# Best Proxy Network Software - Page 8 *By [Brandon Summers-Miller](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/brandon-summers-miller)* Proxy network software provide customers with network IP addresses that are used to change the perceived location of an internet-connected device or servers within a data center. The proxy connects devices to a server specified by its IP address. Most proxy solution providers offer numerous proxy types from a variety of physical locations. Some plans are designed specifically for providing numerous high-traffic IPs for data centers while other offerings rotate IPs or provide static, semi-permanent IPs. Companies use proxy servers for a number of purposes, the most common purpose being collecting data off the internet. Proxies help avoid bot detection and mask repeat visitors with new IPs. Other use cases of proxy servers fall under the umbrellas of data collection, competitive intelligence gathering, and brand monitoring. Occasionally, a [virtual private network (VPN) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/virtual-private-network-vpn) vendor will offer proxy servers as an additional component of their solution, but that feature network services different than the actual virtualized network. Still, most proxy services do not offer a truly virtual private network and do not encrypt traffic end to end. To qualify for inclusion in the Proxy Network Software category, a product must: - Route all traffic through intermediary servers - Provide static, rotating, and/or data center proxy network servers - Provide proxies from numerous locations ## How Many Proxy Network Software Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 181 ## How Does G2 Rank Proxy Network Software Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 4,500+ Authentic Reviews - 181+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## Which Proxy Network Software Is Best for Your Use Case? - **Leader:** [Oxylabs](https://www.g2.com/products/oxylabs/reviews) - **Highest Performer:** [Proxyjet](https://www.g2.com/products/proxyjet/reviews) - **Easiest to Use:** [IPRoyal](https://www.g2.com/products/iproyal/reviews) - **Top Trending:** [IPRoyal](https://www.g2.com/products/iproyal/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [Decodo (formerly Smartproxy)](https://www.g2.com/products/decodo-formerly-smartproxy/reviews) --- **Sponsored** ### IPRoyal IPRoyal is an enterprise proxy infrastructure platform trusted by businesses worldwide, delivering Residential, Datacenter, ISP, and Mobile proxies engineered for speed, reliability, and scale. Designed to meet the data collection demands of AI training, eCommerce intelligence, SERP monitoring, brand protection, and market research, IPRoyal's infrastructure supports organizations from growth-stage startups to large enterprises. With a network built on strict ethical and compliance standards, IPRoyal offers seamless API integration, flexible routing controls, and consistent performance across 195+ countries — making it the infrastructure of choice for teams that can't expect downtime or data gaps. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=2547&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=2547&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=2547&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=158714&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=2547&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fproxy-networks%3Fopen_modal_url%3D%252Fproducts%252Fomegaproxy%252Fwishlists%253Fhost_path%253D%25252Fcategories%25252Fproxy-networks%2526source%253Dcategory&secure%5Btoken%5D=5ef9cac9c2f7a727421924b3cce92d9fe1a3886f7e9add1d0dcb37152379e4e9&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fiproyal.com%2Fproxies-for-enterprises%2F%3Futm_source%3Dg2%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_campaign%3Db2b_enterprise&secure%5Burl_type%5D=book_demo) --- ## What Are the Top-Rated Proxy Network Software Products in 2026? ### 1. [tabproxy](https://www.g2.com/products/tabproxy/reviews) Break down geo-restrictions and navigate the web freely with TabProxy's residential proxy solutions. Effortless Global Reach: Access websites from over 195 countries with our massive pool of 200M+ real residential IPs. Bypass geo-restrictions and navigate the entire World Wide Web without limitations. Enhanced Security & Privacy: Maintain user anonymity and data security with complete confidence. TabProxy prioritizes ethical proxy usage and implements robust security protocols to safeguard your information. Effortless Proxy Management: Manage your proxies directly within the user-friendly TabProxy interface. Choose from various plans and pricing options to fit your specific needs. Unparalleled Speed & Performance: Experience lightning-fast connections for smooth and efficient exploration of the web. Maximize productivity and efficiency without slowdowns or interruptions. Cost-Effective Solutions: Starting at just $0.7/GB, TabProxy offers a budget-friendly way to break down online barriers and unlock the full potential of the internet for your business. Choose TabProxy and experience the freedom of unrestricted web access, enhanced security, and a simplified browsing experience. **Who Is the Company Behind tabproxy?