The proxy-vs-VPN decision is usually framed as a feature comparison, but for many people the real question is cost. This page covers what web proxies and VPNs cost in 2026, the costs hidden behind “free”, and when each is cheaper for a specific job. AnyProxy publishes this page and sells a web proxy, so weigh our view accordingly.
Sticker prices in 2026
Web proxies (as listed on each site, October 2026):
- AnyProxy: the free tier stays free: three regions (Singapore, Frankfurt, Virginia), no signup, ads on AnyProxy’s own pages and never inside the sites you open. Pro is $4.99 a month or $39 a year (about $3.25 a month); it removes ads from AnyProxy’s pages, adds servers in Tokyo and Los Angeles, and includes priority email support. Cancel anytime; Pro stays on until the paid period ends.
- CroxyProxy: free tier with ads; Premium at $3.50 a month through Patreon removes them.
- ProxySite: free and ad-supported, with no paid plan.
- Proxyium: free and ad-supported, with no paid plan.
- KProxy: could not be checked in October 2026; its HTTPS certificate was issued for a different domain.
VPNs: most consumer VPNs are paid subscriptions, usually much cheaper per month on long plans than month to month. Prices change often and vary by country, so we do not list them here; check the provider’s own pricing page, including the renewal price. “Free” VPNs exist, and the next section explains what they usually cost you instead.
The hidden cost problem
Sticker price is misleading in three places:
Free VPNs can be the expensive option. A service that carries millions of users’ whole-device traffic for free has to pay for it somehow: ads, data sharing, bandwidth limits that push upgrades, or worse. Read the privacy policy of any free VPN before installing it; if it does not say clearly what it records and who it shares data with, assume the worst.
Free proxy tiers vary in what “free” costs you. ProxySite and Proxyium are ad-supported with no paid way to remove the ads. CroxyProxy carries ads unless you pay $3.50 a month. AnyProxy’s free tier has ads on its own pages only. Interruptions are a real cost even when nothing is charged. And any free web proxy still handles the decrypted content of what you open through it; AnyProxy, for one, is not a no-logs service.
Introductory prices can renew higher. Many subscriptions, VPNs among them, advertise a discounted first term that renews at a standard rate. Check the renewal price and the auto-renew setting before you commit.
Total cost by use case
Real cost depends on how you use the tool. Four common cases:
Use case 1: one blocked page, once in a while
Web proxy (free tier): $0, nothing to install.
VPN: a subscription and an install for an occasional need.
Verdict: a free web proxy fits, as long as the site works through it. Check first: on 15 October 2026 Reddit refused every AnyProxy region and Google Search showed a captcha.
Use case 2: weekly YouTube in a browser tab
Web proxy (free tier): $0. Video quality is the same on Free and Pro, because both use the same engine; there is no 720p/1080p split. On 15 October 2026 regular YouTube videos played through AnyProxy, but Shorts stayed black.
Web proxy (Pro): $39 a year if you want no ads on AnyProxy’s pages or a Tokyo or Los Angeles server closer to you.
VPN: covers the YouTube app too, at subscription cost.
Verdict: for the browser, Free does the job; pay only for what Pro actually adds. For the app, a VPN.
Use case 3: daily use across many apps
Web proxy: does not apply. Web proxies do not cover apps or background traffic.
VPN: the tool that fits this scope; the subscription cost is spread over daily use.
Verdict: VPN, where VPNs are allowed (see proxy legality).
Use case 4: streaming Netflix from another country
Web proxy: Netflix’s sign-up page loaded through AnyProxy Singapore on 15 October 2026, with Singapore-dollar prices, but playback needs an account we did not test, and Netflix documents a “You seem to be using a VPN or proxy” error. DRM itself is not the barrier: a Widevine-protected test clip played through AnyProxy. See can I unblock Netflix with a proxy.
VPN: the same Netflix error page covers VPNs.
Verdict: neither is a reliable buy for this. Paying for either tool on the promise of another country’s catalogue is a gamble, and it may break the service’s terms.
The subscription-fatigue factor
Every recurring payment is a decision you keep making. A free tier with no signup and no card on file adds nothing to that list. AnyProxy Pro is monthly or yearly and can be cancelled from your account; you keep it until the end of the period you paid for.
The privacy cost calculation
Cost is not only money:
- Free VPN with an unclear policy: potentially a high privacy cost, because it sees all of your device’s traffic.
- Paid VPN with a clear policy: a monetary cost; the provider still sees your traffic, so its policy matters.
- Free web proxy: no monetary cost, and it sees only what you open in its tab, but it does see that. Check its policy. AnyProxy’s privacy policy says it can record destination hosts, session identifiers, browser details and a hashed IP address, and it does not promise a fixed deletion window.
Signals that a free tier is honest
What to look for in any free proxy or VPN:
- A specific policy on what is recorded. Vague “we respect your privacy” language is a red flag. A policy that lists the record types is better, even when the list is long.
- Retention stated, or clearly not promised. A stated window is best; an honest “no fixed window” is better than an implied one.
- A named list of third parties that handle traffic or analytics.
- Ads limited to the operator’s own pages. Ads injected inside the proxied session put another company between you and the site.
- A working contact for access and deletion requests.
AnyProxy lists its record types and its third parties (Cloudflare, Google Analytics, Google AdSense, Creem for payments), keeps ads off proxied pages, and gives [email protected] for requests. It does not offer a no-logs promise or a fixed deletion window. Judge that against what you need.
A one-year comparison for browser-tab use
For someone who only needs blocked pages in a browser, no apps:
| Tool | Annual cost | What you get | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AnyProxy Free | $0 | 3 regions, no signup | Ads on AnyProxy’s pages; some sites refuse proxies |
| AnyProxy Pro (yearly) | $39 | No ads, adds Tokyo and Los Angeles, priority support | Same engine and site compatibility as Free |
| CroxyProxy Free | $0 | Ad-supported | Premium $3.50/month removes ads |
| ProxySite / Proxyium | $0 | Ad-supported | No paid way to remove ads |
| Consumer VPN | Provider’s subscription price | Whole device, apps | Install needed; check the renewal price |
For heavy multi-app use, a VPN is the only option that fits the scope. For browser-tab unblocking, the free tier is the zero-cost floor, and Pro is worth it only if you value what it adds.
The recommendation
Match the tool to the scope first, then the cost:
- One browser tab occasionally: a free web proxy. $0.
- Browser tabs often, and you want no ads or a closer Pro region: AnyProxy Pro. $39 a year.
- Apps, calls or the whole device: a VPN, with an eye on the renewal price and local rules.
- Paid streaming from another country: do not pay for any tool on that promise alone.
The wrong optimisation is paying for scope you do not use, or paying for a feature, like a video-quality tier, that does not exist.