Free Proxy Lists for Web Scraping

If you’ve ever tried web scraping, you know how important proxies are. They help you stay anonymous, avoid getting blocked, and gather data without hitting roadblocks. But here’s the catch – premium proxies can get pretty expensive. So, what do you do if you only need them for small tasks or testing? That’s where free proxy lists come in. While they won’t offer the same reliability or speed as paid services, they can be a solid option for lighter scraping jobs.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the best free proxy lists available, how to use them, and what risks to be aware of. Whether you’re just starting or testing something small, free proxies can help you get the job done without breaking the bank. Let’s dive in and explore some options!

What Are Free Proxy Lists?

A proxy list is a collection of proxy servers that can be used for different tasks, such as web scraping. These lists are usually free and contain a range of IP addresses from different regions and countries. Free proxy lists are often created by scanning public servers that are open and accessible.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the types of proxies you might encounter:

• HTTP Proxies: These are used for browsing websites. They can be useful for basic web scraping tasks.
• SOCKS5 Proxies: These are more versatile and can be used for a broader range of tasks, including web scraping and automation.
• HTTPS Proxies: These are secure versions of HTTP proxies and are typically used for encrypted browsing.

Free proxy lists are typically gathered from public sources, which can be both a benefit and a drawback. While they provide a low-cost solution, the quality is often inconsistent. They may be slow, unstable, or blocked by websites.

The Challenges of Using Free Proxies

Before you start using free proxies for scraping, it’s important to understand the challenges:

• Instability: Free proxies often go offline or stop working after a short period. You may need to constantly find new proxies to maintain your scraping tasks.
• Slow Speed: Many people use free proxies, so their speeds can be slow. This can hinder the performance of your scraping jobs.
• Security Risks: Anyone can run free proxies, including malicious actors. Using them to access sensitive data could expose you to theft or other attacks.
• Blacklisting: Popular websites like Google or Instagram often blacklist known proxies, especially free ones. Your proxies may quickly become unusable if you scrape large websites.

Despite these risks, free proxies can be helpful for small tasks, testing, or when you just need to unblock a website. Let’s explore some of the best free proxy lists available for web scraping.

Best Free Proxy Lists for Web Scraping

Looking for free proxies to use for web scraping? Here are the best free proxy lists to help you gather data without getting blocked or paying for premium services.

1. Bright Data

Bright Data is a top-tier proxy service known for its high-quality, fast, and reliable proxies. It offers a free trial with up to 2GB of datacenter proxy traffic, making it ideal for small-scale scraping projects. This service has many proxies, including residential, mobile, and ISP options. Bright Data provides global coverage, ensuring access to many countries. It’s perfect for those needing a high-performing web scraping or data collection proxy.

Although the free trial is limited, it’s an excellent way to test the service’s capabilities. Bright Data also offers customizable proxy rotation and a user-friendly Proxy Manager, making it easy to manage your proxies. This service is suitable for businesses and serious users who need reliable performance.

Key features:

• Free Trial: 2GB of free datacenter proxy traffic.
• IP Types: Datacenter proxies have the ability to choose from residential, mobile, or ISP proxies.
• Locations: 100+ countries.
• Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5.
• Rotation: Customizable with Proxy Manager.
• Support: 24/7 via live chat, tickets, dedicated account manager.

Pros:

• High-quality, fast, and reliable proxies.
• Offers a 7-day free trial with 2GB of traffic, ideal for small-scale scraping.
• Excellent coverage with over 770,000 IPs.
• Customizable proxy rotation via Proxy Manager.
• Extensive documentation and support available 24/7.

Cons:

• Limited free traffic may not be enough for large-scale projects.
• Free trial only accessible to business clients.
• The setup process may seem complex for beginners.

2. ProxyScrape

ProxyScrape is a popular provider of free proxy lists. It offers a range of 200 to 2,000 proxies, updated every five minutes to ensure freshness. You can access proxies with protocols like HTTP(S) and SOCKS5, and filter by speed, location, and anonymity level. ProxyScrape is easy to use, and you can export proxy lists in .txt format or access them via API.

The service is especially useful for light web scraping tasks. However, users should be aware that free proxies can be unstable. The simplicity of ProxyScrape makes it ideal for beginners who need quick access to proxies without any complex setup. Despite its small pool of proxies, it offers a straightforward way to start web scraping.

Key features:

• Free List: Provides 200-2,000 IPs.
• IP Types: HTTP(S), SOCKS5.
• Locations: 40+ countries.
• Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5.
• Rotation: Automatic updates every five minutes.

Pros:

• Frequent IP updates help ensure active and live proxies.
• Easy-to-export lists, downloadable in .txt format.
• Free and open access to various proxy lists.
• Simple and easy-to-use interface for beginners.

Cons:

• Limited proxy pool (200-2,000 IPs) compared to larger services.
• The lack of uptime metrics makes it difficult to judge reliability.
• Proxies may be unstable and go offline quickly.

3. Free-Proxy.cz

Free-Proxy.cz is a long-standing proxy list with over 6,000 IPs. It provides a broad range of proxies from 100+ countries, making it a versatile option for web scraping. You can filter proxies by protocol, location, and anonymity level. Free-Proxy.cz also offers speed and uptime details for each IP, helping you choose the best proxies for your scraping tasks.

While the proxy list is regularly updated, the export function can be inconvenient. Nonetheless, Free-Proxy.cz is a great option for users looking for a large selection of proxies and valuable information about each one. It’s ideal for those who need more advanced filtering options and a wider selection of proxies for web scraping.

