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Proxy servers and VPNs may appear similar in function, but they’re not the same tool. A proxy sits between you and the rest of the internet. It routes your request through an external server, offering a degree of separation between you and the site or service you’re connecting with. Conversely, a VPN (virtual private network) creates an encrypted connection between your device and the internet, routing all your traffic through a secure server. The latter is a privacy tool, while the former has moved past its privacy roots to being a business tool for managing social media or conducting web scraping.
This article was made possible in part by Webshare. It was written and edited independently without partner oversight.
While VPNs offer security, the best proxies we’ve tested can be useful for other use cases. Do any of the examples below sound like what you're trying to accomplish? If so, a proxy server might be a smarter choice than a VPN.
1. You Want Faster Speeds
Encryption is a key difference between a proxy and a VPN. A VPN adds multiple layers of encryption to internet traffic and reroutes it through a server, which adds overhead. This process can result in slower speeds, especially on crowded servers. Additionally, internet speed is entirely dependent on the VPN server’s connection speed.
Proxy servers, on the other hand, don’t do all the heavy lifting. They handle specific requests, like accessing a website, without encrypting the entire connection. This makes them a better fit for tasks like web scraping or checking region-specific web results without slowing down your internet.
2. You Want to Access Region-Locked Content
If your goal is to access region-specific content, like a regional version of a website that redirects based on your IP address, a Smart DNS proxy is an excellent choice. Unlike traditional proxies or VPNs, a Smart DNS only reroutes the DNS portion of your internet traffic. A DNS or Domain Name System query is what your device sends out every time you visit a website. It translates a web address like, say, amazon.co.uk, into the actual IP address of the server that hosts it. A Smart DNS proxy intercepts that portion of your internet traffic and redirects it through a server in the region you want to appear in.
A Smart DNS is ideal for this because it works at the domain level, unblocking geo-restricted content without touching the rest of your web traffic. It doesn’t route or hide your full internet traffic, which means there’s no encryption overhead.
3. You Only Want to Hide Your IP Address
A VPN server is a great choice if you work on public Wi-Fi or access sensitive information. The encryption ensures that no one can pry into your data or browsing history.
Proxy servers don’t handle encryption by default. Acting as an intermediary between your device and the web, a proxy just routes the traffic, which is faster, but less secure. So if you just want to hide your IP address or access region-locked content, a proxy can accomplish that job without throttling your internet speeds. Just be mindful of the security trade-off.
4. You’re Managing Network Traffic for a Business, Home, or Office
Proxies are widely used for managing network environments with hundreds of devices. Unlike a VPN, which requires substantial processing power, a proxy can effortlessly control and monitor internet access, enforce content policies like restricting video streaming, or block access to specific websites. This is possible because all web requests from connected devices, like laptops or smartphones, go through the proxy first.
This allows the proxy to inspect, filter, or redirect traffic based on custom rules. The feature can be useful for limiting access to social media for younger family members or in an office environment. It can also block malicious domains or access to specific websites without slowing down the entire network.
5. You Want to Save Bandwidth With Cached Content
Caching is one of a proxy server’s most overlooked benefits. When multiple users on the same network are accessing the same website or file, a proxy server can store a local copy. This speeds up data access, and delivering from cache prevents downloading the same content repeatedly.
This can be useful for conserving bandwidth and improving loading times in offices with multiple users accessing shared resources, like training videos or internal sites. It can also be helpful in home environments if your household streams from the same platforms or if you download updates for multiple devices. A caching proxy, like Squid, can reduce data use dramatically when multiple users access cloud storage, watch YouTube, or play online games that require frequent assets or updates to be downloaded. In addition to reducing bandwidth use, it can also minimize lag and interruptions during peak hours.
6. You Want to Bypass Geo-Restrictions Without Installing Software
Many proxy servers, especially web-based ones, will function directly in your browser. Some proxy server hosts even offer browser extensions for bypassing region restrictions with one-click access. You won’t need to download or configure anything.
Browser-based proxies may also be accessed by visiting a website, entering the URL you wish to access, and allowing the proxy to route your traffic. So, it’s much simpler than setting up a VPN, especially on locked-down devices, like office computers or public kiosks.
7. You’re Running a Website and Need a Reverse Proxy
Proxies aren’t just for end users. Reverse proxies are often set up by web servers to manage incoming traffic, balance load, fend off DDOS attacks, and hide the backend server’s location. You can even set up a reverse proxy to remotely access your computer, NAS drive, or home server.
Web services like Cloudflare or AWS Cloudfront work as reverse proxy networks and sit between users and web infrastructure. If you’re hosting a website or managing a cloud-based app, a reverse proxy improves performance, helps scale traffic, and protects the backend infrastructure.
Choosing between a proxy and a VPN largely depends on your goal. Proxy servers are a great fit for managing network traffic in a business or school environment, and businesses and indie devs use them to conduct research, manage multiple social media profiles, or even snag concert tickets or sneaker drops. And if you use a work-issued or school laptop, the locked-down operating system might make it impossible to install a VPN. In that case, a proxy server is your best bet to bypass internet restrictions.
However, a proxy does not protect your data from bad actors. So, if you need privacy or to access sensitive information on an unsecured network, a VPN is a better choice, as it offers full encryption and total anonymity.