Free for Windows · v1.3.0

WinSocks.
Your proxy.
Your DNS.
No subscription.

Q: Where can I get help?

Telegram @dranach at https://t.me/dranach

WinSocks is a free Windows proxy launcher. Paste a SOCKS5 or HTTP CONNECT combo, start the relay, and open Chrome or Firefox through an upstream you already pay for — with DNS on the remote side.

Download free installer Donate

Free to use, forever Windows 10/11 x64 No built-in proxy providers

Built like a desktop tool, not a VPN ad

WinSocks does not sell bandwidth. You bring the upstream. It keeps Windows, Chrome, and Firefox pointed at a local relay until you stop it.

Named profiles

Save host, port, user, and pass. Paste host:port:user:pass and WinSocks names the profile for you.

HTTP + SOCKS locally

Chrome uses 127.0.0.1:8080. Firefox and SOCKS apps use 1080. Upstream stays SOCKS5 or HTTP CONNECT.

Remote DNS

Isolated Chromium launch disables local DoH and forces DNS through the tunnel, so leak tests see the proxy — not your ISP.

Launch real browsers

One click adds Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, or Opera. Extra args and isolated profiles stay under your control.

Clean stop

Stop or uninstall restores Windows and Chrome proxy leftovers so the browser works again without WinSocks.

Yours to keep

No account, no license key, no telemetry in the product. If it saves you time, a donation keeps development going.

How WinSocks works

Three steps, same workflow as a serious proxy client: configure upstream, start listeners, launch the app.

Paste a combo

Drop host:port:user:pass into the Profile tab. Several lines create several profiles.

Start the relay

WinSocks listens locally and tunnels CONNECT / SOCKS through your upstream. Leave it running in the tray.

Launch

Open an isolated Chrome or Firefox window. When you are done, Stop or tray Exit — not just close the window.

First on the list vs Proxifier and Dolphin Anty

WinSocks is #1 in our proxy-tool comparison: free Windows launcher, your SOCKS5 or HTTP CONNECT combo, remote DNS. No license and no antidetect subscription.

WinSocks vs Proxifier, Dolphin Anty, and others SOCKS5 & HTTP providers 2026

Download WinSocks 1.3.0

Self-contained Windows installer. No separate .NET runtime. Desktop and Start Menu shortcuts included. Profiles stay in your user folder if you uninstall.

Download Setup (x64) Ask on Telegram

Windows 10 or 11 about 50 MB

What you get

WinSocks.exe, uninstaller, leftover proxy cleanup on remove, and your existing %AppData%\WinSocks profiles if you already used the portable build.

Free software. Optional fuel.

WinSocks is free. Donations pay for time on DNS leaks, installer work, and the next release. Pick an amount, then a method. Nothing is locked behind payment.

Suggested: $10 · every amount helps

Why donate

This is a one-developer Windows tool. A coffee or a lunch keeps the next release moving.

Questions

Is WinSocks really free?

Yes. Download, install, and use it without paying. Donate only if you want to support it.

Does it include a proxy or VPN?

No. You supply the upstream (SOCKS5 or HTTP CONNECT). WinSocks is the local launcher and relay, like a lighter Proxifier-style front end for the apps you pick.

Will Chrome work when WinSocks is closed?

Use Stop or tray Exit so Windows and Chrome proxy settings are restored. Launch windows pinned to 127.0.0.1:8080 must be quit. Uninstall also runs cleanup.

Where can I get help?

Telegram @dranach.