Are you a new proxy user who is unsure of what to look for before purchasing proxies? Were you hoping to make an informed purchase decision? Well, you’ve landed on the correct page.
The residential proxy server market is huge and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.48% during the forecast period, according to Knowledge Sourcing. So it goes without saying that it’s hard to look for the needle in the haystack.
This article will help you learn about the main factors to take into account while shopping for the best proxy provider possible for your project.
Consider the Following Elements Before Purchasing Proxies
Not all proxies are created equal. The characteristics that set proxies apart include the IP geolocation, IP type, protocol used, whether the IPs rotate, and their cost. To help you shop with confidence, we’ll go over each of them in detail.
The Proxy’s IP Address Geolocation
One of the top reasons people utilize proxies is to access location-specific material in other regions. Think about the YouTube videos that are only available to American audiences as an example. In this case, you would require American IP proxies. This is possible with the help of a geo-targeted proxy.
Furthermore, some companies block access to particular websites in certain regions.
For these reasons, specialists recommend buying proxies from suppliers who have proxies spread out over several places.
Proxy IP Type
There are three primary kinds of proxy IPs: data center, residential, and mobile. Depending on why you are purchasing proxies, their IP type will determine if they will succeed or fail.
Proxies With Data Center IPs
First up, Datacenter proxies. The proxy providers create these IPs themselves and then allocate them to their own servers. This is instead of using IPs from internet service providers (ISPs).
Since their source server isn’t hidden, they are more sensitive to blocking, as websites can see that they are obviously a proxy.
Proxies With Residential IPs
Second, Residential proxies. They process client requests with residential devices to replace your original IP. Most websites don’t recognize them since they look like normal users.
A difference from datacenter proxies worth noting is that residential proxies are a little slower while being a bit more expensive. But residential proxies have plenty of use cases in which they are the superior choice.
They are, in fact, the ideal IP type for most projects.
Proxies With Mobile IPs
Lastly, mobile proxies. These IP addresses are from mobile network operators (MNOs), the companies that offer Internet access for mobile devices. Proxy providers redirect user connections through mobile devices to adjust the request’s header information accordingly.
They are the rarest and priciest proxy IP type.
Mobile proxies are ideal for automating Instagram and other social media in niche instances.
Proxy Protocol Type
The two primary proxy protocols are HTTPS and SOCKS. To avoid confusing those who aren’t IT specialists, let’s go through a quick explanation.
The majority of market-available automated devices already have built-in support for their required proxy protocol type.
Before purchasing proxies, verify whether they support HTTPS or SOCKS protocols as per your needs.
HTTP Proxies
The first type, HTTP proxies, also has the subvariant of HTTPs proxies, where the “S” denotes if the connection is encrypted with TLS or SSL. Apart from the tiny differences in how they manage requests, they are fairly comparable.
HTTP proxies can see the data they are transferring and manipulate its data header properties. By being able to view the data, they can scan for malicious content, blocking it upon detection to protect you as a user.
SOCKS Proxies
The second type, SOCKS proxies, is useful for a variety of applications. This is because they aren’t designed for a specific protocol, granting greater flexibility.
SOCKs proxies don’t have access to the data they are handling. Therefore, they are unable to read it like HTTP proxies can.
Because they don’t make any changes to the data, they have a lower failure rate due to misreading or misdirecting your requests. Additionally, as they don’t take the time to encrypt your data, they operate at the highest speed possible.
They can be used for any kind of data transfer, even on some systems and servers that normally reject proxies.
Web-Based Proxies
The third type, web-based proxies, is an outdated technology that is mostly utilized for surfing incognito. However, be mindful of the risks of using free proxies. Just because you don’t give your credit card information upfront doesn’t mean you aren’t paying in another way.
Fixed or Changing IP Address
There are two main session types for proxies. These are either dedicated or rotating IPs.
Dedicated IPs
Static proxies, aka dedicated proxies, use a permanent IP address. This gives you a unique, personal IP address. When using a static IP proxy, you typically pay an increasing amount per IP address.
Rotating IPs
Rotating proxies update your IP address after each request, or after a specific length of time, which is called a sticky session. These proxies make up the vast bulk of residential proxies.
When you subscribe to a membership, you are paying for bandwidth instead of IPs. Up until you use up all of your permitted bandwidth, you have access to the entire pool of residential IP addresses.
Purposes
Why are proxies necessary? The specific requirements of your project will greatly determine which kind of proxy you should purchase. After all, different proxies have different functions.
Datacenter proxies function admirably for browsing and scraping websites, as well as online gaming.
Meanwhile, residential proxies should be your go-to when copping sneakers or other goods with a shopping bot.
And lastly, mobile proxies are sometimes favored for social media automation.
Pricing
In the end, what you can purchase will depend on your budget.
Like with most products, the most costly proxies are usually the best ones available. But, if utilized properly, less expensive ones could work just as well.
If you want the premium option and have a high budget, the sky’s the limit.
When you are on a tight budget, you need to make every penny count. Don’t overpay for services you don’t need. This could be things like excessive bandwidth for your project or more costly mobile IPs when you don’t specifically need them.
Conclusion
It should be a lot simpler for you to make your decision now that you are familiar with these factors worth considering before purchasing proxies. Purchasing the optimal proxies for your project doesn’t have to be challenging. This is especially true if you plan your project and base your purchases on your specific requirements. If you’re still not sure how to use proxy servers on Windows, here’s a beginner’s guide to proxy servers.
