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Best Forward Proxy Software in 2026

Forward proxy software can mediate clients’ access to other services, so deployment and traffic controls are useful dimensions to compare. Compared on deployment, proxy protocols and concurrent connections, these entries also cover SSL inspection, user authentication and web filtering.

  1. 01 Cloudflare Gateway
    From $7/mo Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    9.3 Visit Specs
  2. 02 3proxy

    3proxy suits administrators who need a configurable proxy server across Linux, macOS, Windows, or self-hosted environments.

    Free plan Open source Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted
    9.0 Visit Specs
  3. 03 Apache Traffic Server

    It suits enterprises, internet service providers, backbone providers, and large intranets that need a self-hosted HTTP caching proxy or load balancer.

    Free plan Open source macOS · Linux · API · Self-hosted
    8.9 Visit Specs
  4. 04 mitmproxy

    mitmproxy suits developers and other users who need to inspect, edit, record, or replay proxy traffic.

    Free plan Open source Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.5 Visit Specs
  5. 05 Check Point Harmony SASE

    Harmony SASE suits organizations seeking one platform for internet access, private access, SaaS security, and SD-WAN.

    Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.3 Visit Specs
  6. 06 Prisma Access

    Prisma Access suits organizations protecting remote, branch, and office users, applications, devices, and data.

    Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.3 Visit Specs
  7. 07 Privoxy

    Privoxy is aimed at people seeking privacy controls or fine-grained control of web traffic.

    Free plan Open source Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted
    8.3 Visit Specs
  8. 08 iboss Cloud

    iboss Cloud is positioned for enterprise, government, and K-12 education customers seeking a Zero Trust SASE platform.

    Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.2 Visit Specs
  9. 09 Symantec IT Management Suite

    It is aimed at IT teams handling endpoint and server deployment, patching, asset records, and policy management in complex environments.

    Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.8 Visit Specs
  10. 10 WinGate
    From $109.95/mo Windows
    7.7 Visit Specs
  11. 11 Squid

    Squid suits administrators who need a self-hosted proxy to cache web traffic, control access, or route and load-balance content.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted
    7.4 Visit Specs
  12. 12 Tinyproxy

    Tinyproxy suits administrators of embedded deployments, small networks, and self-hosted POSIX systems who need configurable proxying.

    Free plan macOS · Linux · Self-hosted
    7.3 Visit Specs
  13. 13 SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway

    It suits organizations managing web access, HTTPS inspection, malware scanning and upload controls on Linux or Windows.

    Web · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted
    7.1 Visit Specs
  14. 14 Google Cloud Secret Manager
    From $0.01/mo Free plan Web
    7.0 Visit Specs
  15. 15 Menlo Security Secure Web Gateway

    Menlo describes Browser SSE for enterprises and governments worldwide.

    Web
    7.0 Visit Specs
  16. 16 Cato Secure Web Gateway
    Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    6.5 Visit Specs
  17. 17 Akamai Secure Internet Access Enterprise
    Web · Windows · macOS · iOS
    6.4 Visit Specs
  18. 18 Microsoft Sentinel
    From $3/mo Web
    6.4 Visit Specs
  19. 19 Cisco Secure Web Gateway
    Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    6.3 Visit Specs
  20. 20 Zscaler Internet Access
    Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    6.1 Visit Specs
  21. 21 Microsoft Entra Internet Access
    Web · Windows · macOS · iOS
    6.0 Visit Specs
  22. 22 FortiProxy
    5.8 Visit Specs
  23. 23 g3proxy
    Linux
    5.7 Visit Specs
  24. 24 Lookout Secure Internet Access
    Web
    5.7 Visit Specs
  25. 25 Skyhigh Secure Web Gateway
    Web
    5.4 Visit Specs
How this list is ordered. Specifiction scores each tool on how fully its maker documents it, whether its prices are published, where the research puts it, the platforms it runs on and whether it can be tried for free (how we rank). Makers can also buy a numbered place (how Specifiction is paid for).

Check Point Harmony SASE, Cato Client and Cisco Secure Access are among the tools to weigh against your environment’s requirements. Zscaler Private Access and Cloudflare Gateway offer further points of comparison. Review the listed controls alongside free-plan availability and paid-from pricing, and consider which combination of connection handling, authentication, inspection and filtering aligns with how you intend to deploy a proxy.

Compare Cloudflare Gateway and 3proxy Get a place on this list

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