9 Best Cheap SOCKS5 Proxy Providers for 2026

If you've ever tried web scraping or accessing geo-blocked content, you know the drill: you need a solid proxy that won't break the bank. SOCKS5 proxies have become the go-to choice for developers and businesses alike because they're fast, versatile, and keep you anonymous online.

Whether you're checking search engine rankings from different locations, scraping data at scale, or just trying to bypass regional restrictions, finding an affordable SOCKS5 provider that actually delivers is crucial. I've rounded up nine providers that offer the best balance of pricing and performance in 2025.

Why SOCKS5 Proxies Matter for Your Projects

Before diving into the providers, let's talk about why SOCKS5 has become so popular. Unlike traditional HTTP proxies, SOCKS5 works at a lower network level, which means it can handle any type of traffic - whether that's web browsing, torrenting, or API requests. This flexibility makes it perfect for complex operations like data scraping or running automated tasks.

The speed advantage is real too. Since SOCKS5 doesn't add heavy protocol overhead, your connections stay fast even when you're routing through multiple servers. When you're scraping thousands of pages or monitoring competitor pricing in real-time, every millisecond counts. 👉 Get reliable SOCKS5 proxies with enterprise-grade performance at competitive prices

Top 9 Affordable SOCKS5 Providers

1. Webshare - Best for Consistent Uptime

Webshare brings serious reliability to the table with their 99% uptime guarantee. Starting at just $2 per IP monthly, they offer one of the most straightforward pricing models in the industry. What sets them apart is their commitment to bulletproof anonymity - no IP leaks, no open port scans, just solid protection.

Their network spans over 50 countries, giving you plenty of options for geo-targeting. The platform supports both SOCKS5 and HTTP protocols on the same servers, so you can switch between them without managing separate proxy lists. They even offer a free tier with 10 proxies and 1 GB bandwidth if you want to test the waters.

Key strengths:

• Protocol flexibility across all plans

• Zero additional fees for SOCKS5 access

• Subnet diversity for better anonymity

• Free plan available for testing

2. Decodo - Best Overall Value

Decodo delivers enterprise-grade performance without the enterprise price tag. Their network boasts an impressive response time of under 0.6 seconds, making them the fastest option on this list. With 99.99% uptime, you can count on them when reliability matters most.

Starting at $14 monthly for 2 GB, their residential proxies support unlimited connections and threads. That means you can run as many simultaneous scraping operations as your use case demands. They offer residential, mobile, and datacenter options, all supporting both HTTP(s) and SOCKS5 protocols out of the box.

Key strengths:

• Industry-leading 0.6 second response time

• Unlimited concurrent connections

• 24/7 customer support

• Static and rotating IP options

3. Oxylabs - Best with Scraper API

When you need more than just raw proxies, Oxylabs steps up with their integrated scraper API. Their massive pool of 175 million IP addresses ensures you'll always have fresh IPs available. The 99.9% uptime and sub-0.41 second response time make them ideal for high-volume scraping operations.

What really makes Oxylabs shine is their user-friendly dashboard where you can customize IP whitelists, rotation settings, and geotargeting parameters. Their web unblocker tool removes the hassle of dealing with CAPTCHAs and bot detection systems. If you're managing complex data extraction projects, this combination of raw proxies and smart tooling can save hours of development time.

Pricing starts at:

• Residential: $4/GB

• Mobile: $5.4/GB

• Web Unblocker: $6/GB

They offer a free 7-day trial for companies and 3 days for individuals, giving you enough time to evaluate performance on your actual workloads.

4. Proxy Seller - Best for SEO Scraping

Proxy Seller focuses on what SEO professionals need most: speed and subnet diversity. With connections up to 1 Gb/s and over 800 subnets across 400 networks, you get the infrastructure needed for large-scale rank tracking and competitor analysis.

Their 24-hour refund policy removes the risk from trying their service. Starting at just $0.70 per IP for mixed packages, they're among the most budget-friendly options available. The round-the-clock support team can even help you configure proxies remotely if you run into setup issues.

Key benefits:

• High-speed dedicated channels

• Extensive subnet selection

• Remote configuration assistance

• Up to 40% discount for longer leases

5. Anonymous Proxies - Best for Security-First Workflows

Anonymous Proxies takes anonymity seriously. Their network guarantees zero IP or DNS leaks, making them ideal when privacy isn't negotiable. With instant activation and proxies starting at $3 monthly, they remove barriers to getting started quickly.

Their datacenter footprint spans over 100 global locations, all backed by high-speed 1Gbps and 10Gbps connections. The fully automated infrastructure means less downtime and faster issue resolution. Whether you're running data mining bots, monitoring competitors, or verifying ads, their network stays reliable.

Use cases:

• Automated purchasing bots

• Price monitoring at scale

• Anonymous browsing

• Ad verification campaigns

6. IPRoyal - Best User Interface

IPRoyal's dashboard makes proxy management feel effortless. Their rotating residential proxies cover 195 countries and offer flexible rotation options with traffic that never expires. This is particularly useful when you're running long-term monitoring projects where unused bandwidth shouldn't go to waste.

