Which is Better: SOCKS or HTTP Proxies?
Ignat Drozdov
Backend Development, Octo Browser
Proxies are used to maintain anonymity, bypass geographical restrictions, or avoid IP-based bans. Users typically choose between HTTP and SOCKS proxies. Both proxy types work on the same principle: they replace the user's IP address with their own. However, different proxies handle specific tasks differently. What are the differences between HTTP and SOCKS proxies? Which type should you choose? Find the answers below.
Contents
- What is an HTTP Proxy?
- What is a SOCKS Proxy?
- Comparison of SOCKS4 and SOCKS5
- SOCKS vs. HTTP Proxies: Key Differences
- Compatibility
- Features
- Security
- Encryption
- Speed
- Which is Better: HTTP or SOCKS Proxies?
- Where to Buy Proxies?
- Conclusion
- FAQ
- When is an HTTP Proxy More Suitable Than a SOCKS Proxy?
- What is the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)?
- What is the User Datagram Protocol (UDP)?
What is an HTTP Proxy?
HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol. It is used to view content online, such as web pages, texts, images, and videos. An HTTP proxy is a proxy server that uses the HTTP protocol. When a user connects to it, the HTTP proxy establishes a connection or forwards requests on behalf of the connected client.
Like all proxies, an HTTP proxy acts as an intermediary between the client and the server. HTTP proxies offer the following capabilities:
Like all proxies, an HTTP proxy acts as an intermediary between the client and the server. HTTP proxies offer the following capabilities:
- Caching responses to popular requests to speed up page loading;
- Filtering and analyzing incoming data packets;
- Limiting connection speed;
- Logging visits and monitoring traffic.
What is a SOCKS Proxy?
SOCKS is a session-layer network protocol that allows the transmission of data packets without modification, adding nothing of its own. When using a SOCKS proxy, the destination server receives a data packet identical to the one sent by the user, enhancing client confidentiality.
SOCKS proxies are more versatile than HTTP proxies because they can be used as a transport layer for protocols like HTTP, FTP, SMTP, IMAP, and other higher-level protocols. SOCKS proxies work even with programs that do not directly support proxies. Additionally, SOCKS proxies can bypass firewalls, allowing access to websites even if your IP address has been blacklisted.
SOCKS proxies are more versatile than HTTP proxies because they can be used as a transport layer for protocols like HTTP, FTP, SMTP, IMAP, and other higher-level protocols. SOCKS proxies work even with programs that do not directly support proxies. Additionally, SOCKS proxies can bypass firewalls, allowing access to websites even if your IP address has been blacklisted.
Comparison of SOCKS4 and SOCKS5
Currently, two versions of Socket Secure are available: the fourth and the fifth. The latest version is more secure and versatile because it:
- Expands addressing methods, supporting IPv4, IPv6 addresses, and domain names. In SOCKS4, only IPv4 addresses can be specified as the endpoint.
- Provides all-purpose strong authentication schemes, including username/password authentication and GSS-API. SOCKS4 only transmits the client's identifier.
- Supports the UDP protocol, which does not check data packets for integrity, thus working faster in streaming transmissions like those used by streaming services. SOCKS4 does not support UDP.
SOCKS vs. HTTP Proxies: Key Differences
Let’s compare the two proxy types in terms of their compatibility with various protocols, features, security, and performance.
Compatibility
HTTP is used only for browsers and software that operates over TCP.
SOCKS5 supports both TCP and UDP, making it compatible with services that do not work with other proxies.
SOCKS5 supports both TCP and UDP, making it compatible with services that do not work with other proxies.
Features
HTTP proxies can detect identical requests and cache responses. Additionally, you can configure an HTTP proxy to act as a filter blocking suspicious messages from entering the internal network.
Using SOCKS proxies, you can access a server behind a firewall, e.g., bypass regional IP-based restrictions.
Using SOCKS proxies, you can access a server behind a firewall, e.g., bypass regional IP-based restrictions.
Security
Proxies are generally divided into transparent, anonymous, and elite. You can read more about this classification here. Transparent and anonymous HTTP proxies modify HTTP headers to add service information. Because of this, the end server, such as the website you are visiting, can more easily determine that you are using a proxy.
SOCKS proxies are anonymous because they do not modify the data packets that pass through them. They transmit network traffic as is, at the same time hiding the fact that you are using a proxy and your real IP address.
SOCKS proxies are anonymous because they do not modify the data packets that pass through them. They transmit network traffic as is, at the same time hiding the fact that you are using a proxy and your real IP address.
