10 Best Proxy Clients for 2026: Best Tools for Privacy & Control

Proxy servers help to bypass geo-restrictions, ensure online privacy, and enable tasks like web scraping or multi-accounting. Beginner users might be challenged with setup difficulties and the lack of proxy settings out of the box, as browser and operating system developers are reluctant to implement them.

Third-party proxy tools can expand how you use proxies by adding features like IP rotation or simply providing a more user-friendly interface. Getting started with proxy software is surprisingly easy, and there are many great proxy clients to choose from.

What Is a Proxy Client?

A proxy client is a software that routes network traffic from applications through proxy servers, including apps that may lack native proxy support otherwise. Various proxy software types, such as proxy switchers and browser extensions, are considered proxy clients.

They fulfil the same core function of routing traffic before it reaches the actual network hardware while also adding various other useful functions. Proxy extensions for browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome are the most popular.

Extensions route traffic through the browser API while enabling users to manage proxy pools or implement rotation rules. Proxy clients that are run as command tools or as a standalone desktop software are generally more powerful than browser extensions.

Top 10 Proxy Client Programs in 2026

Our list of ten best proxy tools uses the term proxy client as an umbrella. It includes desktop proxy clients, browser extensions, proxy apps, and tools designed for specific proxy use cases. Most of them can be tested for free, so be sure to experiment until you find one that fits your proxy usage.

1. IPRoyal Browser Extension

The IPRoyal Proxy Manager extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are helpful for anyone who connects to multiple proxies and needs to switch between them regularly. They allow you to create profiles for different proxies and switch between them with a single click without making any browser or OS changes.

You can access proxy information, such as remaining traffic, and set country, rotation, protocol (HTTP(S) or SOCKS5 ), and all other proxy settings directly in the browser extension. WebRTC IP protection is enabled by default to avoid browser fingerprinting while using proxies. You can manually add proxies of any provider in our proxy extension.

Supported platforms: Mozilla Firefox and Chromium-based browsers

Price: Free

2. Proxycap

Proxycap is a proxy client for Windows and macOS that supports multiple proxy types, including HTTP(S) and SOCKS5 proxies. It enables users to set up individual proxy settings for various applications or processes on their computer. This selective routing allows specific programs to use proxies while others maintain regular network connections.

Customized rules can dictate which applications use proxies based on criteria like destination IP addresses, ports, or domains. Such fine-grained control optimizes proxy usage according to your needs and even with advanced features like proxy chains. Proxycap has an intuitive interface and supports almost any applications you might need.

Supported platforms: Windows and macOS

Price: Starts at $30 per license with a 30-day trial

3. WinGate

WinGate is a proxy management software used to control other computers on your network and how they connect to the internet. It has a comprehensive feature set, versatility, and a user-friendly interface. WinGate enables application-specific proxy configurations so users can define which apps should use proxies, ensuring that only relevant traffic is routed.

The tool provides high levels of security thanks to the built-in packet-inspection firewall, protecting systems from external and internal threats. You can set up WinGate for both multiple shared and single connections and implement application load control or failover.

Supported platforms: 64-bit Windows PC version only

Price: Starts at $74.95 for three users with a 30-day free trial

4. Proxifier

Proxifier is one of the most popular proxy client programs in the industry. It allows you to configure individual applications to use proxies, even if those applications don’t have native proxy settings. The program can force all web traffic, including emails, browsers, apps, and games, via the proxies you want.

Proxifier supports various proxy protocols, including HTTP(S), IPv6, and SOCKS5, ensuring you can work with different types of proxy servers. It is very flexible and lightweight, so many users prefer it over a VPN. Even though it’s a paid proxy client, you can take advantage of the free trial to see how it works.

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Android

Price: Starts at $39.95 per license with a 30-day trial

5. FoxyProxy Basic

FoxyProxy Basic is a proxy browser extension that provides IP management capabilities for web browsers. The Chrome and Firefox extensions allow you to easily switch between different proxy servers or configurations, giving more control over online privacy and access to online resources.

People love the simplified features that make it very easy to use. So, the bulk load of configuration options typical for proxy clients is replaced with browser-based controls. You can configure FoxyProxy with all your browsers and see which proxies were used and when.

Supported platforms: Chrome and Firefox

Price: Free

6. Proximac

Proximac is one of the best proxy client programs specifically designed for macOS. The program was developed as a free alternative to the popular client Proxifier, which requires a paid license to use. You can use it to forward any app’s traffic or all network traffic in your system to a specific SOCKS proxy .

Proximac supports global traffic forwarding and SOCKS5 authentication using username/password credentials. It’s open-source and easy to use, making it a good fit for both technical and non-technical users.

Supported platforms: Mac OS X

Price: Free

7. Postern

Postern is an open-source project that brings a lot of useful proxy management features to Android. It can change the device’s IP address by routing all the web traffic to the set proxies. Postern can also force the traffic of individual apps with specific per-app rules to use proxies.

More fine-grained per-app or per-domain control and rotation will require reading the documentation, but simple global proxy setups are easy to implement on Postern. Unfortunately, the app has recently been removed from the Google App Store, so installing it via GitHub will be a bit more complicated.

Supported platforms: Android (installation from GitHub)

Price: Free

8. Shadowrocket

Shadowrocket is a proxy switcher and manager app for iOS and Android devices that can capture traffic from apps on the device and route it through your proxies. It supports all major proxy protocols, advanced DNS options, and authentication methods, and is easy to use.

The rules-based system the app uses will get more complicated once you need more complex proxy settings, but there are plenty of Shadowrocket guides online. Its iOS version is praised more online as Android has arguably better alternatives, but it is still heavily used by developers, testers, and others.

