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Proxy and VPN: Key Differences

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Proxy and VPN: Key ...

Proxy and VPN: Key Differences That Are Important to Know About

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Evgeny Fomenko2024-12-31

10 min

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The modern world makes us seek new ways to bypass Internet restrictions and preserve anonymity. One of the most popular tools for this purpose are proxy or VPN services. The IT market offers a lot of software that satisfies both everyday needs of ordinary users and various business tasks. The number of services is steadily growing, and sooner or later a user who is not familiar with technical novelties asks himself: what is the difference between a proxy and VPN? Which of them suits me better: VPN or proxy server? Is it worth overpaying for a VPN when I could use a proxy server? Or, on the contrary, why do I need a proxy when a VPN performs essentially the same tasks? In this article, we will discuss the proxy vs VPN differences, help you navigate the issues of protecting your personal data on the Internet, and advise you which solution is better suited to your needs.

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What Is a Proxy Server?

When you type a website address into the address bar of your browser and press Enter, your request is sent almost directly to the target site on your own behalf. If you use a proxy server, each of your requests is first sent to the proxy server and then the proxy server connects to the target site on its own behalf (and with a spoofed IP). The site then processes the request and sends a response back to the proxy server. The proxy server accepts this response and passes it on to your browser.

As a result, the proxy server acts as an intermediary whose role may vary depending on the type of proxy used.

Using Proxies

There are many types of proxies, each suitable for specific tasks. In the most common case, a proxy server spoofs your IP to bypass IP restrictions and maintain anonymity.

Residential proxies provide IP addresses that belong to real ISPs, making them virtually indistinguishable from regular users. Mobile proxies work through the networks of mobile operators and are ideal for bypassing complex blocking and ban protection. Server proxies work through data centers, have high speed and stability, but their IPs are much easier to be detected by sites as IP proxies and therefore blocked.

HTTP proxies are used to handle web traffic, HTTPS proxies add encryption for increased security, and SOCKS proxies are universal and suitable for any type of connection, including games and torrents.

There are also shared proxies, which are used by multiple users at the same time, and dedicated proxies, which provide exclusive access.

Proxies can be static, with a fixed IP address, or rotational, which automatically change IP at specified intervals or on command. Read more about the differences in the uses of static and rotational proxies here.

Proxy servers are used by different kinds of people and organizations. For private users it is an opportunity to bypass network, geographical and other types of IP restrictions, to preserve anonymity or to speed up access to websites. Businesses actively use proxies to analyze competitors, manage multiple accounts, monitor prices and conduct advertising campaigns. IT specialists use proxies in testing applications and networks, and research companies use them for data collection (scraping) and market research. Thus, proxy servers are a sought-after tool capable of solving a wide range of tasks, from everyday needs to complex business processes.

iProxy allows you to turn your personal Android device into a mobile proxy server in just a few moments and a couple of clicks. As a result, you get private mobile proxies with unlimited traffic and mobile IP rotation. Private mobile proxies give you full control over your proxies, the ability to fine-tune and manage them, as well as unprecedented savings due to the absence of overpayments to intermediaries.

What is a VPN?

VPN or Virtual Private Network is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted communication channel between your device and a remote server. Essentially, a VPN acts as a secure tunnel between your device and the server that connects you to the Internet. This tunnel hides your activities from prying eyes: hackers, ISPs, and even government services.

When you connect to a VPN, instead of your real IP address, websites see the IP address of the VPN server, which helps maintain anonymity. But in addition to IP spoofing, a VPN provides encryption, so even if someone intercepts your traffic, without the encryption key, the data will remain a set of meaningless characters to them.

Key Differences Between Proxy and VPN

So is a proxy the same as a VPN? Various kinds of VPN and proxy are often used for similar purposes, such as changing IP addresses and bypassing network and geographic restrictions, but they work differently and offer different levels of security and functionality. Users wonder: is VPN a proxy server? In this section, we will compare both types of services in terms of all possible parameters important to users and investigate the difference between VPN and proxy.

Security

VPN clients encrypt all your traffic, ensuring a high level of your security and protecting your data from being intercepted. Proxy servers generally do not encrypt data, but there are exceptions such as HTTPS Proxy or TOR Onion Proxy. iProxy.Online also supports encryption of proxy traffic when working through UDP .oVPN configurations.

Privacy

When it comes to masking, i.e. IP address spoofing, proxies and VPNs in general perform this task equally effectively. The key here is not so much the choice between these tools, but the quality and reliability of the specific service you are using. Read about the best way to hide your IP address in 2024 in our article.

N.B.: using proxies and VPNs helps hide your IP and internet activity from prying eyes. But using such services inevitably involves redirecting your Internet traffic through the servers of a proxy or VPN provider. If that service is unreliable or its privacy policy is not transparent, your personal information may be compromised. That's why choosing a reliable service with an impeccable reputation is not just a matter of convenience, but a critical decision to protect your privacy and security.

iProxy adheres to the highest global standards of privacy and data protection, ensuring that users' personal information is handled with the utmost care and security in all jurisdictions. iProxy.Online is fully compliant with the GDPR, UK GDPR, CalOPPA and Brazil's LGPD.

