Top 8 proxy plugins

Nowadays, there are many different ways to configure and manage proxy servers, but one of the simplest methods is using browser extensions or plugins. This method allows users to configure proxies directly in the browser, eliminating the need for additional software on the user's computer. Let's look at the best extensions for popular browsers and demonstrate how to properly set up proxies in each of them.

If you are looking for extensions for a specific browser, you can read, for example, our review of the best extensions for Chrome.

Video: Top 8 proxy extensions for popular browsers

Proxy SwitchyOmega

This plugin allows for the configuration of multiple proxies and switching between them, which facilitates various tasks in the field of multi-accounting and significantly enhances connection anonymization. Among its advantages, one can note the presence of a GitHub page and frequent updates from developers.

The extension offers several additional options:

• Creation of profiles with different settings and the ability to switch between them;
• Capability to set up automatic switching to the required IP address using the "auto-switch" feature;
• Ability to create PAC scripts;
• Customization of hotkeys for more comfortable use of the extension;
• Error log.

These and other features allow for the completion of virtually any set tasks, from bypassing regional blocks to securely managing multiple accounts on social networks or other resources.

Step-by-step proxy setup in Proxy SwitchyOmega

1. Navigate to the extension menu, click on the Proxy SwitchyOmega icon, then select "Options" from the dropdown list.

   

2. Open the "Proxy" tab, select the necessary connection protocol, and fill in the "Server" and "Port" fields.

   

3. If using a private proxy, click on the lock icon to add authentication details.

   

4. In the new window, enter your username and password, then click "Save changes".

   

5. To complete the setup process, click "Apply changes" on the left panel.

   

The proxy setup is complete. Open a new tab in your browser and visit any website to check the geolocation; the displayed IP address should match the proxy's IP address.

The Proxy SwitchyOmega functionality, in conjunction with private proxies, will allow access to previously blocked sites and ensure the security of user data. The extension is available for Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers and is distributed on a free basis.

FireX Proxy

Using the FireX Proxy plugin in conjunction with a proxy server, users can gain access to websites previously blocked due to geographic restrictions and significantly increase the level of privacy of their online activities.

FireX Proxy allows users to configure one or many proxies and switch between them as needed. The plugin supports multiple language versions and has its page on GitHub. Currently, it is available only for the Google Chrome browser.

In addition, it is worth highlighting the ability to add various resources to a blacklist to automatically disable the proxy when visiting them. This option allows users to adapt their browser for any task and eliminates the need to create additional windows or profiles for working with various resources that do not require the use of proxy servers.

Step-by-step proxy setup in FireX

1. Install FireX, click on the extension icon, and in the menu that opens, click "+" to add a new proxy.

   

2. In the new window, select one of the available protocols, such as HTTP. Fill in the necessary fields with proxy data and click the "ADD" button.

   

3. To add certain websites to the exceptions list, go to the "Websites" tab. In the active field, enter the URL of the required website and click the button on the right in the window to confirm the entry. Move the slider to the active position, after which the proxy server will not work on the specified websites.

   

The added proxy will be displayed in the "Home" tab. With this setup complete, you can add any number of servers and switch between them as needed.

FoxyProxy

The plugin is available for installation in browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

The functionality of this tool offers users a whole list of various features, such as:

• Creation of separate profiles within the extension;
• Creation of connection rules based on IP address, URL, and domain name;
• Customization of the interface;
• Import and export of proxy lists;
• Hotkeys for managing proxy servers.

The extension receives regular updates, features a page with detailed descriptions of each button and tab, and includes an adaptive system for determining and setting the language version.

Step-by-step proxy setup in FoxyProxy

1. To add a proxy, click on the extension icon and select “Options” in the new window.

   

2. In the opened window, select the “Proxies” tab, then set a name for the profile, choose the protocol, and fill in the fields on the right with the proxy data. Optionally, you can also specify the country, and city, and set a color, which facilitates the identification and management of added proxy servers. After entering all the data, click “Save”.

