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3proxy
What it is
3proxy is a free proxy server for managing access between internal users and external resources, or the reverse. It supports HTTP and HTTPS proxying, SOCKS v4, v4.5 and v5, and FTP over HTTP. Additional services include POP3 proxying, TCP and UDP port mapping, and a caching DNS proxy. Access controls can set bandwidth and traffic limits, chain proxies and rotate logs. Logging options include files, Unix syslog and an ODBC database, with configurable formats. When compiled with OpenSSL, it offers HTTPS proxy connections, upstream TLS with certificate authentication and mutual TLS. Its security guidance recommends limiting access with ACLs and notes that the documented strong authentication method uses cleartext authentication. 3proxy runs on Linux, macOS, Windows and self-hosted setups; Docker images and Windows system-service installation are described. The plan is free, and optional build support is listed for OpenSSL, PCRE2, PAM and ODBC. The site says release binaries and Docker images have checksums, signatures or attestations.
For and against
For
- Supports HTTP, HTTPS and several SOCKS versions.
- Can limit bandwidth and traffic amounts.
- Offers file, syslog and ODBC logging.
- Free plan is listed as free.
Against
- Documented strong authentication uses cleartext authentication.
- TLS features require a build with OpenSSL.
- Security guidance calls for restricting access with ACLs.
The verdict
3proxy provides a broad proxy and network-service set in a free package. Review its ACL guidance and authentication caveat before configuring access.
Who it suits
3proxy suits users who need a self-hosted proxy with configurable access controls, logging and protocol support. It may fit Linux, macOS or Windows deployments, including Docker use.
Plans and prices
3proxy
self-hosted software · configuration required · optional features depend on build
Read 21 Oct 2026 · 3proxy.org
On the record
- Access control
- ACLs can match users, source and destination networks, ports and gateway actions, then allow, deny, redirect or chain requests.github.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Access controls
- The combined program supports access control, bandwidth limits, traffic amount limits, proxy chaining and log rotation.3proxy.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Build options
- CMake options expose OpenSSL, PCRE2, PAM and ODBC support, so capabilities vary with compilation choices.3proxy.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Commercial support
- The site directs licensing or commercial support questions to an email address.3proxy.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters
- No headquarters location is stated on the official home, download or documentation pages opened.3proxy.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Company identity
- The official site credits 3APA3A and Vladimir Dubrovin and provides 3proxy development contact addresses.3proxy.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Install paths and service instructions are documented for Windows, Unix/Linux, macOS and Docker deployments.3proxy.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Developer interface
- The documented control interface is a text configuration file plus command-line and service-management options such as --install and --remove.github.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- DNS services
- 3proxy includes a caching DNS proxy and DNS-over-TCP forwarding through parent proxies.github.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Docker
- The project publishes minimal and full Docker build configurations and a prebuilt GitHub Container Registry image.3proxy.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The documentation index lists security guidance, high-load optimization, a developer reference and man pages for the major services.3proxy.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Documentation limitation
- The English HowTo explicitly describes itself as under construction and very incomplete.3proxy.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Plugins extend functionality, including PCRE filtering, TLS and transparent-proxy features.github.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Founded year
- No founding year is stated on the official pages opened.3proxy.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- HTTP and HTTPS proxy
- It provides HTTP/1.1 proxying, HTTPS CONNECT support, transparent proxying and FTP-over-HTTP support.github.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Independent activity
- AlternativeTo shows five likes, zero comments and no user reviews for 3proxy.alternativeto.net · read 21 Oct 2026
- Independent listing
- AlternativeTo lists 3proxy as free and open source for Mac, Windows, Linux and BSD.alternativeto.net · read 21 Oct 2026
- Independent popularity
- AlternativeTo reports the GitHub repository at roughly 5,465 stars and 931 forks, updated August 29, 2026.alternativeto.net · read 21 Oct 2026
