Proxy vs. VPN vs. Antidetect Browser

You want to stay anonymous online, but it's easy to get lost among the many privacy tools. Some are convinced that nothing beats a proxy. Others trust only VPNs. And then there's a third option—anti-detect browsers. They were specifically designed to bypass the most sophisticated tracking mechanisms. So, what will actually work in your specific case?

Each tool has its own role: one changes your IP, another encrypts your entire connection, and a third creates a new digital footprint to replace yours.

We'll break it all down: how these technologies work, where they are used in practice, and what techniques the pros use. This way, you can make an informed choice and stay under the radar.

Proxies

In the early days of the internet, proxy servers weren't created for anonymity at all. Their task was simpler—to save traffic and speed up page loading, mainly for universities and large organizations. But over time, this role changed: privacy replaced speed.

As the internet became filled with more restrictions and surveillance tools, proxies began to be used to bypass blocks, change IPs, and support automation tools. Today, they are used everywhere, from sneaker reselling and data scraping to corporate information gathering systems.

Yes, more complex solutions have emerged. But proxies remain a simple, flexible, and, surprisingly, still powerful way to manage how you appear to the outside world.

How It Works and Where It's Used

A proxy is like an intermediary between you and a website. Instead of connecting directly, you first "ask" the proxy, and it requests the data, substituting its own IP. As a result, the website doesn't see your real address.

There are two main protocols. HTTP and HTTPS (which differs by encrypting traffic) for standard web surfing, and SOCKS, which is universal and suitable for almost any internet traffic. The most commonly implied version is SOCKS5. These protocols set the rules for data transfer, and the proxy modifies the stream as if the request came from another source.

In many fields where large volumes of data are important, proxies are indispensable. SEO teams check how a site looks in different regions without distortion. Online stores monitor prices and stock levels worldwide through proxy pools. Advertising campaigns are launched simultaneously in different countries—changing the IP helps avoid blocks. And scientists download large amounts of data without hitting limits.

Proxies work behind the scenes wherever it's important to hide location, the volume of requests, or identity itself.

Advantages and Limitations

Proxies were initially designed for high-performance work with individual requests—for example, changing an IP address during scraping. They direct only the necessary traffic (like GET requests in a browser), not the entire device's internet traffic, as a VPN does. This helps to offload the connection and reduce resource costs.

In tasks like scraping, automation, or ad tracking, this provides high speed without excessive load and delays. Residential proxies add realism, while datacenter proxies offer high bandwidth, allowing work with large data volumes. Since they operate at the application level, they are easy to integrate into scripts and tools, with minimal setup and maximum control.

But IP spoofing is only part of the picture. Modern tracking systems look deeper: at device digital fingerprints, browser behavior, and DNS requests. Proxies can't handle these things. They don't encrypt traffic, which means data remains vulnerable to interception or snooping.

If you compare proxies to anti-detect browsers, the former are good for IP rotation, while the latter are for protection against fingerprinting and browser metrics tracking. Even expensive proxies can be blocked if they are reused or poorly rotated. Therefore, relying only on them is risky: blocks, session failures, budget drains. In the modern world, a proxy is not a complete shield, but one of its layers.

VPN

After proxies, VPNs entered the scene—they were designed not only to mask an IP but also to encrypt all internet traffic. Initially, they were used by companies for employees to connect to internal systems. Later, VPNs became available to everyone—and proved convenient for everyday privacy.

A VPN doesn't work selectively; it covers everything at once, not just the browser, but all traffic coming from the device. It's convenient if you often connect to public Wi-Fi or visit foreign websites. Turn it on once, and you don't have to think about security anymore. It's the ideal option for those who want to set it up once and forget about it.

How a VPN Works

A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between you and an intermediary server. The chain of connection to the network looks like this: your PC, then the intermediary server, and only then the internet. All your online activities pass through this server with a different IP, meaning the website sees the server, not you.

A VPN doesn't work selectively; it covers everything: from the browser to background processes. This is especially important if you are connected to public Wi-Fi or are in a country with internet restrictions.

Pros and Cons

A VPN encrypts everything you do online—no exceptions. Your provider can't see where you go, and you don't have to configure apps one by one: protection is enabled for everything at once. Connecting takes just a couple of clicks. If you want, you can route traffic through other countries or activate protection against malicious sites.

VPNs have their downsides too. Sometimes a VPN can be a bit slow—especially if you're streaming or downloading large files. Also, many of its IP addresses have long been banned by major platforms like Google or Facebook. For such tasks, a VPN is no longer effective, especially if you're managing multiple accounts or running automated scripts.

Another problem is that a VPN doesn't hide device fingerprints or protect against cookies. So you won't become completely anonymous. Even if a service claims it doesn't keep logs, it's impossible to verify. Only a few provide full transparency on this matter.

