Top 10 Free Proxies for Web Scraping: 2025

When you engage in web scraping, one of the most important tools you need is a reliable proxy service. Web scraping proxies allow you to remain anonymous, bypass geo-blocking, and avoid detection by anti-scraping measures. Proxies act as an intermediary between your scraper and the target website, making it harder for the website to trace your real IP address or block you for suspicious activity.

However, finding the right free proxy for scraping can be a bit difficult. While free web proxies are a cost-effective option, they are often limited in terms of speed, reliability, and location diversity. To help you make the best decision, we have compiled a list of the top 10 free proxies for web scraping. These proxies offer different features and benefits, so you can choose the one that best suits your scraping needs. Read on to learn about each platform and how they can enhance your web scraping experience.

What is a proxy? How can you define proxies and why do you need them for web scraping?

A proxy is an intermediary server that sits between your device and the website you’re accessing. It acts as a gateway, handling requests on your behalf and forwarding the responses to you. When you use a proxy, your real IP address is hidden, and the website only sees the proxy’s IP address.

This provides several advantages, especially when engaging in web scraping：

• For web scraping, proxies are essential for maintaining anonymity and avoiding blocks. Websites often detect scraping activities by monitoring unusual request patterns and tracking IP addresses. If too many requests come from a single IP in a short period, the website may block that IP, halting your scraping operation. Using a web scraping proxy helps you avoid these restrictions by rotating IP addresses and distributing requests across different locations. This reduces the risk of getting detected and blocked.
• In addition to this, proxies also allow you to bypass geo-restrictions. Some websites restrict access to certain content based on the visitor’s location, but with free web proxies or paid proxy services, you can mask your IP and simulate visits from different countries, gaining access to geo-restricted data.
• Moreover, proxies improve the speed of your scraping tasks by allowing multiple requests to be made simultaneously from different IPs, thereby speeding up data collection without triggering anti-scraping defenses. This makes proxies crucial when scraping large volumes of data or dealing with websites that have stringent scraping protections.

How to Choose the Best Free Proxies for Web Scraping

Free web proxies may seem like an attractive option due to their zero cost, but they often have limitations that may affect the efficiency and reliability of data crawling.

Here are the main criteria to keep in mind:

1. IP Rotation and Freshness: For successful web scraping, you need a proxy that can rotate IP addresses regularly. Frequent IP rotation ensures that your crawling activity does not trigger anti-crawling mechanisms. Many free proxies offer limited IP rotation, which makes them less reliable for large-scale or high-frequency scraping tasks. Make sure the proxy you choose supports frequent IP changes to avoid detection.

2. Speed and reliability: The performance of the agent is crucial for efficient crawling. A slow proxy can significantly slow down the data extraction process. While free web proxies may not be as fast as premium services, it’s important to test their response times before using them for scraping. Some free proxies may have bandwidth limitations or be overcrowded, resulting in slow speeds and unreliable connections.

3. Location Diversity: Being able to select proxies from different geographical locations is crucial, especially when scraping geo-restricted content. Some websites block users based on their IP location, so accessing a proxy from multiple countries can help you bypass these restrictions.

4. Security and Anonymity: A good web scraping proxy should ensure your anonymity by masking your real IP address. When choosing a free proxy, always prioritize one that offers strong encryption and reliable anonymity, especially when dealing with sensitive data.

5. Error rate and blocked requests: A high-quality proxy should have a low error rate and be able to handle a large number of requests without being blocked.

The above are the key points to pay attention to when choosing a free proxy. In the following section, we will recommend the 10 best free web scraping proxies for you.

Top 10 Free Proxies for Web Scraping |Tested Checklist

As modern web scraping technology continues to increase in complexity, the proxy network software market reached $5.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $12.5 billion by 2031, a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%. This growth reflects the growing demand for reliable proxies among individuals and businesses, and having access to the right proxy service can make or break the success of your web scraping efforts. With this in mind, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the top ten free web scraping proxies, each tested for reliability, speed, and security. In the list below, you'll find the strengths and limitations of each option.

#1 Scrapeless Free Trial

Scrapeless provides over 80 million residential proxies that can easily bypass anti-crawler measures. The proxy service covers more than 195 countries and more than 2,000 cities. It supports HTTP(S)/Socks5. It also provides a free trial plan, which is very suitable for large-scale crawling.

