Proxy servers are used to alter our IP address while we browse online, but without encrypting our data or the web traffic we generate. This allows us to surf the Internet anonymously, since when we visit a page all the data collected by trackers, spies and other collecting agents it's the proxy server's own data (instead of ours).
If we delve a little deeper into the matter, we see that proxy servers have more utilities, and it is that it is a most practical tool for bypass geolocation blocks or access restricted web pages when we browse from the corporate PC at our workplace. If your office, educational center or library filters Internet access and you cannot access sites like YouTube or Facebook, with a good web proxy server you would have all the work done.
Of course, this also applies to pages that our own Internet provider may have blocked for various reasons. Basically, what a proxy server does is camouflage our IP acting as an intermediary between our device and the website we want to visit. We indicate the page to the server, it requests access and subsequently delivers its content to us. As Arguiñano would say, “Easy, fast and for the whole family”.
Differences between a web proxy server and a VPN
Although both offer a similar service that consists of maintaining user privacy, VPNs and proxy servers are very different things. VPNs are much more efficient when it comes to browsing anonymously, since they encrypt all our traffic and offer a more robust service that usually has a higher cost associated with infrastructure.
Basically, this means that the most efficient VPNs tend to be paid while most proxies are free. Proxy servers also only offer privacy within the scope of our browser, while with a VPN we protect all our Internet outlets, both from the browser and from other applications or services installed on the computer.
The 5 best proxy servers for the browser
The operation of proxy servers is quite simple. We write the page that we want to visit in your browser and the proxy will show us its content on the screen without the need for us to enter that web page directly. Some proxies work by installing a browser extension, while others simply offer a web page with a frame where all the content is loaded. Let's see which are the most prominent!
HideMyAss
HideMyAss is one of the most popular and widespread proxy servers on the Internet. It offers the classic functionality of hiding your IP, along with some extras such as automatic blocking of pop-up ads to navigate with greater peace of mind. The proxy service works by a browser extension (Chrome / Firefox) and it is completely free with connections to the US, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, although they also offer greater protection through a premium paid VPN.
The HideMyAss platform works with various VPN proxies around the world, allowing it to offer a fast and stable connection. But it also has its drawbacks, and that is that a record is kept of both our IP and the VPN server to which we are connected at all times. From HMA they argue that they only use this information to improve the product and little else, but if you need something more "private" you should definitely look elsewhere. Otherwise, give it a go because it's one of the best service-level proxy servers.
Enter HideMyAss
4everproxy
One of the best proxy servers for access YouTube and other streaming services that use regional blocks. 4everproxy also offers unlimited bandwidth, making it ideal for watching HD videos without worrying about consuming more megabytes than allowed.
The quality of the streaming is quite good, with little or no buffering or cuts in playback. A very interesting extra function is that it automatically deletes our history every 2 hours so as not to leave any trace in the browser.
This web proxy server is one of those of a lifetime: a web page with a search engine and two options to select the WebServer and the IP location that we want (in addition to other interesting settings). Simple and intuitive at best.
Enter 4everproxy
Hide.me
If you have ever been told about free proxy servers, hide.me surely sounds like a service to you. does not keep logs or information about what you do on its servers. Once you close the browser, the temporary URL that was created to mask your identity is automatically deleted.
We are facing one of the fastest proxy servers today, being able to change the location and manage cookies and other settings in an agile and simple way. The only downside is that the number of free servers is quite limited: we can only connect to the US, Germany and the Netherlands. Of course, the interface is elegant, professional, it has both a web version and extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
Enter Hide.Me
ProxySite
ProxySite has a service very similar to HideMyAss, with protection similar to that of a VPN when browsing the Internet. It offers SSL encryption, together with the concealment of our IP so that we can access any online content without restrictions.
The platform offers several proxy servers around the world, including the US and Europe, which are free. It also has a premium VPN service, although for most uses with the free version we will have more than enough. It also allows you to control other details such as cookies, ads, javascript etc., which is always welcome in these cases.
Enter ProxySite
Whoer
Whoer is a web proxy with extra features of great help for webmasters and network administrators. It allows you to ping servers to control their response times, collect information about a certain web page or test the speed of your Internet connection.
The web proxy works through an extension available for Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Yandex, offering 9 free servers to choose from (most of Europe and the United States). The service being free is monetized through ads, so we cannot block them, this being the only drawback of a proxy server of the most notable in terms of specifications and performance.
Enter Whoer
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