Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Privoxy VS Squid Proxy

Compare Privoxy VS Squid Proxy and see what are their differences

Privoxy logo Privoxy

Privoxy helps users to protect their privacy.

Squid Proxy logo Squid Proxy

Website Content Acceleration and Distribution. Thousands of web-sites around the Internet use Squid to drastically increase their content delivery. Squid can reduce your server load and improve delivery speeds to clients.
  • Privoxy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14
  • Squid Proxy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

Privoxy features and specs

  • Privacy Enhancement
    Privoxy can block web ads, trackers, and other web scripts, enhancing user privacy by preventing unwanted data collection.
  • Custom Filtering
    Offers flexible configuration options that allow users to customize what content is blocked or modified, adjusting the browsing experience according to personal preferences.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, Privoxy allows users and developers to inspect, modify, and improve the software, fostering transparency and community collaboration.
  • Platform Agnostic
    Privoxy is available on various platforms, making it a versatile choice for users operating on different operating systems.
  • Lightweight
    The software is lightweight and doesn't consume significant system resources, ensuring fast performance even on older systems.

Possible disadvantages of Privoxy

  • Complex Configuration
    The initial setup and configuration can be complex for novice users due to the lack of a graphical user interface and the requirement to edit text files.
  • Limited User Support
    As an open-source project, Privoxy has limited official support, relying on community forums and documentation, which may not be sufficient for all users.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Users might find it challenging to learn all the features and configuration options due to its complexity and technical nature.
  • Does Not Block All Ads
    Despite its capabilities, Privoxy might not be able to block all ads or web trackers due to constantly evolving techniques used by advertisers.
  • No HTTPS Inspection
    Privoxy does not inspect or modify HTTPS traffic by default, limiting its effectiveness against secure websites unless configured with additional tools.

Squid Proxy features and specs

  • Caching
    Squid Proxy supports caching, which can reduce bandwidth usage and improve access speeds by storing frequently accessed resources locally.
  • Access Control
    Squid Proxy provides detailed access control features, allowing administrators to manage who can access certain resources and when they can do so.
  • Content Filtering
    With Squid Proxy, it is possible to block access to specific websites or content types, making it useful for environments where content control is necessary.
  • SSL Support
    Squid Proxy supports HTTPS decryption and encryption, which allows it to handle secure content delivery efficiently.
  • Load Balancing
    Squid Proxy can distribute the load among multiple servers, improving reliability and performance.
  • Customizable
    Squid Proxy is highly configurable with a wide range of options and settings, making it flexible to meet specific needs.
  • Open Source
    Squid Proxy is open-source software, meaning it is freely available and can be modified to fit specific requirements without licensing costs.

Possible disadvantages of Squid Proxy

  • Complex Configuration
    Setting up and configuring Squid Proxy can be complicated, requiring a good understanding of networking and proxy concepts.
  • Performance Overhead
    Because of its extensive feature set, Squid Proxy can introduce additional latency compared to a simpler proxy solution.
  • Resource Intensive
    Squid Proxy can be resource-intensive, requiring significant CPU and memory, especially for large-scale deployments.
  • Maintenance
    Regular updates and maintenance are necessary to keep Squid Proxy secure and running efficiently, which can be time-consuming.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its complexity, new users may face a steep learning curve when first getting started with Squid Proxy.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There can be compatibility issues with certain web protocols and applications, requiring additional configuration or workarounds.

Analysis of Privoxy

Overall verdict

  • Privoxy is a versatile tool for those concerned about privacy and looking to control their web browsing experience. However, it's more suitable for users with a certain level of technical expertise to set up and configure effectively.

Why this product is good

  • Privoxy is a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities to enhance privacy, modify web page data, and manage advertisements. It offers a range of features aimed at protecting user privacy, including configurable rulesets to block unwanted content and hide user information.

Recommended for

  • Privacy-conscious users who wish to prevent tracking and ads
  • Technical users comfortable with configuring proxy settings
  • Individuals who want to create custom filtering rules for enhanced web browsing

Analysis of Squid Proxy

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Squid Proxy is considered a good option for organizations looking to optimize web delivery and improve network efficiency. Its open-source nature and community support make it a reliable choice for various applications.

Why this product is good

  • Squid Proxy, available at squid-cache.org, is a widely used caching proxy server that can improve network performance by caching and reusing frequently requested web pages. It is favored for its robust performance, scalability, and flexibility, supporting a wide range of caching protocols and being highly configurable to suit different network environments. Additionally, Squid can enhance security by filtering traffic and blocking access to certain websites.

Recommended for

  • Organizations with high web traffic volumes
  • ISPs looking to reduce bandwidth costs
  • Administrators focusing on web security and content filtering
  • Schools and libraries implementing internet access policies

Privoxy videos

How to use Privoxy with VPN for Ultimate Privacy when using Media Collection Apps

More videos:

  • Review - Hak5 - Ad Block and SSH Tunnel with Privoxy - DualCoreMusic
  • Tutorial - How to use privoxy chain in linux

Squid Proxy videos

Squid proxy server||proxy server||block unauthorized websites||Open Source||linux

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Privoxy and Squid Proxy)
Proxy Server
23 23%
77% 77
Proxy
18 18%
82% 82
DevOps Tools
31 31%
69% 69
Residential Proxies
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Privoxy and Squid Proxy

Privoxy Reviews

10 Best FREE Anti Tracking Software In 2023 [TOP SELECTIVE]
Privoxy is a GitHub-based project that focuses on providing users with a free anti-tracking tool that has the most advanced features. With this tool, users can efficiently manage trackers and cookies to their core level. This tool provides a feature to personalize your browser and further personalize the ads you wish to see while surfing the internet.
30 best free proxy sites to surf anonymously online in 2022
Privoxy is another customizable free proxy that boasts advanced filtering facilities. Specifically, it allows users to enhance privacy by modifying HTTP headers, web page data and controlling access. Plus, this free program also helps remove obnoxious internet junk, such as ads.

Squid Proxy Reviews

We have no reviews of Squid Proxy yet.
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Privoxy and Squid Proxy, you can also consider the following products

Polipo - A small and fast caching web proxy (a web cache, an HTTP proxy, a proxy server).

GonzoProxy - Premium proxies from $2/GB. Over 20M IPs across 150+ countries. No KYC, traffic never expires. 24/7 Telegram support.

TinyProxy - A lightweight http(s) proxy daemon

SX.ORG - SX.ORG - a fresh proxy market of 12M clean IP-addresses. All types and 200+ GEO for any tasks. Buy/sell proxies with us. Pay as you go system. Stable connection to manage multiple accounts. Get 3GB for FREE by promo code SAASHUB3GB

3proxy - 3proxy freeware proxy server for Windows and Unix. HTTP, SOCKS, FTP, POP3

ABC S5 Proxy - ABCProxy is the top residential ip proxy service provider, with more than 200 million IP addresses covering more than 190 countries, providing elite anonymity, high connection rate IP, etc.