   

3. Done, the settings are saved. Activate the configured proxy on the extension's start page.

   

Setting up in the FoxyProxy plugin is complete. Visit any website to check the geolocation to ensure that the proxy server's IP address is displayed. To quickly add multiple proxies, perform the following steps:

1. Navigate to the “Import” tab, then select “Import Proxy List”, and enter the proxy in the format IP-address:port:username:password. Then click “Save” and “Import”.

   

2. The added proxies will be displayed in the “Proxies” tab, click “Save” again to save the settings. After that, you can select the necessary proxy on the start page and activate it. If necessary, there is an option to switch between them.

   

The user-friendly and simultaneously multifunctional interface allows for efficient management of proxy servers and switching between them. When working with the extension, it is recommended to use private proxies to enhance the security of the internet connection.

BP Proxy Switcher

BP Proxy Switcher offers a range of additional features that can be useful in the fields of multi-accounting and web development. Here are the main features:

• Cache and cookies clearance without using browser settings;
• Customization of identifiers for easier proxy server management;
• Automatic tab refresh when switching proxies;
• Ability to import proxy lists;
• Option to set a timer for automatic switching between proxies.

A unique feature of the plugin is the ability to select a specific User Agent and assign it to a chosen proxy server.

Step-by-step proxy setup in BP Proxy Switcher

1. Click on the BP Proxy Switcher icon in the extensions menu. In the window that opens, click the “Edit” button indicated in the screenshot.

   

2. You can set the proxy manually or import a list. For example, choose “Manually”. Enter the proxy in the specified format below: IP-address:port:username:password. You can also add a name to the proxy server by appending it with another colon.

   

3. Then, activate the “Detect the country for each proxy” checkbox to automatically determine the country of the configured proxy. To complete the setup, click “OK”.

   

4. When working with a list of proxy servers, you can activate “Auto-reload the tab on proxy switch”, which will allow the plugin to automatically refresh the page after changing the IP address. To test the functionality of the proxies, click “Test proxies”.

   

The proxy setup in BP Proxy Switcher is complete. Let's also consider some additional features:

• In the “Block” tab, you can block WebRTC, which will achieve a higher level of connection anonymization but will also limit the use of features such as video calls or voice communication.

  

• The “Exclude” tab allows you to add websites for which proxying is not required.

  

• To delete browsing history, cache, cookies, and other information, use the “Delete” tab.

  

The extension offers an extensive set of features that significantly enhance user task efficiency.

Proxy Helper

This plugin works in Google Chrome and offers basic capabilities for setting up proxy servers. The main features of the extension include:

• Support for HTTP/S, Socks5, and Socks4 connection protocols;
• Support for private proxies with authentication;
• Functionality for working with PAC scripts;
• A blacklist feature to exclude specific resources if necessary.

It is worth highlighting the PAC scripts, which allow for traffic redirection, content loading optimization, and the application of proxy settings based on network connection conditions.

Step-by-step proxy setup in Proxy Helper

1. Select “Options” by clicking on the three dots next to the extension's name.

   

2. In the new window, go to the “General” section, choose the desired protocol, and fill in the fields on the right using the IP address and port from your proxy.

   

3. If using a private proxy, open the “Authentication” tab and enter the username and password.

   

4. If you need to specify resources for which proxying is not required, go to the “Rules” tab and enter them using one of the available formats.

   

5. If you have a proxy auto-configuration file, you can upload it using the “PAC” tab.

   

6. Once the proxy setup is complete, to activate it, click on the extension icon and select “HTTP proxy”. To switch back to the real IP address later, you will need to select “Direct”.

   

Changing your IP address with this plugin will help secure your data and significantly increase the level of confidentiality of your connections while working with various websites in the browser.

Best Proxy Switcher

A plugin for setting up proxy servers in browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. This tool allows you to add either a single proxy or upload a list and then switch between them as needed. This feature is useful for managing multiple accounts within a single browser window.

The extension is available in various language versions and includes a detailed user manual accessible from the main menu.

