Nowadays, the utilization of web scraping, and automated bots has become commonplace, necessitating the use of effective tools such as residential proxies. Residential proxies, sourced from real devices like computers and mobile phones, offer enhanced anonymity compared to traditional datacenter IPs. This article explores the top 10 cheap and premium residential proxy service providers for 2024, outlining their features, performance, and pricing.
Understanding Residential Proxies:
Residential proxies act as intermediaries between users and the internet, borrowing IPs from real individuals and making it challenging for websites to detect automated activities. These proxies support a myriad of locations and precise targeting options, thanks to their association with millions of devices around the world.
To compile this list, we conducted an annual Proxy Market Research, subjecting major proxy providers to over 2 million connection requests over three weeks. The evaluation criteria included pool size, performance, features, and pricing.
Top 10 Residential Proxy Service Providers:
1.Bright Data: Top residential proxy provider with limitless features.
- Proxy Pool: 72 million
- Locations: 195 countries with city and ASN targeting
- Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5, Streaming
- Rotation: Every request, 1s – 60 minutes
- Support: 24/7 via chat, email, phone
- Link: Official Website
2.Oxylabs: Best premium residential proxy provider
- Proxy Pool: 100 million
- Locations: 195 countries with city and ASN targeting
- Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5
- Rotation: Every request, 10, 30 minutes
- Support: 24/7 via chat, email, phone.
- Link: Official Website
3.SOAX: Stable residential proxies with flexible location targeting
- Proxy Pool: 8.5 million
- Locations: 120 countries with city, state, and ISP targeting
- Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5
- Rotation: Every request, 1s – 60 minutes
- Support: 24/7 via chat, email, phone
- Link: Official Website
4.Infatica: Residential proxies with unlimited threads
- Proxy Pool: 10 million.
- Locations: 140 countries with country and city targeting
- Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5
- Rotation: Every request
- Support: 24/7 via chat, email, phone
- Link: Official Website
5.Rayobyte: A competent set of features with non-expiring subscription
- Proxy Pool: 2 million
- Locations: 100 countries with country targeting
- Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5
- Rotation: Every request
- Support: 24/7 via chat, email
- Link: Official Website
6.NetNut: Residential proxies for large-scale use
- Proxy Pool: 10 million
- Locations: 50 countries with country and city targeting
- Protocols: HTTP(S)
- Rotation: Every request, 1s – 60 minutes
- Support: 24/7 via chat, email, phone
- Link: Official Website
7.PacketStream: Cheap residential IPs with limited features
- Proxy Pool: 7 million
- Locations: 195 countries with country targeting
- Protocols: HTTP(S)
- Rotation: Every request
- Support: Monday to Friday (9 am-5 pm EST) via email
- Link: Official Website
8.Webshare: Best customizable subscription
- Proxy Pool: 30 million
- Locations: 195 with country targeting
- Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5
- Rotation: Every request
- Support: Monday to Friday (6 am-6 pm PST) via email
- Link: Official Website
9. Smartproxy: Best Value Proxy for the Price
- Proxy Pool: 55 million
- Locations: 195 countries with city and state targeting
- Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5
- Rotation: Every request, 10, 30 minutes
- Support: 24/7 via chat or email
- Link: Official Website
10. IPRoyal: Affordable Proxy
- Proxy Pool: 2 million
- Locations: 150+ with country, state & city targeting
- Protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5
- Rotation: Every request, 1s – 7 days
- Support: 24/7 via live chat
- Link: Official Website
Pricing:
The cost of residential proxies ranges from $1 to $15 per gigabyte, depending on the provider and the amount purchased. A 100 GB average price hovers around $7/GB. Note that providers may offer limited money-back guarantees instead of free trials, particularly for non-business users.
15 Most FAQ on Residential Proxies
1. What are residential proxies, and how do they differ from other types of proxies?
- Residential proxies are IP addresses sourced from real devices like computers and mobile phones, offering enhanced anonymity compared to traditional datacenter IPs. They are used for web scraping and automated activities.
2.Why would someone use residential proxies instead of datacenter IPs?
- Residential proxies are harder to detect, making them ideal for activities requiring a lower risk of being blocked. They also offer broader location coverage and better support for precise targeting options.
3.How do residential proxy networks function, and why are only some IPs available at a given time?
- Residential proxy networks borrow IPs from real people’s devices, and only some IPs are available because people can turn off their devices, temporarily removing them from the network.
4.What is the significance of rotating residential proxies?
- Residential proxies often rotate after a certain period to maintain their anonymity and prevent detection. This rotation is essential for tasks that require a diverse set of IP addresses.
5.Can I get static residential proxies, and how do they differ from rotating ones?
- Yes, some providers offer static residential proxies. Unlike rotating proxies, static ones retain the same IP for an extended period, providing consistency but potentially at the cost of reduced anonymity.
6.Are there residential IPs with unlimited bandwidth, and how do they compare in terms of performance?
- Yes, some providers offer residential proxies with unlimited bandwidth. However, such proxies may suffer in performance due to high traffic requirements.
7.Can I get a free trial for residential proxies?
- While some providers may offer free trials, it’s more common for providers to offer a limited money-back guarantee, particularly for non-business users, to protect against abuse.
8.What is the pricing range for residential proxies, and how does it vary based on usage and commitment?
- Residential proxy pricing typically ranges from $1 to $15 per gigabyte. The average for 100 GBs is around $7/GB. Pricing can vary based on the amount purchased and commitment to long-term contracts.
9.How do I choose the best residential proxy provider for my needs?
- Consider factors such as your target’s protection mechanisms, the need for broad location coverage, and the desire for true anonymity when selecting a residential proxy provider.
10.What is the purpose of the Proxy Market Research mentioned in the article?
- The Proxy Market Research involves subjecting major proxy providers to over 2 million connection requests to evaluate factors such as pool size, performance, features, and pricing.
11.Can I use residential proxies for tasks that require strong protection against bot traffic, such as sneaker websites or travel fare aggregators?
- Yes, residential proxies are suitable for tasks requiring strong protection against bot traffic as they have a good reputation being registered under consumer internet service providers.
12.Do residential proxies provide better support for tasks like SEO crawling, ad verification, and software localization?
- Yes, residential proxies are advantageous for tasks requiring broad location coverage and precise targeting options, making them suitable for SEO crawling, ad verification, and software localization.
13.How do residential proxies compare to VPNs and datacenter addresses in terms of browsing anonymity?
- Residential proxies make it look like you’re browsing as a real person, providing true anonymity, whereas VPNs and datacenter addresses hide your identity but not the fact that you’re using them.
14.Are there any drawbacks or limitations to using residential proxies?
- Drawbacks may include limitations in targeting options, potential connection errors, and varying performance levels among providers. Users should carefully evaluate providers based on their specific requirements.
15.What role does IP reputation play in the effectiveness of residential proxies?
- Residential proxies have a good reputation because they are registered under consumer internet service providers, making them effective in tasks where IP reputation is a crucial defense against bot traffic.
16.Can we use residential proxies for AdSense loading?
- AdSense loading is a practice that violates Google’s terms of service and could result in legal action, account suspension, or revenue loss for the user or other parties. With the residential proxies, your AdSense account will be blocked, so I advise not to use this practice.
Conclusion:
When choosing a residential proxy service, considerations such as target protection mechanisms, broad location coverage, and the desire for true anonymity play a crucial role. This list aims to guide individuals and businesses in selecting the most suitable residential proxy provider for their specific needs.
