The Best Free Proxy Server List: Tested & Working! (2024) (2024)

Need a different IP address? Our experts tested hundreds of free proxy servers to compile the best free proxy server list below. To minimize connection drops, all the proxies on this list have a minimum uptime of 80%.

Using a working proxy server lets you hide your IP address to avoid being tracked by your ISP, your government, and even hackers looking for easy prey. However, proxy server managers can still see your real IP address and monitor your online activities.

For complete online anonymity, we recommend using a no-logs VPN, as these services don’t store any identifiable information. Surfshark, one of our top VPN providers, will keep you anonymous online and protect your data. Choose from 3200+ IP addresses across 100 countries, and protect your real IP.

Keep scrolling to find the best free proxy servers today.

The Best Free Proxy Servers List (2024)

Here’s our list of the top free proxy servers you can select this year.

How We Created Our List of the Best Free Proxy Servers

Free proxies are usually very slow due to the sheer number of users. This server load also causes them to go offline often. That’s why we looked for servers with at least 80% uptime so users can get decent performance.

Our other ranking factors included:

• HTTPS connection: This type of connection allows you to connect to HTTPS sites, which are secured versions of websites, and hide from lurking cybercriminals.
• SOCKS5: This manner of encryption protects your data through the Secure Shell (SSH) encrypted tunneling method.
• Anonymity grade: We avoided transparent proxies that show your real IP address.
• Low latency: Free proxies are not known for their blazing speeds, but we tested and found the best performers out there.

The functionality of free proxy services fluctuates on a daily level. At one point during our testing, our tech reviewer had problems even browsing with their download speed of 88 Mbps.

So, if one server doesn’t work for you, simply switch to a different free proxy service. You can also use a VPN, as VPN services offer faster speeds than proxy servers and experience fewer downtimes.

My Proxy Server’s IP is Blocked: What Should I Do?

Streaming services like Netflix block proxy servers as they know people use proxies to access international streaming catalogs. They blacklist proxy IP addresses or flag users who are using an anonymous proxy.

You can keep trying different free proxy servers to find one that isn’t blacklisted, or you can use a VPN. A good VPN service will have these features for unblocking streaming providers like Netflix:

• Dedicated IP addresses: Instead of sharing an IP address with thousands of users and getting flagged by proxy filters, you can get an IP address exclusive to you. This also works against IP blacklisting on forums, gaming servers, Reddit, and other websites and online services.
• Obfuscated servers: These servers will disguise your traffic to look like regular browsing so no one can tell that you’re using a VPN.

We recommend going with Surfshark if you want to access content from around the world hassle-free. While it’s not a free service, it’s one of the most affordable VPNs on the market, and it has a free trial, so you can test the service before committing. Surfshark is also one of the few VPNs with unlimited device connections, perfect for sharing with family or friends.

How to Set Up a Proxy Server

Here, we’ll explain step-by-step how to set up proxy servers on your Windows or Mac device.

Setting up a proxy on Windows 11

To set up a free proxy server on Windows 11, follow the following steps:

1. In your search bar (usually located in the bottom left corner), type “Proxy settings” and click on the first result.
2. Navigate to “Manual proxy setup” and select the “Set up” button.

   

3. Fill out the IP address and the proxy port of the server you wish to connect to.
4. If you want to, you can select certain addresses that can be reached without connecting to the proxy server. You can also choose not to use the proxy for your company’s intranet network.
5. Click on “Save.”

   

Setting up a proxy on macOS

In order to use servers from our free proxy list on your Mac (with Safari), just follow these steps:

1. Open the Safari app and go to “Safari > Preferences.”
2. Choose “Advanced.”

   

3. Next to “Proxies,” select “Change Settings” to open the Network pane of System Preferences.
4. Fill out the IP address and the port of the proxy you want to use.
5. Click “OK.”

   

What is a Proxy Server?

Proxy servers act as intermediaries between your computer and the internet. Instead of accessing websites directly, you’ll route your web requests through a proxy server and mask your real IP in the process.

In other words, proxies allow you to browse anonymously and keep your online activities to yourself. You can also use foreign IPs to unblock geo-restricted content. If you want to watch Netflix US or bypass online censorship in your country, you can try using a proxy server.

Are there alternatives to proxy servers?

If you can’t change your IP address by using a proxy server, check out some proxy server alternatives below.

1. Virtual private networks

Using a VPN is the best alternative to a proxy server by far if you want to stay anonymous online. In fact, it’s a much better option than the average proxy since solid VPNs encrypt your data. This means your data is protected from (malicious) third parties.

If you choose a good VPN over a free proxy server, you’ll also enjoy great privacy since the provider won’t log your IP, contrary to many (free) proxy site managers. A VPN that we recommend in particular, especially if you want to save money, is Surfshark.

2. Proxy websites

Proxy sites or web proxies let users view blocked websites within a browser. However, you typically can’t use proxy sites with programs or apps. A proxy website only tends to work within the browser you’re using.

3. Proxy browsers

Proxy browsers are browsers with built-in proxy capabilities or a proxy browser extension. Similar to proxy sites, proxy browsers can’t be used with programs or apps.

Where can I find free residential proxies?

Residential proxies assign you an IP address that belongs to an internet service provider (ISP) and to a real device, such as a laptop or a smartphone.

Residential proxies are generally (much) more expensive than data center proxies. This is because they are both more useful as well as less plentiful since they’re actual devices that are used as intermediary servers.

An important advantage of residential proxies is that they’re much harder to detect as proxy servers. In fact, many online services, such as plenty of streams, don’t see any difference between residential IPs and normal user IPs because both are associated with actual devices.

The above makes residential proxies much more useful for unblocking geo-restricted content.

Unfortunately, free residential proxies are not available. At best, you can use residential proxy servers with a money-back guarantee or a free trial. Some options include:

• Oxylabs (three-day money-back guarantee)
• Smartproxy (three-day money-back guarantee)
• GeoSurf (seven-day free trial)

Since residential proxies are often quite pricey and don’t necessarily offer much more than a good VPN, we recommend going for an affordable top VPN instead, such as Surfshark.

Like residential IPs, Surfshark will get you access to many streaming platforms and is excellent for unblocking in general. It’s also significantly cheaper than many residential IP addresses.

Conclusion: Should You Use a Free Proxy Server or a VPN?

Free web proxy services are useful but limited. These servers will hide your real IP address but won’t offer any substantial protection. They’re also unreliable and experience frequent speed drops. And since many people use them, they’re bound to crash often and leave you searching for another server.

Good VPNs like Surfshark can supply enough bandwidth for all their users. They never slow down and can hide you from all malicious third parties. Their connections are stable, and they have much better chances of unblocking your favorite streaming sites. They also make risky actions like torrenting much safer.

In conclusion, we recommend going with a good VPN service. With Surfshark, you can stay anonymous online while enjoying great speeds and content from around the globe.

For more resources on online anonymity, check out our articles below:

• Incognito Mode: What is It? Does It Make You Anonymous?
• How to Browse the Internet Anonymously
• Who Can See Your Browsing History?

Nathan DanielsAuthor

Tech Journalist

Nathan is an internationally trained journalist with a special interest in the prevention of cybercrime. For VPNOverview he conducts research in cybersecurity, internet censorship, and online privacy. He contributed to developing our rigorous VPN testing and reviewing procedures.

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