Short answer: A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel for the traffic of your whole device. A proxy forwards the traffic of one application, such as a browser, through another server and usually does not encrypt it beyond what the website already does. Both can change the address a website sees, but a VPN protects far more of what you do.
Checked against the sources listed at the end of this page on October 5, 2026. We did not run our own tests; where a figure comes from a vendor, the text says so.
What a proxy is
MDN’s reference on proxy servers describes a proxy as a server that can sit on your own computer or anywhere between you and the destination. A forward proxy acts for the client, and MDN notes that forward proxies can hide the identity of clients, letting users hide their IP address while browsing. The same page explains that proxies can make requests appear to come from the proxy’s address, so information about the original request is lost.
A proxy only handles the traffic of programs that are told to use it. A browser pointed at a proxy sends its web traffic there, while other apps on the same computer connect directly.
What a VPN is
A VPN client sets up a virtual network connection on the device, and the operating system sends traffic through it. Protocols such as WireGuard and OpenVPN encrypt the link between your device and the VPN server. That covers browsers and other apps unless you exclude them with split tunneling. VPN protocols explained covers how those protocols differ.
The main differences
| VPN | Proxy | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Whole device, unless you exclude apps | Only the apps configured to use it |
| Encryption | Encrypts the link to the VPN server | Often none; an HTTPS proxy encrypts the link to the proxy but the operator can still see the traffic |
| Hides your IP from sites | Yes, for traffic in the tunnel | Yes, for traffic sent through it |
| Protects on public Wi-Fi | Yes, for traffic in the tunnel | Usually not unless the proxy connection is itself encrypted |
| Who you must trust | The VPN provider | The proxy operator |
| Typical use | Privacy, public networks, changing location | Quick IP change for one app, testing, access control |
What each operator can see
Both a VPN provider and a proxy operator sit in the middle of your connection, so both can in principle see where your traffic goes. A plain HTTP proxy can also read the content of unencrypted requests. With HTTPS, MDN describes how a client behind a proxy opens a tunnel using the CONNECT method, and the proxy then relays encrypted data it cannot read. Even then it sees which sites you connect to. The practical rule is the same for both: use a provider that is accountable, publishes a privacy policy and, ideally, has independent audits. Are free VPNs safe? covers why free services need extra care.
When a proxy is enough
- You only need one app to appear from another address and you do not care about encryption.
- You are testing how a website behaves from another location.
- A workplace or school requires you to use its proxy to reach the internet.
When you want a VPN
- You use public Wi-Fi and want your traffic encrypted on that network.
- You want all apps, not just one browser, to use the protected connection.
- You want a provider that publishes audits and a clear privacy policy.
Browser tools that are really proxies
Some browsers advertise a built-in VPN that only covers traffic inside the browser, which makes it closer to a proxy than to a device-wide VPN. Best browsers with built-in VPN compares what each one covers, and what is a proxy and how it works goes deeper on proxy types.
Do either of them change your location?
Both change the address websites see, so both change the location a site infers from your IP. Neither changes a location your device shares through GPS or browser permission. Does a VPN change your location? explains the difference.
Proxy protocols: HTTP and SOCKS5
Two kinds of proxy cover most uses. An HTTP proxy is built for web traffic. MDN explains that a client behind an HTTP proxy can still reach HTTPS sites by asking the proxy to open a tunnel with the CONNECT method, though not every proxy supports it, and some limit it to port 443.
SOCKS5 is more general. RFC 1928 describes it as a framework that lets client-server applications in both the TCP and UDP domains use the services of a network firewall. It defines three commands: CONNECT, BIND and UDP ASSOCIATE, so it can relay UDP traffic as well as TCP. For authentication it allows no authentication, GSSAPI or a username and password. Authentication proves who you are to the proxy; it does not by itself tell you whether your traffic is encrypted, so check how a particular proxy handles that.
A setting that can leak your real location
When an app uses a proxy, the lookup that turns a website name into an address can still happen on your own computer, which shows your internet provider the names of the sites you visit. Whether that happens depends on the app and the proxy settings. After you configure a proxy, run a DNS check; free DNS leak test tools compared explains how. A VPN that handles DNS inside the tunnel avoids this by design, which is another reason the two are not interchangeable.
Frequently asked questions
Is a proxy faster than a VPN?
Not necessarily. Speed depends on the server, distance and load. We did not measure either, so we do not quote figures.
Is a proxy anonymous?
It can hide your IP address from the sites you visit, but the proxy operator still sees your requests.
Can I use a proxy and a VPN together?
Technically yes, but it adds complexity and one more party to trust. Most people do not need it.