** - **Seller:** [TabProxy](https://www.g2.com/sellers/tabproxy) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **Twitter:** @Moonproxy_ip (15 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 2. [The Social Proxy](https://www.g2.com/products/the-social-proxy/reviews) The Social Proxy is a data platform for AI & BI Applications, based on a self-developed next-generation proxy solution that does not source other user IPs (the only real ethical solution in the market) enables data collection solutions in order to offer advanced tools to gather, analyze and extract data from the web, anonymously. Leading the data collection market with innovatively developed products, we help AI companies leverage and create advanced AI technologies. Our efforts build on our own patentable data platform, which is based on world-first 5G & 4G hardware and software with unlimited IPs, making it up to 100-200 times faster than any other solution on the market. **Who Is the Company Behind The Social Proxy?** - **Seller:** [The Social Proxy](https://www.g2.com/sellers/the-social-proxy) - **HQ Location:** Tel Aviv-Yafo, IL - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesocialproxy/ (28 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 3. [thunderproxy](https://www.g2.com/products/thunderproxy/reviews) Thunderproxy offers blazing-fast rotating residential, mobile and datacenter proxies at highly competitive pricing.We don't limit your connection speed, block any websites or limit sessions.We are perfect for web scraping, job automation and much more! **Who Is the Company Behind thunderproxy?** - **Seller:** [Thunderproxy](https://www.g2.com/sellers/thunderproxy) - **HQ Location:** Šnipiškiai eldership, LT - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/thunderproxy-com/ (2 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 4. [Torch Labs Proxies](https://www.g2.com/products/torch-labs-proxies/reviews) Our proxies are designed with high-speed 10 Gbps connections, unlimited bandwidth, and low latency for superior performance. We also offer flexible plans with no long-term commitments, making us preferable for diverse use cases like sneaker botting, web scraping, and more. - Sneaker botting - Web scraping and data mining - Social media management - Ad verification - Ticketing - Gaming - SEO monitoring - Crypto sites like Grass, Veve & More **Who Is the Company Behind Torch Labs Proxies?** - **Seller:** [Torch Labs](https://www.g2.com/sellers/torch-labs) ### 5. [WaveProxies](https://www.g2.com/products/waveproxies/reviews) What is WaveProxies? WaveProxies is a cutting-edge proxy service provider established in 2024, dedicated to delivering fast, reliable, and ethically sourced proxy solutions. With a one-year expiry time and response times exceeding 0.3 seconds, WaveProxies ensures that users experience seamless connectivity across the internet. What we offer: Global Coverage: Access proxies in over 180 countries Diverse Proxy Options: Choose from a vast pool of over 100 million residential IPv4 IPs, alongside premium residential IPv4 and unlimited bandwidth IPv6 proxies. Affordable Pricing: Plans start at just $2.50, providing high-quality proxies at competitive rates without hidden fees. Low Fraud Scores: Designed for users who require trustworthy connections, WaveProxies offers proxies with low fraud scores, enhancing security and reliability. All IPs are sourced transparently, ensuring ethical practices in their acquisition. Whether you’re involved in web scraping, data gathering, or simply looking to enhance your online privacy, WaveProxies stands out as a premier choice for both individuals and businesses seeking efficient proxy solutions. **Who Is the Company Behind WaveProxies?** - **Seller:** [WaveProxies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/waveproxies) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 6. [Wonder Proxy](https://www.g2.com/products/wonder-proxy/reviews) WonderProxy provides proxy servers around the world for GeoIP application developers. These servers are used to test applications, gather competitive intelligence, and monitor systems. With a presence in 87 countries on 6 continents, WonderProxy makes modern application testing fast and easy. **Who Is the Company Behind Wonder Proxy?** - **Seller:** [WonderNetwork](https://www.g2.com/sellers/wondernetwork) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ## What Is Proxy Network Software? [Confidentiality Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/confidentiality) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to Proxy Network Software? - [Data Extraction Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/data-extraction-tools) - [Web Data Providers Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/web-data-providers) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Proxy Network Software? ### What You Should Know About Proxy Network Software ### What is Proxy Network Software? Proxy network software acts as an intermediary between an endpoint device and a source from which the user is requesting a service. These intermediary servers then retrieve data from the source on behalf of the user. Since proxy server software changes public IP addresses, it can be used to change the perceived location of a device connected to the internet or a server. This feature is beneficial to access internet resources that are blocked for certain geographical locations of IP addresses. These servers can be either software or hardware. The products you see on G2.com are software products, and they are commonly referred to as web proxy servers or, simply, proxies. Along with enhancing cybersecurity by anonymizing internal IP addresses and more, organizations can utilize proxy network solutions for performance reasons. For instance, web