are guaranteed to help you access blocked content for those domains.
Proxysite can automatically connect to any of its servers in the US or the European Union, or you can manually select the server you want. You can use the service through their web page without any setup, or log in and create a free account. When you click one of the quick link buttons at the top of the page, you’ll be taken directly to the site you chose, via their remote server. You can also input a URL directly into the text input on the page to be taken to any other site.
This is an interesting approach to proxy browsing, and while it’s certainly awesome that it’s free and pretty easy to use, it doesn’t offer a lot of flexibility if you want to browse without having to visit their website every time. Useful in a pinch if you don’t have access to your regular proxy, but we wouldn’t recommend it for continuous use.
Pros
- completely free to use through their homepage
- quick links to Reddit, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Imgur, and Google
- lots of available servers
Cons
- no customer support for free users - just a contact form on the website
- no browser extensions
- signup was broken when I attempted to create a free account
Pricing
As with Kproxy, you can use the service completely free through their homepage without even logging in. You can also create a free account, although what this actually does is unclear. For premium VPN service, which gives you access to an encrypted VPN as well as proxy servers, pricing is as follows:
- $9.99 per month
- Buy full year up front: $5.99 per month
Best For
Users looking to quickly connect to the most popular sites via a free web proxy service.
3. Hide.me - Best for people interested in security
Hide.me has fewer available servers than either Kproxy or Proxysite, and it does not work with Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, or some other popular sites. However, it makes up for these deficiencies with increased security and privacy.
For users mostly concerned with masking their identity online, Hide.me makes the most sense. It allows you to disable cookies and scripts on any website. It also adds a layer of encryption and does not save database or IP address information, meaning your data will never fall into the wrong hands in case of a breach.
There’s no free plan, but you can technically test the service for free for 30 days because they offer a 30-day moneyback guarantee. Billing is done either monthly or yearly, so if you want to save, you’ll have to pay up front for a full year or three years. Once you log in, the client is very easy to download and install, and highly configurable.
The service is quickly started with a single button, and servers are available all over the world. All servers are available on all plans, so there is no limit to where you can browse and connect. You can also download an app for your mobile device and once you login to your account via the app, your VPN is seamlessly connected across all devices.
Pros
- all traffic is sent through an encrypted connection
- ability to disable cookies, scripts, and objects
- does not store any personal data
Cons
- fewer servers
- does not work with popular entertainment sites
Pricing
There is no free plan, but you do get a 30-day moneyback guarantee. The premium plan includes unlimited data, servers in 79 locations, and streaming support. Premium prices are as follows:
- $9.99 per month, billed monthly
- $59.95 per year
- $94.95 for 39 months (3 years plus 3 free months)
Customer Reviews
I've been with hide.me VPN for over 2 years now. I've never had a major problem, always connects faultlessly on all devices and is extremely reliable. When I've had minor technical issues they have responded promptly and efficiently and have resolved them quickly. I always get a renewal reminder and I feel their charges are very reasonable for the level of service provided.
Best For
Best for people who want an anonymous web proxy and care more about privacy and security than about accessing blocked content
4. Hidemyass - Best for those who want speed
Hidemyass has the largest number of servers of any of the options on this list, meaning that servers are less likely to be overcrowded and requests will be faster and less likely to fail. There is a 7-day free proxy service trial but no free-for-life option.
Hidemyass is consistently faster than many other VPN and proxy services. It offers a "Lightning Connect" option that automatically routes your traffic to the fastest server based on location and network quality.
Again, there is no free tier or even a free trial, but they do offer a 30-day moneyback guarantee. They have about half the amount of servers that hide.me has, but they offer 20gbps connection speeds. Once you sign up and log in, you can download the app for your laptop/desktop and mobile. Choose the server in the country you want to connect to, or choose the “lightning” connection option to have HideMyAss choose the fastest connection for you.
Pros
- lots of available servers
- consistently fast and high-performing
Cons
- no free-for-life solution
- does not unblock websites like Netflix, Amazon, HBO Max, and more
- customer support may be lacking
Pricing
The service is free to try for 7 days. After that, pricing is based on how many connections you want: 5 or 10. For 5 connections, pricing is as follows:
- $4.99 per month for 12 months
- $2.99 per month for 36 months
For 10 connections, pricing is as follows:
- $7.99 per month for 12 months
- $6.99 per month for 24 months
- $5.99 per month for 36 months
Customer Reviews
This VPN service is satisfying, The user interface is easy to use, unlocks streaming services (like Netflix), and has a vast network of servers all around the world. Although HMA! records some IP Addresses to obey the laws of the country but that does not interfere in maintaining our privacy when connected.
I've been using HMA for a few years now. in the last few month I have constant issues with the connection and customer support is non-existent. been 2 weeks since i opened a ticket with them and still not got a reply yet. proceed with care.