Connection speed

In practice, connection speed is largely determined by the features of a particular server (be it a proxy or VPN). How close it is to the user and to the target site, what is its performance and current load, how good its own Internet connection is.

The traffic encryption used by VPN clients can reduce the speed of data transmission (or rather, processing during transmission), which is especially important for speed-intensive tasks such as web scraping, for example. Proxy servers, due to the smaller number of operations performed, including the lack of encryption (usually, although there are exceptions), provide higher speeds, making them the preferred choice for such tasks.

Interacting with Cookies

Websites ask permission to use cookies to make your interaction with them more convenient and personalized. For example, cookies allow them to “remember” you so you don't have to enter your username and password every time you log in, or to store your chosen language and design theme to make you feel more comfortable. Cookies also help you store items in your shopping cart, even if you accidentally close the site. But it's not just a matter of convenience: cookies collect information about how you use the site to improve its performance and show you ads you might be interested in.

All of this, of course, you don't really need if you want to maintain your privacy on the Internet. However, both VPN clients and proxy services do not interact with cookies in any way (except for the rare proxy or VPN implementations that include additional non-standard features).

In cases where it is important to factor in cookies for additional anonymity or masking, we recommend using anti-detect browsers in addition to a proxy or VPN client. Anti-detect browsers can spoof settings such as screen sizes, fonts, plugins used, and other data in cookies. When combined with a VPN or proxy, they make it much harder to track your online footprint.

Cost

The cost of a VPN or proxy service depends on the tasks you want to do and the specifics of the services provided. Different providers offer a wide range of solutions, which directly affects the price range.

VPN price is determined by the specifics of data encryption, the variety and geography of servers, the quality of servers (performance and actual load, which together greatly affect the speed), as well as possible additional features, such as increasing connection speed or maximizing anonymity. If data center servers are used, the cost of services will be lower, as it is a standard solution suitable for most basic tasks. However, the IP of such a VPN will belong to the data center, which can lead to blocking when working with social networks, marketplaces and other IP-picky resources.

The price of proxy services is also determined by their type and features. In terms of different IP types, the prices follow the same patterns as for VPNs: server or data center proxies are the cheapest, but are also suitable for fewer tasks; resident and mobile proxies tend to be more expensive, but also much better in terms of bypassing IP blocking. General proxies are cheaper, as they are used by several people at once, while individual or private proxies are more expensive due to exclusivity and stability of connection. Additionally, the cost is affected by the possibility of IP address rotation, which is especially important for automation and scraping.

Service reliability and stability also play a significant role: maintaining a quality infrastructure and minimizing outages require investment, which is reflected in the price. Brand reputation and subscription terms also matter: reliable providers, such as iProxy.Online, offer flexible solutions tailored to the user's needs and budget. Ultimately, the cost is based on a variety of factors, allowing you to find the most suitable service for your specific purposes.

Comparing Proxy and VPN

Features	VPN	Proxy Server
Main purpose	IP spoofing, traffic encryption, data protection	IP spoofing, blocking bypass, access to geo-restricted content
Encryption	Yes (encrypts all traffic)	Generally no *Exceptions, including UDP over oVPN iProxy.Online chip
IP spoofing	Yes, hides the real IP address and assigns a new IP to the VPN server	Yes, hides real IP address and assigns proxy server IP
Speed	May be slower because of encryption and routing traffic through the VPN server	Can be faster because there is no encryption going on
Ease of Setup	Requires installation and configuration of the VPN client on the device, setup can be difficult for beginners	Simple connection through entering proxy access (login, password, server and protocol) in a browser or other client
Price	Usually more expensive as it requires more complex infrastructure for encryption and security	Usually cheaper because it does not require encryption, but simply routes traffic through an intermediate server
Business use	Protecting corporate data, securing remote working and defending against attacks	Blocking, web scraping, parsing or distributing traffic across multiple servers

iProxy.Online service allows you to create private mobile proxies from your personal Android device in 5 minutes. Such proxies will help you easily bypass IP blocking thanks to unlimited rotation of clean mobile IPs. Although default proxies don't encrypt all traffic like a VPN does, they provide excellent speed and ease of use, making them ideal for most everyday tasks. If you need encryption, however, you can easily enable the UDP chip via oVPN configs for your mobile proxy.

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VPN or Proxy? We'll Help You Make a Choice!

The choice between a proxy and a VPN depends on exactly what tasks you want to accomplish and what level of security, speed, and privacy you need. Here are some tips depending on your specific needs:

Bypassing Geo-restrictions and IP Blocking

📌 It's better to choose a proxy. If your main goal is to bypass blocking, access geo-restricted content, and you don't need a high level of encryption, proxy servers may be more suitable. They provide fast access because they don't encrypt all traffic and are generally faster than VPNs. They are also cheaper.

Example: access to Netflix, ChatGPT, or other regionally restricted platforms.

