FIELD NOTES
Proxy guides
Everything we know about proxies, written down in plain English. No affiliate rankings, no padding, just the stuff you need to pick, test, and troubleshoot proxies.
Transparent, anonymous, and elite proxies explained
Proxy sellers love the word "elite". Here is what anonymity levels really mean, how websites detect proxies anyway, and how to see what yours reveals.
Proxy vs VPN: the difference and when to use each
Proxies and VPNs both change your IP address, and that is where the similarity ends. A practical look at encryption, speed, cost, and which tool fits which job.
Common proxy errors and how to fix them
ECONNREFUSED, 403, 407, ETIMEDOUT, socket hang up. What each proxy error actually means, what usually causes it, and the fastest way to fix it.
IPv4 vs IPv6 proxies: what actually changes
IPv6 proxies cost a fraction of IPv4 ones, and there is a catch. Here is when the cheap option works and when it quietly ruins your success rate.
How to test if a proxy is working (3 reliable ways)
Three ways to check a proxy: an online checker, a curl one-liner, and your system settings. Plus what the results actually tell you about your proxy.
Residential vs datacenter proxies: an honest comparison
Residential proxies cost ten times more than datacenter ones. Sometimes that money is well spent and sometimes it is wasted. This guide explains which is which.
SOCKS5 vs HTTP proxies: which one should you use?
HTTP and SOCKS5 proxies move your traffic in different ways, and the difference matters more than most guides admit. Here is how to pick between them.
What is a proxy server and how does it work?
A plain-English explanation of proxy servers: how they route your traffic, the main types you will run into, and what a proxy can and cannot do for you.