Top 10 Proxy Browsers for Secure and Private Surfing

Using a suitable proxy web browser can efficiently maximize the privacy level of your online activities and allow you to browse the Internet securely. Based on cyber security statistics, the threats are constantly on the rise, and various websites and social media platforms are adopting more advanced data-tracking technologies.

So, nowadays, more anonymous browsing than ever makes sense. In this article, we’ll take you through all the essential information you need to know about proxy web browsers and find the most suitable one based on your needs.

What Are Proxy Web Browsers and How They Work?

Routing traffic through another server, proxy web browsers hide the user’s real IP address. Some of these browsers provide built-in encrypted proxies, and some are highly customizable apps that allow users to add their preferred proxies to the browser. Instead of manually setting a proxy on your Windows, Mac, or any 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 tracker,s and the chance of getting blocked will be reduced substantially.

Best Proxy Web Browsers to Stay Safe Online

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 for users while providing all the benefits of proxies. Users with any active Smartproxy proxy subscription will have access to this browser.

You can set it up with one click and the browser will sync data across all of your devices. 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, but for most people, X browser can’t replace their 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. Dolphin Anty

Dolphin Anty is an anti-detect proxy browser mainly focused on affiliate marketing and media buying. So, Users can use many profiles to create ads from various Google, TikTok, or Facebook accounts. Companies usually take advantage of Dolphin Anty to scale their business with different accounts on Amazon, eBay, and more.

This browser allows users to automate actions across many profiles and customize fingerprints with 20 different parameters. It supports all types of proxies and there is an option for mass addition of proxies. Beginners can have a comfortable experience with Dolphin Anty as it offers beneficial sorting and searching tools for profiles alongside a user-friendly and clean interface.

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

3. 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 through multiple servers to hide the user’s IP address. That’s why it’s usually slower to load pages compared to other options, but it significantly will reduce the chance of detection.

As a result, most people use it for sensitive tasks that don’t require high speed. So it can’t replace your main browser for everyday use. The browser is available completely for free and anyone can install and use it on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.

Pros

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

Cons

• Loads pages slowly
• Blocked by some protected websites

4. 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. Then, the service routes the traffic through a proxy server and provides a higher level of privacy for users. It’s not necessary but you can 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

5. Opera Browser

Opera is a browser with a built-in free VPN that not only changes your IP address but encrypts all of the traffic to provide a private and anonymous browsing experience. You can enable and disable the VPN with a single click. This app offers built-in ad-blocker and tracker blocking. It’s possible to add proxies through the settings and a proxy service that you trust. However, it doesn’t offer efficient tools for managing profiles and proxies compared to other options.

The browser is available on all popular operating systems and devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and Chromebook. What’s more, the interface is user-friendly, and it won’t be hard to get used to it if you are coming from popular browsers such as Chrome.

Pros

• Built-in free VPN
• Equipped with tracker blocking and ad-blocker
• User-friendly features and interface
• Available on all popular operating systems and devices

Cons

• VPN with limited locations
• Limited proxy management and customization options

6. Incogniton

Another great browser for anonymity and protecting online fingerprints is Incogniton. Using this anti-detect browser, users can manage multiple profiles, create team accounts, and use the synchronizer to automate repetitive tasks. It allows users to add proxies to profiles and manage them to create unique digital fingerprints. The browser integrates with every major proxy provider such as SmartProxy, BrightData, IPRoyal, Oxylabs, SOAX, and more.

The proxy web browser offers a starter package for free containing 10 browser profiles for two months. After that, you can keep using the browser with 3 profiles. Take note that Incogniton is a desktop-only browser and you can only download it for Windows and Mac.

Pros

• Easy integration with various proxy providers
• Ability to automate repetitive tasks
• Supports team accounts with separate logins and permissions
• Offers 10 browser profiles for free

Cons

• Limited browser profiles
• It doesn’t support mobile devices

7. Epic Privacy Browser

Epic Privacy Browser is a Chromium-based web browser with more than 10 years of track record offering a secure and anonymous online experience. Similar to the Tor Browser, it’s highly focused on encryption through proxies and VPN connections and on top of that, protects users from ads and trackers. While doing that, it manages to stay relatively fast and reliable.

With that said, Epic Privacy Browser can’t replace your regular one as it doesn’t support extensions for security and privacy purposes. Also due to aggressive script-blocking, some sites may not load correctly. The browser is completely free to use; however, it’s only available for Windows and Mac users, and there is no Android or iOS support.

