When it comes to setting up a web proxy site, one of the first and most crucial steps for webmasters is selecting an appropriate proxy script. In this article, I will delve into a comparison of five of the most popular web proxy scripts, providing you with a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision.
I often receive inquiries from individuals looking to start their own web proxy site, which has motivated me to share my insights on this topic. Choosing the right proxy script can be challenging, particularly when trying to determine what qualifies as “the best.” However, in the realm of web proxies, the available alternatives are relatively limited.
To keep things simple and within legal boundaries, I will focus exclusively on free proxy scripts. Some of the most noteworthy options worth considering include CGIProxy, Glype, PHProxy, Surrogafier, and Zelune. Each of these scripts has its own unique features, advantages, and potential drawbacks, making them suitable for different types of users and use cases.
In this guide, we will explore the strengths and weaknesses of each of these scripts, helping you to evaluate which might be the best fit for your specific needs and circumstances. Whether you are a novice just starting out or an experienced webmaster looking for a robust solution, understanding your options can significantly ease the process of launching your web proxy site.
CGIProxy is one of the oldest proxy scripts and is very popular among veteran webmasters. Because it is written in Perl, the source code of the script is visible to those who install it, although CGIProxy is not an open-source project. It is actually licensed through its own terms: for non-commercial usage, it is free. There are some misunderstandings on the licensing terms of CGIProxy: a lot of webmasters thought it was licensed under GPL. This is not correct. So, if you are going to run a large web proxy business, it is better to negotiate the licensing with the author as early as possible, at least before spending a considerable budget on modifying it.
The setup of CGIProxy is not complicated, as long as your system and web server support Perl. One of the most challenging problems for many webmasters is the performance tuning for Perl script. Proper tuning can make your proxy run significantly (10-100x) faster, and use less resource. Therefore, it is better to outsource the tuning task to some reliable experts unless you have sufficient knowledge on Perl and web server (e.g. Apache).
Glype is very popular among young webmasters. It is written in PHP, so it is easy to set up, and it is easy to find some tutorials to tune the performance. Again, Glype has its own licensing scheme: it is free to use, but a backlink is required unless you pay for the removal. There have been no updates since January 2009. On May 8, 2010, Baron, who runs proxy.org, announced the acquisition of the project. Now, it is unclear whether some changes will be introduced. Apparently, the project us inactive.
PHProxy is a open source project and is licensed under GPL. However, Abdullah Arif, the author, discontinued the project and relinquished all rights (as well as responsibilities) on September 7, 2007. PHProxy mimics most functions and layouts of CGIProxy in PHP. The last release of 0.52b2 is actually quite stable. Although a few people claimed to continue the project, there are no mature updates or forks yet.
Surrogafier is not widely used, and there has been no update since 2007. The script is not licensed under GPL, although the source code is not encrypted. In 2019, the author changed the license to a permissive MIT license. The current version of 1.9.1b was released in 2020.
Zelune used to be a promising PHP-based proxy script. But it seems it has changed ownership a few times, and it gradually becomes less popular for some reasons. The licensing term is not clear to me.
So, in conclusion, PHProxy and CGIProxy are recommended for serious commercial operations. For regular webmasters, Glype and PHProxy are recommended.
The table below summarizes the programming languages used, license types, source code availability, template support, customization levels, and performance of five web proxy scripts: CGIProxy, Glype, PHProxy, Surrogafier, and Zelune.
| – | CGIProxy | Glype | PHProxy | Surrogafier | Zelune |
| Programming language | Perl | PHP | PHP | PHP | PHP |
| Licensing type | Commercial; free for non-commercial | Commercial; free to use with conditions GPL | Free to use with conditions | MIT | Not clear, but not GPL |
| Source code visible | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Template system | No (simple) | yes | No (simple) | no | yes |
| Customization | difficult | easy | easy | Not tested | Not tested |
| Performance | Can be very fast, but need tuning | Fast, out of box | Fast, out of box | Not reported | Fast, out of box |
| Conclusion | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | – | – |
Latest Web Proxy Wiki pages
- GlypeGlype proxy script is a web-based proxy application that is available for free and is designed to facilitate online anonymity and bypass internet restrictions. It is an open-source project, which means that users can view, modify, and distribute the code. Licensing However, it is important to note that while it is open-source, it is
- Comparison of Web Proxy ScriptsFor web proxy webmasters, the first thing is to choose a proper proxy script. In this articles, 5 of the most popular web proxy scripts are compared. This is your definite guide for you on choosing a web proxy script. I received some inquiries periodically on choosing a proxy script to start a web proxy site. So, I decided to post my opinions here. It is always a tough question, when “the best” is involved. However, for a web proxy site, the candidates are quite limited. For simplicity and legal reasons, I will limit my discussion on free scripts only. The possible options usually include: CGIProxy, Glype, PHProxy, Surrogafier and Zelune.
- PHProxyPHProxy, short for PHP Proxy, was a highly popular web proxy script that gained considerable traction in the early 2000s. History and current status of PHProxy Developed by Abdullah Arif, the script provided users with a simple way to browse the internet anonymously by acting as an intermediary between the user’s browser and the
- socks proxySocks proxy is a type of tunneling using socks 4 or socks 5 protocols. A SOCKS proxy is a networking protocol that facilitates the transmission of data between a client and a server through a proxy server. It utilizes either the SOCKS4 or SOCKS5 protocols, which serve as a method for tunneling traffic. So,
- TunnelingA tunneling proxy can have various definitions depending on the context; however, it most commonly refers to a SOCKS proxy. SOCKS, which stands for “Sockets Secure,” operates using either the SOCKS4 or SOCKS5 protocol. These protocols function at an intermediate layer, specifically between the presentation layer and the transport layer of the OSI model,
- open proxyOpen proxy may have different interpretations, e.g., some geeks deem web-based proxy as open proxy; others may confuse open proxy with unauthentic proxies. Open proxy usually is similar to web-based proxy (e.g., using http protocol), but there are some differences. Web-based proxy retrieves resources for the client, and at the same time some modifications
- SurrogafierSurrogafier is another proxy script similar to PHProxy. The script only includes one php file. The script was not very popular among web proxy webmasters when the market was dominated by PHProxy, Glype, and CGIProxy. The initial release (0.7.4.1.b) date was January 9, 2006, and there has been no update since May 6, 2006
- ZeluneZelune is another proxy script written in PHP. Its history is quite long, but it has not been widely used, partially due to its unclear license terms. It is free, but the license terms was never clearly stated in the download page or with in the script. Also, there are two confusing variations: zelune.com
- CGIProxyCGIProxy is a free proxy script for non-commercial use, and it is written in the Perl programming language. It allows users to browse the web anonymously by routing their requests through a proxy server. The copyright for this script appears to be held by its creator, James Marshall. The initial version, known as version
- web proxyWeb proxy also is named as web-based proxy.
- web-based proxyA web-based proxy, often referred to simply as a web proxy, is a type of proxy service that operates through web servers. Such a service enables users to connect to a proxy server via a web interface. Once connected, the client inputs the URL of the website they wish to visit. The proxy server
- proxyIn the context of the World Wide Web, the term “proxy” typically refers to an intermediary server that acts on behalf of a client to retrieve information from other sources, such as websites. This mechanism can be particularly useful in a variety of situations, including: Proxies can come in various forms, each serving different
