7 best SOCKS5 proxy providers
SOCKS5 proxies are intermediaries between you and the internet, masking your real IP address to strengthen your privacy. They’re fast, flexible, and more capable than standard HTTP(S) proxies, making them ideal for torrenting or bypassing firewalls.
However, with various options like residential, datacenter, ISP, and mobile IP proxies, picking the right SOCKS5 proxy can become challenging.
I’ve gone through this process myself, and not all of them perform as well as I expected. In this guide, I’ll break down the best SOCKS5 proxy providers so you can pick the one that actually works for your needs.
5 best SOCKS5 proxy providers – shortlist
- Oxylabs – best overall SOCKS5 proxy provider
- Decodo (formerly SmartProxy) – fast and reliable SOCKS5 proxies
- Webshare – the most cost-effective SOCKS5 proxies
- NetNut – SOCKS5 proxies with scalable pricing
- Bright Data – feature-packed SOCKS5 proxies
How we tested SOCKS5 proxies
Our testing process involves hands-on evaluations, speed tests, and security assessments to ensure accurate and reliable comparisons. We evaluated SOCKS5 proxy providers by focusing on the factors that matter most to users. This includes performance, reliability, ease of use, and available features, giving users a clear view to help them choose the best option for their needs.
- Range of SOCKS5 solutions (30%). We evaluated the types of proxies each provider offers that support the SOCKS5 protocol. A wider selection provides more flexibility to find a solution tailored to different use cases.
- Global coverage (25%). We looked at the availability of IPs across different countries. More locations and advanced targeting options allow users to access content with greater precision and reach.
- Ease of use (25%). We analyzed the interface, setup process, and customer support quality. A user-friendly platform, simple setup, and responsive support make proxy management smoother and more accessible.
- Extras (20%). We considered additional tools and benefits each provider offers. These features enhance functionality and add value for a more efficient experience.
7 best SOCKS5 proxy providers – detailed list
After evaluating the providers, I found the 7 best SOCKS5 proxy options for 2025. They offer a solid range of products, excellent global coverage, and ease of use.
1. Oxylabs – best overall premium SOCKS5 proxies
| Rating: | 4.6 |
| Range of SOCKS5 solutions: | Residential, static residential (ISP), mobile, datacenter proxies, dedicated datacenter proxies |
| Global coverage: | 195 countries |
| Ease of use: | Extensive documentation, 24/7 support |
| Extras: | 3 scraper APIs, 5 datasets |
Founded in 2015, Oxylabs has become my go-to choice for web intelligence collection. As a market leader, this provider is known for its outstanding quality, providing premium proxies.
The provider gives access to a residential, static residential (ISP), mobile, datacenter proxy pool with 102M+ IPs. These SOCKS5 proxies cover 195 countries and offer advanced targeting options for precise location-based needs. Moreover, as a user, you can access extensive documentation and 24/7 support via chat or email.
Oxylabs offers residential proxies starting at $8 per GB, mobile proxies from $9 per GB, shared datacenter proxies at $0.65 per GB, dedicated datacenter proxies at $1.90 per IP, and ISP proxies starting at $2.10 per IP. The provider has a 3-day refund policy, and a Pay as you go payment option is available for mobile and residential proxies.
Oxylabs has earned positive feedback, with a 4.2/5 rating on Trustpilot and a 4.5/5 rating on G2, with users praising its premium product quality and performance.
2. Decodo (formerly SmartProxy) – high-performance SOCKS5 proxies
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Range of SOCKS5 solutions: | Residential, static residential (ISP), mobile, datacenter proxies |
| Global coverage: | 195+ locations |
| Ease of use: | Extensive documentation, 24/7 support |
| Extras: | 4 scraper APIs, 4 free tools |
Decodo offers great value and is one of the leading proxy providers. It’s known for its high-performance infrastructure at an affordable price.
The provider offers SOCKS5 residential, static residential (ISP), mobile, and datacenter 65M+ IPs across 195+ locations. You can target specific countries, cities, or states. As a Decodo user, you may rotate IPs with every request, opt for a static session, or choose sticky sessions lasting up to 24 hours.
Decodo’s user-friendly dashboard offers fast setup, monitoring real-time statistics like traffic usage, whitelisting IPs, and assigning roles to your team in one convenient place. Decodo provides users with a fast time-to-value experience. In addition, with SOCKS5 proxies, users can access extensive documentation and get award-winning 24/7 support.
Residential proxies start at $2.20 per GB, static (ISP) residential proxies at $0.35 per IP, mobile proxies at $4.50 per GB, and datacenter proxies at $0.09 per IP. New residential proxy users can enjoy a 3-day free trial, and a Pay As You Go payment option is available for mobile and residential proxies. All products come with a 14-day money-back option.
