Best proxy software for 2025: Windows, macOS and Linux

Proxy setup programs

Let's start with the basics. There are system settings: you go into Windows settings, type in proxy address, port, login-password. Does it work? Yes. Is it convenient? If you've got one proxy for a year, why not. But if you need to switch between a dozen IPs several times a day? That's when the circus begins.

The situation's the same in macOS. You dig into system settings, click on network, enter data. Linux users are out there editing configs in text files. Romance for geeks, headache for everyone else.

Proxy managers (Proxy switchers)

Managers are a different story. Create a profile for each project, assign hotkeys. Press Ctrl+1 and you're in Germany. Ctrl+2 and you're already in the States. No digging through settings. Really saves the day when you're running several projects with different geos in parallel.

Proxy checker programs

You've got a file with a thousand proxies. Half are dead, a quarter are slow as snails, the rest might work. Gonna check manually? Programs that check proxy lists do this in minutes. Feed them the list and get a table: this one's fast, this one's anonymous, and these hundred don't respond at all.

Automation programs

This is hardcore stuff. Proxy chains, where traffic goes through several servers. Automatic rotation by time or number of requests. Integration with antidetect browsers, where each tab is a separate identity with its own IP and fingerprints. Some even give you SDK: write your own code, manage proxies however you want.

Proxifier (Windows, macOS)

Good old Proxifier. A program that'll make even Windows Calculator work through a proxy. Seriously, any application, even if the developers didn't think to add proxy settings. Proxifier will intercept traffic and send it where needed.

What it can do:

• Hooks into any program at system level
• Works with SOCKS5 and HTTP, the main protocols
• Set up rules: this program through German proxy, that one through American
• Keeps logs, shows who went where

What's not great:

• Costs 40 bucks. Forever, but still
• Won't run without admin rights
• Antiviruses sometimes complain, have to add to exceptions

Who it's for: Running software that basically doesn't do proxies? Proxifier is your choice. Especially popular with those working with corporate applications.

ProxyCap (Windows)

Proxifier's little brother. Does roughly the same thing, but simpler. But the interface is understandable, even someone who turned on a computer yesterday for the first time will figure it out.

Pros:

• Interface for humans, not programmers
• Does SSH tunnels, extra layer of encryption
• Games and streaming work fine

Cons:

• Windows only, forget about other OSes
• Setup rules aren't as flexible

Who it's for: Streaming on Twitch from Russia? Playing on blocked servers? ProxyCap will solve it.

SwitchyOmega (Chrome, Firefox)

Free extension that every second affiliate marketer has installed. Set up profiles for each account, switch with one click. Or even on autopilot: went to Facebook, American proxy turned on. Switched to VK, Russian.

What's good:

• Free. Completely. No catches
• Settings sync through browser cloud
• Supports PAC scripts for those in the know
• Auto-switching by URL masks

What's sad:

• Browser only. Can't push Telegram through it
• Doesn't play nice with system apps

Who it's for: All your work in the browser? Multiple social media accounts? SwitchyOmega is a must-install.

FoxyProxy (Chrome, Firefox)

For those who found SwitchyOmega too simple. Here you can set up rules through regular expressions. Yeah, regexp in proxy settings, that's a thing too.

Strengths:

• Rules of any complexity, switch by time of day if you want
• Import/export settings, moved to another computer in a second
• Color indication, immediately see which proxy is active

Weaknesses:

• Interface is cluttered, newbie will get confused
• Advanced features in paid version

Who it's for: Web developers, testers. Those who understand why you need regex in proxies.

Squid (Linux, macOS, Windows)

This isn't a program for connecting to proxies anymore, it's a full proxy server. Set it up on your machine, configure rules, caching. You get a personal proxy with blackjack and everything else.

Advantages:

• Open source, free forever
• Scales to a thousand users
• Stats for every byte

Disadvantages:

• No point without Linux knowledge
• Configuration through configs, GUI is for weaklings

Who it's for: System administrators, VPS owners. Those who want their proxy under full control.

3Proxy (Windows, Linux)

Minimalist proxy server. Weighs less than a megabyte, eats memory like notepad. Yet does everything necessary.

What's good:

• Almost no resources needed, run it on a toaster
• Proxy chains out of the box
• Works as a service on Windows

What's bad:

• Configuration only through text files
• No GUI and never will be

Who it's for: Need your own proxy on a weak VPS? 3Proxy will handle it.

GSA Proxy Scraper (Windows)

Combine harvester for proxy work. Finds free proxies on the internet, checks them, sorts them. Proxy checking program on steroids.

Capabilities:

• Check 10000 proxies in parallel
• Auto-search for fresh IPs across the internet
• Export in any format

Limitations:

• Windows only
• 89 dollars for license

Who it's for: Need hundreds of working proxies daily? GSA will find and check them.

Multilogin / Dolphin Anty (Windows, macOS)

Antidetect browsers are a separate story. Each profile is a unique browser with its own cookies, Canvas, WebGL and other fingerprints. Proxy here is just part of the disguise.

Features:

• Complete anonymity at browser fingerprint level
• Team work, shared profile with colleague
• API for automating everything

Price tag:

• From 99 dollars a month
• Resource hungry, need a powerful computer

Who it's for: Multi-accounting, arbitrage, account farming. Where just changing IP isn't enough.

ProxyDroid / Drony (Android)

Android proxy programs are rare beasts. ProxyDroid requires root, but works at system level. Drony manages without root, but creates a VPN connection.

Features:

• Works with mobile apps
• Auto-connect on WiFi networks
• System app support (ProxyDroid)

Problems:

• ProxyDroid useless without root
• Drony can lag due to VPN

Who it's for: Testing mobile apps, working with Instagram and TikTok from smartphone.

First answer these questions. What will you proxy: just browser or all programs? What's your OS? Ready to pay or looking for free options?

Quick checklist:

• ✓ Clear on the task? (browser/system apps/server)
• ✓ OS compatible?
• ✓ Protocols supported? (minimum HTTP and SOCKS5)
• ✓ Functionality matches tasks?
• ✓ Budget allows?

Support for different protocols (HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5, QUIC)

Without HTTP and SOCKS5 in 2025 you're nowhere. HTTP for web. SOCKS5 universal, download torrents even. QUIC newcomer from Google, fast, but rarely seen yet.

Check that the program can work with your protocols. Bought SOCKS5 proxies, but the program only understands HTTP? Congrats, money down the drain.

Integration with dashboards and API

Normal proxy services provide API. The program pulls fresh IPs itself, checks balance, rotates addresses. No copy-pasting from personal account.

Let's take GonzoProxy as an example, a service with residential and mobile proxies. What they offer:

• HTTP and SOCKS5 out of the box on all tariffs
• Works with Proxifier and ProxyCap connects without jumping through hoops
• API for automation export proxy lists, manage rotation

Convenient? You bet. This is exactly how proxy service and software should work together.

What to check before installing proxy software

Don't want problems? Check:

1. Where you're downloading from, official site or verified GitHub. No torrents
2. Which protocols, minimum HTTP/HTTPS and SOCKS5
3. System requirements, especially for antidetects
4. OS compatibility, shame to download Linux version for Windows
5. Provider API, does it support your proxy service?
6. License type, subscription or one-time purchase
7. Documentation, got manuals? Forum active?
8. Tech support, do they answer at least once a week?