Both protocols forward your traffic through another IP. They differ in what traffic they understand, and that decides which one fits your tool.
Use an HTTP proxy for browsers, scrapers and API clients. Use SOCKS5 when the application is not web-based or when you want one protocol for everything. Our proxies support both, at the same price.
| HTTP proxy | SOCKS5 proxy | |
|---|---|---|
| Understands | HTTP requests | Nothing, relays raw connections |
| Traffic types | Web traffic, HTTPS via CONNECT | Any TCP traffic, and UDP if supported |
| Can modify headers | Yes, it can read and change HTTP | No |
| Authentication | Username and password | Username and password |
| DNS lookups | Handled by the proxy for plain HTTP | Can be handled by the proxy (socks5h) |
| Typical tools | Browsers, scrapers, API clients | Messengers, game launchers, SSH, FTP, mixed apps |
requests, curl or Scrapy.There is no meaningful speed difference for most workloads, and neither protocol makes traffic private by itself. Privacy depends on HTTPS and on the IP you exit from.
Pay as you go. No subscription for residential and mobile, ISP proxies by the IP.
Real home IPs, rotating or sticky, billed per GB. Country, city and ASN targeting.
Learn more3G, 4G and 5G carrier IPs for strict targets, social and app workflows.
Learn moreStatic IPs in ISP address space for long sessions, accounts and whitelists.
Learn moreNeither is better in general. SOCKS5 supports more kinds of traffic. HTTP is simple and ideal for web tasks.
No, SOCKS5 and HTTP are both included. See SOCKS5 proxies and HTTP proxies.
No. Encryption comes from HTTPS or other protocols inside the connection.
Yes. Choose the protocol each time you generate a proxy list.
Pick a pay-as-you-go residential or mobile plan, or static ISP IPs for longer sessions. Test an exit IP first with the free proxy checker.