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Choosing Between SOCKS vs HTTP Proxy

Vejune Tamuliunaite

2023-06-215 min read

Choosing between a SOCKS vs HTTP proxy requires a thorough understanding of how each type works and what configurations they convey. Only then you will be able to easily juggle between different types of proxies, as well as to find the best proxy server and proxy service provider for your specific use case.

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This article outlines what HTTP and SOCKS proxies are, how they operate, and what benefits each brings. Also, we will compare both proxy types and dwell on the differences between SOCKS proxies vs HTTP proxies. Additionally, you can read more about SSL proxies.

What are HTTP proxies?

HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol and is the foundation of any data exchange across the internet. It is a connectionless text-based protocol that allows fetching resources, like HyperText Markup Language (HTML) or other scripting languages, like CSS, and transmitting from web servers to web browsers.

HTTP is generally called a client-server protocol since it helps clients (usually web browsers) send requests to servers for data elements, such as pages, images, or videos. After the request is served, the connection between the web browser and server ends. Therefore, each request requires a new connection.

As the name implies, an HTTP proxy is specifically made for HTTP connections and operates via the same client-server model. Like any other regular proxy, it also acts as an intermediary: HTTP proxy stands between a server and a client (web browser) by transmitting requests and delivering the resource back to the client in HTTP format.

HTTP proxies can help cover many business use cases with high security and privacy

What are SOCKS proxies?

SOCKS is another internet protocol. It stands for SOCKet Secure and is commonly used for traffic-intensive tasks, like content streaming or P2P sharing. SOCKS uses a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection that is designed to send and receive data packets across the internet, as well as to guarantee successful delivery of resources over networks.

When using SOCKS proxies, the internet traffic is routed through a proxy server via TCP connection on behalf of a client. Just like most other proxy types, SOCKS proxies hide the client’s IP address and serve when bypassing geo-restrictions.

Unlike HTTP, SOCKS cannot interpret web data. However, they are mostly used to facilitate communication with websites that have a firewall and limit regular client access. Most importantly, SOCKS proxies work on any kind of network protocol on any port.

What is SOCKS5 proxy server?

SOCKS5 is the latest edition of the SOCKS protocol. Compared with the older versions, SOCKS5 supports TCP or UDP connections and provides enhanced security. For more information on SOCKS5, check the video bellow.

SOCKS4 vs SOCKS5 vs HTTP

SOCKS4 is an older protocol that provides basic proxy functionality but lacks support for advanced features like authentication and UDP. SOCKS5 is an upgraded version that offers improved security and authentication. SOCKS5 also supports various types of traffic, including TCP, UDP, and IPv6.

HTTP is a protocol primarily used for web communication and can also be used as a proxy. While HTTP proxies are simpler to set up and widely supported by web browsers, they may not be suitable for all types of traffic. SOCKS5 is often preferred when advanced features and broader support for different protocols are required, while HTTP is commonly used for web browsing.

Reasons to use SOCKS and HTTP proxies

Now we are going to outline why you should use SOCKS or HTTP proxies.

HTTP proxies are a reliable choice for many businesses that need to cover numerous goals and use cases. The HTTP proxy’s server configuration can be set according to your needs.

HTTP proxies

Clean data. While operating as a middleman between a client and its destination, an HTTP proxy has the ability to understand data. This means that an HTTP proxy can be set up for content filtering or caching web data. Therefore, HTTP proxies help extract relevant data from websites and avoid collecting what is unnecessary.
Advanced security. HTTP proxies add an additional layer of security while detecting and denying suspicious data packets, such as spyware or malformed content, trying to enter your server.
Increase your scraper’s success rate. HTTP proxies are used for configuring HTTP request headers. This practice can help you to facilitate access to restricted targets and lower your chances of getting blocked. If you are interested in how to enhance your web scraping operations, read our article on “5 Key HTTP Headers for Web Scraping.”

Since SOCKS proxies are compatible with any network protocol or port, they can be used in multiple applications and in a wealth of scenarios.

SOCKS5 proxies

Firewalls. As we already mentioned, SOCKS proxies can be an excellent choice for cases that involve firewalls. Whenever clients are behind a firewall and want to initiate arbitrary TCP connections to servers that are outside, they might not be able to. This is where SOCKS proxies come to play and make it happen. (In fact, this also applies to HTTP proxies – the firewall may restrict a client’s access to certain websites via an HTTP connection.)
Compatibility with any network protocol or port. Unlike an HTTP proxy that establishes only an HTTP connection, SOCKS can go through TCP. Also, a SOCKS5 server can use User Datagram Protocol (UDP) connection to deliver datagrams over a network, ensuring efficient performance. Click the link here if you'd like to learn more about our available UDP proxy choices.

