When is it preferable to use a proxy server, and when a VPN, and what are their main differences?

A proxy server and VPN serve to change the route of internet traffic but have different purposes and levels of protection.

Proxy Server — is an intermediary between your device and the internet. It intercepts requests and can modify or filter them. Proxies are often used for:

• Caching data and speeding up access to frequently requested resources.
• Bypassing geographic restrictions at the application level.
• Content filtering in corporate networks.

Proxies usually operate at the application level (e.g., HTTP proxy) and do not encrypt all traffic.

VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the VPN server, ensuring the security and privacy of all internet traffic. VPNs are used when:

• Protecting data on public networks (Wi-Fi).
• Bypassing network-level blocks and censorship.
• Hiding your real IP address and location.

Main differences:

• VPN encrypts all traffic, proxy — only traffic from specific applications.
• VPN operates at the operating system level, proxy — at the application level.
• VPN provides a higher level of security.

When to use what:

• If security and confidentiality are needed — VPN.
• If you just need to change the IP for a browser or specific application without encryption — proxy.