What is the difference between a proxy and a VPN?

A proxy operates primarily at the application level, routing only the traffic from specific apps or browsers through a different IP, which is efficient and fast for targeted uses. VPNs, on the other hand, encrypt and route all your device's internet traffic through a secure tunnel, protecting your entire network connection. Proxies tend to offer more flexibility for specific tasks like web scraping or localized content access, while VPNs provide broader privacy and security for all network traffic.