Squid

Caching proxy for the web supporting HTTP, HTTPS and FTP.

About Squid

Squid is a free, open-source caching and forwarding web proxy supporting HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and more. By caching and reusing frequently requested pages, it reduces bandwidth consumption and improves response times, and it offers extensive access controls and logging. Long a staple of network engineering, Squid runs on Unix-like systems for ISPs, enterprises and anyone optimising or governing web traffic.

Squid website preview

Live preview of squid-cache.org via the WordPress mShots service — it can take a few seconds to generate on a first visit.

Squid: strengths & things to check

Strengths

Completely free to use — this directory lists no paid plan for it.
Covers proxy, cache, http, network — see the focus areas listed in its key facts.
Has 6 close alternatives in the same category on this page, so switching or comparing is easy.

Things to check

Free tools can change their model or shut down — avoid locking critical work into it without an export path.
Current plan prices are not listed here (they change too often to print reliably) — confirm the exact price on the official site.
It is one of 1164 tools in the Developer Tools category here — compare it against the alternatives below before you commit.

Derived from this listing's own data (pricing model, focus areas and category) — not a hands-on review score.

Squid pricing

Pricing model	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Free access	Yes — fully free
Current plan prices	Listed on the official site — prices change, so this directory links out instead of printing a number that may already be stale.
Official site	squid-cache.org

Squid key facts

Category: Developer Tools
Pricing: Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Focus areas: proxy, cache, http, network
Official site: squid-cache.org

Squid FAQ

How much does Squid cost?

Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it. Current plans and prices are listed on the official site (squid-cache.org).

What is Squid used for?

Caching proxy for the web supporting HTTP, HTTPS and FTP. Its focus areas in the Developer Tools category: proxy, cache, http, network.

Where can I try Squid?

On its official site, squid-cache.org — the Visit Official Site button above goes straight there.

Squid vs alternatives

	Squid	Charles Proxy	Fiddler Classic	HAProxy
Pricing	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Paid — this directory does not list a free tier for it.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Focus areas	proxy, cache, http, network	proxy, http, debugging	proxy, http, debugging	load balancer, proxy, http, high availability
Official site	squid-cache.org	charlesproxy.com	telerik.com	haproxy.org
Directory status	Listed	Listed	Listed	Listed

Side-by-side from each listing's own directory data. Full alternative cards are below.

About the Developer Tools category

Editors, platforms, and services developers rely on to build and ship software. The Developer Tools category on Tools Hub currently lists 1164 tools. Alongside Squid, it includes Firezone, ShellHub, Amgix, Dropserver.

FreeDeveloper Toolsproxycachehttpnetwork

Alternatives to Squid

Tools in the same Developer Tools category that share focus areas with Squid — worth comparing before you commit:

Developer Tools

Charles Proxy

HTTP proxy and monitor for developers

Paidproxyhttpdebugging

Developer Tools

Fiddler Classic

Free web debugging proxy for Windows

Freeproxyhttpdebugging

Developer Tools

HAProxy

Fast and reliable TCP and HTTP load balancer

Freeload-balancerproxyhttphigh-availability

Developer Tools

curlie

Frontend to curl with HTTPie-style ease of use

Freeclicurlhttpapi

Developer Tools

Envoy

Cloud-native high-performance edge and service proxy

Freeproxyservice-meshcloud-nativenetworking

Developer Tools

g3proxy

Forward proxy server with chaining, inspection, and MITM interception

Freeproxynetworkingopen-source

More in Developer Tools

Comparing tools in the Developer Tools category? These related listings are worth a look: Firezone — WireGuard-based zero-trust access for teams and infrastructure; ShellHub — Centralised SSH access to Linux devices from anywhere; Amgix — Open-source hybrid search system behind a single REST API.