While proxies and VPNs protect your online privacy, they’re not the smartest method for frequent use. You need a solution that comes with built-in proxies or a built-in, user-friendly mechanism to connect to proxy vendors. Luckily, there are several proxy browsers offering this exact feature.
But what exactly are these browsers, and what are some of the best proxy browsers online? In this blog, you’ll explore just that. You’ll also learn several benefits of using these browsers.
Let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
What Are Proxy Browsers?
Proxy browsers are a special purpose web browser that acts as a middleman between you and the internet. They come with built-in proxies to handle your requests and provide a greater level of privacy.
When you want to visit a website, the proxy browser sends your requests through one of its proxy servers. From there, your request goes to the target website. Finally, the response comes back through the same route, with the proxy server sending it back to you.
This way, the website only sees the proxy’s IP address, not yours, and that’s how your actual identity stays private.
Therefore, in terms of online privacy, proxy web browsers are a solid choice because they help protect real IP addresses.
Who Is a Proxy Browser for?
The biggest chunk of proxy browser users are those wanting to access blocked content in their region. Because proxy servers are in multiple different countries, they can allow you to view content blocked in your own country.
Proxy browsers are also useful for privacy-conscious users wanting to browse without leaving a digital trail of their personal information.
These browsers often offer multi-account management, too, which is why they’re also popular in fields like digital marketing or e-commerce. This feature helps with keeping different accounts separate and avoiding detection or IP bans by imitating different online identities.
Additionally, good proxy browsers also offer cookie and fingerprint-blocking features. Some of these browsers even offer task automation.
4 Benefits of Proxy Browsers
There are multiple benefits of using a proxy browser. Here are four reasons why you should use proxy browsers.
1. Enhanced Privacy
When you visit a website, your IP address and behavior reveal details about your location and possibly even your identity.
That’s where the level of privacy of proxy browsers becomes invaluable. By replacing your real IP address with different IP addresses, proxy browsers online help you stay anonymous. This enhanced privacy reduces the risk of data breaches, identity theft, or unwanted tracking by advertisers.
When your identity stays private while browsing, websites cannot build profiles based on your browsing habits.
2. Access to Restricted Content
Many websites and services are unavailable to you based on your geographic location.
For instance, streaming services such as Netflix often only offer certain shows in specific countries. Spotify also has certain songs unavailable in selected countries.
Blocked content can also include news sites that your government may deem unpatriotic or threatening to national interests.
But you can change this by using a proxy browser.
This ability to unlock restricted content is particularly beneficial for:
- People living in countries with strict internet censorship
- Travelers wanting to stay connected to their home country’s services
- Anyone interested in exploring content from around the world
3. Content Filters
One of the handy features of some proxy web browsers is their ability to set up content filters.
They allow you to create a filter file that controls what content is accessible through your browser. These files can contain a list of allowed and disallowed URLs.
This is especially useful when you want to ensure the content is appropriate for certain audiences, such as children.
The corporate sector also uses content filtering to block certain websites for employees.
4. Better Performance
Proxy browsers can also help pages load faster.
Before the proxy server sends the responses back to your browser, it minimizes the content as much as possible. Browsers do this using techniques like compression, which reduces the size of data such as images.
As a result, your browser can load the page faster, even if your internet connection isn’t the quickest.
3 Best Paid and Free Proxy Browsers
If you’re an individual who wants to protect your privacy or prevent account bans, a free proxy browser is enough. Let’s explore some top free proxy browsers available online. The first option offers lifetime free access up to a specific limit, and the other 2 offer free trials.
1. AdsPower
AdsPower is an anti-detect browser that combines online privacy, security, and versatility.
Its main features include browser and IP spoofing and built-in proxies. AdsPower is also known for allowing users to create and manage unlimited profiles while avoiding detection. The browser spoofing feature lets you set different fingerprints for each profile to look distinct.
AdsPower supports all major residential proxy providers, such as Oxylabs, Bright Data, IP2World, and more. Simply set up a proxy and enjoy unrestricted access to the Internet.
It also offers automation features that streamline repetitive tasks, which is a needed feature for affiliate and social media marketers.
AdsPower collects minimal data, protects your information with encryption, and even offers encrypted cloud storage for secure data sharing.
It also offers a free lifetime version with basic features so users can explore it without any financial commitment.
- Free version: A lifetime free version allowing up to 5 browser profiles
- Pricing: Starts from $5.4/month (yearly plan)
- Compatible platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux
- Rating: 4.9 on Trustpilot
2. GoLogin
GoLogin is another specialized antidetect browser for managing multiple social media and e-commerce accounts.
It lets you create and run various online identities without the risk of detection. Each browser profile you create is stored separately in the cloud.
You can configure each parameter of your fingerprint for every account, with more than 50 connection characteristics to choose from. This gives you a significant level of control over customizing your different online identities.