Best For
Best for people who care more about having a fast connection than about unblocking content from certain entertainment sites
5. CyberGhost - Best for unblocking lots of sites
Similar to Hidemyass, Cyberghost is a premium-only VPN and web proxy server. There is no free option, however, the plans are reasonably priced. CyberGhost does not offer a 7-day free trial, but they do have a 45-day money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost is one of the most powerful VPNs on this list and is perfect for people who need to unblock a lot of content. It works with numerous sites, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, Hulu, and more. It also works across many devices, including your laptop, mobile device, and streaming devices like Android TV and FireTV.
Choose the “Start My Free Trial” option and the app will be automatically downloaded to your laptop. Follow the install wizard to install the app on your device, then sign up for an account through the app once the installation is complete. You’ll need to confirm your email address.
Once that’s done, activate the app and you get one day to test it before you have to decide if you want to keep using the service.
You can choose the location you want to connect to, or have CyberGhost choose the best location for you. We really liked how quick and easy it was to get started with this VPN, and would highly recommend it for anyone needing a quick and robust solution for their browsing.
Pros
- unblocks all major entertainment sites
- works with streaming and mobile devices
- generous money-back guarantee
Cons
- no free option
Pricing
- $12.99 per month billed monthly
- $6.99 per month for 6 months
- $2.11 per month for 27 months
Customer Reviews
Did not work flawlessly with media streaming services. Bandwidth was affected a little at some instance. Browser's opened tabs were refreshed automatically, maybe a feature but not cool.
Overall OK experience so far.
The price of your service cannot be beat. Your transparent, honest, have a very clean & fast UI, and are compatible with all of my Windows, Mac, and Linux devices. Plus, your logo is ADORABLE!
Best For
Best for people who need to unblock content from a variety of streaming services across numerous devices
6. 4EverProxy - Best for people who want great customer support
4everproxy provides a simple-to-use web proxy through their homepage, plus an equally easy-to-use video proxy designed specifically for viewing blocked videos right from your browser. Both of these are free to use and require no signup.
In addition, 4everproxy offers premium VPN services with servers in 18 countries. They have fewer servers than any other web proxy service on this list, however, they make up for that with excellent customer service that is readily available to all users through their website support ticket system.
4everproxy’s free service is similar to Proxysite’s: you must navigate to their in-browser page and paste the URL you want to visit into the input. Their paid options are similar to Hide.me and HideMyAss, at very similar price points.
Pros
- easy-to-access customer support
- quick and simple web and video proxies available in the browser
Cons
- limited number of servers available in a small number of countries
Pricing
The homepage web proxy and video proxy servers are free to users for life and require no sign-in or account. For premium VPN and proxy services with unlimited data, prices are as follows:
- $9.95 per month billed monthly
- $6.95 per month for 6 months
- $3.95 per month for 2 years
Customer Reviews
Needed a cheap VPN with a couple locations. Found 4everproxy and it's worked for what I needed it for. I've not needed to use their http proxies or other services so I have no experiance with them.
Best For
Best for people who want the security of good customer support
Geolocation
If you are a web developer who needs to track the locations of the users who visit your website, you can use geolocation to convert the IP address of a user into geodata. Every device connected to the internet has a unique IP address, and this address can be used to look up the users' location.
There are many services that can do this online for free, including AbstractAPI's Free Geolocation service. Simply send a REST request containing the IP address string for the user you are trying to geolocate, and the API will send back a JSON object with geolocation data for that IP address, including country, city, and region data, along with information about their service provider, currency, and more.
Be aware that this will not work if users use a VPN or proxy server service
Conclusion
Using a VPN or web proxy to hide your IP address is useful for many reasons. You can use an anonymous web proxy to maintain your privacy and prevent malicious actors from accessing your data. You can also use an online proxy to access geo-blocked content and websites that are outside your country.
Many free proxy servers exist to help users get to the content they want to see. If you spend a lot of time watching streaming content from outside your home country, it may be worth investing in a paid solution that gives you unlimited data.
FAQ
Are proxy sites illegal?
No. Using a web proxy in and of itself is not illegal. There is a gray area when it comes to how the proxy is being used. In certain countries, using a web proxy to access blocked countries is considered illegal. Using a web proxy to hide your personal information because you are concerned about privacy is not illegal.
How can I hide my IP address?
The two most popular ways to hide your IP address are by using a VPN or through a proxy server. A proxy server sits between you and the resource you are trying to access and masks your IP address so that the resource cannot tell where the original request came from.
A VPN does this, but in addition, it also encrypts your data as soon as it leaves your computer, so all your personal information is kept secure and private.
Are free proxy servers safe?
Free proxies are convenient, but they do open you up to security risks. Most free proxy services are not encrypted, so your data is not protected while it is being trafficked through the server. Additionally, some free proxy servers might monitor your traffic or keep logs of your browsing history. Others may run ads that contain malware, or steal cookies. Finally, some proxy servers simply don't offer a very good, reliable connection.