Supported platforms: Android and iOS

Price: iOS version costs $2.99

9. Dolphin{anty}

Dolphin{anty} is one of the most popular anti-detect browsers used by social media managers, affiliate marketers, and other specialists. Its main use case is multi-accounting, allowing users to set up browser profiles with unique browser fingerprints to connect to multiple accounts safely.

The tool isn’t primarily meant as a proxy software, but it can stand in for many useful features. Each such browser profile can use proxies of almost any protocol or authentication method. Understanding and using the basic features of Dolphin{anty} is quite easy, but managing lots of profiles and large teams may take some skills.

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Price: Paid tiers range from $10 per month, but a free version is also available

10. Proxychains

Proxychains is an open-source command-line proxy utility tool loved by Linux users. It connects to the networking calls of applications and routes their TCP traffic through a proxy or a chain of proxies. ProxyChains supports all common proxy protocols and authentication methods, and has very advanced proxy configuration options.

Using Proxychains may feel like hacking for beginners, especially since it comes pre-installed in distributions known for networking tasks, like Kali Linux. The command-line interface makes it efficient for tasks like penetration testing, bypassing firewalls, geo-blocks, and other scenarios.

Supported platforms: Linux and macOS

Price: Free

Proxy Client Comparison Table

Features to Look for in a Proxy Client

The must-have features in all proxy tools depend on the complexity of your use case, but some are quite generally sought after by users.

• IP rotation support. Use pools of IPs to configure and manage rotation logic.
• Protocol compatibility. Native support for SOCKS5 and HTTPS proxies is a must. Also, look into what proxy authentication methods are accepted.
• DNS leak protection. The client must be able to resolve DNS through a proxy rather than the local resolver. Look for *the DNS over proxy only *option.
• Rule-based traffic routing. Support for proxy chains, fallbacks, bypass lists, whitelists, and a variety of control options, such as per‑app, per‑domain, per‑port, and per‑country.
• Logging & reporting. Exportable per-connection logs are ideal, but even simple stats on your proxy connections can be useful.
• Command-line options. Automation-heavy projects will need a command-line interface and API integrations.

If you only need the first three, a browser extension or proxy switcher will do. For more advanced features, a desktop proxy client is required.

How to Choose the Right Proxy Client

Proxy control capabilities are quite limited if you use only operating system settings, for example, proxy settings on Mac don’t provide any per-app rules, rotation, and some processes may even ignore them. Proxy programs are a convenient way to improve and replace them, so such capabilities should be considered first.

• Platform compatibility. Best tools are of no use if they don’t run well on your operating system. Look for tools that will work on your device without complicated setups.
• Proxy Protocol Support. At minimum, you want HTTP(S) and SOCKS5 support, as this is what the best proxy providers have.
• Use Case. Different clients are optimized for different tasks. Consider your use case before deciding on a tool.
• User Interface. Proxy clients are technical tools, so you shouldn’t expect a top-of-the-line user interface. Some convenience and error reporting for troubleshooting should still be expected.

Which Proxy Client Programs Offer the Most Advanced Features?

Proxifier, WinGate, and ProxyCap offer the most advanced rule-based proxy-switching settings, with per-application and per-domain control. They can be a bit overwhelming to use, so in most cases, you’ll be fine with a simpler solution, such as IPRoyal’s Browser extension.

Some proxy client programs not mentioned in our list offer advanced features for proxy rotation and IP switching. While a lot can be achieved with standard settings in our mentioned apps, Proxy SwitchyOmega , for example, is worth a look.

It’s a free, open-source proxy extension for Chrome and Firefox that enables switching between multiple proxies and advanced automatic proxy-switching rules. To use automatic IP rotation, you need to set up Proxy SwitchyOmega , create a profile, and specify the interval at which you want your IP address to be rotated.

How Proxy Clients Improve Speed and Performance?

Proxy client programs can improve browsing speed and performance, but the impact depends on factors such as the type of proxy used, the quality of its servers, and your specific use case . The way they improve browsing speed and performance is through caching frequently accessed content.

When you request a web page that has already been cached, the proxy can deliver it more quickly without needing to fetch it from the original server. This results in faster loading times for frequently visited websites.

Proxy servers can also compress content before sending it to your device. This reduces the amount of data transferred over the network, leading to faster page loading times, especially on slower connections.

And if the proxy is geographically closer to the website’s server than your device is, it can reduce the latency (network delay) for requests and responses. As such, interactions with websites are more responsive.

Some proxy setups involve load balancing, where multiple proxy servers distribute the network load. This can help distribute the traffic more evenly and prevent overloading a single server, leading to better performance.

Are There Proxy Clients Designed for Specific Systems?

Yes, there are many proxy client programs developed for specific operating systems or browsers. For example, WinGate, WinDiver, and FreeCap are available only for Windows. For Mac, you have Proximac, and for Linux, you have Redsocks and ProxyChains.

When it comes to proxy usage with browser extensions, most of them are available for both Chrome and Firefox browsers. However, only a few support other browsers besides these two. One of them is IPRoyal’s Chrome and Firefox proxy browser extensions, which also work on Vivaldi, Opera, Brave, Microsoft Edge, and all other Chromium-based browsers .

Can Proxy Clients Be Integrated With Automation and Scraping Tools?

Yes, proxy client programs can be integrated with other tools for automation and web scraping purposes. In fact, this combination is quite common to ensure optimal performance and anonymity with no IP restrictions and bans.

When using a proxy client program with a web scraping or automation tool, the proxy client can be used to rotate IP addresses to prevent websites from blocking your requests. It’s especially useful when scraping large amounts of data from websites or automating various online tasks, especially in social media.

Final Thoughts

Proxy clients make the management of a large proxy pool much easier and allow proxy connections to applications without native support. Our list covers proxy client programs for the most common use cases and systems. Give a few of them a try and see what works for you.

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