Starting at $1.75 per GB, their pricing is transparent and scalable. The platform offers multiple proxy types including static residential, datacenter, sneaker, and mobile proxies - all manageable from one central interface. Their 99.9% uptime guarantee and city/state level targeting give you precise control over your scraping operations.

Pricing breakdown:

• Rotating Residential: From $1.75/GB

• Static Residential: From $2.40/proxy

• Datacenter: From $1.39/proxy

• Mobile: From $81/month

7. Infatica - Best for High Anonymity

With over 15 million IP addresses sourced from real residential devices, Infatica ensures your requests look completely natural. Their network spans the globe, providing zero CAPTCHAs or IP blocks when you're scraping data-sensitive sites.

The ethical sourcing of their proxy network sets them apart. All IP addresses come from users who've opted in, reducing the risk of using proxies from compromised devices. Their web scraper API includes JavaScript rendering, automatic proxy rotation, and multiple data export formats - perfect for teams that want to focus on data analysis rather than infrastructure management.

For businesses dealing with brand protection, cybersecurity monitoring, or SEO data collection, the combination of high anonymity and professional tooling makes complex projects more manageable. 👉 Access 15M+ ethically sourced residential IPs with zero blocks

Plans start at:

• Residential: $96/month (or $1/GB)

• Datacenter: $15/month

• Mobile: $45/month (or $4/GB)

They offer a 3-day trial for just $1.99, letting you test their full feature set before committing.

8. Soax - Fastest Response Time

Soax claims the speed crown with response times under 0.55 seconds across their 191 million IP pool. Their 99.55% success rate means fewer failed requests and less wasted bandwidth. When you're scraping at scale, these performance metrics directly impact your data collection efficiency.

Beyond raw proxies, their platform includes a web unblocker and specialized scraper APIs that convert websites into structured data. The unlimited concurrent sessions remove artificial bottlenecks, letting your scraping operations scale naturally with demand.

Pricing options:

• Residential: $99/month for 15 GB

• Web Unblocker: $4/GB

• Scraper APIs: $0.175 per 1,000 requests

All plans include automatic rotation, sticky sessions, and country-level targeting as standard features.

9. Rayobyte - Best Subnet Diversity

Rayobyte specializes in subnet diversity with tens of thousands of C-class subnets spread across multiple A and B classes. This makes them particularly effective for scenarios where you need to appear as completely different users across requests. Their 99% uptime and immediate IP rotation on downtime keeps your operations running smoothly.

With over 30 US city locations, they're ideal for domestic scraping projects that require precise geotargeting. The intuitive dashboard supports both IP authorization and username/password authentication, giving you flexibility in how you deploy proxies across your infrastructure.

Pricing structure:

• US Residential: $3/GB

• US ISP: $5/IP

• US Datacenter: $2/IP

Choosing the Right Provider for Your Needs

The best SOCKS5 provider depends on what you're actually trying to accomplish. If you're running high-volume SEO rank tracking, subnet diversity matters more than raw speed. For real-time data scraping where websites have aggressive bot detection, residential IPs with high anonymity become crucial.

Consider these factors:

For web scraping: Look at success rates and response times first. Failed requests waste bandwidth and slow down data collection. Providers like Decodo and Soax excel here with their sub-second response times.

For geo-targeting: Count the actual locations available, not just countries. City-level targeting lets you get more accurate local search results and pricing data.

For budget constraints: Calculate costs based on your actual traffic needs. Some providers charge per IP, others per GB. If you're making lots of requests but transferring little data, per-IP pricing usually wins.

For compliance and ethics: If you're scraping for commercial purposes, using ethically sourced residential IPs reduces legal risk. Providers that are transparent about their sourcing methods protect your business reputation.

Making SOCKS5 Proxies Work for You

Getting started with SOCKS5 proxies is straightforward, but a few best practices will save you headaches:

Rotate your IPs intelligently. Don't hit the same website repeatedly from one IP. Most providers offer automatic rotation, but understanding rate limits for your target sites prevents unnecessary blocks.

Monitor your success rates. Track how many requests succeed versus fail. If success rates drop below 95%, either your targets have upgraded their detection or you need to adjust rotation settings.

Use sticky sessions when needed. Some workflows require maintaining the same IP across multiple requests - like logging into accounts or completing multi-step forms. Most providers support sticky sessions ranging from a few minutes to hours.

Test before scaling. Start small with any new provider. Run your actual scraping logic on their network before committing to large plans. The trial periods most providers offer exist for exactly this reason.

The Bottom Line

SOCKS5 proxies have become essential infrastructure for anyone doing serious web scraping, SEO monitoring, or data collection. The nine providers listed here all deliver solid performance at prices that won't destroy your budget.

For most users, I'd start with either Decodo for their overall value and speed, or Webshare for their reliable uptime and straightforward pricing. If you need specialized features like integrated scraper APIs or exceptional anonymity, providers like Oxylabs and Infatica justify their slightly higher prices through better tooling and support.

The proxy market keeps evolving, with providers constantly upgrading their networks and adding features. What matters most is finding a provider whose strengths align with your specific use case, then building your workflows around their capabilities. The right proxy setup becomes invisible infrastructure that just works - letting you focus on extracting insights from data rather than fighting with connection issues.