By 2026, there are increasing concernes about internet security. Furthermore, new bans and restrictions were introduced to users in 2025. Fortunatly, people still can use different proxies to secure their internet connection and bypass restrictions. In this article we’ll find out what SOCKS5 proxies are all about and learn about best SOCKS5 proxy providers to use in 2026.
What is SOCKS5 Proxy?
A SOCKS5 proxy is an advanced, fifth-layer proxy protocol. The main goal is to create secure connection between a client and a server if a firewall blocks direct access. For example, if a user needs to send data to a larger server, but is blocked by a firewall, the SOCKS5 proxy acts as an intermediary.
SOCKS5 is a versatile internet protocol that routes network traffic through a proxy server. Unlike earlier versions, SOCKS5 supports multiple traffic types, like TCP and UDP. This can be convenient for web browsing, file transfers, gaming, and more.
SOCKS5 proxies have several great features, that users may find attractive:
- Flexibility: SOCKS5 works with various application-layer protocols (HTTP, HTTPS, FTP).
- Ability to bypass restrictions: SOCKS5 allows users to access blocked or filtered content.
- Performance: SOCKS5 provides lower latency and improved performance, creating a smoother browsing experience.
- Security: Only authorized users can access services through a SOCKS5 proxy.
8 best SOCKS5 proxy providers
Now that we’ve learned about what SOCKS5 proxy is, let’s look at the noticable SOCKS5 proxy providers!
Oxylabs
Oxylabs is a popular provider of SOCKS5 and residential proxies. The company provides a wide range of proxy types (including TCP and UDP).
One of Oxylabs’ key features is its flexibility. This feature makes it a great choice for users managing diverse or complex tasks. The service is known for it’s impressive success rate (99.95 %)!
Oxylabs has an intuitive dashboard and prides itself on responsive customer support. However, the pricing tends to be on the higher end when stacked against competing providers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High success rate and reliability | Higher pricing, best suited for businesses with larger budgets |
| Supports multiple proxy types | May be overkill for small-scale users |
| Enterprise-grade infrastructure |
SOAX
SOAX is a SOCKS5 proxy provider focused on ethical IP sourcing.
The service combines low latency and flexible IP rotation, as well as unified SOCKS5 API. User‑friendly features like granular targeting (country, city, ASN level) and an intuitive dashboard should also be mentioned.
The main disadvantage is the pricing. Costs can rise quickly for high‑volume needs, limiting accessibility for smaller teams or budget‑conscious users. Additionally, while customer support is generally praised, new users may find advanced features and API integration challenging at first.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ethically sourced IPs | Pricing may be a barrier for smaller users |
| Low latency and high performance | Challenging to use for new users |
| Flexible rotation and targeting options |
Thordata
Thordata is a SOCKS5 proxy provider recognized for its extensive network of over 60 million residential and mobile IPs. The succes rate is 99%.
Thordata’s smart rotation technology and advanced targeting options allow users to customize their proxy usage based on specific needs, such as geographic location or IP type. Its infrastructure is optimized for performance, ensuring low latency and minimal downtime.
However, the complexity may pose a challenge for users unfamiliar with proxy management. The platform’s advanced features and customization options, while powerful, can require a learning curve to fully utilize.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 60M+ IPs and 99% success rate | Complex for beginners |
| Smart rotation technology | Pricing may be a barrier for smaller users |
| Scalable for all project sizes |
Decodo
Decodo is a SOCKS5 proxy provider that balances performance, user-friendliness, and affordability.
The platform offers a vast pool of over 65 million residential and mobile IPs, providing users with extensive coverage and flexibility for tasks like web scraping, ad verification, and bypassing geo-restrictions.
Decodo is particularly noted for its intuitive interface, clear documentation, and responsive customer support, which makes it accessible to both beginners and experienced users.
Unfortunately, some of its advanced features may require technical knowledge to fully leverage. Although the platform is user-friendly, users with highly specialized needs might find the customization options less extensive compared to providers like Oxylabs or Thordata.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User-friendly interface | Some features require technical knowledge |
| 65M IPs and customizable | Less extensive options |
| Good for bypassing firewalls | |
| Award-winning support |
PacketStream
PacketStream is a unique SOCKS5 proxy provider that operates on a peer-to-peer (P2P) residential proxy network, offering users access to real residential IPs at a more affordable price point compared to traditional providers.
