Chrome Proxy Extension
Firefox Proxy Extension
A proxy (proxy server) is an intermediary server that sits between your device or application and the internet service you want to reach, and forwards requests on your behalf. Because the request leaves from the proxy, the target site sees the proxy's exit IP address, not yours.
The short answer to "what is a proxy used for" is: sending traffic out from a specific IP address, country or network type. Checking search results from another city, verifying that an ad runs in the right region, collecting permitted data and connecting to corporate systems from a fixed IP are the most common examples.
This page explains step by step how a proxy works, how it differs from a VPN, which protocols exist, the proxy types by IP source and what a proxy does not do. At the end you will find a one-minute test and a selection checklist.
How does a proxy server work?
A proxied connection is not one connection but two: one between the client and the proxy, and one between the proxy and the target site. The flow runs in this order:
- The client connects to the proxy. The browser, script or app opens a connection to the proxy address and port (for example
gw.weproxy.com.tr:8989), not to the target site. - The proxy authenticates you. It checks a username and password or a registered IP address (IP whitelist). If authentication fails, an HTTP proxy returns
407. - The client names the target. With plain HTTP the full URL is sent to the proxy. With HTTPS the client asks for a tunnel with
CONNECT example.com:443. - The proxy connects to the target with its own IP. The target site sees the connection as coming from the proxy's exit IP.
- The response returns the same way. The target's response is passed back to the client through the proxy.
What the target site sees: the proxy's exit IP, that IP's country, its ASN (which network it belongs to) and the network type. What the target can still see: the headers your browser sends, cookies, your account login and your browser fingerprint. A proxy only changes the exit address at the network layer.
HTTP proxies and tunnels are defined in RFC 9110. MDN's guide to proxy servers and tunneling is also a good introduction.
What is the difference between a forward proxy and a reverse proxy?
A forward proxy sits on the client side and goes out to the internet on behalf of a user or application. The services described on this page, and the ones proxy providers sell, are forward proxies; the client configures them.
A reverse proxy sits in front of web servers and receives incoming visitor traffic. It is used for load balancing, TLS termination, caching and attack filtering; CDNs and servers such as Nginx work this way. In short, a forward proxy represents the client and a reverse proxy represents the server.
What is the difference between a proxy and a VPN?
Both send traffic out through another server, but they work at different layers. A proxy is usually configured for a single application or protocol. A VPN builds an encrypted tunnel at the operating-system level and routes all or most of the device's traffic.
| Feature | Proxy | VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Per application or browser | Whole device (in most setups) |
| Encryption | None by itself; HTTPS content stays end-to-end encrypted | Encrypted between client and VPN server |
| IP selection | Country, city, ASN, network type; rotating or fixed | Usually one fixed IP per server |
| Parallel connections | Many concurrent sessions, different IPs | Usually one tunnel, one exit IP |
| Typical use | Scraping, SEO checks, ad verification, automation | General privacy, public Wi-Fi security, remote access |
If one browser or script needs to exit from different IPs, use a proxy; if all device traffic needs to pass through an encrypted tunnel, a VPN fits better. In both cases you have to trust the service provider.
Which proxy protocols exist: HTTP, HTTPS and SOCKS5?
An HTTP proxy is designed for web traffic. It reads and forwards plain HTTP requests. For HTTPS sites it opens a TCP tunnel with the CONNECT method; because TLS is negotiated between the client and the target, the proxy cannot see the page content. Browsers, API clients and scraping libraries support this model by default. "HTTPS proxy" usually means an HTTP proxy with CONNECT support.
SOCKS5 (RFC 1928) is independent of the application protocol; it also carries non-HTTP TCP connections and on some servers offers UDP support. It suits desktop software, game clients and non-HTTP tools. To resolve DNS on the proxy side, use the socks5h:// scheme in your client.