proxy servers are beneficial for caching content to reduce bandwidth usage and increase transfer speeds. #### What Types of Proxy Network Software Exist? Different types of proxy server solutions are available to meet various use cases. The following are some of the common types. **Forward proxy software** It is the most common type of proxy server and is an intermediary that sits between endpoint devices and the internet. Instead of directly sending a client request to a server, a forward proxy evaluates the request, takes any action, if needed, and then forwards it to the target server on the client’s behalf. **Reverse proxy software** These servers are the opposite of a forward proxy. It again sits between endpoint devices and the internet, forwarding requests from the internet to the users in an internal network. It is typically implemented to increase security and performance. **Transparent proxy software** Also known as an inline proxy, it is essentially a server that intercepts the connection between an endpoint device and the internet. It does not conceal any identifying information about the user but instead sends the requests to the target server by showing it as coming from the user without any modification. This also means transparent proxies pass a user’s IP address to the target server. **Anonymous proxy software** This type of proxy software is used to maintain anonymity while browsing the internet. It’s also known as an anonymizer and tries to make a user’s activity on the internet untraceable. Although the target website administrator can identify an anonymous proxy, it doesn’t pass along the original IP address of the user. **Distorting proxy software** This proxy tool can be viewed as an advanced version of the anonymous variety. Instead of not passing along the original IP address of the user, it passes along a false IP address to the target website. This will give out the impression to the target website admin that the user is from a different geographical location. **Highly anonymous proxy software** This type of system offers the highest level of privacy to users. Along with concealing the user’s IP address from the target website’s admins, it also provides encryption and periodically changes the outgoing IP address. **Datacenter proxy software** This type of proxy software replaces the access point’s IP address with an address temporarily borrowed from a physical data center. This ensures a higher degree of anonymity and lower latency. **DNS proxy software** Domain name system (DNS) proxy software takes requests in the form of DNS queries and then forwards them to domain servers. It stores client queries in the device, which is essentially caching and is useful to increase the speed of data transfers. **Residential proxy software** This type of network proxy provides real IP addresses offered by internet service providers (ISPs). These IP addresses are usually attached to a physical location at a country or city level. ### What are the Common Features of Proxy Network Software? The following are some core features of network proxy solutions. **Content filters:** Proxy servers can act as content filters by blocking undesirable outgoing traffic. This feature will benefit organizations that aspire to prevent employees from accessing certain websites or apps at work. **Translation:** Companies can use proxy servers to customize their source site for local users by excluding or substituting content with local content. This helps to route traffic from global users to another web server that hosts the web page’s translated content. **Cache data:** Caching is the process of temporarily storing frequently accessed data, which can help improve the performance of a website or application. Proxy servers can cache data of websites or applications so that they will load faster for users. **Bypass content filters:** Web proxy servers can also be used to bypass certain content filters by helping to change the IP address. However, this wouldn’t work if access to these web proxies is already blocked. **Tunnel traffic:** This feature is associated with a type of proxy server called SOCKS proxy. Traffic tunneling enables users to tunnel web traffic to a different server, either to access another network or to avoid filtering. ### What are the Benefits of Proxy Network Software? Network proxy software can enhance security and network performance for organizations. However, the benefits depend highly on the proxy network’s type and configuration. The following are some of the advantages of using proxy network platforms. **Traffic restriction:** Proxy network tools can restrict the traffic between a private network and the internet. In other words, these servers can help IT administrators to isolate private networks from the internet. This can reduce the number of public addresses required. **Resource restriction:** Similar to restricting traffic, IT administrators can use proxy server tools to limit access of internal network users to internet resources. Simultaneously, they can restrict internet users' access to private network resources. **Security:** Proxy network products can help anonymize internal or private network users. For an outsider or a hacker, for that matter, the users of a network are technically hidden behind the proxy server’s IP address. Hackers will also have difficulty accessing specific devices on the internal network. **Privacy:** Both individuals and organizations will find proxy servers beneficial to browse the internet more privately. Since proxy