SOCKS vs HTTP proxies: the main differences

The final decision on which proxy type you should choose depends mainly on your goals and needs. Our proxies enable integration through multiple protocols; you can switch between them when needed. Residential and Mobile Proxies support HTTP(S) and SOCKS5 connections, while Dedicated Datacenter Proxies allow connections through HTTP and SOCKS5 protocols. So, equipped with the knowledge of both proxy types, we can highlight their main differences.

Security

Ensuring privacy and security play an important role in the whole purpose of using a proxy. Both HTTP and SOCKS proxies act as mediators between a client and a server in order to secure your online activities and make them harder to be traced.

HTTP proxies are widely used for email protection and cybersecurity projects due to their ability to understand data packets and filter them according to specific needs. This also can be useful for web scraping and data mining activities.

Functionality

Although HTTP proxies can only handle HTTP(S) traffic, their configurations can be set according to numerous use cases. Since HTTP proxies can interpret network traffic between a client and a web server, they can spot repeated requests or cache responses.

As for SOCKS proxies, they are not liable to specific network protocols, thus can be more flexible to employ. As they are unable to understand network traffic, they are perfect for accessing connections behind the firewall.

Performance

As with any other proxy type, we generally advise on choosing private proxies if speed measures are of great importance to you.
Due to their ability to filter data or cache web pages, HTTP proxies can fuel your scraping operations, as well as enhance load speeds and performance. As a result, these proxies allow you to manage more requests per second.

On the other hand, SOCKS proxies are widely appreciated for their speed as they are easier to apply: this makes them a right fit for downloading, transferring, and uploading web data online.

	SOCKS proxy	HTTP proxy
Security	SOCKS proxies do not have standard tunnel encryption.	HTTP proxies can add a layer of security between the client and the server and can detect and deny suspicious data packets or spyware.
Functionality	SOCKS proxies do not directly use the HTTP protocol. It is commonly used for more general purposes such as content streaming and P2P file sharing. Since SOCKS proxies are protocol-agnostic, unlike HTTP proxies, they do not directly interpret or manipulate proxied traffic. SOCKS proxies are more flexible to deploy as they are not bound to specific network protocols. They are great for accessing connections that are behind a firewall.	HTTP proxies handle HTTP(S) traffic which is often used for retrieving information via web browsers. However, they can be configured for different use cases. HTTP proxies can interpret network traffic between web servers and clients. Thus, they can be set up to filter content or cache web data.
Performance	SOCKS proxies offer great speeds, making them ideal for downloading or transferring data via the internet. Some rare software clients or very specialized systems may only support SOCKS.	Private HTTP proxies deliver decent load speeds and are better suited for managing more requests per second.

Wrapping up

There is no question of rivalry since selecting between SOCKS vs HTTP proxies depends on your use case and needs. SOCKS may be a reliable choice for projects that involve downloading and transferring large amounts of data. On the other hand, HTTP proxies may be ideal for filtering data for security or performance reasons. If in doubt, if your target is HTTP(S), buy HTTP proxies – these should work just fine for you.

Oxylabs’ HTTP(S) proxies are considered as one of the most stable proxy types on the market. We also have an article comparing WebSocket vs HTTP, make sure to check it out. Also, check step-by-step integrations with various tools if you're interested in integrating our proxies with third-party solutions.

If you want to learn more about web scraping, read our step-by-step Python Web Scraping Tutorial. And if you consider which solution meets your business needs, do not hesitate and contact our sales team for further advice and assistance.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: SOCKS5 or HTTPS?

It's inaccurate to say that one is universally better than the other. SOCKS5 and HTTPS serve different purposes. SOCKS5 is primarily used for proxying network connections, while HTTPS is mainly chosen for secure web browsing. The choice depends on your specific needs and use case.

Is it safe to use SOCKS proxy?

There's no straight answer to whether using a SOCKS proxy is completely safe because it depends on the specific proxy source, configuration, and additional security measures taken. Of course, premium proxy providers, such as Oxylabs, guarantee safety regardless of your preferred proxy type.

Which is better: TCP or UDP?

In summary, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is preferred when reliable and ordered data transmission is crucial, while UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is suitable for scenarios where speed and low latency take priority over reliability. It completely depends on your preferences.

About the author

Vejune Tamuliunaite

Former Product Content Manager

Vejune Tamuliunaite is a former Product Content Manager at Oxylabs with a passion for testing her limits. After years of working as a scriptwriter, she turned to the tech side and is fascinated by being at the core of creating the future. When not writing in-depth articles, Vejune enjoys spending time in nature and watching classic sci-fi movies. Also, she probably could tell the Star Wars script by heart.

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