WhatsApp says “Connecting…” and never gets there.
So you grab a proxy someone posted in a group chat. Now a stranger’s server sits between you and every message you send.
We went through WhatsApp’s own proxy docs, its open-source WhatsApp proxy code and the live pricing pages of the paid providers.
The best WhatsApp proxies split into free and paid, and the best free one isn’t on any list.
Disclosure: we may earn a commission from some links, at no cost to you.
How we picked (and what we didn’t do)
We read the manuals. We didn’t run a ban-test farm.
We haven’t tested every provider on a live WhatsApp number for this update. The setup steps come from WhatsApp’s Help Center and its GitHub repo. Every price and pool size comes from the vendor’s own page, checked September 2026.
Each paid pick needed documented SOCKS5 support, residential or mobile IPs, clear pricing and a working sign-up link. If you’re new to IP types, our residential vs datacenter proxies guide is a quick primer.
Two kinds of WhatsApp proxy (and why it matters)
This is the part most “best WhatsApp proxy” lists get wrong. There are two different routes, and they need different proxies.
Route 1: the in-app proxy. WhatsApp’s Android and iPhone apps have a proxy setting built in. It’s meant for WhatsApp proxy servers, like the official open-source one.
You enter a host, plus optional chat and media ports. There’s no field for a username or password.
Route 2: a device or browser proxy. A commercial residential or mobile proxy uses a login. So it goes in your phone’s network settings, a proxy app, or the browser you use for WhatsApp Web. That’s where the paid providers below fit.
How to turn on WhatsApp’s built-in proxy
Update WhatsApp first. Then follow the steps from WhatsApp’s Help Center:
- Open Settings > Storage and data > Proxy.
- Tap Set up proxy and enter the proxy host or IP address.
- Add a chat port or media port only if the proxy owner gave you one.
- Save. A status message tells you whether it connected.
Text goes over the chat port. Photos, videos and voice notes go over the media port. If it won’t connect, the proxy may be blocked, so delete it and try another.
Heads-up: WhatsApp says voice and video calls don’t work while you’re using a proxy. Messages and media do.
Free WhatsApp proxies: which ones are safe?
Free is fine when you control the server or trust the company behind it. Random lists are another story.
1. The official WhatsApp proxy (self-hosted)
WhatsApp publishes its proxy code on GitHub, and Meta hosts a ready-made Docker image. You run it on your own server, then point the in-app setting at it.
docker pull facebook/whatsapp_proxy:latest- Handles chat and media. Voice calls aren’t supported.
- For a public server, the repo suggests exposing only ports 443 and 587.
- WhatsApp’s Help Center suggests a server on port 80, 443 or 5222, with a domain pointing to it.
Cost: the software is free. You pay for the server. Our best VPS hosting roundup lists a few options.
Best for: anyone who wants the in-app proxy without trusting a stranger.
Not ideal for: people who’ve never touched a server.
2. Webshare’s free plan
Webshare gives you 10 free proxies with no credit card. They support HTTP and SOCKS5, so they suit the device or browser route, not the in-app setting.
Best for: testing WhatsApp Web through a proxy.
Not ideal for: a business number. The free proxies come from Webshare’s datacenter plan. Paid plans start at $2.99/month for 100 proxies.
Warning: WhatsApp messages stay end-to-end encrypted through a proxy. But a random proxy owner still sees your IP, can cut you off and might be logging everything else. Our free vs paid proxies guide covers the risks.
The best WhatsApp proxies for paid setups
Paid proxies make sense when you manage WhatsApp Web for a team, or need a stable IP in a specific country. All of these go through the device or browser route.
3. Decodo: best paid all-rounder
Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) is the one we’d open first. It’s big, the price sits in the middle and sticky sessions keep one IP steady.
- 115M+ residential IPs across 195+ locations
- HTTP(S) and SOCKS5
- Sticky sessions with city, ZIP and ASN targeting
- 10M+ mobile IPs in 160+ locations
Pricing: residential from $2/GB on big plans, $4/GB pay as you go, and static residential IPs from $0.27 each.
Best for: small teams running WhatsApp Web in one country.
Not ideal for: the in-app proxy setting, which can’t take a login.
4. IPRoyal: best value for steady sessions
WhatsApp sessions like a stable IP. IPRoyal can hold one for up to 7 days, and your unused traffic doesn’t expire.
- 64M+ residential IPs in 195+ countries
- HTTP(S) and SOCKS5
- Sticky sessions up to 7 days
- Residential traffic that never expires
Pricing: residential from $1.75/GB in bulk, or $7 for a single pay-as-you-go GB. More detail in our IPRoyal review.
Best for: one or two numbers that need the same IP all week.
Not ideal for: enterprise contracts and compliance paperwork.
5. ProxyEmpire: best mobile IPs
WhatsApp is a phone-first app. A mobile carrier IP looks like what WhatsApp expects to see. Our mobile proxies explainer goes deeper.
- 30M+ residential, mobile and datacenter IPs
- SOCKS5 supported
- 170+ countries
- A $1.97 trial
Pricing: rotating residential is advertised from $0.75/GB, and small pay-as-you-go packs cost more per GB.
Best for: high-trust sessions on mobile IPs.
Not ideal for: tight budgets.
6. Oxylabs: best for large teams
Oxylabs sells a dedicated SOCKS5 product and a big mobile pool. It’s overkill for one number. It’s right for an agency.
- 175M+ residential IPs
- SOCKS5 in 188 countries
- 20M+ mobile IPs
- Built for heavy, concurrent traffic
Pricing: residential from $2.50/GB and datacenter from $0.70 per IP.
Best for: agencies with many client profiles.