This model allows PacketStream to provide globally distributed IPs, making it an attractive option for users who need cost-effective solutions for tasks like web scraping, market research, or bypassing geo-restrictions.
However, the P2P nature of PacketStream’s network can raise concerns about privacy and consistency. Since the IPs are sourced from real user devices, there may be variability in speed, uptime, and reliability.
Additionally, while the cost savings are notable, users requiring enterprise-level proxy solutions might find the performance less stable compared to providers with dedicated infrastructure.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cost-effective | Peer-to-peer model may raise privacy concerns |
| Real residential IPs | Less stable perfomance for high-volume tasks |
| Global coverage |
Brightdata
Brightdata is one of the largest and most established proxy providers, offering a comprehensive range of SOCKS5 proxies, including residential, datacenter, and mobile IPs.
Brightdata’s infrastructure is designed to handle demanding tasks like web scraping, ad verification, and market research, with a strong emphasis on compliance and ethical IP sourcing.
However, Brightdata’s premium features come at a higher cost, which may crucial for smaller users or those with limited budgets. The platform’s extensive capabilities can also be overwhelming for beginners.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Vast network and feature-rich | High pricing, not for small budgets |
| Stable and reliable | Complex for the beginners |
| Ideal for large enterprises |
IPRoyal
IPRoyal is a versatile and budget-friendly SOCKS5 proxy provider that offers a mix of residential, datacenter, and mobile proxies.
IPRoyal’s proxies are designed for a wide range of applications, from web scraping and social media management to SEO monitoring, The provider emphasizes ease of use with a simple dashboard and clear documentation.
On the downside, IPRoyal’s budget-friendly approach sometimes comes with lacking in performance and reliability. Some users report lower success rates and occasional IP blocks.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Budget-friendly | Some users report lower success rates |
| Pay-as-you-go pricing | Not high-perfomance proxy |
| Versatile proxy options |
Webshare
Webshare is an accessible SOCKS5 proxy provider that stands out for its free plan. It includes 10 proxies and 1GB of bandwidth.
Webshare’s paid plans are also affordable, making it a popular choice for small-scale projects, lightweight scraping, or basic anonymity tasks. This SOCKS5 proxy provider is user-friendly, which appeals to beginners and casual users.
The main problem with Webshare is its limited features and bandwidth on the free plan. Users with more demanding tasks may find the service lacking in performance and scalability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free plan available | Limited features and bandwidth |
| Low-cost for basic needs | Not siutable for professionals |
Final thoughts
Today, there are a lot of providers in proxy market to choose from. Wether you need SOCKS5 for personal use or for the buisness, there is something for everyone.
If you are looking for a proxy provider for busines purposes, opt for variants with high level of customization and better success rate.
For begginers or for personal use, it is better to look at budget-friendly options with simplier interface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SOCKS5 better than VPN?
VPNs encrypt all your network traffic, ensuring that no one can snoop on your activity. SOCKS5 proxies alter your IP address. VPNs alter your IP address. SOCKS5 proxies are faster than a VPN because they don't encrypt your traffic.
Can SOCKS5 hide my IP address?
A SOCKS5 proxy is a proxy server that routes your internet traffic through an intermediary server, hiding your real IP address and giving you more flexibility than older proxy types.
How to use SOCKS5 on DuckDuckGo?
Choose Proxy Protocol: For DuckDuckGo (which is web traffic), you would typically enable Web Proxy (HTTP) and Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS) if you have an HTTP(S) proxy. If you are using a SOCKS5 proxy, check the SOCKS Proxy box instead. You can select multiple, but usually one is enough depending on your proxy type.
Is it legal to use a proxy?
Yes, using proxies is legal in most jurisdictions for legitimate purposes like privacy protection, security, bypassing geo-restrictions for legal content, and accessing publicly available data.
Is SOCKS5 stronger than VPN?
SOCKS5 proxies are faster than a VPN because they don't encrypt your traffic. VPNs are acutely slower than your normal internet speed, as they encrypt your traffic. SOCKS5 proxies are manually configured, which is not difficult, but requires some technical knowledge.
