Quick Answers

Are Free Proxies Safe?

Usually not. Public free proxies are often slow, already banned, logging your traffic, or injecting ads and malware. Use a free trial from a real provider instead.

By Team of Monkeys Editorial Updated 1 min read Affiliate disclosure

This guide contains affiliate links to Geonode, Webshare and Rayobyte. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Are Free Proxies Safe illustration: usually not 3jdej38j4

The short answer

Mostly no. Free public proxy lists are full of servers that are misconfigured, overloaded, already blocked by most sites, or run by people who want to see your traffic. Research on open proxies has found many that modify pages or inject content.

Safer free options

  • Free trials from established providers.
  • Free plans with a handful of datacenter IPs, such as Webshare's.
  • Never log into accounts, pay for anything, or send passwords through a public proxy.
A free proxy loading one page (animated GIF) 3jdej38j4
A free proxy loading one page. GIF via Tenor

Also known as

Public proxies, open proxies, free proxy servers, free proxy lists.

Learn more

Affiliate disclosure: Team of Monkeys is an affiliate of Geonode, Webshare and Rayobyte. Links and banners marked as sponsored, and links to Geonode, Webshare and Rayobyte in the text, use our referral links, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our explanations and comparisons are written to be useful whichever provider you choose.

Editorial note: Proxy providers change their pools, features and prices often, so treat any figures here as typical ranges at the time of writing and confirm current terms with the provider before you buy.
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