A proxy server may let you access Gmail if it’s blocked in your country or on your school or office network, but proxies don’t offer the privacy and security benefits of a VPN . Free proxies are often choked with traffic and may disappear or stop working without warning (even in the middle of an email). Worse, free proxies have been known to recoup their costs by harvesting and selling your data. Think twice before trusting one with your private communications.