Pros

• Powerful protection against tracking
• Blocks ads
• Cookie and fingerprinting protection
• Available for free

Cons

• No extension support
• Some sites may not load properly

8. Gologin

Gologin is an advanced option, especially for users who are looking for a browser to manage multiple accounts. It offers built-in residential and mobile proxies with IPs from 100+ countries. However, Gologin doesn’t restrict users to these proxies and allows adding third-party proxies with one click. The browser creates unique digital fingerprints for each profile and websites will consider you as a unique person.

In addition, you can customize these fingerprints based on your tasks and organize them with folders, statuses, and more. The Gologin browser is available for Windows PC, Mac OS, and Linux. You can try it with a free data plan offering 3 different profiles and most features.

Pros

• Offers built-in proxies and supports adding third-party proxies
• Many tools and parameters for managing profiles
• User-friendly and modern interface
• Advanced customizable fingerprints

Cons

• Limited browser profiles
• No mobile version is available

9. AdsPower

AdsPower offers two different browsers to suit your browsing habits. If you are a Chrome user, SunBrowser will provide the same feel and interface. It even will allow you to personalize your browsing with extensions from the Chrome Web Store. On the other hand, users who like Firefox, can use FlowerBrowser which is designed based on the Firefox browser.

With advanced and unique browser fingerprints and more than 20 customizable parameters, AdsPower provides a robust private online experience. It offers many automation tools to streamline your workflow, but learning these features can be overwhelming for beginners. This browser is available for download on Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Pros

• Two types of browsers for Firefox and Chrome fans
• Advanced and highly customizable browser fingerprints
• integration for many types of proxies
• Synchronizer, API integration, and automation tools

Cons

• Free version with only five profiles
• The learning curve for advanced features like automation

10. Nstbrowser

Nstbrowser provides an all-in-one solution for users who are looking for a reliable proxy web browser with automated features. The browser takes advantage of IP rotation to find the most suitable proxies for specific targets.

Thanks to the highly customizable fingerprinting parameters, websites will rarely detect unusual activity. Nstbrowser is also a great solution for automation and extracting data from websites, as it’s compatible with popular tools such as Puppeteer, Selenium, and Playwright.

The browser is available on Windows and Mac OS. There is a restricted free version with a limit of 10 different profile launches. Usage beyond the limit will be automatically billed with the pay-as-you-go pricing plan.

Pros

• IP rotation capabilities
• Customizable browser fingerprints
• Compatibility with popular third-party automation tools
• Unlimited browser profiles

Cons

• Limited profile launch limit
• It can be expensive compared to other options

Free vs. Premium Proxy Web Browsers

When something is free, there is a reason for it. Free proxy web browsers usually provide limited speed and bandwidth and are equipped with less advanced security and privacy features.

Since more people can use them without any payments, the number of already blocked proxies is high. So if you want high-speed performance, enhanced security, and modern features, premium proxy web browsers can usually satisfy your needs.

Some browsers offer both a free and a premium version. Due to the limitation of the free versions, they usually can only act as a trial to test out the features and decide if you need to opt into a subscription plan.

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. Therefore, you can install a proxy extension on Chrome or install an add-on on Firefox to add proxy functionality to your browsing experience.

In addition, if there are no add-ons or extensions or your browser doesn’t support it, you can manually add proxy servers to your browser. This is possible through the proxy configuration section in your browser’s settings. The steps on different browsers are similar. We used Firefox as an example for the step-by-step guide:

1. Click on the three lines in the top left corner and then 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 proxy information you want to set. Finally, select OK. Now your browser traffic will go through the proxy. In the No proxy for section, you can add the addresses of websites that you don’t want to use a proxy to access.

Why It Matters? Final Verdict

Every user should find the best proxy web browser based on their specific needs and priorities. Premium proxy browsers can provide reliability and advanced protection to facilitate anonymous browsing and provide 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. The free proxy browsers can be enough for small tasks but they usually can’t handle heavy or 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 use cases. Take a look at top proxy browsers and you can find one suitable for your needs.

Are free proxy browsers safe?

Not all of them. Only use free and 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 a proxy browser can improve privacy?

These browsers route your traffic through proxies with different IP addresses and encrypt the data. So websites and trackers will have a harder time finding your real IP address and accessing your personal browsing data.