👍Pros

• High Reliability: Scrapeless provides a high-quality and stable proxy service, ensuring that you experience minimal downtime and fewer connection failures.
• Wide Range of Locations: Scrapeless offers proxies from multiple locations, allowing you to access a global pool of IP addresses for more diverse scraping needs.
• Consistent Speed: Unlike many other free proxy services, Scrapeless ensures that its proxies maintain decent speed and low latency, making it suitable for large-scale scraping tasks.

👎Con

• Potential Throttling: While the service is generally reliable, heavy traffic on free proxies may result in occasional throttling.

User Reviews

The rotation on this proxy service works like a charm! No interruptions, even with large data requests. The stability and balance during high-demand periods make it a reliable choice, especially when dealing with sensitive projects. -Mia

Whether you are just getting started with Web Scraping or need to handle complex scraping tasks, choosing the right proxy is key. While free proxies are a good choice for getting started, Scrapeless saves you time and effort by providing more efficient and secure tools. Try Scrapeless today and experience the benefits of professional tools!

#2 Spys.one

Spys.one offers free proxies with a large selection of IPs to choose from. This platform is well-known for providing free web proxies suitable for browsing and light scraping.

👍Pros

• Large Proxy Pool: Spys.one offers a broad selection of free proxies from different countries.
• Advanced Filtering Options: You can filter proxies by country, anonymity level, and type.

👎Cons

• Frequent Downtime: Some proxies are frequently unavailable, resulting in higher failure rates for web scraping activities.

#3 Open Proxy Space

Open Proxy Space is a popular platform providing free web scraping proxies to access various websites anonymously. It provides a range of proxies that can be used for browsing and small-scale scraping tasks.

👍Pros

• Geo-Specific Proxies: You can select proxies based on specific geographical locations.

👎Cons

• Limited Bandwidth for Free Users: The free proxies come with bandwidth restrictions, which may hinder large-scale or high-frequency scraping.
• Speed Issues: Like many free proxy services, Open Proxy Space's free proxies tend to suffer from slower speeds, affecting scraping efficiency. ### #4 ProxyScrape

ProxyScrape is a proxy provider that offers both free and paid proxies. It’s an excellent option for web scraping proxy needs, particularly for users who want access to a variety of proxy types.

👍Pros

• Regular Proxy Updates: ProxyScrape frequently updates its proxy list, ensuring users have access to fresh IPs.
• Variety of Proxy Types: You can choose from HTTP, SOCKS4, and SOCKS5 proxies.

👎Cons

• Limited Free Proxies: While ProxyScrape provides free proxies, the selection is limited compared to their paid offerings. ### #5 Free Proxy Lists Free Proxy Lists is a website that offers a constantly updated list of free proxies. Users can filter proxies based on country and anonymity level, making it a flexible tool for basic scraping tasks.

👍Pros

• Simple and Easy Access: The interface is user-friendly, providing easy access to fresh proxies.
• Multiple Countries Available: Free Proxy Lists offers proxies from multiple countries, which is beneficial for geo-targeted scraping.

👎Cons

• No Guarantee of Quality: Many of the free proxies listed are unreliable and may be frequently offline.
• Lack of Security: The proxies provided lack encryption, which could compromise the security of your web scraping activities. ### #6 Hidemy.name

Hidemy.name provides a proxy service with a focus on privacy and security, offering both free and paid proxies. While the free proxies are limited, they can be a good starting point for smaller-scale scraping projects.

👍Pros

• High Anonymity Level: Hidemy.name offers highly anonymous proxies, which is crucial for maintaining privacy during web scraping.
• No Log Policy: The platform follows a strict no-log policy, enhancing security.

👎Cons

• Limited Free Proxy Options: The free proxies are limited, with fewer locations and bandwidth restrictions compared to paid services. ### #7 Premproxy

Premproxy offers a mix of free and premium proxies, focusing on providing users with secure and anonymous browsing. The free proxies available are suitable for light, non-intensive scraping tasks.

👍Pros

• Security and Anonymity: Offers strong privacy protections, which are crucial for safe web scraping.
• Multiple Locations: Proxies are available from different countries, allowing users to bypass geo-blocks.

