Top 10 Proxy Browsers for Secure and Private Surfing

Using a suitable web proxy can efficiently maximize the privacy of your online activities and allow you to browse the internet securely. These days, anonymous browsing is essential if you want to avoid online threats and get around various types of data-tracking technology. 

We’ll take you through all the essential information you need to know about proxy web browsers and help you find the most suitable providers based on your needs.

How Web Proxy Browsers Work To Safeguard Your Information

Proxy web browsers hide your real IP address by routing your traffic through a secondary server. Some of these browsers provide built-in encrypted proxies, and some are come in the form of customizable apps that allow users to add their preferred proxies to the browser. Instead of manually setting up a proxy on your Windows, Mac, or other devices, many people utilize proxy web browsers to access restricted content, browse anonymously, and protect their sensitive information.

This way, users can easily manage the proxies and enable them only for certain tasks. Moreover, thanks to add-ons and extensions for well-known browsers, using advanced proxy features such as IP rotation becomes more straightforward.

If you send a request to a web server using a proxy browser, the request first goes to a proxy server, and then the proxy sends it to the target website. Subsequently, the response will be sent back to the proxy server, then you will receive the requested information. As a result, detecting your real IP will be difficult for websites or trackers and the chance of getting blocked will be reduced substantially.

Best Proxy Web Browsers to Protect Your Online Privacy 

There is a wide range of options with different features and strengths. So, make sure you use the best web browser proxy based on your priorities. To point you in the right direction, here are the most popular proxy web browsers available:

1. Smartproxy’s X Browser

Smartproxy is a proxy provider that offers a specialized browser for managing multiple profiles using unique fingerprints. X browser can simplify workflows and automate various tasks, while providing all the benefits of a secure proxy service. Users with any active Smartproxy subscription will have access to this browser.

It can be set up with one click, and the browser will sync data across all of your devices almost instantly. The ability to create unlimited profiles is especially beneficial for users who take advantage of proxies for managing multiple accounts on certain websites and platforms. There are some customization options for the start page, though they may not be robust enough to replace your main browser.

Pros

• Unlimited profiles
• Data sync across all devices
• Seamless integration with Smartproxy proxies
• One-click setup

Cons

• No free version
• Limited customization options

2. Bright Data Web Proxy

Bright Data is one of the most popular names in the market, serving over 20,000 customers across the globe. With everything from Scraping Browsers and the Web Unlocker technology, to SERP API assistance, you can really take your online activity to the next level.

This provider has quite an extensive global coverage, with over 100 million IPs from various countries. This allows you to pick your IP address down to the zip code-level. The browser extension allows you to access any country in the world with a single click, with support for all major browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari.

Pros

• Separate proxy sessions for individual browsers
• Easy-to-use dashboard for easy management
• Supports third-party software integration
• Quick setup for first-timers

Cons

• More suited to developers
• No free plan

3. Dolphin Anty

This is an anti-detect proxy browser that is optimized for use with affiliate marketing and media buying. It allows you to manage multiple accounts across platforms like Google, TikTok, or Facebook. Businesses can take advantage of Dolphin Anty to scale their business with different accounts on Amazon, eBay, and more.

This browser allows you to automate actions across many profiles. You can also expedite the setting up of new profiles with the unique, fingerprint technology. A user-friendly interface, and cloud synchronization across multiple devices means that both beginners and experts 

Pros

• Ability to automate actions using the synchronizer
• Offers a free version with 10 free browser profiles
• User-friendly interface and tools
• Customizable fingerprints

Cons

• Limited profiles
• The price is relatively high compared to other options

4. Tor Browser

Tor Browser is a proxy web browser with a strong focus on privacy and free access to restricted content. It uses onion routing (a multi-layered encryption processed through multiple servers) to hide the user’s IP address. Although this powerful encryption can slow down the loading of pages, it does significantly reduce the chance of detection.

As a result, it is an excellent option for sensitive tasks that don’t require high speeds. As an added bonus, it is available for free and can easily be installed on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android devices.

