SOCKS4 vs SOCKS4a vs SOCKS5: Which Proxy Protocol to Choose for Arbitrage, SMM, and Scraping

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You are setting up a proxy in AdsPower or Dolphin Anty — and you see the options: SOCKS4, SOCKS4a, or SOCKS5. Which one to choose? Most people just click randomly and then wonder about blocks or DNS leaks. In this article, we will analyze how these three protocols differ in practice and provide a clear answer: which one you need.

What is the SOCKS protocol and why is it needed

SOCKS is a network proxying protocol. While an HTTP proxy can only work with web traffic (browser requests), SOCKS operates at a lower level and passes through any TCP/UDP traffic: browsers, messengers, scrapers, advertising tools, gaming clients.

This is why anti-detect browsers — Dolphin Anty, AdsPower, GoLogin, Multilogin, Octo Browser — offer three types of SOCKS in the profile settings. Each profile = a separate Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok account. And each profile needs its own proxy with the correct protocol.

A mistake in choosing the protocol can lead to two problems:

• DNS Leak — the real DNS request goes not through the proxy but directly. Facebook sees your real IP.
• Incompatibility — some proxy servers simply do not support SOCKS4, and the connection cannot be established.

The abbreviation SOCKS stands for Socket Secure. The protocol has existed since the early 1990s, but remains relevant today — precisely because of its versatility and speed.

SOCKS4: the old standard with limitations

SOCKS4 is the first widely used version of the protocol. Developed in the 1990s, it is still found in proxy server settings. The principle of operation is simple: the client (your browser or scraper) sends a request to the proxy server with the destination IP address and port. The proxy establishes the connection and forwards the traffic.

What does this mean in practice? When you open facebook.com through a SOCKS4 proxy, the DNS request (the conversion of the domain to IP) is performed on your device, not through the proxy. This means your provider or system sees that you are requesting the Facebook address. The traffic itself goes through the proxy, but the fact of the DNS request does not.

Additional limitations of SOCKS4:

• Does not support authentication (login + password)
• Does not support UDP traffic
• Does not support IPv6
• No built-in security mechanisms

When is SOCKS4 still used? Mainly in old systems and scripts written long ago. For modern arbitrage, SMM, or scraping, SOCKS4 is not the best choice.

SOCKS4a: an intermediate solution with DNS through the proxy

SOCKS4a is an unofficial extension of SOCKS4 that solves one specific problem: DNS requests are now performed on the proxy server side, not on your device.

It works like this: instead of an IP address, the client sends the domain name (facebook.com) to the proxy, and the proxy resolves it to an IP itself. This is already significantly better in terms of anonymity — your provider does not see which domains you are accessing.

However, SOCKS4a still retains the key limitations of SOCKS4: no support for authentication, no UDP, no IPv6. This makes it a "transitional" option — better than bare SOCKS4, but significantly weaker than SOCKS5.

In practice, SOCKS4a is rarely encountered. Most modern proxy providers simply do not offer it separately — they immediately provide SOCKS5. If you see SOCKS4a in the settings of an anti-detect browser, it is more of a historical option for compatibility.

SOCKS5: the modern standard for serious tasks

SOCKS5 is a completely revamped version of the protocol, described in RFC 1928. It has become the de facto standard for all tasks where anonymity, reliability, and speed are important. If you are working with Facebook Ads, TikTok Ads, Instagram, or scraping Wildberries and Ozon — you need SOCKS5.

What can SOCKS5 do that its predecessors cannot:

• Authentication — supports login and password. This allows providers to issue personal proxies, rather than ones open to everyone.
• DNS through the proxy — like SOCKS4a, resolves domains on the server side. No DNS leaks.
• UDP traffic — in addition to TCP, supports UDP. Important for VoIP, streaming, and some gaming protocols.
• IPv6 — full support for modern addresses.
• Connection binding (BIND) — allows the server to initiate a connection back to the client (needed for some FTP modes and P2P).

This is why all residential proxies from modern providers operate using the SOCKS5 protocol. Residential IPs are addresses of real home users, and SOCKS5 allows them to be used as efficiently as possible: with authentication, no leaks, and support for all types of traffic.

An important nuance: SOCKS5 does not encrypt traffic by itself. It simply proxies it. Encryption is provided at the HTTPS (TLS) level. Therefore, for working with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok — this is not a problem, as HTTPS is used by default.

Comparison table: SOCKS4 vs SOCKS4a vs SOCKS5

Below is a complete comparison table for all key parameters. Save it as a bookmark — it will be useful when setting up a proxy in an anti-detect browser.

DNS leaks: why this is critical for arbitrage specialists and SMM experts

A DNS leak is a situation where your device sends DNS requests directly, bypassing the proxy. It sounds technical, but the consequences are very practical.

Imagine: you are working with 10 Facebook advertising accounts through Dolphin Anty. Each profile is assigned a separate proxy. But you are using SOCKS4 — and DNS requests from all 10 profiles go out with your real IP. Facebook sees that 10 different accounts are making DNS requests from one address. This is a signal of multi-accounting — and a ban is imminent.