Anti-Detect Browsers

As soon as websites learned to "read" browser behavior—not just the IP, but everything else—simple masking stopped working. This is when anti-detect browsers appeared on the scene, as a response to the new rules. This is no longer just masking or encryption. Anti-detect browsers create a new, unique digital identity right in the browser—as if you were working from a real device, not under a spoofed IP.

One of the first solutions of this class was Linken Sphere—a product originally developed for these specific tasks.

Key Features

Most anonymizers try to "erase traces." Anti-detect browsers take a different path; they immediately create a credible, plausible digital identity. Each profile in an anti-detect browser is not just a tab, but a full-fledged "clone" of a real device. Screen resolution, interface language, font set, time zone, and even small details like the browser version—everything is configured separately. This allows you to work with multiple accounts in parallel, check how sites react to different configurations, or bypass filters that look for similar fingerprints.

Linken Sphere has perfected this approach: it offers a hybrid fingerprint spoofing mode, where a combination of real and modified parameters gives you a sufficiently unique session that looks as natural and organic as possible.

All profiles are isolated from each other and securely encrypted in the cloud, allowing you to work with them from any device. Not a single leak throughout its entire use. This will be appreciated by those who work in risky niches, with large volumes and serious tasks.

Advantages

Anti-detect browsers allow you to precisely configure how you appear to a website: screen, language, system, device—everything is under control. This allows you to calmly work with dozens of accounts in parallel without experiencing overlaps or being tracked.

You can create as many profiles as you need and assign each its own proxy—everything runs in parallel. Some browsers, including Linken Sphere, can encrypt settings and store them in the cloud, so switching between devices is hassle-free.

For arbitrage, automation, or launching advertising campaigns, this level of flexibility is a big plus in terms of both speed and control.

Disadvantages

Getting the hang of an anti-detect browser is more difficult than just turning on a VPN or setting up a proxy. To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, each profile must look like a real user. And for that, you need to understand how everything works. Some anti-detect browsers can seem overwhelming at first—especially for those who haven't worked with such tools before.

Full-featured plans are more expensive than basic solutions. And although it's a legal tool, some platforms still associate such browsers with gray-hat activities. In serious tasks, they justify their cost—but you should only start working with them with a full understanding of how everything is set up.

Comparison Table: Proxies, VPNs, and Anti-Detect Browsers

To help you navigate the world of proxies, VPNs, and anti-detect browsers, we've prepared a quick guide. This table clearly shows which tool is responsible for what, so you don't overpay, duplicate functions, or miss important details.

Which Tool to Choose?

For Arbitrage and Affiliate Marketing

Managing ad accounts is a constant job of handling different identities. Platforms track more than just geolocation, so it's hard to get by without privacy tools: they help isolate accounts from each other. A VPN hides where you're connecting from. Proxies allow you to switch IPs. And anti-detect browsers give each account a unique digital fingerprint. Together, these tools reduce the likelihood of blocks and increase the "lifespan" of ad setups.

For Data Collection and Scraping

Automated information gathering from websites can lead to blocks if approached carelessly. For simple tasks, a VPN is sometimes enough. Proxies are good because they allow you to change IPs and bypass limits. And if a site requires authorization or you need to mimic "live" user behavior, an anti-detect browser makes your script less noticeable. Each tool helps to deal with a different level of protection on a site.

For Personal Use

For everyday tasks, the tools you get used to quickly work best. A VPN is a clear and reliable solution if you need to protect your traffic. Proxies are sometimes useful for speeding up access or bypassing blocks. But anti-detect browsers are a complex tool that most people simply don't need. In most cases, a VPN and a common-sense approach are sufficient.

Conclusion

The main thing is how well you can remain unnoticed. Platforms track not only those who break the rules but also those who act formulaically. Quick solutions often leave digital traces. The most "resilient" setups are not always the expensive ones, but those that blend into the background. Cover the essentials and randomize the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a VPN and an anti-detect browser at the same time?

Usually, no. If you run an anti-detect browser with good residential proxies, it already hides both your IP and device fingerprint. A VPN adds system-level encryption, but in most cases, this is overkill. It's only worth combining both tools when you're working in a country with strict censorship or want to hide your traffic even before it reaches the proxy.

Which tool should I choose for working with multiple accounts?

Anti-detect browsers. Each profile has its own unique fingerprint, its own cookies, and IP address. A VPN only changes the IP, while the rest of the device data remains the same, and accounts can be linked. If scaling and complete isolation are important to you, for example, in advertising, marketplaces, or SMM—use an anti-detect browser with clean residential or mobile proxies.

Can I use a VPN inside an anti-detect browser?

You can, but it's usually not necessary. You can enable a VPN at the system level and still set individual proxies directly in the browser. In this case, websites will see the proxy's exit IP, but the VPN tunnel is also used in the connection. The final connection chain looks like this: your PC, then the VPN, then the proxy, and only then the internet. It's possible to set this up, but the benefit is minimal, except perhaps when working under strict censorship or needing an extra layer of protection.