Kalle Hallden
Learn about the differences between datacenter, residential, and mobile proxies to make an informed decision. Explore their pros and cons in terms of cost, speed, availability, anonymity, and more. Choose the right proxy type for your needs.
TL;DR: Datacenter proxies are cheap, fast, and always available but not clean and detectable. Residential proxies are legitimate, highly anonymous, and have a low chance of getting banned but are more expensive, slower, and less widely accessible. Mobile proxies offer high anonymity, a low chance of getting banned, and are good for social media automation but are the most expensive and can be slower.
| Datacenter Proxies | Residential Proxies | Mobile Proxies | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Cheap | Expensive | Most Expensive |
| Speed | Optimized for speed | Slower than other types | Slower than other types |
| Availability | Always available | Limited availability | Limited availability |
| Anonymity | Less anonymous | Highly anonymous | Highly anonymous |
| Ban Probability | Detectable | Low chance of getting banned | Low chance of getting banned |
| Cleanliness | Not clean, usage history affects data collection speed | Legitimate | Clean & Legitimate |
| Locations | Fewer locations | Less widely accessible | Few providers |
We rely heavily on the internet, even though it is vulnerable to cyber-attacks and privacy concerns. In fact, it's the sole means of operation for many companies. Proxy servers, for example, are used to counteract the internet's negative aspects and give users the freedom and security they need to freely browse the internet.
When a user requests information, a proxy server acts as a middleman between them and the desired web page. Based on the IP address, there are four types of proxies: residential, mobile, data center, and Internet service provider proxies.
Individuals and businesses alike rely on proxies to keep their personal information safe while browsing the internet. The proxies may be used to conduct market research, competitor analysis, SEO, and academic research.
Furthermore, they can remain anonymous and access any content they desire while doing all of this. With the help of this guide, you'll learn about proxies such as the Mobile IP Proxy, Datacenter Proxy, and Residential Proxy.
Residential Proxy
Instead of data centers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Local Internet Registries (LIRs), such as network service providers, universities, and the like, issue residential proxies. These appear to be actual Internet Protocol addresses of people requesting access to a website from their personal computers at home.
Residential proxies are rented out for commercial purposes, and some of them may have their own browser data, preferred location, and cookies of their own to keep track of your activity. They come in two varieties:
1. Static Residential Proxy
Your real IP address can be hidden behind an anonymous residential IP address with a static residential proxy. It appears to be a real IP address to ensure anonymity, and you'll only be connected to it until you disconnect or switch servers. Even if you don't use social media, having the same IP address when logging in with the same profile is helpful. With this method, access to geo-restricted content from other nations or regions is not possible.
2. Rotating Residential Proxy
You can use a rotating residential proxy to hide your actual IP address behind a pool of IP addresses that rotate or change constantly. Each of these IP addresses is part of a global IP address network that spans multiple subnets. Rotating proxies are commonly used for web scraping, price comparison, and other similar activities.
How Residential Proxies Work
Residential proxies use an intermediary or proxy server to route internet traffic for their users. All of your server requests are routed through the proxy server's assigned IP address.
This means that if you use a search engine to find something on the internet, the message will be routed through the residential proxy you were given. An IP address belonging to a real computer or device is used to mask your own IP address. Sites you visit will see you as a regular visitor when you use a password.
Residential proxies enable you to gain access to content from various countries and cities and provide security features such as HTTPS encryption, depending on the service provider you choose to use.
Residential Proxies Advantages
- Any website can be accessed from anywhere, and the data you collect can be used for business or academic purposes. Although the internet is open to everyone, some sites have geo-restrictions or block activities they deem suspicious, making it nearly impossible to access content.
- Proxy servers allow you to see your site from the perspective of your users, allowing you to make it more user-friendly and show relevant ads to increase conversions.
- You can send a large number of concurrent requests to speed up your data collection and improve your marketing, content, and price strategy.
- In order to keep your data and site safe and protect your reputation, it will assist you in discovering security flaws and identifying violations.
Residential Proxies Uses
1. It Helps to Protect Your Brand
It is possible to see how your website appears to visitors from other locations and countries by using a virtual private network (VPN). It will assist you in improving the user experience of your website. To ensure that your brand's reputation is protected, you can also monitor any suspicious activity, such as intellectual property violations, infringements, etc.
2. Social Media
Your company will reap enormous benefits from being active on social media and utilizing various platforms. Creating and managing multiple accounts across various platforms is a breeze with the help of proxies.
3. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO (search engine optimization) is critical if you want your website and business to be well-known. In other words, you can perform an SEO analysis of your competitors' keywords, traffic sources, and links by using residential proxies. As a bonus, you can use it to translate your content and build links with authoritative sites.
4. Academic Research
Using your real IP address while conducting academic research may result in your IP being blacklisted. It's important to verify that the information you've gleaned is correct. You can do this by using residential proxies and browsing the web as you please.
5. Price Monitoring
To avoid overcharging your customers, you must have a solid pricing strategy in place. Overpricing scares visitors away, and underpricing makes them doubt the quality of your deliverables. It is possible to conduct a thorough price monitoring, analysis, and comparison using residential proxies. This allows you to make an informed decision.
6. Market Research
You must keep an eye on the market and your competitors to stay ahead of the curve. With the aid of a proxy, you can devise a marketing strategy that is based on thorough investigation and high-quality data. And marketers can use it to compare their own content and ads to those of their competitors to see where they fall short and where they can improve.
7. Web Scrapping
A technique known as web scraping is a method of obtaining data from various websites on the net. This data is collected for specific purposes like pricing strategy, competitor research, or other related activities. And if you keep trying to scrape the internet using your real IP address, many sites will consider you suspicious and block your access.
However, if you use a residential proxy, you can appear to be a frequent visitor while still maintaining your anonymity.
DataCenter Proxy
IP addresses owned by LIRs like web hosting companies, universities, and the like are known as datacenter proxies, and they aren't associated with any specific ISP. These are well-known for their high levels of efficiency, speed, and affordability. You can use them for web scraping on less-regulated websites. They come in a variety of forms:
1. Private Datacenter Proxies
A private data center proxy, also known as a dedicated proxy or a dedicated IP address, is an IP address reserved for a specific time or domain. Web scraping, social media management, SEO, and other tasks can be made much more efficient with the help of these lightning-fast tools.
2. Public Datacenter Proxies
In order to access geo-restricted content, you'll need to use one of these free proxy servers. Datacenter proxies in both the public and private cloud provide better performance and security.
3. Shared Datacenter Proxies
These can be used by multiple people at the same time. Small businesses can use these proxies for web scraping, SEO, and accessing geo-restricted content.
How DataCenter Proxies Work
Data requests from a website are routed through several touchpoints. Using a different IP address, a proxy server processes the traffic and makes a request for data from the site. Your proxy server receives data from the site during verification. In this manner, you obtain the requested information while remaining completely anonymous.
DataCenter Proxies Advantages
- Due to the advanced technologies and speed optimizers used in data centers by companies like web hosts, data center proxies have a high level of uptime and speed. As a result, you will be able to complete all of your tasks more quickly.
- They do have a price tag, but it's low enough that you can use them to get the job done effectively without spending a fortune. They are less expensive than residential or mobile proxies because they are hosted outside of the user's home or office.
- In order to maintain source consistency, you can leave a static IP in place for as long as you need it. It will reduce the risk of being flagged and blocked by websites.
- Proxy providers have data centers worldwide so that you can test your site's performance from various locations around the world. Your content can also be tweaked a bit to accommodate different languages.
DataCenter Proxies Uses
1. SEO and Social Media
Search engine optimization research on your competitors' keywords, ads, and content is also a breeze with datacenter proxies. It is possible to compare and optimize your own based on the research and serve your audience well in order to garner more views, leads, and conversions. Additionally, you can use a data center proxy to quickly manage multiple social media accounts on various platforms.
2. Geo-Restricted Content Accessing
You can use a data center proxy to gain access to content that is blocked in your country but that you actually need. Your favorite shows, websites that aren't available in your country, and more will be accessible.
3. Browsing Anonymously
With a data center proxy, you can access any content from any site from any country. If you're concerned about hackers stealing your personal information and using it for malicious purposes, this will help.
4. Web Scrapping
DataCenter proxies are used extensively for web scraping in order to measure market trends and competitions and devise more effective business strategies. You'll also be safe from sites that provide false information if it detects suspicious activity on those sites.
Mobile Proxy
Users are assigned mobile proxies by mobile carriers, which are IP addresses with real network connections (such as 4G or 3G). A mobile data connection to the internet is required for use on portable devices such as smartphones and tablets. Using a mobile proxy to connect to a proxy server helps you mask your IP address.
How Mobile Proxies Work
Real-world 4G and 3G connections form the basis of a mobile proxy network. Mobile operators assign them to portable devices so that real people can make use of them. It is impossible to detect these networks because they exist in every city, state, and country.
Mobile Proxies Advantages
- Sites won't be able to identify you easily because mobile proxies appear to be genuine. You'll have access to the entire internet and be able to use it to your business's advantage.
