However, choosing the right proxy is an important task that should be approached responsibly. Unfortunately, most users, especially beginners, have little idea of what a proxy is and how to select a fast and the most suitable option. Let’s look at them in detail and make a list of the handiest tips.
What Is a Proxy Server
To put it simply, modern proxy servers can be called specialized remote computers that anyone can access. A computer working as a proxy is a kind of analog of a spacer or layer between the client and the site he/she is going to visit. It can be data downloading or, on the contrary, unloading.
Proxy servers are widely used for the following tasks and provide such opportunities as:
Types of Proxy Servers
There are numerous proxy types, the majority of which are usually applied for highly specialized tasks. The common types of proxies are divided into the following categories:
What to Consider When Choosing a Good Proxy Server
Free or Paid Option
The main advantage offered by paid servers is stability. Proxy servers, which are popular and charged, are almost never disabled. The user has to spend the money, but he/she gets a high-quality connection, stability, and lots of additional functions in exchange. That’s why we’d recommend paid servers to those who need a proxy for professional tasks. Expenses will soon be refunded.
Free proxies lose in this regard as they can be disabled at any time. The set of functions is scarce; the speed given is slightly worse than the one got from a direct connection, without any proxies. But this option also has its advantages. You don’t have to pay anything. Besides, in case of a critical quality decrease, you can easily switch to another server. If you’re looking for a proxy for private purposes or seldom use, free options are more than enough.
Speed of Connection
When planning to install a proxy, the current Internet connection plays a significant role. Before the final decision, we recommend measuring this feature, paying special attention to such indicators as the incoming and outgoing speed, ping value, and IP address
You can then connect the selected proxy servers and test them by measuring speed on one of the various online resources. Reject those options that will show a significant drop in values compared to a standard connection. Having selected several servers, spend some time to compare them, and thereby determine the best one.
Advice: For accurate results, all connection quality tests should be carried out on the same site. It’s not recommended to use several proxies simultaneously or even install them in your OS.
Ping
Ping is the time period required to send the original data packet from the user’s PC to the server (remote computer). Ping parameters determine how fast the server responds to incoming user requests. Thus, the lower the ping, the faster is your connection and proxy operation. Please always mind this factor before choosing a provider.
Ping is also crucial when you have to deal with strange platforms like Asian resources. Access to them is characterized by high ping, so you should choose a proxy based on this. Non-Asian users will certainly face high ping there. So, to avoid a long server response time to user actions, it’s worth installing only that proxy server that has as low ping value as possible.
Market Monitoring and Comparison
It’s worth mentioning that experienced users periodically check their current proxies and compare them with others, especially fresh ones. Thus, you can easily track the slightest deterioration of the connection quality and change your server with a more convenient one.
Conclusion
There are other moments to consider, such as the ability to set an IP address from several possible options to access any site at any time and the like. But these are the main things you should focus on when choosing a fast proxy server. We’d also recommend you check the best proxy lists. It will help you pick up a reliable product with ease.
