Proxy types explained

The three main types

There is also a hybrid called an ISP or static residential proxy. It is covered in the residential vs. datacenter guide.

How proxies are priced, in general terms

Providers sell proxies in two broad ways. Per-IP pricing gives you a particular address, or a set number of them, for a month. It is common for datacenter and ISP proxies, where each address is a fixed resource. Per-gigabyte pricing charges for the data you move and is common for residential and mobile proxies, where every request uses a real connection.

Neither model is better. Per-IP suits steady, high-volume work. Per-gigabyte suits light or occasional use, but gets costly when pages are heavy. Always check what counts as billable traffic, how long data lasts, and whether there is a minimum purchase. This site does not list prices.

Test before you trust

Any proxy you are given can be checked. The proxy checker tests whether it connects, how fast it responds, which country it exits in and how much it reveals about you. The IP lookup tells you who owns the exit address, which shows whether it really is the type you paid for. In a browser, the WebRTC leak test and the DNS leak test show whether your real details leak around the proxy.

Red flags when buying any proxy

• Promises such as undetectable, unblockable or 100% success.
• No explanation of how addresses are obtained.
• Unclear billing, hidden minimums or no refund policy.
• Free open proxies from public lists, which can be slow, unsafe and abused.
• Exit addresses that do not match the type or the country you ordered.

Provider comparisons will be added once we have tested them.