SOCKS5 forwards any traffic without inspecting its content: TCP and UDP, HTTP and everything else. That is why it is required by software that cannot work through an HTTP proxy: Telegram, Discord, game clients, Android emulators, some scrapers and anti-detect browsers. The protocol supports login/password authentication, adds no headers of its own and does not reveal that a proxy is in use.
At ProxyFarm every address, whether a dedicated IPv4, an IPv6 or a mobile channel, accepts SOCKS5 and HTTPS connections at the same time. You buy the address and pick the protocol in your software settings.
SOCKS5 proxy pricing
| Address type | Price | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated IPv4 SOCKS5 | from 79 ₽/pc | static address, Russia and 16 countries | Telegram, VK, software, gaming |
| IPv6 SOCKS5 | from 12 ₽/pc | packages from 10 addresses | high-volume tasks on IPv6 platforms |
| Mobile channel SOCKS5 | from 490 ₽/mo | carrier address with rotation | Telegram channels, WhatsApp, Avito |
| Rotating pool SOCKS5 | from 1 490 ₽/mo | new address on every request | scrapers with SOCKS5 support |
The protocol does not change the price: SOCKS5 and HTTPS are included with every address.
SOCKS5 or HTTP(S): which to choose
For a browser and most scrapers there is no difference, while for specialised software SOCKS5 is the only option. If the program offers a choice, SOCKS5 is slightly faster under heavy multithreading and does not reveal the traffic type.
| Criterion | SOCKS5 | HTTP(S) |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic | any TCP and UDP | HTTP and HTTPS only |
| Authentication | login/password, whitelist | login/password, whitelist |
| Proxy headers | none | may add Via, X-Forwarded-For (disabled on our side) |
| Telegram, Discord, games | yes | no |
| Browsers, anti-detect | yes | yes |
| Speed | higher under multithreading | enough for a browser |
More about the HTTP side on the HTTPS proxies page.
Where SOCKS5 is mandatory
- Telegram. Settings → Advanced → Connection type → SOCKS5, on desktop and mobile. Dedicated page: proxies for Telegram.
- BAS, ZennoPoster, Browser Automation Studio. Multithreaded work with mobile and IPv4 channels.
- Android emulators. LDPlayer, BlueStacks and Nox via ProxyDroid or built-in settings.
- Games and Discord. UDP traffic only passes through SOCKS5.
- Torrent clients and FTP. qBittorrent, FileZilla.
How to set up a SOCKS5 proxy
- Buy an address in the dashboard. The list will contain a line like 185.12.34.56:1080:login:password.
- In your program select the SOCKS5 type and enter the address and port.
- Enable authentication and enter the login and password, or add your IP to the whitelist in the dashboard and leave the fields empty.
- Check the exit address on the My IP page.
Step-by-step guides for Windows, Android and iPhone are collected in our FAQ.
Security and authentication
SOCKS5 does not encrypt traffic by itself, but HTTPS sites and messengers encrypt it inside the connection, so the proxy only sees the destination address. Login/password authentication protects the address from unauthorised use; an IP whitelist is more convenient on servers with a fixed address. We keep no content logs, only technical metrics for billing: traffic volume and connection count.
FAQ
How does SOCKS5 differ from SOCKS4?
SOCKS5 supports login/password authentication, UDP and IPv6. SOCKS4 does not and is almost never used today. All our addresses run SOCKS5.
Do I pay extra for SOCKS5?
No. Every address accepts SOCKS5 and HTTPS connections on the same port; you choose the protocol in your software settings.
Is SOCKS5 suitable for Telegram?
Yes, it is the main way to connect a proxy in Telegram on every platform. A dedicated IPv4 with SOCKS5 from 79 ₽ per month works for desktop and phone.
Can I work without a login and password?
Yes, add your public IP to the whitelist in the dashboard and authentication by that address will happen automatically.