Quick Answers

Is a Proxy the Same as a VPN?

No. Both change the IP websites see, but a VPN encrypts all your device's traffic, while a proxy usually handles one app or browser and does not encrypt.

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.

Is a Proxy the Same as a VPN illustration: no 3jdej38j4

The short answer

No. They overlap but are built for different jobs.

ProxyVPN
Changes your IPYesYes
Encrypts trafficUsually noYes
CoversOne app or browserThe whole device
Many IPs at onceYes, easilyNot really
Best forScraping, multiple accounts, geo testingPrivacy on public Wi-Fi

Rule of thumb

Protecting yourself on café Wi-Fi? Use a VPN. Running a business task that needs hundreds of IPs in different places? Use proxies.

Incognito mode is not a proxy, sadly (animated GIF) 3jdej38j4
Incognito mode is not a proxy, sadly. GIF via GIPHY

Also known as

Proxy vs VPN, VPN vs proxy server, difference between proxy and VPN.

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.
Keep reading

Related proxy guides

Proxy BasicsProxy vs VPN: Key Differences and When to Use EachProxies and VPNs both hide your IP, but they're built for different jobs. Compare encryption, speed, scope, cost and use cases to decide whether you need a proxy, a VPN, or both. Quick AnswersDoes a Proxy Encrypt My Traffic?Usually not by itself. HTTPS websites stay encrypted through a proxy because of TLS, but plain HTTP traffic and most proxy connections are not encrypted by the proxy. Quick AnswersDoes a Proxy Hide My IP Address?Yes, from the websites you visit, as long as the proxy does not forward your IP and nothing leaks around it. It does not hide your activity from the proxy provider. Proxy BasicsWhat Is a Proxy Server? A Plain-English ExplanationA proxy server is a middleman between you and the internet. Learn what proxies do, the main types, why people buy them, and how to choose one, explained without jargon. Quick AnswersIs an ISP Proxy the Same as a Static Residential Proxy?Mostly, yes. Both names usually describe an IP registered to a consumer ISP but hosted on fast servers, which you keep for weeks or months. Quick AnswersAre 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.
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