networks typically change the users' IP addresses and other identifying information, the target server wouldn’t know who made the web request. This can help keep the browsing habits of users more private. **Data collection:** Proxy networks are useful for web scraping, which is the process of extracting large amounts of data from websites. Proxy networks can avoid bot detection and mask repeated visitors by supplying new IP addresses. ### Who Uses Proxy Network Software? **IT administrators:** IT admins can use proxy services to restrict workplace internet access. They can also limit access to private network resources and improve network performance by data caching. **Data analysts:** Analysts and marketers can use residential proxy pools to perform bulk web scraping with a higher success rate. #### What are the Alternatives to Proxy Network Software? Alternatives to proxy server software that can replace this type of software, either partially or completely: [Virtual private network (VPN) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/virtual-private-network-vpn) **:** VPNs enable users to connect to private networks securely. Corporate VPNs prevent unauthorized access to private networks and can also encrypt data by inspecting network traffic at the packet level. While proxy servers work only on a single service or application, VPN can secure the entire internet traffic of the user and encrypt it. ### Challenges with Proxy Network Software Proxy network software products can do basic website blocking or unblocking. They are not as secure as VPNs. The following are some of the challenges that these services experience. **Lack of encryption:** Most proxy server products don’t encrypt traffic. This means that it isn’t the best solution for users who aspire to prevent entities like internet service providers from eavesdropping on their internet activities. **Performance issues:** Proxy servers, especially free or public, will have noticeable speed fluctuations with the increase in users and requests. **Data tracking:** Caching information is basically data collection. If there’s a malicious actor within the organization, they can easily download all stored data and compromise sensitive information. A workaround is to find a proxy server that offers protection against such downloads. ### How to Buy Proxy Network Software #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Proxy Network Software Requirements gathering is the process of understanding what an organization aspires to accomplish using a software product. Along with requirements gathering, buyers should also have a fair understanding of the software purchasing budget. Since proxy network solutions can be employed for several use cases, buyers should look closer into the problems the company is trying to solve. If they use proxy servers for web scraping, only a certain number of products will fit the criteria. Similarly, if content filtering is the intention, there are other products specifically for this. #### Compare Proxy Network Software Products **Create a long list** Buyers should then create a long list of potential proxy network tools. This initial list can include any product that meets the basic criteria. At this point, instead of trying to find the best proxy tool, buyers should aim to eliminate just the products that don’t offer critical functionality. **Create a short list** Buyers can create a short list from the initial list by eliminating the products that don’t offer the must-have features. It’s also logical to remove products that don’t fit the budget. Some proxy server solutions may also offer advanced features like firewalls, load balancing, authentication, TLS or SSL encryption, and audit logs. If such features are necessary, removing products that don’t offer those features also makes sense at this stage. Buyers can compare the remaining products based on their functionality, pricing, vendor support, and more. Ideally, this short list should contain five to seven products. **Conduct demos** Attending product demos will help buyers compare the remaining product on the short list. It’s helpful to check whether the product is user-friendly and compare its functionality with other products on the list. Buyers should also utilize product demos to understand the product's user experience, ask questions about the product's functionality, and check whether the product works as advertised. #### Selection of Proxy Network Software **Choose a selection team** To ensure the right software purchase decision is made, the buyer should assemble a selection team, including IT administrators, IT managers, security professionals, and other relevant stakeholders. This team must consist of professionals who can use the proxy software and check whether it meets the requirements. **Negotiation** After choosing the most suitable proxy server product, buyers should negotiate with the software vendor regarding pricing and discuss other terms and conditions. Buyers can request to lower the price per seat by removing certain optional features. Vendors may also be keen to offer discounts for multi-year contracts. **Final decision** It’s always important to test the network proxy tool on a small scale before proceeding with the purchase. Buyers can ask for free, short-term product trials and make an informed decision. If the selection team is satisfied with the software product, buyers can proceed with the purchasing or contracting process. If not, buyers can return to the short list and re-evaluate their options.