Pros

• Multiple layers of protection
• No tracking and logging information and browsing history
• Open-source
• Free

Cons

• Can impact loading times
• Blocked by some protected websites

5. CroxyProxy

If you are looking for a simple web browser that doesn’t require any installation and works like a charm, CroxyProxy is a great option. Users can take advantage of this proxy service by opening its website on any browser and entering a URL or a search query. This provider then routes the traffic through a proxy server, which provides a higher level of privacy for browsing. You can also install CroxyProxy’s browser extension on Google Chrome to make it even more convenient to use.

The web browser is free of charge, and you can use it on PC, android, iOS, and basically any device offering a browser. However, a premium version is available that makes the experience ad-free and provides ultra-fast browsing.

Pros

• No installation and configuration is needed, and it’s extremely easy to use
• Free of charge
• It works on any operating system and web browser
• Perfect for the beginners

Cons

• Includes ads
• No proxy management and customization options
• Limited speed

Free Proxies vs. Premium: What You Need to Know Before Choosing

The proxy market is vast, and it can be overwhelming trying to find the right option to match your needs. To make matters worse, free proxy web browsers – though budget-friendly – often come with limitations such as slow speeds, and weaker security. 

Premium, paid providers, on the other hand – offer more advanced features and various security measures – but these add-ons come at a steeper price. Premium proxies also frequently have access to larger, more complex IP pools, meaning that there is less of a chance of your system being detected. Here is a brief breakdown of how these two options compare:

What is really the best option here? 

We recommend finding a top-class premium provider with an extensive free trial. This way, you get to try out the high-speed performance, enhanced security, and modern security for free, before making your final decision. If you already have a subscription with Smartproxy for example, you will get access to the X browser at no additional cost. Some providers, like Bright Data will let you try out their web proxy for free (you won’t even have to input your credit card information!). 

How To Transform Your Main Browser Into a Powerful Proxy Browser

If you don’t want to use another optimized browser, you can customize your current main browser and turn it into a proxy web browser. This is easily achievable in popular browsers such as Google Chrome and Firefox.

Most reliable proxy service providers, such as Bright Data, IPRoyal, and Oxylabs, offer browser extensions and add-ons. This allows you to simply enable an extra layer of anonymity and privacy in just a few steps. If there are no add-ons or extensions available, or your browser doesn’t support it, you can also manually add proxy servers to your browser.

To achieve this, you will need to adjust the proxy configuration section in the settings. We used Firefox as an example for this step-by-step guide, but the steps should be similar on most browsers:

1. Click on the three lines in the top-left corner of the screen and select Settings.

2. Make sure you are on the General tab. Scroll all the way down and find the Network Settings section. Now click on the Settings.

3. This will open a window. Choose Manual proxy configuration and then fill out the information of the proxy in question. 

4. Finally, click OK.

Your browser traffic will now go through the proxy, instead of going directly to the website’s servers. If you want to disable the proxy for certain websites, add the URL to the No proxy for section.

Final Verdict on The Best Proxy Web Browsers and Extensions

As with all things tech-related, the best option here definitely depends on your unique needs, and your personal preference. The leading proxy browsers that made our list all provide reliability and advanced protection to facilitate anonymous browsing and access to restricted content.

Users who are looking for a browser to manage their various accounts should look for an option with advanced customizable fingerprinting. Beyond that, make sure to choose an option that not only suits your budget, but also offers the best possible performance and features. The free proxy browsers can be enough for small tasks, but they can’t always handle high-speed use cases.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best proxy web browser?

Finding the best proxy web browser highly depends on your priorities and needs. Smartproxy’s X browser made it to the top spot on our list, because of its easy setup, multi-account management capabilities, and one-click integration with other proxies. 

Are free proxy browsers safe?

Not all of them. If you do choose an unknown free proxy service, be aware that there is a risk that its encryption technology may be outdated, or that your personal browsing data is being stored (or even shared). To avoid this, we suggest sticking to the reputable browsers that don’t log user data and have robust security measures.

Are proxy web browsers legal?

Yes, using reliable browsers with ethically sourced proxies is legal, as long as you don’t use them with malicious intent. 

How can a proxy browser improve privacy?

These browsers route your traffic through proxy servers with different IP addresses, that disguise your real one. They also often encrypt the data. Doing so means that websites and trackers will have a harder time finding your real IP address and accessing your personal browsing data.