Frequently asked questions
Honest answers — including the ones other proxy sites avoid.
Are the proxies really free?
Yes. There is no pricing page, no checkout, no premium tier, and no account system on ProxyNest. Every proxy in the list and every API endpoint is free to use. The site is supported by advertising, which is why you'll see ad placeholders around the pages.
Why do free proxies stop working so fast?
Public proxies are shared by thousands of strangers at once. They get overloaded, their IPs get blocked by websites, owners shut them down, or passwords change. Most free proxies die within hours of being published. That's not a ProxyNest bug — it's the nature of free public lists everywhere.
Practical advice: grab several proxies, prefer ones marked TESTED, and use the Ping button on the proxy list to verify one live before you depend on it.
What does the TESTED badge mean?
TESTED means that proxy matched a real speed-test record: an actual connection was opened and its latency, uptime and score were measured. Rows without the badge are UNTESTED — they were collected from public sources but we have no verified speed data for them. Untested doesn't mean dead, and tested doesn't mean immortal — re-check with Ping if it matters.
Is it legal and safe to use these proxies?
Using a proxy is legal in most countries, but what you do through it still has to be legal — a proxy doesn't make illegal activity legal. On safety: these proxies are run by unknown third parties. A malicious operator could log unencrypted traffic. So: never enter passwords, banking details, or other sensitive information while routed through a public proxy, and stick to HTTPS websites so your data stays encrypted end-to-end.
Do I need an account? Do you track me?
No account exists on ProxyNest — there's nothing to sign up for. We don't ask for your name, email, or any personal details to use the list, the exports, or the API.
Are there rate limits on the API?
There's no published hard limit and no API key, but please be reasonable: cache responses and don't hammer the endpoints. Aggressive scraping slows the service for everyone, and the live /api/verify endpoint opens real network connections, so use it for checking single proxies, not bulk scanning.
Why is a proxy slow even though it was TESTED?
Speed tests are snapshots. A proxy's speed depends on how many people are using it right now, the distance between you and it, and whether its IP has been throttled or blocked since the test. A fast result yesterday can be a slow proxy today. If speed matters, test a few and keep the fastest.
What's the difference between HTTP, SOCKS4 and SOCKS5?
HTTP proxies handle web traffic and are the simplest choice for browsing. SOCKS5 is more flexible — it handles any kind of traffic (web, apps, games) and supports authentication and UDP. SOCKS4 is an older, simpler version of SOCKS without some of SOCKS5's features. If you're unsure, try SOCKS5 first, then HTTP.
How often is the list updated?
New proxies are collected from public sources on a rolling schedule and re-checked in cycles. Because free proxies die so quickly, the list is a moving target — the "last updated" time on the home page tells you how fresh the current snapshot is.
Can I suggest a proxy source or report a problem?
Yes — head to the contact page and send a message. Source suggestions, dead-link reports, and corrections are all welcome.