👎Cons

• Frequent Connection Drops: The free proxies often drop connections, affecting scraping continuity. ### #8 ProxyDB ProxyDB provides a large database of free and premium proxies. While the free proxies are sufficient for basic browsing, they might not provide the necessary speed and reliability for high-volume scraping.

👍Pros

• Updated Proxy List: ProxyDB provides a regularly updated list of proxies.
• Easy-to-Use Interface: The platform is easy to navigate and quick to set up.

👎Cons

• Limited Proxy Locations: The free tier has fewer locations to choose from, limiting its use for geo-targeted scraping. ### #9 Free Proxy World Free Proxy World is a proxy provider offering a collection of free proxies suitable for basic web scraping tasks. It provides users with a list of HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS proxies.

👍Pros

• Updated Proxy List: The list of free proxies is updated frequently, ensuring availability of fresh proxies.
• No Registration Needed: You don’t need to create an account to access the proxies.

👎Cons

• Low Reliability: Many free proxies are unstable and can be blocked by websites. ### #10 Cyber Gateway Cyber Gateway offers a variety of web proxies designed for privacy and security, including free proxies for users on a budget. Though limited, these free proxies can be useful for light scraping tasks.

👍Pros

• Privacy-Focused: Cyber Gateway emphasizes user privacy, which is important when scraping sensitive data.
• Global Proxy Pool: Offers a range of proxy locations for bypassing geo-restrictions.

👎Cons

• Limited Free Proxy Availability: The free proxy options are limited and come with bandwidth restrictions.

Which Is the Best Free Proxies for Web Scraping?

Now that you are familiar with the detailed overview of each above, let’s take a brief look at their unique advantages. This section will shed light on their unique features so you know which tool to choose based on your specific needs.

• Free Web Scraping Proxy for Large-Scale Scraping: Scrapeless Free Trial
• Free Web Scraping Proxy for SMBs: Spys.one
• Free Web Scraping Proxy for Developers: Open Proxy Space
• Free Web Scraping Proxy for API Scraping: ProxyScrape
• Free Web Scraping Proxy for Small Businesses: Free Proxy Lists
• Free Web Scraping Proxy for Privacy Protection: Hidemy.name
• Free Web Scraping Proxy for Multiple IPs: Premproxy
• Free Web Scraping Proxy for Technical Developers: ProxyDB
• Free Web Scraping Proxy for Newbies: Free Proxy World
• Free Web Scraping Proxy for Bypassing Geographic Restrictions: Cyber Gateway

Conclusion

Overall, as you engage in web scraping, using unreliable or slow proxies can significantly hinder your efficiency and success. That's why it's crucial to choose the right free web scraping proxies that can optimize your performance and help you bypass restrictions. In this guide, we have covered the top 10 free proxies for web scraping, each offering unique features and capabilities to address different needs. Depending on your specific requirements, you can pick the one that suits your scraping project best. If you're new to web scraping or unsure which proxy to choose, Scrapeless Free Trial is a great option to start with, offering powerful and reliable performance for all levels of users.

Frequently Asked Questions About Web Scraping Proxies

1. Are free proxies safe for web scraping?

While many free proxies can provide basic anonymity and the ability to access restricted content, their security is often not as reliable as paid proxies. According to research, about 71% of free proxy providers do not use HTTPS encryption, which makes users' data vulnerable to the risk of eavesdropping and tampering. Therefore, choosing a tested and verified free proxy service is key to ensuring security. Please try to choose a free proxy that supports HTTPS encryption.

2. What is the difference between a proxy and a VPN?

The primary difference between a proxy and a VPN lies in their functionality and security features. A proxy server masks your IP address for specific applications or websites, while a VPN encrypts all internet traffic, providing a secure tunnel for your data. This means that VPNs offer stronger security and privacy protections compared to proxies, which do not encrypt traffic.

3. Are web proxies illegal?

Web proxies are generally legal in many jurisdictions, including the USA, as long as they are used for legitimate purposes such as maintaining online privacy or accessing region-restricted content. However, using proxies for illegal activities, like hacking or online fraud, is against the law and can lead to legal consequences.