SOCKS5 is not faster or more secure by itself. Pick the protocol that both your tool and your product support. Most WeProxy products offer HTTP and SOCKS5 together; Mobile 4G/5G Proxy works with HTTP only. For a detailed comparison see HTTP vs SOCKS5.
What are the proxy types: residential, mobile, datacenter and ISP?
Proxy types are mostly distinguished by where the IP address comes from. Target sites can see which network an IP belongs to through its ASN, so this distinction directly affects how requests are treated.
A residential proxy uses IP addresses that internet service providers assign to home users. It is preferred for location-sensitive search results, price tracking and ad checks. At WeProxy, residential IPs come from a consent-based SDK program in which participants opt in knowingly and can leave at any time. Rotating Residential IPv4 Proxy offers a 100M+ IP pool with city/ZIP targeting.
A mobile proxy sends traffic out through 4G/5G carrier networks. Because carriers place many users behind the same public IP (CGNAT), mobile IPs are used for social platforms, mobile ads and app testing. Options: Mobile 4G/5G Proxy (real SIM) and Rotating Mobile IPv4 Proxy.
A datacenter proxy uses IPs that belong to hosting and cloud providers. It is fast and high-capacity; however, because the ASNs of these IPs belong to hosting companies, some sites recognize them easily. Rotating Datacenter IPv4 Proxy offers 10M+ IPv4 addresses with ASN/city targeting.
An ISP proxy is a static IP registered to an ISP but hosted on server infrastructure. It combines a residential network profile with datacenter-grade continuity; it suits long sessions and jobs that require an IP allowlist. Static ISP IPv4 Proxy keeps the same IP for up to 30 days.
A detailed comparison of all four is in Residential vs mobile vs datacenter vs ISP proxy.
What do rotating, sticky and static proxy mean?
Independent of the IP source, how often the exit IP changes is a second choice:
- A rotating proxy changes the IP from the pool on every request or at set intervals. It is used to spread many independent requests across different IPs.
- A sticky session keeps an IP chosen from the rotating pool fixed for a set time. At WeProxy you can keep the same IP for up to 24 hours in the residential pool and up to 60 minutes in the mobile pool by adding a session ID to your username. It suits logins, carts and multi-step forms.
- A static proxy is the same IP assigned to you for the whole package period. It is used for IP allowlists, account management and systems that require a fixed network identity.
A sticky session is not a permanent assignment; the IP may change when the time runs out. Which job fits which model is covered in the sticky vs rotating proxy guide.
What is a proxy used for, and when should it not be used?
Common, legitimate uses:
- SEO and SERP checks: viewing search results from different countries and cities (SEO proxy).
- Web scraping: collecting public data that may be collected, at scale (web scraping).
- Ad verification: checking that ads appear in the right region and on the right page (ad verification).
- Market and price research: tracking regional price and stock changes (market research).
- Social media management: managing several authorized accounts from separate, consistent IPs (social media).
- Gaming connections: connecting to a game server with a fixed IP (gaming proxy).
A proxy does not give you permission to bypass a site's terms of service, access restrictions or legal limits. Proxies may not be used for spam, phishing, attacks, port scanning, payment fraud or unauthorized account access. Before automating, review the target site's terms and robots.txt rules and, if personal data is processed, your GDPR obligations. The rules are set out in the WeProxy acceptable use policy. This section is not legal advice.
What does a proxy not do?
Most wrong expectations about proxies come from forgetting that a proxy only changes the exit IP:
- It does not encrypt by itself. If the connection between the client and the proxy is plain HTTP, credentials and HTTP content travel in the clear. Privacy comes from the HTTPS target's own TLS encryption, not from the proxy.
- It does not change your browser fingerprint. User-Agent, screen resolution, time zone, language settings, cookies and canvas signals stay the same. A browser with a US time zone on a Turkish IP looks inconsistent.
- It does not close DNS and WebRTC leaks by itself. If the application resolves DNS locally or the browser reports a local IP via WebRTC, your real network can show. How to test and close these is explained in the DNS leak guide.