Key features:

• Free List: Over 6,000 IPs.
• IP Types: HTTP(S), SOCKS5.
• Locations: 100+ countries.
• Filtering: Sort by protocol, location, and anonymity.
• Speed and Uptime Info: Available for each IP.

Pros:

• Large proxy pool with over 6,000 IPs.
• Filtering options for protocol, location, and anonymity.
• Speed and uptime information available, helping users choose the best proxies.
• Proxies are updated every 6 hours, ensuring relative freshness.

Cons:

• The process of exporting proxies is cumbersome.
• The interface is not very user-friendly.
• Many IPs can become stale over time, requiring frequent re-checking.

4. Spys.one

Spys.one offers one of the largest free proxy lists, with over 28,000 IPs from 160+ countries. This extensive list provides various filters, including protocol type, anonymity level, and city and ASN-based filters. Spys.one is great for those who need precise proxy locations for specific scraping tasks. The proxies are updated at different times, so their freshness can vary.

While Spys.one provides valuable filtering options, it can be difficult to navigate, especially for beginners. It lacks pagination and the ability to export proxies in bulk. Despite this, it’s an excellent resource for advanced users who need a large pool of proxies and customizable filtering features for web scraping.

Key features:

• Free List: 28,000+ IPs.
• IP Types: HTTP(S), SOCKS5.
• Locations: 160+ countries.
• Filtering: City, ASN, Squid, Mikrotik, and more.
• Rotation: IPs updated at different times.

Pros:

• One of the largest free proxy lists with over 28,000 proxies.
• Offers highly customizable filtering by location, protocol, anonymity, and even specific cities.
• Includes unique filters like ASN and Squid proxies.

Cons:

• Hard to navigate, with no pagination and no easy way to export proxies in bulk.
• Some proxies are outdated, having not been updated in months.
• Filtering can be overwhelming for beginners.

5. Hidemy.name

Hidemy.name offers a list of over 10,000 proxies from 60 countries, making it a solid option for users who need many proxies for web scraping. It provides HTTP(S) and SOCKS5 proxies with detailed information on speed and uptime. You can filter proxies by protocol, location, and anonymity level.

However, exporting proxies requires a fee, which might not be ideal for users seeking entirely free services. Despite this limitation, Hidemy.name remains a reliable resource for those who need free proxies with decent coverage and filtering options. It suits users who require moderate proxy lists for light scraping tasks.

Key features:

• Free List: 10,000 IPs.
• IP Types: HTTP(S), SOCKS5.
• Locations: 60 countries.
• Filtering: Protocol, location, anonymity, speed, and update time.
• Export: Requires a fee to export IPs.

Pros:

• Decent-sized list with over 10,000 IPs.
• Proxies are updated frequently, with the latest information on speed and uptime.
• Multiple filtering options to tailor the list to your needs.

Cons:

• Exporting proxies requires a payment.
• Limited locations compared to other lists.
• Some proxies are from less common countries.

6. Webshare

Webshare provides 10 free static datacenter proxies with 1GB of traffic per month. It offers users proxies from multiple locations, making it a good option for basic web scraping tasks. Webshare’s free plan is simple and easy to use, with an automatic proxy assignment process after registration. While it’s a solid choice for small-scale scraping, the limitations of 10 proxies and 1GB of traffic per month can be restrictive.

Webshare is ideal for beginners who want to experiment with proxies for light scraping tasks. The service is easy to use and offers a straightforward registration process, making it accessible to new users.

Key features:

• Free List: 10 static datacenter proxies.
• IP Types: Datacenter proxies.
• Locations: 4 different locations.
• Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5.
• Traffic: 1 GB per month.

Pros:

• Simple, easy-to-use service for beginners.
• Free plan includes 10 static datacenter proxies with 1 GB of traffic per month.
• Offers a straightforward registration process.

Cons:

• The free plan provides a very limited number of proxies (only 10).
• Low monthly traffic of 1 GB, which may not be enough for extensive web scraping tasks.
• Limited to only four locations, restricting options for international scraping.

7. KProxy

KProxy is a free web proxy service that allows users to access blocked websites quickly. It’s perfect for casual browsing and bypassing simple restrictions. KProxy does not require registration, making it easy for those who need to unblock websites or mask their IP address. While not designed for web scraping, KProxy offers an accessible solution for light, non-automated tasks.

The service provides free and paid options, with the free version offering basic functionality. However, the proxies can be slow, and there are limited options for customization. KProxy is best for users looking for an easy and fast way to access websites without needing advanced features for scraping.

Key features:

• Free List: Offers a free web proxy service.
• IP Types: Web proxy (for browsing).
• Locations: Various locations through the website interface.
• Support: Available via the website.

Pros:

• Simple interface, ideal for beginners.
• No registration required to access the free proxies.
• Good for bypassing website restrictions without using software.

Cons:

• Only suitable for web browsing, not web scraping.
• Free proxies are often slow and unreliable.
• Limited customization options.

In Conclusion

These free proxy lists provide a range of options for web scraping and maintaining anonymity online. Bright Data leads the pack with its premium features and reliable proxies, followed by ProxyScrape and Free-Proxy.cz for those who need extensive lists and decent filtering. While free proxies are generally less stable and secure than paid alternatives, they offer a cost-effective solution for small-scale scraping tasks. If you’re looking for higher quality and better reliability, a paid proxy service may be worth the investment.

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