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Glossary

What is Proxy?

A proxy is a server that sits between your device and the websites you visit, fetching pages on your behalf. Because the site talks to the proxy instead of you, it sees the proxy's IP address and location rather than your own. Proxies are commonly used to unblock content and hide your real IP.

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  • Plain-English definition
  • Privacy explained
  • Free VPN for Chrome

Why it matters

Proxy and your privacy

Zippa is a proxy-based VPN extension: it reroutes your Chrome traffic through a proxy server in the country you pick, so sites see that server's IP instead of yours — the network-level way to unblock and hide your IP.

Learn more: VPN Proxy Extension

The honest bit

Free because Premium pays the bills — never because we sell your data

The usual catch with a free VPN is that it logs and sells your browsing to make money. Zippa doesn’t. Our free tier is funded by people who upgrade to Premium, and we keep a strict no-logs policy — we don’t record the sites you visit, your real IP, or your DNS queries. There’s simply nothing to sell.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The questions people actually ask before they install — answered plainly.

  • Both route your traffic through another server to change the IP that sites see. The practical difference is scope and encryption: a full VPN encrypts and tunnels your traffic, while a plain proxy may only reroute it. Zippa is a proxy-based VPN extension, so it reroutes your browser traffic through a proxy while keeping the connection to it private.

  • Yes. When your traffic goes through a proxy, the websites you open see the proxy server's IP address and location instead of your real one, which is how a proxy hides your IP.

  • It depends who runs it. Plenty of free VPNs pay their bills by logging and selling browsing data — that's the real catch. Zippa is funded by people who upgrade to Premium, not by your data, and we keep a strict no-logs policy, so there's nothing to record or sell in the first place.

Try a free VPN for Chrome

Now you know what proxy means — see it in action. Add Zippa free, or browse the full glossary.

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Explore more ways to browse free

Same one-click extension, different job to be done. Pick the guide that matches what you need.

Free VPN for ChromeThe one-click free VPN proxy that lives in your Chrome toolbar.VPN Proxy ExtensionA lightweight proxy extension that reroutes your browser traffic.Unblock WebsitesReach sites blocked at school, work, or by your region.Hide Your IP AddressSwap your real IP for one in another country in a click.What Is My IP?See your public IP, location, and ISP live — then hide it free.IP Address LookupSee exactly what your IP address reveals about you.How to Change Your IPGet a fresh IP address in seconds — no settings to touch.What Is a VPN?A plain-English guide to what a VPN does and when to use one.VPN Leak TestCheck whether your VPN is actually hiding your real IP.Am I Being Tracked?See how sites follow you online and how to make it harder.

More from Zippa

Free tools, side-by-side comparisons, use-case guides, and a plain-English glossary.

Free privacy toolsWebRTC & DNS leak tests, browser fingerprint, user agent, and a password generator.Compare VPNs & proxiesBest free VPN for Chrome, proxy vs VPN, Tor vs VPN, and honest alternatives.VPN for every situationGuides for Chromebook, school, work, public Wi-Fi, and travel.VPN glossaryPlain-English definitions of VPN, proxy, DNS, WebRTC, and more.

VPN by location

Free: US, UK, Netherlands, Singapore. Premium adds Germany, France, Japan, India, Australia, Canada.

Or head back to the Zippa VPN home page.