- As a result, you'll be able to get to the information you need quickly and stay on top of your business with accurate data.
- Mobile devices like smartphones allow you to mask your IP address and surf the web anonymously. It will improve your overall user experience.
Mobile Proxies Uses
1. Verification of Ad and QA
With the help of mobile IPs, it is possible to verify cellular advertising and the user experience of mobile applications.
2. Social Media Management
Multi-account management on social media platforms is a breeze with mobile proxies. Thanks to mobile proxy, you'll be able to access multiple accounts with different IP addresses. You can use it to keep track of multiple client social media accounts at once.
DataCenter Vs. Residential Vs. Mobile IP Proxies
- Real Internet service providers (ISPs) offer residential proxies that are authentic, flexible, and suitable for various purposes.
- Datacenter proxies, which are hosted and owned by LIRs like web hosts and universities, are ideal for conducting market research and academic research by businesses and students.
- For businesses with a wide range of requirements, mobile proxies are available from mobile operators and are among the most reliable, effective, and expensive options available.
Providers of Residential Proxies
1. Oxylabs
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are at the heart of Oxylabs' next-generation residential proxies. An auto-retry system and an enterprise-grade solution are both included to help you carry out your task. The Oxylabs web scraping tool collects high-quality structured data from e-commerce sites and has built-in IP block management, human-like browsing, and no captchas.
Using standard proxy protocols and easy-to-use switching technology, you can easily integrate it into your current infrastructure. Oxylab's 20GB of traffic costs 360 USD monthly.
2. Bright Data
Bright Data provides the most cutting-edge residential proxies available using the world's largest and fastest real-peer IP network. You get unlimited rotation, an extensive and responsive user interface, 72+ million IPs across the globe, and 99.9% network uptime when you sign up for Cloudflare.
Multiple cities, countries, ASNs, and carriers can access the service. Scalability, unlimited requests, tool integration, and custom rules are all made possible by Bright Data. It has a monthly fee of 300 USD.
Providers of DataCenter Proxies
1. Smartproxy
Proxies in Smartproxy's dedicated datacenters offer unparalleled flexibility and speed. Using it, you can control your browsing history and trustworthiness, health, and IP address. There are no limits on the number of threads, the number of US IP addresses, the number of GBs, or the percentage of uptime. Analyzing SEO, getting ready for sneaker drops, scraping eCommerce and travel deals, managing accounts are all possible with this powerful tool.
The proxies can be used on almost any device that supports HTTP/HTTPS. There are 25 IPs, 5 proxy users, and unlimited traffic included in the 39 USD monthly price.
2. IPRoyal
Fast, anonymous, and premium data center proxies are available from IPRoyal. It comes with 10 Gbps of unmetered bandwidth and threads and supports both HTTPS and SOCKS5. With IPRoyal, you can browse the internet with complete confidence, knowing that your personal information is safe and secure. The high browsing speed is because IPRoyal allocates a single proxy per user, so you won't have to deal with bandwidth overload.
You can choose a location ranging from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, and many other locations. Starting at 7.5 USD monthly for 5 proxies and 4 USD monthly for 10 proxies, you can get its IPv4 and IPv6 proxy plans.
Providers of Mobile Proxies
1. Bright Data
Real-peer 3G/4G IPs from Bright Data are the largest and fastest in the industry. Any city with the highest resolutions can be used concurrently. Businesses in the ad tech, stock exchange, and e-commerce sectors can all benefit from it.
With a network uptime guarantee of 99.99 percent, Bright Data is a fully patented and compliant solution. It targets carriers and ASNs with its 7+ million IPs available worldwide. It's plan costs 300 USD monthly.
2. Limeproxies
One of the largest and fastest mobile proxy service providers, Limeproxies focuses on ASNs and carriers and provides more than 2 million IPs worldwide. Web scraping can be done using its stable IP pool. The username should have some parameters added to it, such as the ability to filter IP addresses by city, ASN, country, etc.
Using cellular towers, Limeproxies connects you to a 4G device. Dedicated IPs, simultaneous use of up to 25 IPs, complete anonymity, 300+ subnets, multiple locations, and high performance are just some of the benefits of accessing the entire cellular ASN. It costs 70 USD monthly for 300 ports and 2GB of bandwidth.
Conclusion
Protecting your identity and conducting business operations like market research, competitor analysis, and academic research can be done with the help of a proxy IP address. You can use this guide to determine which type of proxy is best for you between DataCenter, Residential, and Mobile IP Proxies, and then choose a proxy provider accordingly.
