Types of proxy servers: What they are and how to choose the right one

A proxy is basically a middleman between your computer and websites. You send a request, it goes to the proxy, and then the proxy talks to the website on your behalf. When it gets a response, the proxy sends it back to you.

IP replacement and traffic routing through proxies

When you work through a proxy, websites see the proxy's IP address, not yours. Here's what that gets you:

- Bypassing regional restrictions

- Hiding your real location

- More privacy online

- Working with multiple accounts at once

- Faster loading for frequently visited sites

How proxies differ from VPNs and other anonymization methods

Key differences:

Traffic coverage: VPN encrypts all your device's traffic, proxies only work with specific programs.

Encryption: VPN always encrypts data, proxies might work with minimal or no encryption at all.

Speed: Proxies are usually faster - they don't waste resources on full encryption. GonzoProxy has high-speed servers with minimal lag.

Flexibility: Through proxies, you can set up different programs to use different servers.

Why regular people need proxies

Everyday uses:

To access popular platforms restricted in certain countries — like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), Facebook, Spotify and others — people often use European proxies. Services like GonzoProxy provide EU IPs that help bypass regional blocks and give full access to social media, streaming services, and news sites.

- Save money: prices for goods and services vary by country - you can find better deals

- Café security: extra protection when using public Wi-Fi

- Less tracking: ad networks have a harder time following your activity

By protocol and application

HTTP / HTTPS

HTTP proxies work with web traffic. They understand the HTTP protocol and can cache pages for quick reloading. The HTTPS version adds basic encryption.

Pros:

- Fast web request processing

- Save bandwidth through caching

- Work with all browsers

- Can filter content

Cons:

- Only work with HTTP/HTTPS

- Might keep logs of your activity

- Can see transmitted data

Where to use: web browsing, website parsing, corporate access control.

SOCKS5

Universal proxy type at the transport level. Works with any protocols and traffic types without interfering.

Features:

- Works with UDP

- Has authentication

- Supports IPv6

- Excellent throughput

Where needed: torrents, gaming, messengers, professional parsing. SOCKS5 from GonzoProxy works reliably with any software.

DNS / SMTP / FTP

Specialized proxies for specific protocols:

TOR, CGI, SmartDNS

TOR proxies work through the Tor network:

• Multi-layer encryption
• Maximum anonymity
• Access to .onion sites
• Slow speed

CGI proxies work through a web interface:

• No system setup needed
• Easy to use
• Limited capabilities

SmartDNS combines DNS and proxy:

• Removes geographic restrictions
• Maximum speed without encryption
• Great for streaming

By location and IP source

Datacenter Proxies

Located in data centers, use hosting provider IPs.

Pros:

- Excellent speed

- Stable operation

- Low price

Cons:

- Easily detected by protection systems

- Often blocked by popular platforms

- Look unnatural to websites

Residential proxies

Use regular ISP IPs, look like home users.

Pros:

- Websites trust them

- Rarely blocked

- Work great with social media

- Wide country selection

Cons:

- More expensive than other types

- Speed can fluctuate

Among services providing access to residential IPs in over 100 countries, GonzoProxy stands out — a provider focusing on connection stability and wide geolocation choice.

Mobile proxies

Use mobile carrier IPs, maximally natural traffic.

Features:

- IP changes automatically

- Platforms trust them the most

- Almost impossible to block

- Mimic mobile behavior

Applications: SMM, affiliate marketing, mobile app testing.

Services like GonzoProxy provide mobile and residential proxies with fine-tuning options — IP retention, timer-based rotation or on-demand, country and region selection. This is handy when you're building infrastructure for a specific use case.

By level of anonymity

Transparent proxies

Don't hide your IP or the fact you're using a proxy. Pass all information in headers.

Applications:

• Corporate caching
• Parental controls
• Employee monitoring
• Speed boost

Anonymous proxies

Hide your real IP but show you're using a proxy.

Good for:

• Protection from web analytics
• Bypassing simple blocks
• Blocking personalized ads

Elite (High-Anonymous) proxies

Completely hide both your IP and the fact you're using a proxy. Indistinguishable from regular users.

Essential for:

• Professional parsing
• Social media work
• Confidential research
• Serious testing

Most proxy services don't hold up under serious anonymity checks. GonzoProxy uses technologies that make traffic indistinguishable from regular users.

By traffic direction

Forward proxy

Regular proxy type, works on behalf of the client to access the internet.

Flow: Your computer → Proxy → Website

Reverse proxy

Works on behalf of the server, accepts requests and distributes them among company servers.

Flow: Your computer → Reverse proxy → Company servers

Applications:

- Load balancing

- DDoS protection

- Caching

- SSL termination

By service model

Dedicated / Private

Provided only to you, maximum speed without other users' influence. GonzoProxy gives dedicated proxies with full control.

Shared / Public

Used by several people simultaneously. Cheaper, but speed can drop under high load.

Rotating proxies

Automatically change IPs at set intervals. Essential for mass parsing.

GonzoProxy has two modes for rotating residential proxies:

1. Sticky IP: IP holds for a certain time (30 seconds to 7 days)

2. Randomize IP: new IP for each request

Selection based on use case

Web scraping and data collection

Main thing - reliability and resistance to blocks.

What to get:

- Rotating residential for complex projects

- Datacenter for simple tasks

- SOCKS5 for protocol flexibility

Accessing geo-blocked content

Anonymity and server location matter.

Best choice:

- Residential proxies from the needed country

- Elite anonymity level

- HTTPS for data protection

SMM, affiliate marketing, multi-accounting

Need maximally natural behavior.

What works:

- Mobile proxies for social media

- Residential from different subnets

- Separate proxy for each account

Testing and automation

Stability and parameter control are important.

Suitable types:

- Datacenter for speed

- SOCKS5 for different protocols

- Static IPs for repeatable tests

DePIN farming

Participating in decentralized networks needs special settings. GonzoProxy has optimized solutions for DePIN. Details in the special guide.

IP location and stability

Choose proxies in needed countries with stable IPs.

Speed, anonymity, protocol type

Set priorities: for parsing speed matters, for privacy - anonymity, for specific tasks - support for needed protocols.

Number of IPs and rotation settings

Large projects need many IPs with customizable rotation.

How to check If your proxy works

‍Browser-level proxy testing

Set up the proxy in your browser and visit an IP checker site. If the address changed - the proxy works.

Tools and API-based checks

Speed testing:

• SpeedTest.net for general measurements
• Fast.com for quick checks
• Special tools for precise measurements

Anonymity test:

• Whoer.net for comprehensive checking
• DNSLeakTest.com for DNS leak checks
• IPLeak.net for WebRTC leaks

How to tell if your PC is connected via proxy

To find out if a proxy is being used on your computer:

• Windows: Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy
• macOS: System Preferences → Network → Advanced → Proxies
• Command line: use netstat or curl commands

Get GonzoProxy if:

1. Speed is critical

2. Working with large volumes

3. Need flexible settings for different programs

4. Want to save money

5. Need professional support

Get VPN if:

1. Need to protect all device traffic

2. Often use public Wi-Fi

3. Want one-click setup

4. Provider protection matters