SOCKS5 vs HTTP proxies — what's the difference and which should you use?
In this article
When you buy a proxy you usually get two protocol options: HTTP (or "HTTP/HTTPS") and SOCKS5. Both send your traffic out through the proxy's IP, but they work at different layers, handle DNS differently, and not every piece of software supports both. This guide explains each one in plain terms and tells you which to pick for each tool.
How does an HTTP proxy work?
An HTTP proxy speaks the language of the web. There are two cases:
http://pages: the browser hands the whole request (including the full address) to the proxy, which fetches the page and passes it back.https://pages — almost every page today: the browser uses theCONNECTcommand to ask the proxy for a "tunnel" to the destination server, then encrypts everything inside that tunnel itself. The proxy knows which domain you're connecting to but can't read the content. The mechanism is described in the documentation of the CONNECT method.
The username and password travel in the Proxy-Authorization header. If they're wrong, the proxy answers 407 Proxy Authentication Required.
When a provider says "HTTP/HTTPS", it usually means the proxy works for both http:// and https:// sites (through CONNECT) — not necessarily that the link between you and the proxy is encrypted.
How does SOCKS5 work?
SOCKS5 works one layer down: it doesn't care what you send, it just relays a TCP connection to the address you ask for. That's why SOCKS5 also works for software that isn't a web browser — chat and email apps, games, command-line tools.
The protocol is defined in RFC 1928; username/password login is in RFC 1929. SOCKS5 also has a command for UDP traffic, but not every proxy supports it — ask your provider if you need it.
Like an HTTP proxy, SOCKS5 doesn't encrypt anything by itself. HTTPS sites stay encrypted from your browser to the website whichever proxy type you use.
socks5 vs socks5h: who resolves DNS
Before connecting to a domain, a computer asks DNS to turn the name into an IP address. Who asks that question is a key difference:
socks5://— your machine resolves DNS and sends the IP address to the proxy. The DNS lookups go over your own network (your ISP can see which sites you visit), and CDNs may hand you servers near you rather than near the proxy.socks5h://— the domain name goes to the proxy as is, and the proxy resolves it. No DNS leak, and lookups resolve the way they would for a user in the proxy's country.
With an HTTP proxy the domain name always goes to the proxy (in the CONNECT command or the request), so this doesn't come up. When you use SOCKS5 from cURL or Python, write socks5h://.
Quick comparison
| Aspect | HTTP(S) proxy | SOCKS5 |
|---|---|---|
| Works at | The web protocol (HTTP) | TCP connections, any protocol |
| Used for | Browsers, APIs, web tools | Any app that supports SOCKS5 |
| Authentication | Username/password in a header | Username/password in the handshake (RFC 1929) |
| DNS resolution | At the proxy | Up to the client: socks5h at the proxy |
| Chrome, Edge with a password | Yes (a sign-in box appears) | Not supported |
| Antidetect browsers | Supported | Supported |
| Encryption | None (HTTPS stays end-to-end encrypted) | None (HTTPS stays end-to-end encrypted) |
Speed is close to identical: most of the time goes into the proxy's own connection, not the protocol.
Why browsers usually can't use SOCKS5 with a password
This trips up more people than anything else. Chrome and Edge (both built on Chromium) don't support authentication for SOCKS5 — Chromium's network documentation states plainly that no authentication methods are supported for SOCKSv5. Firefox has a SOCKS5 field but nowhere to enter a username and password for it.
So:
- With regular browsers and your operating system's proxy settings, use HTTP. The browser shows a box asking for the username and password when it needs them.
- With antidetect browsers such as GoLogin, AdsPower, Hidemyacc, GenLogin or Multilogin, both HTTP and password-protected SOCKS5 work, because these browsers handle the proxy connection themselves.
Should you pick HTTP or SOCKS5?
| You're using the proxy with | Pick |
|---|---|
| Chrome, Edge, Safari, Windows/macOS proxy settings | HTTP |
| An antidetect browser | HTTP or SOCKS5 — pick one, switch if a site misbehaves |
| cURL, Python (requests), Node.js | HTTP for simplicity; for SOCKS5 use socks5h:// |
| Playwright, Puppeteer, Selenium | HTTP (Chromium doesn't support SOCKS5 with a password) |
| Non-web apps: chat, email, games | SOCKS5 |
If in doubt, start with HTTP: it's the most widely supported option. Setup steps for each place are in how to set up a proxy on Windows, macOS, iPhone and Android.
Using HTTP and SOCKS5 with 65Proxy
65Proxy's Singapore 4G proxies support both protocols. The connection details — host, HTTP port, SOCKS5 port, username and password — are under My proxies. The usual formats:
# HTTP / HTTPS
http://USER:PASS@HOST:PORT
# SOCKS5 (the proxy resolves DNS)
socks5h://USER:PASS@HOST:PORT
# host:port:user:pass for tools
HOST:PORT:USER:PASSA quick check with cURL for each protocol:
curl -x "http://USER:PASS@HOST:PORT" https://api.ipify.org
curl -x "socks5h://USER:PASS@HOST:PORT" https://api.ipify.orgIf either command fails, see common proxy errors and how to fix them.
Frequently asked questions
Is SOCKS5 safer than an HTTP proxy?
Not really. Neither encrypts your data; what protects it is HTTPS between your browser and the website. Pick the protocol for the tool you use, not for "safety".
How is SOCKS4 different from SOCKS5?
SOCKS4 is the older version: no real username/password login, no IPv6 and no UDP. Modern proxies use SOCKS5.
Why does the same proxy have different HTTP and SOCKS5 ports?
Many providers run each protocol on its own port. Use the right port for the right protocol: putting the SOCKS5 port in an HTTP field (or the other way round) is a common reason a proxy "doesn't work".