Privoxy vs ProxyEmpire

Privoxy is free, non-caching web proxy software for privacy controls, access rules, and changes to HTTP headers and web pages. It can modify page text, remove banners and web bugs, filter HTML annoyances, and inspect HTTPS requests and responses. A browser-based configuration and control utility includes rule tracing and remote toggling, and Privoxy can be chained with other proxies. It can serve multiple clients across a network or as a LAN gateway. The software runs on Windows, GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, Haiku, BSD variants, Solaris, and other Unix systems. It is licensed under the GNU GPL version 2 or later, with a free plan listed at free. A basic configuration is included with a new installation, but many advanced features need to be enabled. Privoxy handles HTTP and HTTPS proxying; it does not handle FTP, SMTP, instant messaging, IRC, or ICQ. It is not designed as a malware-removal tool, and the default setup does not filter malware. The project says it lacks trusted build infrastructure; individual project members or external contributors build and upload binary packages.

ProxyEmpire sells proxy connections for business uses such as web scraping, marketing research, and e-commerce comparisons. Its listed networks include rotating and static residential, rotating and dedicated mobile, rotating datacenter, and unlimited residential proxies. Connection settings can keep the same IP, assign a new one for each request, or rotate on a custom schedule of up to two hours. The service advertises no concurrent session limit and bandwidth rollover. It supports HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5, and HTTP/2; compatible software must accept HTTP, HTTPS, or SOCKS5 proxies authenticated with a username and password. ProxyEmpire offers an API, Chrome extension, and Android tool, with setup guides for more than 35 tools and apps, including 14 anti-detect browsers. The extension includes profile switching, bulk import and testing, WebRTC leak protection, a kill switch, status and bandwidth views, and image blocking. Pricing varies by network and plan: listed options include $7.00 per month for 1 GB of rotating residential traffic and $3.50 per month for one static residential proxy. The company advertises 24/7 human support.