VPN vs Proxy: What’s The Difference

A proxy and a VPN both connect you to remote computers, and this is what makes them similar. However, the similarities end here because there are some fundamental differences between a proxy and a VPN. Here are the major differences, as well as the pros and cons of each one.

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What is a Proxy

A proxy is an intermediate server positioned between an end user’s device and the destination website. Instead of using your IP address, all web pages on a website are routed through the proxy’s IP address.

The purpose of a proxy is to conceal your actual location, enabling access to websites that may be restricted due to geo-blocking, limited user privileges, or IP address bans.

Anonymous vs. Elite Proxies

“Anonymous proxies” or “anonymizers” are the most common type of proxies that most Internet users will be familiar with. You can find anonymous proxies on websites like hide.me, Whoer, and Proxysite. To hide my IP address, I just need to enter the URL and choose a server.

The main intent of an anonymous proxy is to bypass censorship and unblock websites that you can’t access directly.

Most anonymous proxies are free, as they can only offer a basic level of website unblocking capability. Since they remove online ads, many websites – especially video and gaming sites – prevent your page from loading properly.

As anonymous proxies are not very effective, the privacy conscious use “elite proxies” or “high anonymous proxies.” They not only hide the user’s IP address, but go much beyond that for true anonymity. Elite proxies use datacenters or residential IP addresses procured from a reliable ISP giving you a valid IP address.

Other Proxies

Other than anonymous and elite proxies, there are a few other proxies that you should be aware of:

Transparent proxies: unlike the anonymous or elite proxies, these do not hide your IP addresses. Their main uses are content filtering and caching.
Forward proxies: It’s a type of anonymous proxy. The difference is that it also analyzes client requests and approves them based on a predefined protocol. Think of a proxy server handling an organization’s intranet.
Reverse proxies: instead of directing web traffic from an IP address, it is ordinarily routed through web servers. Companies like VMware or Nginx have their reverse proxies.
Chain proxies: these use multiple proxy servers like a relay, along with traffic encryption to anonymize users. Tor, based on onion routing, is the most common example of a chain proxy.

What is a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is a desktop or mobile application that uses a secure tunnel to encrypt web traffic. It encompasses an entire operating system, using VPN servers between the user device and the rest of the Internet. A VPN server anonymizes your entire device, and encryption is always assured.

The simplest type of VPN is browser-based (or app-based if you’re using a smartphone). Then there are the commercial VPNs with the full set of features such as kill switch, zero DNS leaks, and thousands of secure servers worldwide.

Note: many browser-based VPNs, such as Epic and Opera, are actually encrypted proxies. They are labeled as VPNs even though they are not.

The quality of the VPN servers, their unblocking capabilities, and overall privacy policies determine the effectiveness of the VPN. We recommend the best commercial VPNs because of their high performance, such as unblocking Netflix and other streaming sites. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are among the few that have earned their stripes as top-tier VPNs.

Read more: learn the differences between a VPN and a firewall.

The Difference Between a Proxy and a VPN

Now that we understand what a VPN and a proxy are, let’s look at the main differences between the two.

Purpose

Proxies only serve to hide your IP address. Whether you go for a free, anonymous proxy, or a paid, elite proxy, they’re mainly concerned with IP masking. VPNs offer a higher level of protection as they encrypt your entire data traffic including headers, DNS, browser data, and much more.

Server types

Proxies have very limited servers, which can be based in data centers, mobile networks, or residential Wi-Fi. Commercial proxies for unblocking websites are typically available only in the US, Canada, Netherlands, and a few other select countries.

VPN servers are many more in quantity and range. They include IKEv2, cloud VPNs, mobile VPNs, SSL VPNs, PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN, WireGuard, and more. They mainly use global data centers, with RAM disks storing VPN data increasingly.

Speed

Proxies are known for their high speed access. Elite proxies such as IPRoyal are as good as your home Wi-Fi network. VPNs, mainly are slow, but many of them are using advanced techniques such as high-speed 10 Gbps servers, and smart server locations.

Security and privacy

VPNs encrypt your entire data traffic, and are always more secure than proxies. However, do remember that even VPNs cannot make your browsing totally anonymous.

When to Use a Proxy

It is preferable to use a proxy instead of a VPN in the following scenarios:

To visit simple websites without leaving an IP trace: proxies are useful for simple websites that do not require registration or sign-in to view their content. They provide a fast and efficient way to avoid leaving an IP trace.
To test websites for multiple locations: proxies allow webmasters to quickly check how a site renders across different locations worldwide..

Gathering basic intelligence: proxies offer a simple anonymity which is useful for basic online research. As a writer, I find them helpful for researching sensitive databases and government websites.
Get rid of ads and trackers: unlike VPNs, which would display localized ads, proxies can block all ads and trackers, provided the website permits it.
Using multiple IP addresses simultaneously: VPNs only allow you to use one VPN server at a time. With proxies, you can use multiple IP addresses together for different tasks.

When to Use a VPN

Use a VPN over a proxy when:

You need to bypass Internet censorship: VPNs are far more effective than proxies in bypassing geographic restrictions by ISPs and governments.
For advanced site unblocking: commercial VPNs are more capable of unblocking streaming, social media, and video websites. You also don’t run into captchas and puzzles which is a common problem with proxies.
When you’re connecting to a public Wi-Fi: VPNs add a layer of security on public Wi-Fi networks protecting your device and user accounts.
For secure remote work: employees accessing their company’s resources depend on secure VPNs to protect sensitive information.
Ensuring data compliance: for those using email and social media for work, commercial VPNs with their no-logs policies help ensure compliance with data regulations like GDPR.

If you regularly use VPN services or are planning to get a subscription, know why free VPNs may not be a very good choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a VPN better than a proxy?

Whether a VPN is better than a proxy or vice versa depends on your specific needs. If you’re comparing a top-tier VPN with average anonymizing proxies, VPNs are always better. However, if you need a reliable connection in another country for regular, an elite proxy is better.

Can I use a VPN and a proxy together?

Yes, a VPN and a proxy can be used together without any conflicts, as they secure different parts of the user network.

Is a proxy better for gaming?

A proxy, especially an elite proxy, truly helps gamers because of its reduced latency. So, if your ISP network speed is good, you will feel minimal disruption to your gaming speeds.

Image Credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.

Sayak Boral –
Staff Writer

Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.

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