Need more privacy online or want to access content from another region? A SOCKS5 proxy is a simple way to route your internet traffic through a remote server. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create your own SOCKS5 proxy using a VPS and Docker — even if you’re not a technical expert.

What Is a SOCKS5 Proxy?

A SOCKS5 proxy is a lightweight tool that redirects your traffic through another IP address. It’s useful for:

• Hiding your real IP address
• Accessing region-locked content
• Securely routing traffic from specific apps (e.g., browsers, torrent clients)

Unlike VPNs, SOCKS5 doesn’t encrypt your data, but it's faster and more flexible for many use cases.

Step 1: Get a VPS

To run your proxy, you need a virtual private server.

👉 At nanohost.org, you can get a fast, reliable VPS in multiple global locations starting from $8/month. Setup is instant, and you'll have full root access.

Choose a location that fits your needs — for example:

• USA or Netherlands for general use
• Netherlands or Poland for EU access
• Singapore for Asia-based routing

Step 2: Install Docker

Detailed instructions on how to install Docker on your server can be found at this link.

Step 3: Run the SOCKS5 Proxy

Use this ready-to-go Docker image:

docker run -d --name socks5-proxy \
     -p 1080:1080 \
     -e PROXY_USER=<your-username> \
     -e PROXY_PASSWORD=<your-password> \
     serjs/go-socks5-proxy

✅ Replace <your-username> and <your-password> with your own credentials.

This will expose a SOCKS5 proxy on port 1080. It requires a username and password for security.

Step 4: Connect to Your Proxy

Now, configure your browser or app to use a SOCKS5 proxy:

• Host: your VPS IP address
• Port: 1080
• Username/Password: the ones you set above

For example, in Firefox:

Settings → Network Settings → Manual Proxy Configuration

→ SOCKS Host: your-vps-ip, Port: 1080

→ SOCKS v5 and enable Remote DNS

Done!

That’s it — you now have your own private SOCKS5 proxy server, running securely on your VPS. No sketchy public proxies, no bloatware. Just you and your clean traffic path.

🧡 Why Use NanoHost?

At nanohost.org, we make it easy to get started with reliable VPS hosting:

• ⚡ Fast Xeon CPUs and SSD storage
• 🌍 Servers in multiple locations
• 🛡️ Full root access, no restrictions
• 💸 Plans starting from $8/month

Perfect for running proxies, VPNs, personal apps, or learning Linux.

Happy proxying! 🧑‍💻🌐