Tinyproxy
Tinyproxy is a lightweight HTTP/HTTPS proxy daemon for POSIX operating systems, intended for embedded deployments and small networks where larger proxy softw…
What Tinyproxy is
Tinyproxy is a lightweight HTTP/HTTPS proxy daemon for POSIX operating systems, intended for embedded deployments and small networks where larger proxy software may use too many resources. It can forward HTTPS connections through CONNECT without modifying traffic, and administrators can restrict CONNECT by port or turn it off. Configuration options include transparent proxying, reverse-proxy front ends, URL or domain filtering, upstream HTTP, SOCKS4, and SOCKS5 proxies, and client restrictions by address or subnet. HTTP Basic Authentication is also available. Tinyproxy can allow or block selected HTTP headers, though those controls do not apply to HTTPS connections; URL filtering applies only to plain HTTP. The project says memory use is typically around 2 MB with glibc, while CPU load rises linearly with simultaneous connections. It is distributed as source code that must be compiled, with packages or ports listed for Linux distributions, BSD systems, and Mac OS X. Tinyproxy is free and open source under GNU GPL version 2 or above. Its security guidance recommends running it as a restricted regular user; version 1.11.x is listed as supported.
Good
- Supports HTTP and HTTPS forwarding.
- Can use HTTP, SOCKS4, or SOCKS5 upstream proxies.
- Client access can be restricted by address or subnet.
- Free source code under GNU GPL version 2 or above.
Watch out
- Source code must be compiled for installation.
- URL filtering works only for plain HTTP.
- Header controls do not affect HTTPS connections.
Who it suits
Tinyproxy suits administrators setting up a proxy for small networks or resource-constrained deployments. It is for users comfortable compiling or installing proxy software and managing its access controls.
Verdict
Tinyproxy provides configurable proxying and access controls in a lightweight package aimed at smaller deployments. Its source-based installation and HTTP-only limits on some filtering controls are important considerations.
Plans and prices
From Tinyproxy's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Tinyproxy | Free | Source code distributed under GNU GPL version 2 or above |
The facts
Each one read from Tinyproxy's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Access controls
- Administrators can restrict client access by address or subnet and configure HTTP Basic Authentication.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Filtering
- It supports filtering websites by URL or domain using configurable rules; URL filtering works only for plain HTTP.checked 4 Oct 2026
- HTTPS forwarding
- It forwards HTTPS connections through CONNECT without modifying traffic, and its documentation says CONNECT can be restricted by port or disabled.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Installation
- Tinyproxy is distributed as source code that must be compiled, and the project lists packages or ports for Linux distributions, BSD systems, and Mac OS X.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Intended use
- The project describes it as suited to embedded deployments and small networks where larger proxies use too many resources.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy controls
- It can allow or block selected HTTP headers, but the project notes these controls do not affect HTTPS connections.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Proxy modes
- It can be configured as a transparent proxy or as a reverse proxy front end for websites.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Resource use
- The project says memory use tends to be around 2 MB with glibc and CPU load increases linearly with simultaneous connections.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security guidance
- The project recommends running Tinyproxy as a regular restricted user and says it can run without special privileges with suitable file ownership and a port above 1024.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security support
- The security policy lists version 1.11.x as supported and directs vulnerability reports to a public GitHub issue or a maintainer contacted through IRC for private reports.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to GitHub issues for bugs or feature suggestions and identifies #tinyproxy on Libera.Chat as a developer community channel.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Upstream proxies
- Its configuration supports upstream HTTP, SOCKS4, and SOCKS5 proxies, with rules that can select an upstream by site.checked 4 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Tinyproxy is a lightweight HTTP/HTTPS proxy daemon for POSIX operating systems.checked 4 Oct 2026
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