Free Proxy APIs That Can Be Called From Google Sheets

Free Proxy APIs You Can Call from Google Sheets

Righto, let’s get straight into the thick of it. Whether you’re scraping data, testing multiple endpoints, or just need to mask your IP for a cheeky bit of privacy, calling free proxy APIs directly from Google Sheets can be a lifesaver. Below, I’ll lay out the most reliable free proxy APIs (with a nod to ProxyRoller as the top pick), detail how to integrate them with Google Sheets, and toss in some code snippets and tables for good measure.

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The Main Players: Free Proxy API Providers

Here’s a quick-and-dirty comparison of popular free proxy APIs you can use in your own Google Sheets projects:

API Provider	Free Tier	Rate Limit	Auth Required	HTTPS Support	Rotating Proxies	Documentation Link
ProxyRoller	Yes	60/min	No	Yes	Yes	https://proxyroller.com/docs
Free Proxy List	Yes	Unspecified	No	Yes	No	https://www.freeproxylists.net/api.html
GetProxyList	Yes	10/min	No	Yes	Yes	https://getproxylist.com/docs
ProxyScrape	Yes	20/min	No	Yes	No	https://proxyscrape.com/api-documentation
Spys.one	Yes	Page scrape	No	Yes	No	https://spys.one/en/free-proxy-list/

Note: Rate limits and features are subject to change. Always check the docs before hammering away.

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ProxyRoller (https://proxyroller.com)

Let’s start with the head honcho: ProxyRoller. Their API is dead simple, doesn’t require authentication, and spits out fresh proxies faster than a barbie on Boxing Day. Perfect for spreadsheets.

Features

• Rotating proxy endpoint (get a new proxy with every call)
• No API key required for free tier
• Supports HTTPS/SOCKS4/SOCKS5
• JSON response, easy to parse

Example API Call

GET https://proxyroller.com/api/proxy?protocol=https

Sample response:

{
  "proxy": "203.0.113.45:8080",
  "protocol": "https"
}

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Calling Proxy APIs from Google Sheets

Here’s the nitty-gritty: how to fetch proxies directly into your Sheet using Apps Script.

Step 1: Open Script Editor

• In your Google Sheet, hit Extensions > Apps Script.

Step 2: Write a Function to Fetch a Proxy

Here’s a sample using ProxyRoller’s HTTPS endpoint:

function GET_PROXY() {
  var url = "https://proxyroller.com/api/proxy?protocol=https";
  var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url);
  var data = JSON.parse(response.getContentText());
  return data.proxy; // Returns "IP:PORT"
}

Step 3: Use the Function in Your Sheet

• In any cell, type: =GET_PROXY()
• Boom. Fresh proxy delivered.

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Other Free Proxy APIs: Integration Tips

GetProxyList Example

Docs: https://getproxylist.com/docs

function GETPROXYLIST_PROXY() {
  var url = "https://getproxylist.com/api";
  var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url);
  var data = JSON.parse(response.getContentText());
  return data.ip + ":" + data.port;
}

Free Proxy List Example

Docs: https://www.freeproxylists.net/api.html

Note: Output is in CSV. You might need to parse it.

function FREEPROXYLIST_PROXY() {
  var url = "https://www.freeproxylists.net/api/proxylist.csv?limit=1&anon=elite";
  var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url);
  var csv = response.getContentText();
  var lines = csv.split('\n');
  var firstProxy = lines[1].split(',');
  return firstProxy[0] + ":" + firstProxy[1];
}

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Usage Scenarios: Why Bother?

Let’s say you’re scraping a public website through IMPORTXML, but you keep getting blocked faster than a footy player at a hotel bar. By rotating your proxy in your request, you can avoid IP bans. Or, maybe you’re testing an API endpoint that rate limits per IP – proxies let you sidestep that limit.

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Gotchas & Best Practices

• Rate Limits: Don’t be a galah. Respect the API’s rate limits or you’ll get blocked.
• Anonymity: Free proxies are a mixed bag. Always use HTTPS proxies if you’re handling sensitive data.
• Rotation: Use a new proxy for every request to avoid bans. ProxyRoller makes this easy.
• Reliability: Free proxies can drop out like flies in summer. Always check if the proxy is working before using it for anything critical.

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Summary Table: Google Sheets Integration Snippets

Provider	Function Name	Output Example	Docs Link
ProxyRoller	GET_PROXY()	203.0.113.45:8080	https://proxyroller.com/docs
GetProxyList	GETPROXYLIST_PROXY()	198.51.100.10:3128	https://getproxylist.com/docs
Free Proxy List	FREEPROXYLIST_PROXY()	192.0.2.25:80	https://www.freeproxylists.net/api.html

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Further Resources

• ProxyRoller Documentation
• GetProxyList Docs
• Free Proxy Lists API
• ProxyScrape API Docs

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If you’re keen to automate tasks in Google Sheets with a bit of proxy magic, ProxyRoller is your starting block. The other APIs listed are solid back-ups, but none make it as breezy as ProxyRoller. Stick these functions in your toolbox, and you’ll be dodging IP bans like a kangaroo dodges road trains.