Besides, Decodo has built a solid reputation among users, earning a 4.5/5 rating on Trustpilot and a 4.7/5 rating on G2.
3. Webshare – budget-friendly SOCKS5 proxies
| Rating: | 4.3 |
| Range of SOCKS5 solutions: | Residential, static residential (ISP), datacenter proxies |
| Global coverage: | 195 countries |
| Ease of use: | API documentation, 24/7 customer support |
| Extras: | Chrome Proxy Extension |
Since 2018, Webshare has been known for its affordability and reliable performance. It offers great value and is a popular choice for users looking for cost-effective proxy solutions.
Webshare’s SOCKS5 residential, static residential (ISP), datacenter IP pool covers up to 195 countries worldwide, depending on the product. They’re provided in lists of static addresses, but there's an option to rotate proxies with each connection request. Additionally, the list can be set to automatically refresh as frequently as every five minutes.
If help is needed, Webshare has extensive documentation and 24/7 live chat support.
The provider’s SOCKS5 residential proxies start at $4.50 per GB, static residential (ISP) proxies at $0.22 per IP, and datacenter proxies from $0.05 per IP. Additionally, Webshare offers a free plan with 10 shared IPs for users to try out the product.
Webshare has a 4.2/5 TrustScore, with users highlighting its affordability, quality, and easy-to-use dashboard.
4. NetNut – SOCKS5 proxies with a wide range of pricing options
| Rating: | 4.2 |
| Range of SOCKS5 solutions: | Residential, static residential (ISP), mobile, datacenter proxies |
| Global coverage: | 195 locations |
| Ease of use: | Basic documentation, 24/7 support |
| Extras: | 3 scraping APIs, 2 datasets |
NetNut is known for its reliable and scalable proxy solutions. This enterprise-focused provider is a top choice for users who need quality infrastructure and flexible pricing.
NetNut offers users access to a SOCKS5 residential, static residential (ISP), mobile, datacenter 91M+ IP pool with global coverage and advanced targeting options. Users can either keep the same IP as long as it's available or set up sticky sessions with certain products. The provider only has basic documentation, but it offers 24/7 support via email, live chat, Discord, and WhatsApp.
NetNut’s residential proxies start at $5 per GB, static residential (ISP) proxies at $7 per GB, mobile proxies at $6.46 per GB, and datacenter proxies at $1 per GB. NetNut also offers a 7-day free trial for new users, but it doesn't offer a refund option.
NetNut has a 4.7/5 TrustScore, with users praising its excellent support and seamless proxying experience.
5. Bright Data – SOCKS5 proxies with top-tier features
| Rating: | 4.0 |
| Range of SOCKS5 solutions: | Residential, static residential (ISP), mobile, datacenter proxies |
| Global coverage: | 195 locations |
| Ease of use: | Extensive documentation, 24/7 support |
| Extras: | 5 tools for scraping automation, 3 tools for data and insights |
Bright Data is a top-tier proxy provider that offers advanced solutions for large-scale needs. With years of experience, I found their proxies to be robust and feature-rich.
The provider has a SOCKS5 residential, static residential (ISP), mobile, datacenter 80M+ IP pool with versatile targeting and filtering options. Bright Data offers users a well-maintained SOCKS5 proxy network with a high success rate and a fast response time. If help is needed, users can rely on extensive documentation or 24/7 support via chat or tickets.
When it comes to pricing, Bright Data’s residential proxies start from $5.88 per GB, static residential (ISP) from $10.50 per GB, mobile from $5.88 per GB, and datacenter $0.42 per GB. Additionally, all of the proxies have a Pay-As-You-Go plan.
The provider offers a 7-day free trial for businesses and gives up to 15 datacenter IPs and 2 GB/month for free. Unlike many providers, Bright Data doesn’t offer a standard refund policy, so users may want to evaluate their options before committing.
Bright Data has earned a 4.4 rating on Trustpilot and a 4.6/5 rating on G2. The provider stands out for their large IP pool and reliable performance.
6. SOAX – hassle-free SOCKS5 proxy management
| Rating: | 4.0 |
| Range of SOCKS5 solutions: | Residential, Mobile, Datacenter, ISP |
| Global coverage: | 195 locations |
| Ease of use: | Basic documentation, 24/7 support |
| Extras: | 3 scraper APIs, third-party integrations, and 4 free tools |
SOAX is a solid choice for SOCKS5 proxies, and I have found their performance quite impressive, offering a proxy network of over 91 million IPs in total. Its proxies offer a 99.55% success rate and a 0.55s response time, which makes them useful for large-scale data gathering.