Step-by-step proxy setup in Best Proxy Switcher

1. Open the main menu of the extension and click “Import Proxy List”.

   

2. Enter the proxy details in the format username:password@IP-address:port. Best Proxy Switcher will automatically determine the location of the proxy. After entering the data, click “Save Changes”.

   

3. To add a list of proxies, enter it in the same window.

   

4. To activate the added proxy servers, go to the “Select User Proxy” tab in the main menu and click on the desired server.

   

The simple and accessible interface of the Best Proxy Switcher plugin allows you to quickly add multiple proxies and switch between them, enabling you to manage user accounts without the risk of any blocks or restrictions from the resource being used.

Proxy Switcher & Manager

A multifunctional plugin, available for most browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera, focuses on configuring and managing proxy servers.

It's designed to circumvent geographical restrictions or manage multiple user accounts within a single space. Notable features include:

• Creation of profiles and distribution of proxies among them;
• An error log to identify reasons for proxy server malfunctions;
• Customization of profiles for easier identification;
• Proxy auto-configuration using PAC scripts;
• Hotkeys for navigating the extension menu.

These features make using the extension more convenient and can help speed up the user's tasks.

Step-by-step proxy setup in Proxy Switcher & Manager

1. Launch the extension and navigate to the “Manual Proxy” tab in the window that opens. Set a name for the profile, choose the required protocol, and fill in the fields using the IP address and port of the proxy.

   

2. If using a private proxy server, open a new tab in the browser; a window will appear prompting you to enter a username and password. Once the data is entered, click “Sign in”.

   

3. In the “Profile name” line, you can also select another profile and configure a separate proxy server for it, then switch between them in the main menu.

   

4. For advanced users, there is also an option to configure automatic proxy configuration using the “PAC Script” tab.

   

Analyzing the main functionality of Proxy Switcher & Manager, it can be concluded that this plugin has all the necessary features for basic user needs. Additionally, the extension can be extremely useful in the field of multi-accounting.

Smart Proxy

A unique plugin for managing proxy servers, the main feature of which is the ability to automatically enable or disable proxies based on set templates or rules.

The extension also allows switching between different smart profiles, with options available including:

• Smart Proxy allows adding websites that will use a connection through a proxy, while other resources will operate from the user's real IP address;
• Always Enable provides an option to specify on which websites the proxy should not operate.

Smart profiles can be duplicated or newly created with different rules set for each proxy server.

Step-by-step proxy setup in Smart Proxy

1. Click on the Smart Proxy extension icon and select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.

   

2. In the new window, go to the “Proxy Servers” tab and click on “Add Server”.

   

3. Name the server, select the protocol, and enter the IP address and port in the designated fields. Click “Save”. It's important to note that you should use a proxy with IP address authorization, as the extension does not support username and password authorization.

   

4. Now, create a new profile, using a smart profile as an example.

   

5. Name the profile, then in the “Profile Proxy Server” section, select the proxy you set up earlier.

   

6. Below, in the “Rules” tab, click “Add Rule”. In the popup window, enter the domain you want the proxy to work with, and in the “Proxy Server” section, select the previously created profile. Click “Save” after all the data is entered.

   

7. Save the changes in the profile.

   

8. To activate the proxy, click the extension icon and select the configured smart profile.

   

The proxy setup in the Smart Proxy extension is complete. The unique functionality of the extension makes it suitable for cases where a separate IP address is needed for different resources.

In conclusion, it's worth noting that various plugins offer a specific set of tools; some are suitable for multi-accounting or web scraping, while others are better for simpler tasks. Extensions like Proxy SwitchyOmega, FoxyProxy, or Smart Proxy can be particularly useful in fields where managing multiple accounts without the risk of blocking is required. Others are suitable for purposes such as bypassing regional restrictions or changing the IP address to enhance connection anonymity. Additionally, it is advisable to use these plugins exclusively in conjunction with private proxy servers for quality and fast connectivity, as well as to ensure a high level of online privacy.