Not ideal for: personal use.
7. MarsProxies: best budget residential
MarsProxies is cheaper per GB than most of this list. It also holds a sticky IP for up to a week.
- SOCKS5 on residential, ISP, datacenter and mobile proxies
- Sticky sessions from 1 second to 7 days
- Residential traffic that never expires
- 1M+ IP pool in 195 countries
Pricing: residential as low as $1.65/GB, ISP from $1.35 per proxy and mobile from $8.49/day
Best for: budget setups that still need a stable IP.
Not ideal for: anyone who needs a huge pool. It’s the smallest here.
Mistakes that get WhatsApp numbers banned
Let’s be honest: a proxy doesn’t make risky behaviour safe. WhatsApp’s Terms of Service ban bulk messaging, auto-messaging and auto-dialing.
- Using proxies to bulk-message. Changing IPs won’t hide spam. For messaging at scale, WhatsApp’s official Business Platform is the approved route.
- Hopping IPs constantly. A number that jumps countries every hour looks odd. Use sticky sessions. Steady beats clever here.
- Putting a paid SOCKS5 login in the in-app field. It asks for a host and ports only. Use the device or browser route.
- Sharing one IP across many client numbers. Agencies should give each profile its own IP, as we cover in proxies for social media management.
Which one fits you?
- WhatsApp is blocked on your network: self-host the official proxy, or use one from a group you trust.
- You want to test WhatsApp Web through a proxy: Webshare’s free plan.
- A small team on WhatsApp Web: Decodo, or IPRoyal for longer sticky sessions.
- You need mobile-grade trust: ProxyEmpire.
- An agency with many profiles: Oxylabs.
| Feature | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works in the in-app setting | Yes | No | No | No |
| SOCKS5 with login | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free option | Free software | — | 10 free proxies | Free trial |
| Longest sticky session | Your own IP | Sticky available | — | Up to 7 days |
| Voice calls | Not supported | — | — | — |
- Works in the in-app setting
- Yes
- SOCKS5 with login
- No
- Free option
- Free software
- Longest sticky session
- Your own IP
- Voice calls
- Not supported
- Works in the in-app setting
- No
- SOCKS5 with login
- Yes
- Free option
- —
- Longest sticky session
- Sticky available
- Voice calls
- —
- Works in the in-app setting
- No
- SOCKS5 with login
- Yes
- Free option
- 10 free proxies
- Longest sticky session
- —
- Voice calls
- —
- Works in the in-app setting
- No
- SOCKS5 with login
- Yes
- Free option
- Free trial
- Longest sticky session
- Up to 7 days
- Voice calls
- —
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. This does not affect our reviews.
Quick verdict
- Best free Official WhatsApp proxy
- Best paid Decodo
- Best value IPRoyal
- Best mobile ProxyEmpire
Self-host the official WhatsApp proxy for the in-app setting. For WhatsApp Web and team setups, Decodo is the best paid pick, with IPRoyal close behind on value.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. This does not affect our reviews.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best WhatsApp proxies?
For the in-app setting, the best free option is the official WhatsApp proxy you host yourself. For WhatsApp Web and team setups, Decodo is our best paid pick, IPRoyal is the best value and ProxyEmpire is best for mobile IPs. Webshare’s free plan is good for testing.
Can I use a SOCKS5 proxy in WhatsApp’s proxy setting?
Usually not. WhatsApp’s in-app setting asks for a host and optional chat and media ports, with no username or password fields. It’s built for WhatsApp proxy servers. A paid SOCKS5 proxy with a login belongs in your device settings, a proxy app or your browser instead.
Can I make WhatsApp calls through a proxy?
No. WhatsApp’s Help Center says calling isn’t supported while you’re connected through a proxy, and the official GitHub repo says voice isn’t supported either. Text messages, photos, videos and voice notes still work. Turn the proxy off when you need to make a call.
Is a free WhatsApp proxy safe?
It depends who runs it. Your messages stay end-to-end encrypted, so the owner can’t read them. But they see your IP address and can cut you off. A proxy you host yourself, or one from a group you trust, is far safer than a random list.
How do I set up my own WhatsApp proxy?
Rent a small server, install Docker and pull the official image with docker pull facebook/whatsapp_proxy:latest. WhatsApp recommends exposing ports 443 and 587 on a public server. Then enter your server’s address in WhatsApp under Settings, Storage and data, Proxy. The GitHub readme covers every step.
Will a proxy stop WhatsApp from banning my number?
No. WhatsApp bans numbers for behaviour like bulk or automated messaging, and its Terms of Service say so directly. A new IP won’t hide that. If you need to message customers at scale, use WhatsApp’s official Business Platform instead of proxies and unofficial tools.
How much does a WhatsApp proxy cost?
The official WhatsApp proxy software is free, but you pay for the server. Paid residential proxies started around $1.65 to $4 per GB as of September 2026, and Webshare gives you 10 free proxies. Always check the official pricing page before you buy.
Does WhatsApp Web work with a proxy?
Yes. WhatsApp Web runs in your browser, so it uses whatever proxy your browser or device is set to. That’s where paid SOCKS5 or HTTP proxies fit. Keep a stable, sticky IP for each account so your login location doesn’t jump around.
The bottom line
The best WhatsApp proxies depend on which route you’re using. For the in-app setting, the official WhatsApp proxy you host yourself beats any free list.
For WhatsApp Web and team setups, start with Decodo. Pick IPRoyal for week-long sticky sessions, ProxyEmpire for mobile IPs and Webshare to test for free.
Whatever you choose, use it for access and privacy. A proxy won’t make spam safe, and WhatsApp’s rules still apply.