I enjoyed the user-friendly dashboard and seamless management, with features like automatic IP rotation, usage reports, and advanced filtering options by country, region, city, and ISP.
SOAX pricing starts at $2.20 per GB. For larger-scale plans, pricing decreases with higher traffic volumes, such as 25GB at $3.60 per GB and 800GB at $2.00 per GB. It also has a pay-as-you-go option. You can also use its 3-day refund policy for regular plans and a 3-day trial for $1.99. While not entirely free, this trial provides an affordable way to test the service.
SOAX has a slightly lower rating of 3.8/5 on Trustpilot than other competitors, but it does have an impressive 4.8/5 rating on G2, with users highlighting its reliable performance and ease of use.
7. IPRoyal – ethically sourced SOCKS5 proxies
| Rating: | 3.9 |
| Range of SOCKS5 solutions: | Residential, Datacenter, ISP, Mobile, and Enterprise proxies |
| Global coverage: | 195 locations |
| Ease of use: | Extensive documentation, 24/7 support |
| Extras: | Firefox and Chrome browser addons, proxy tester, and third-party integrations |
IPRoyal stands out in the SOCKS5 proxy market for its ethically sourced residential proxies. Users who share their internet bandwidth are compensated, ensuring transparent and legally compliant IP sourcing. This approach makes IPRoyal a great option if you prioritize ethical data practices. It also has an average 98.6% success rate.
IPRoyal’s SOCKS5 proxies have unlimited traffic, threads, and domains, plus a free monthly refresh and API access for easy management. However, IPRoyal doesn’t support proxy rotation and limits targeting to one country per plan.
IPRoyal’s SOCKS5 residential proxies start at $3.50 per GB, while static residential (ISP) proxies are priced at $2.70 per IP per month, with a daily plan available for $1.80 per IP. Datacenter proxies start at $1.57 per IP for a 30-day subscription, with pricing decreasing to $1.48 per IP for 60 days and $1.39 per IP for 90 days. Unfortunately, IPRoyal does not offer any trials or refunds.
IPRoyal has a rating of 4.6/5 on Trustpilot and G2, with users often praising its helpful customer service.
Best SOCKS5 proxy providers compared
| SOCKS5 proxy provider | SOCKS5 solutions | Other protocols | Free tools | Refund policy | Rating |
| Oxylabs | 4 | HTTP and HTTPS | 3 | 3 days | 4.6 |
| Decodo (formerly SmartProxy) | 4 | HTTP and HTTPS | 4 | 14 days | 4.4 |
| Webshare | 3 | HTTP | 0 | 2 days | 4.3 |
| NetNut | 4 | HTTP and HTTPS | 0 | N/A | 4.2 |
| Bright Data | 4 | HTTP and HTTPS | 0 | N/A | 4.0 |
| SOAX | 4 | HTTP and HTTPS | 4 | 3 days | 4.0 |
| IPRoyal | 5 | HTTP and HTTPS | 5 | N/A | 3.9 |
How does the SOCKS5 proxy protocol work?
SOCKS5 is a proxy protocol that masks your real IP address by routing your internet traffic through a middle server. It supports various types of internet traffic without modifying the data while ensuring privacy and security.
SOCKS4 vs SOCKS5 proxies
SOCKS4 and SOCKS5 proxies act as intermediaries between your device and the internet, hiding your IP address. However, SOCKS5 is a more advanced version with several key differences.
The main difference is authentication. SOCKS4 does not support authentication, which means anyone can connect to the proxy server. SOCKS5 allows authentication, which makes this proxy more secure.
Another key difference is how they handle traffic. SOCKS4 only supports TCP, which guarantees data is delivered correctly but can be slower. This makes it ideal for web browsing and downloads, where accuracy matters. SOCKS5 supports TCP and UDP, which is better for real-time applications like VoIP calls, streaming, and torrenting, where speed is more important than accuracy.
SOCKS5 is also more efficient, with built-in error handling and better connection management, which reduces the chances of dropped or slow connections. Additionally, SOCKS4 only works with IPv4 addresses, while SOCKS5 supports both IPv4 and IPv6.
Overall, SOCKS5 is the better choice because it offers authentication, supports more types of traffic, and provides a more stable and secure connection.
| Feature | SOCKS4 | SOCKS5 |
| Authentication | ❌ Not supported | ✅ Supported (more secure) |
| Traffic support | ✅ TCP only (slower but reliable) | ✅ TCP and UDP (faster for real-time applications) |
| Use cases | Web browsing, downloads | VoIP calls, streaming, torrenting |
| IP version support | IPv4 only | IPv4 and IPv6 |
| Security | ❌ Less secure (no authentication) | ✅ More secure (authentication and better connection management) |
| Error handling | ❌ Basic | ✅ Advanced (reduces connection issues) |
SOCKS vs HTTP proxies
Like SOCKS proxies, HTTP proxies route traffic through a server and mask your IP address, but they have different use cases.