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Encryption
HTTP proxies themselves do not support encryption. However, you can connect to a proxy via TLS and use the HTTP CONNECT method to connect to the desired resource if the proxy supports it.
The CONNECT method creates an HTTP tunnel where a higher-level protocol (HTTP) transports a lower-level protocol (TCP). Such proxies can connect to any port, including using secure TLS/SSL protocols, hence they are called HTTPS proxies.
This way, only the connection request using the CONNECT method is sent over HTTP. After that, the server simply proxies the established TCP connection.
SOCKS proxies also do not support encryption. However, you can use SSH as a SOCKS server. To do this, you need to allocate a socket to listen to a port on the client side and perform dynamic port forwarding at the application level. SOCKS allows an application to specify the address and port of the remote server it wants to connect to. The connection to this port will each time be redirected through a secure channel. Both versions of SOCKS are supported: the fourth and the fifth. You can read more about how this works here (option -D for the SSH client).
Speed
HTTP proxies load web pages quickly but are inefficient at video and audio streaming.
SOCKS proxies are usually used for more general purposes, such as file sharing over FTP or in torrent networks (P2P). For these tasks, SOCKS5 performs faster than HTTP because it supports the UDP protocol, which does not require acknowledgments after sessions and does not correct errors in the data.
Let’s summarize the differences:
SOCKS proxies are usually used for more general purposes, such as file sharing over FTP or in torrent networks (P2P). For these tasks, SOCKS5 performs faster than HTTP because it supports the UDP protocol, which does not require acknowledgments after sessions and does not correct errors in the data.
Let’s summarize the differences:
Which is Better: HTTP or SOCKS Proxies?
SOCKS and HTTP proxies are designed for different tasks. Therefore, it is more appropriate to compare the functions each performs. SOCKS proxies are used to create reliable tunnels similar to VPNs, whereas HTTP proxies are better suited for working with web pages, for tasks such as data scraping, testing various hypotheses, analytics, multi-accounting, and “prepping” profiles. The quality of connection, latency, server location, and security level depend more on the proxy provider than the proxy type.
Where to Buy Proxies?
There are a lot of proxy providers on the market, making it challenging for users to choose the right one. Thus, the Octo Team has compiled a list of trusted providers:
- Oxylabs: Offers 100 million IP addresses in 195 countries with 99.95% efficiency. Provides residential, mobile, ISP, and datacenter proxies.
- Smartproxy: Offers over 65 million IP addresses from 195 countries with 99.99% uptime. Provides residential, static residential, mobile, and datacenter proxies.
- Bright Data: Offers 78 million addresses in 195 countries with 99.99% uptime and success rate. Offers residential, datacenter, mobile, and ISP proxies.
- NetNut: Offers over 20 million IP addresses in 170 countries with 99.9% uptime; provides datacenter and residential IP addresses.
- Astro: Offers more than 2 million proxies with geotargeting in 100+ countries and 99.9% uptime; provides mobile, residential, and datacenter proxies.
Only the proxy provider is responsible for the security and quality of their proxies. Check the proxy reliability and test them to see how well they perform in your real-life tasks before use.
Conclusion
HTTP proxies are cheaper and simpler to set up, making them suitable for standard tasks. They can also filter incoming messages and cache responses to popular requests. SOCKS proxies do not modify HTTP headers and transmit data packets unchanged, making it difficult for sites to determine your real IP address or that you are even using a proxy server at all. SOCKS proxies are ideal for bypassing regional blocks and firewalls, streaming, and P2P data transmission.
FAQ
When is an HTTP Proxy More Suitable Than a SOCKS Proxy?
HTTP is the most common proxy type. They are cheaper than SOCKS, making them better for mass actions, such as data parsing. HTTP proxies understand the messages passing through them and can filter incoming traffic, helping save bandwidth during web scraping.
What is the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)?
TCP is a transport layer protocol in the OSI model. When transmitting data packets, TCP establishes a connection, re-requests lost data, and deletes duplicates if the recipient receives the same packet twice. TCP ensures the integrity and order of transmitted data and notifies the sender of the transmission results. Browsers, email, and P2P exchanges are all based on this protocol.
What is the User Datagram Protocol (UDP)?
UDP is a transport layer protocol in the OSI model that uses a simple data transmission model without explicit handshakes. UDP does not guarantee data reliability, order, or integrity. It differs from TCP in that it is implemented with minimal delays because it does not control the delivery of packets, making it suitable for applications that require fast but not necessarily accurate delivery, such as online gaming or video streaming.
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