Proxy servers are the most flexible tools for online anonymity. Unlike VPNs, proxy providers give more options and scalability opportunities for anonymous browsing and business-oriented tasks.
As internet privacy becomes a precious commodity, web surfers look for ways to regain control over their browsing experience. If we look for tools that mask the user’s digital identity and let them change geolocations, proxies are a quick and cheap solution.
Instead of accessing the internet with your IP address, proxy servers guide the connection to an extra stop. By covering data packets in a new wrapping, they forward the connection towards the final destination. Once it arrives, the recipient perceives the proxy server as the original sender.
With such a simple identity change, internet users around the world can access restricted websites under a new identity, even if the page is unavailable in their location. As a staple tool for internet freedom and flexibility, the use of proxy servers has exploded in the decade.
In this article, we will discuss the use of proxy services on Internet browsers. With the help of a trusted provider, you can dedicate a browsing session to entering the web through a proxy server. Here you will see the difference between a datacenter and a residential proxy service and a step-by-step guide for running the best proxy server extensions.
Types of proxy servers
The most common types – datacenter and proxy servers look similar at first sight. However, while both options achieve the same primary goal, their structures and additional functions are very different.
Datacenter proxies run on high-end hardware and ensure the smallest connection loss. They are the cheaper option that stands out as a go-to choice for the casual browsing experience. Its main drawback is recognizability: while no one can see your IP address, recipients can detect certain red flags that expose you as a proxy connection. These addresses come in bulk and have no affiliation with an internet service provider.
Residential proxies are slower and more expensive, but they borrow IP addresses from devices used by real surfers. Without a centralized system, these connections are barely any different from direct web connections. The increased anonymity of residential proxies makes them a perfect tool for business tasks that depend on digital anonymity: web scraping, social media management, and other growth-oriented activities.
For our goal, we are looking for the best proxy service providers that offer residential proxies that are easy to set up through a browser extension. Here are the two suppliers of proxy servers for Chrome and Firefox.
Chrome proxy extensions
Chrome is the most popular web browser, and the best proxy providers have easy-to-use apps to preserve anonymity online:
Oxylabs Oxy Proxy Extension
Oxylabs is one of the best proxy suppliers in the industry that is best suited for business-oriented clients. The add-on serves as a comfortable platform to use any proxy server of your choice, including the provider’s premium proxy server network.
To start using the app, follow these steps:
1. Find the Oxy Proxy app in the Chrome Web store
2. Click “Add to Chrome”
3. Activate the extension and click the “Add proxy” button
4. Connect to your proxy profile
5. Click “Save changes”
After these steps, your proxy profile will be visible in the middle of the app window. Click Connect, and you are good to go!
Smartproxy extension
Smartproxy is another industry giant offering versatile residential proxy services for clients of all backgrounds. To install the Smartproxy extension, follow this similar process:
- Find the Smartproxy extension in the Chrome Web store
- Select “Add to Chrome”
- Once the add-on is working, choose your proxy type and location
- Select your session type
- Enter your username and password
- Click the button below to start using a proxy server
Firefox extensions
Mozilla Firefox is a great alternative browser with an emphasis on online privacy. Here are our top 2 proxy choices that offer a Firefox browser extension:
Smartproxy Firefox extension
Smartproxy takes the spotlight again as the most versatile option for proxy services. Start using it by following these already familiar steps:
- Locate the Smartproxy extension in the Firefox Add-ons store
- Select “Add to Firefox”
- Add permissions for your new extension
- Activate the add-on
Now you are greeted with the window identical to the Google Chrome extension. Continue the previous steps:
- Choose your proxy location
- Select session type
- Enter your credentials
- Click the toggle button to enable the server
Bright Data Firefox extension
Bright Data makes the list of proxy providers with great availability and highly customizable proxy services. Here is how you can start using their browser Firefox extension:
- Locate the Bright Data extension in the Firefox Add-ons store
- Click “Add to Firefox”
- Enable extension permissions
- Log in to your Bright Data account
- Choose a proxy server from the presented locations
- Click the toggle switch to enable proxy connection
That’s it! You are good to go!
Summary
Proxy servers are an essential tool for browsing the web in 2023. With the help of Smartproxy, Oxylabs, Bright Data and other top providers, you can even set up your proxy access via a browser extension.