- It does not promise more speed. Adding a network hop usually increases latency; the result depends on the route and the target.
How do you test a proxy in one minute and choose one?
First note your IP without a proxy using the My IP tool. Then send the same request through the proxy:
# Without proxy: your own IP address
curl https://api.ipify.org
# Through the proxy: the exit IP
curl -x "http://USER:[email protected]:8989" https://api.ipify.org
If the second command returns a different IP, authentication and the tunnel work. You can verify the returned IP's country and ASN with IP lookup, and a list of proxies in bulk with the proxy checker. If you get 407, check the username and password or the IP whitelist entry.
Follow this order when choosing a proxy:
- Define the target. Write down which sites you will send requests to, from which country and how many.
- Choose the IP source. Residential for location-sensitive work, datacenter for high volume, ISP for long sessions, mobile for mobile platforms.
- Choose the session model. Rotating for independent requests, sticky for multi-step flows, static for allowlists.
- Match the protocol. HTTP is enough for the web; for non-HTTP TCP or UDP choose a product that supports SOCKS5.
- Plan authentication. Use username/password, or IP whitelist if your server IP is fixed; both are supported on HTTP and SOCKS5.
- Start small and measure. Measure success rate, latency and traffic used on the real target. The 1 GB free trial for Premium Rotating Residential can be used at this step.
Packages are listed in the package table on this page and on the pricing page; country coverage is on the locations page. For a step-by-step buying decision see the proxy buying guide, and for provider evaluation criteria see best proxy providers. When you are ready, continue on the order page.
Frequently asked questions
What does proxy mean?
"Proxy" means someone authorized to act on another's behalf. In networking, it is an intermediary server that forwards your device's internet requests to the target server on your behalf and brings the response back. The target site sees the connection as coming from the proxy's IP address. It can be configured at the browser, operating-system or single-application level, with username/password or IP whitelist authentication.
Is using a proxy legal?
Proxy technology is not illegal in itself; it is widely used in corporate networks, CDNs and software testing. The legal position depends on what you do: the type of data accessed, the target site's terms of service, GDPR or similar rules if personal data is processed, and the laws of your country are decisive. The rules for using WeProxy are in the acceptable use policy.
Does a proxy completely hide my real IP address?
The target site sees the proxy's exit IP on the connection, but that does not mean full privacy. If DNS queries are resolved locally, the browser reports a local address via WebRTC, or you have logged in with your account, your identity can show in other ways. Cookies and the browser fingerprint do not change either. Think of a proxy as an IP routing tool, not an anonymity tool.
Are a proxy and a VPN the same thing?
No. A proxy is usually configured for one browser or application and does not encrypt traffic by itself. A VPN works at the operating-system level and encrypts the traffic between the device and the VPN server. A proxy offers country, city and network-type selection with many concurrent IPs, while a VPN mostly gives one exit IP. A proxy suits scraping and SEO checks; a VPN suits general privacy.
Is it safe to use a free proxy?
Free proxy lists can be useful for simple connection tests, but their operator, logging policy and security level are often unknown. Addresses can disappear quickly and many people may share the same IP. Do not send traffic that carries passwords, payment details or customer data through proxies of unknown origin. If you want to try a list, use the free proxy list tool for testing only.
Which proxy type should I choose?
The choice depends on the target site and the nature of the job. Rotating residential suits local search results and price tracking, datacenter suits high-volume, speed-focused work, ISP or static residential suits long sessions and IP allowlists, and mobile proxies suit mobile apps and social platforms. The most reliable method is to compare two types on the real target with a small amount of traffic.
How many connections can I open through a proxy?
WeProxy packages have no limit on threads or concurrent sessions; the practical limit is the capacity of your own infrastructure and of the target site. With rotating products every connection can exit from a different IP, while in sticky sessions connections using the same session ID share the same IP. Rate-limiting your requests is recommended so you do not overload the target site.