HTTP proxies are designed for web traffic and are commonly used for web scraping, content filtering, and bypassing restrictions. However, they only work with web-based applications and are less flexible for other types of traffic. I recommend using an HTTP proxy for web-related tasks and a SOCKS proxy for broader internet traffic and better performance.
Common use cases for SOCKS5 proxies
SOCKS5 proxies are versatile and used for a variety of tasks. Here are some of the main use cases:
- Staying private online. This is one of the main reasons for using a SOCKS5 proxy, as it hides your real IP address.
- Bypassing geo-restricted content. You can access region-locked content and services.
- Making VoIP calls in restricted areas. SOCKS5 proxies allow you to use apps like Skype or WhatsApp in countries where they’re blocked.
- Gaming. If a game restricts access based on location or a ban, a proxy will assign you a new IP, allowing you to play.
- Web scraping. A SOCKS5 proxy can rotate IP addresses and prevent detection.
- Torrenting and P2P file sharing. SOCKS5 proxies hide your IP address when using torrent clients. This reduces the risk of tracking and encountering speed limits by your ISP.
Advantages and disadvantages of SOCKS5 proxies
SOCKS5 proxies come with benefits and some drawbacks. Let’s break down the pros and cons to help you decide if they’re the right choice.
Advantages of SOCKS5 proxies
- Versatility. SOCKS5 proxies support various types of internet traffic, making them suitable for browsing, torrenting, and gaming.
- No data modifications. SOCKS5 proxies don’t modify the data being transmitted, which improves reliability by reducing the chance of errors.
- Authentication. They allow authentication, which adds an extra layer of security that some proxies lack.
- Reduced latency. SOCKS5 proxies can provide faster connections than other proxy types because they don’t need to check or modify the data.
- Compatibility. SOCKS5 proxies work with the most popular operating systems and applications.
- Improved privacy. SOCKS5 proxies mask your IP address and ensure your online activities remain anonymous.
Disadvantages of SOCKS5 proxies
- More expensive. SOCKS5 proxies can cost more than other proxy types, such as HTTP.
- Lack of encryption. Because the data is not encrypted, they’re not the best choice for online payments or sharing sensitive information. You may also require additional security tools like a VPN.
- Complex setup. Setting up SOCKS5 proxies often requires manual configuration in each application or system. This can be a hassle, especially if you're unfamiliar with network settings.
Best SOCKS5 proxy providers: final thoughts
When selecting a SOCKS5 proxy provider, focus on your needs and budget. Oxylabs is my go-to choice because of its solid performance and cost-to-value ratio. Decodo comes a close second because of its user-friendliness, fast setup, and high-performance infrastructure. That said, all the SOCKS5 proxy providers on this list are solid choices and worth considering based on your specific requirements.
FAQ
What is the best SOCKS5 proxy provider?
The ideal SOCKS5 proxy provider will vary based on your needs and use cases. I suggest considering factors such as the variety of SOCKS5 solutions, global coverage, and ease of use. As per my research, Oxylabs is the best SOCKS5 proxy provider for 2025, but other options, such as Decodo and Webshare, are also strong options to consider.
Can SOCKS5 be detected?
Yes, SOCKS5 proxies can be detected. This is more likely if you’re using a free provider, as their IPs are often flagged. Using a reputable provider like Oxylabs can help reduce the risk of detection, as it offers higher-quality IPs and additional measures to avoid detection.
What are the benefits of using SOCKS5 proxies?
SOCKS5 proxies offer several benefits: they ensure high security by supporting various authentication methods, maintain anonymity by not modifying your data, and support a wide range of traffic types. They’re also known for being versatile, which makes them suitable for various applications, such as streaming and gaming.
What is the safest proxy type?
SOCKS5 proxies provide strong security as they support different authentication methods. However, you should select the proxy type that best suits your specific needs and use case.
Is SOCKS5 better than SOCKS4?
Yes, SOCKS5 is better than SOCKS4. This is because SOCKS5 is more versatile and better for a broader range of applications, includes support for authentication, and is more reliable at masking your IP address.
How much does SOCKS5 cost?
Some datacenter SOCKS5 proxies can cost as little as $0.25 per IP, while residential and mobile SOCKS5 proxies often start at $2 per GB. The cost of SOCKS5 proxies varies widely based on your chosen provider, proxy type, and payment structure.