GoLogin also provides an ecosystem for sharing profiles and proxies with team members and assigning specific rights to each person.
When it comes to proxies, GoLogin offers its own built-in proxies from different countries for free. However, if you’re looking for advanced proxies, GoLogin also supports a good range of third-party paid proxy servers.
- Free version: There is no free version, but you can get a 7-day free trial.
- Pricing: $24/$49/$99/$149/month (yearly plan)
- Compatible platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, Android
- Rating: 4.5 on Trustpilot
3. Incogniton
Incogniton browser helps you evade detection and restrictions using a built-in proxy mechanism. It’s the ideal solution for ridding you of all those VPN Chrome extensions that make you more vulnerable to fingerprinting.
It offers an in-app Proxy Shop where users can view and purchase proxy deals. The shop includes all major mobile, data center, and residential proxy providers.
Similar to other proxy browsers, Incognito also allows each browser profile to have its own digital fingerprint. This means each profile appears different from the websites you visit, which helps avoid detection and bans.
Incognito also offers a bulk actions feature to perform several tasks simultaneously across multiple accounts.
Using Incogniton, you can create separate logins for team members. You can also assign roles with specific permissions and have them join your Incogniton sessions.
- Free version: No free version as such. Free trial for 2 months with support for 10 browser profiles.
- Pricing: $13.99/$20.99/$55.99/$104.99 (6 months plan)
- Compatible platforms: macOS, Windows
- Rating: 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tips for Choosing Proxy Browsers Online
Before opting for proxy browsers online, make sure they have most of the following features depending on your needs:
- Privacy and security features: Look for proxy browsers that offer enhanced privacy features, such as anti-fingerprinting tools and encryption.
- Compatibility with proxy servers: Make sure the browser supports a wide range of proxy servers, particularly residential proxies. Residential proxy are good for evading detection because ISPs usually assign them to residential units. Also, ensure the proxy seller has proxy servers near your location, as closer servers have faster speeds.
- Ease of use: A user-friendly interface is important, especially if managing multiple accounts or collaborating with a team.
- Customization options: Look for features that allow you to configure your digital fingerprint, manage cookies, and adjust other settings for each account.
- Built-in proxies: Some proxy browsers come with built-in proxies, which can be convenient if you don’t want to deal with external proxy providers. These built-in proxies are basic and a good option for users who don’t have advanced needs.
- Team collaboration features: If you work with a team, consider a proxy browser that supports collaboration.
- Pricing and flexibility: Consider the cost and whether the proxy browser offers a free version or a flexible pricing plan.
Now, let’s understand how to setup multiple proxies on multiple browsers.
How To Setup Multiple Proxies on Multiple Browsers
First, configure each proxy browser to connect to a different proxy server.
The process generally involves entering the browser’s settings and manually entering the proxy server details. These details usually involve credentials, IP address, and port number. Most proxy browsers will have a dedicated section where you can input these details.
For multiple proxy browsers, you might want to ensure each uses a unique proxy server. This way, each browser session can operate independently, without any overlap that could compromise your privacy.
For instance, you might use one browser with a proxy server in the U.S. and another using a server in Europe.
For a real step-by-step guide, you can read Oxylabs’ guide for setting proxies on AdsPower.
Next, let’s see how to change network proxy in browsers.
How To Change Network Proxy in Browsers
The process for changing network proxy in proxy browsers is pretty much the same as setting them up.
First, open the settings of the account for which you want to change the proxy. From here, head to the proxy settings.
Most browsers present a form asking for fields such as proxy type, proxy host, and port. The host is the proxy provider you’re using, and the proxy type usually ranges between HTTP/S and SOCKS5.
You can see the above image to know what the proxy settings form looks like in AdsPower.
Simply remove the previous details and fill in the details about the new proxy. Your proxy provider typically provides you with those details.
Once you’ve input the new information, save your settings.
FAQ
Here are some FAQ to further answer your questions about proxy browsers.
How does a proxy browser work?
First, proxy browsers send your request to one of their proxy servers. This server hides your IP address by replacing it with its own. Then, it forwards your request to the target website. The website’s response flows back to you, following the same path through the proxy server.
Are web proxies illegal?
Well, it varies from country to country and proxy usage. In some countries, using web proxies to access restricted content might be illegal.
At the same time, in some countries, it is perfectly fine to use web proxies for privacy purposes.
Use geoPlugin To Detect Proxy Users
Users accessing your website using proxy browsers may have malicious intent, and you can’t afford to let that slide. Taking proactive measures is important instead of crying over spilled milk after hackers have caused the damage.
The first step is to analyze IP addresses surfing your website. If you find IPs from data center proxy servers, that can be a red flag.
geoPlugin can be the ideal geolocation tool for this job. It analyzes IP addresses for free and reveals several details about them. You can integrate geoPlugin’s API with your website to monitor network traffic for free.
So sign up to geoPlugin and stop hackers before it’s too late!