Multi-Accounting on Different Platforms

📌 It’s better to choose a proxy for IP masking + use an anti-detect browser to mask all other parameters. IP proxy rotation and functions of creating a large number of profiles in the anti-detect browser allow you to manage multiple accounts even on the most tricky sites.

📌 You can choose a VPN with anti-detection function, which is actually a 2-in-1 analog of the combination of proxy and anti-detection browser, but with additional encryption. This option is less popular and will be convenient if you intend to work only occasionally with a small number of accounts.

Example: using several accounts on social platforms, marketplaces, streaming services, betting sites or online games.

Bypassing IP Blocking for Web Scraping, Automations, and Botting

📌 It's better to choose a proxy. IP blocking is a key problem in web scraping and any other mass peer-to-peer activities. This problem is perfectly solved by proxies with IP rotation features. Proxies provide fast connection without encryption, which allows you to maintain high speed.

Example: scraping data from websites, manipulating metrics on various sites (e.g. views, reviews, ratings and so on), automated account creation.

iProxy allows you to create your own mobile proxies at a price ranging from $6 to $10 per month. For this price you get unlimited traffic, unlimited mobile IP rotation, and access to a large number of technical features, including support for HTTP, SOCKS5, OVPN, UDP, log storage, IP and traffic history, Wifi-split to save traffic, TCP/IP Fingerprint Substitution for anonymity, as well as API support.

Ensuring Complete Anonymity and Privacy

📌 It's better to choose a VPN. If it's important for you to hide not only your IP address, but also protect all your data, including those transmitted through apps, then a VPN is a safer and more secure solution. It encrypts all traffic, making it safe from interception, and also hides your real IP address, which increases the level of anonymity. Example: protection when using public Wi-Fi networks, hiding activity from ISPs, security when using sensitive services.

Internet Surfing Without Extraordinary Security Requirements

📌 You can use a proxy. For everyday surfing and anonymous access to sites where data protection is not so important, a proxy server can be a sufficient solution. It will ensure that your IP address is hidden and you can access the resources you need without incurring additional encryption costs.

Example: anonymous surfing, bypassing blocking.

Protecting Business Data When Working Remotely

📌 It is better to choose a VPN. If you work in a corporate environment and you need to securely connect to remote servers, transfer sensitive data or work with secure applications, then VPN will be the best choice. It offers a high level of protection and guarantees a secure connection.

Example: remote work with corporate data, access to protected databases.

Tasks Where Simplicity and Low Cost Are Important

📌 It is better to choose a proxy. If you need a solution that is cheap and simply solves the problem of hiding IP addresses or bypassing restrictions, proxy servers will be a better choice. Especially if you don't need to encrypt your traffic.

Example: bypassing blocking, access to Internet resources with regional restrictions.

Need private and fast mobile proxies?
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Solve Business Challenges with iProxy!

💎 iProxy offers an innovative solution for creating your own private mobile proxies right on your Android device. The app from iProxy allows you to set up a mobile proxy server in minutes, providing pricing that simply can't be found from any other provider. If you're doing web scraping, managing multiple social media accounts, price monitoring, automation, or other tasks, iProxy is the perfect choice.

🔄 One of the key benefits of iProxy is the ability to create mobile proxies with unlimited IP rotation. This is a reliable solution to bypass blocking and protect your data. Your proxies will constantly change IP addresses, making them ideal for working in challenging internet environments.

🌍 Since 2020 internationally, the iProxy team has built a reliable technical infrastructure that guarantees stability and 99.9% uptime.

⚙️ You will be excited about a variety of technical features, including support for several IP rotation mechanisms, work with HTTP, SOCKS5, OVPN and UDP protocols, a convenient control panel and integration with Telegram bot.

👍🏻 Proxy management is easier than ever: an intuitive control panel and powerful functionality allow you to configure all the proxy settings you need, even if you have no technical skills.

🥰 Responsive iProxy support is available 24/7 to help you. If you have any questions, feel free to message us on WhatsApp or Telegram.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use a proxy and VPN at the same time?

Technically it is possible, and it allows you to encrypt your traffic in the process of its transit to the proxy server, which will already perform the final IP spoofing. In this case, your traffic will sequentially pass through two intermediate servers: the VPN and the proxy server. As an alternative to double connection, you can use a proxy with encryption function, for example, UDP configurations via .oVPN from iProxy.

Do I need a proxy if I already have a VPN?

Speaking of proxy server vs vpn, VPN services do not offer the flexibility in IP management that proxy services do. If the ability to rotate, as well as the type and quality of IP is critical for your tasks, you can't do without a proxy.

Which is better: VPN or proxy?

Proxies are ideal for bypassing IP blocking and accessing content, especially if speed is important, IP rotation is required, IP type and “purity” are important, and simplicity of setup is required. VPN is more suitable when exceptional anonymity and traffic protection is required.

Can I use free proxies or VPNs?

Using free services is often associated with low speed, unstable connection, suspicion and blocking by websites. But the main problem with free services is the threat of unethical use of your data (and in some cases, your devices) accessed by these services.

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