SOCKS5 completely solves this problem: all DNS requests go through the proxy server. Your device does not contact DNS servers directly at all. Each profile in the anti-detect browser looks like a completely independent user — with a unique IP, unique DNS server, and unique digital fingerprint.

For SMM specialists managing 20-50 Instagram or TikTok accounts, this is especially important. One DNS leak — and Instagram starts linking accounts. The result: mass blocking of the entire client base.

You can check for DNS leaks on services like dnsleaktest.com or ipleak.net. Open them in the anti-detect browser profile and ensure that the DNS server matches the IP of your proxy, not your real provider.

Which protocol to choose for your task

The short answer: almost always — SOCKS5. But let's analyze specific scenarios to eliminate any doubts.

Arbitrage: Facebook Ads, TikTok Ads, Google Ads

Here you need SOCKS5 without compromises. You are working with an anti-detect browser (Dolphin Anty, AdsPower, Multilogin), each profile is a separate advertising account. The protection systems of Facebook and TikTok analyze not only IPs but also DNS requests, temporal patterns, WebRTC.

For account farming and working with Facebook Ads, arbitrage specialists use mobile proxies — they work exclusively with SOCKS5 and have IPs from mobile operators, which Facebook considers the most trusted.

SMM: Instagram, TikTok, VK, Telegram

Again, SOCKS5. When managing 10-50 client accounts through GoLogin or Octo Browser, each account must have a completely isolated digital footprint. SOCKS4 here is a direct path to mass blocks due to DNS leaks.

For Instagram, geolocation is especially important: the account must "live" in the region where the client is actually located. Therefore, residential proxies with city geotargeting are used — and only SOCKS5.

Scraping marketplaces: Wildberries, Ozon, Avito

For price scraping and competitor monitoring on Wildberries or Ozon, scrapers are used — both ready-made SaaS solutions and scripts. Most of them support SOCKS5 as the main protocol.

Wildberries and Ozon actively block data center IPs. Therefore, for scraping these platforms, residential proxies with rotation are used — and the SOCKS5 protocol, which supports authentication via login/password, necessary for working with pools of rotating IPs.

Avito is slightly easier in terms of protection, but for mass ad placements from different cities, SOCKS5 proxies with geotargeting are still needed.

When SOCKS4 or SOCKS4a might be suitable

Honestly — almost never in 2024. The only scenarios:

• Old corporate systems written for SOCKS4 and not updated for years
• Compatibility testing during development
• Tasks where anonymity is not important at all (internal networks)

If your proxy provider only offers SOCKS4 — this is a warning sign. Modern providers support SOCKS5 by default.

How to set the SOCKS5 protocol in an anti-detect browser

Let's show an example using the most popular tools. The process is similar everywhere, but the interface differs.

Dolphin Anty

1. Open Dolphin Anty and click "Create Profile" or open an existing one.
2. Go to the "Proxy" section in the profile settings.
3. In the "Type" field, select SOCKS5 from the dropdown menu.
4. Enter the host (IP or domain of the proxy), port, username, and password.
5. Click "Check Proxy" — Dolphin will show your external IP and country.
6. Make sure the displayed IP matches your proxy's IP, not your real one.
7. Save the profile and launch it.

AdsPower

1. Click "New Profile" in the left menu.
2. In the "Proxy Settings" section, select the type SOCKS5.
3. Fill in the fields: Proxy Host, Port, Username, Password.
4. Click the "Check Network" button — the system will show IP and geolocation.
5. If everything is correct — save the profile.

GoLogin

1. Create or open a profile, go to "Proxy".
2. In the Connection Type field, select SOCKS5.
3. Enter the proxy data: address, port, username, password.
4. Click "Check Proxy" to verify.
5. GoLogin will show the IP, country, and latency (ping). Make sure the IP matches the proxy.

Multilogin and Octo Browser

In Multilogin and Octo Browser, the logic is similar: when creating a profile in the Proxy section, you need to select the SOCKS5 type and enter the connection data. Both browsers support proxy checking directly in the interface. Multilogin additionally shows the WebRTC IP — make sure it also matches the proxy.

Conclusion: a short cheat sheet

The difference between SOCKS4, SOCKS4a, and SOCKS5 is not just numbers in the name. It represents fundamentally different levels of anonymity, security, and compatibility. Here’s the final cheat sheet:

The rule is simple: if your proxy supports SOCKS5 — always choose it. It is the only protocol that provides complete anonymity (including DNS), supports authentication, and is compatible with all modern tools — from Dolphin Anty to marketplace scrapers.

If you are working with Facebook Ads or TikTok Ads accounts and want to minimize the risk of bans, pay attention to mobile proxies — they operate on SOCKS5, have mobile operator IPs, and are considered the most trusted for advertising platforms. For scraping and multi-accounting in SMM, data center proxies with SOCKS5 support are excellent — high speed at a reasonable cost.