Types of Proxies Explained – Complete Comparison for Speed, Privacy & Automation

Types of Proxies Explained

Not all proxies are the same. Each type of proxy serves a specific purpose — from fast automation to private browsing or AI data collection.
Understanding the types of proxies helps you choose the right one for your project’s balance of speed, reliability, and anonymity.

This guide explains the main proxy categories used in 2025 and how they differ in performance, trust level, and use cases.

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Residential proxies

Residential proxies use IP addresses assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to real devices like laptops or smartphones.
Because these IPs come from genuine users, they are considered the most authentic and trusted on the web.

Pros:

• Highly trusted by websites
• Low ban rate
• Ideal for data scraping and localized testing

Cons:

• Slower than datacenter proxies
• Usually more expensive

Best for: Web scraping, ad verification, and AI data collection requiring realistic user traffic.

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Datacenter proxies

Datacenter proxies come from cloud servers rather than residential ISPs. They are extremely fast, reliable, and cost-efficient — making them ideal for bulk tasks.

Pros:

• High speed and stability
• Affordable pricing (often < $0.02 per IP)
• Scalable for enterprise workloads

Cons:

• Easier for websites to detect
• May require rotation to avoid IP bans

Best for: SEO tracking, automation, API testing, and large-scale scraping.

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See: Plans & Pricing

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Mobile proxies

Mobile proxies use IP addresses assigned by mobile carriers (3G, 4G, 5G).
Because mobile networks share IPs among many users, requests look more natural, making bans very rare.

Pros:

• High trust level
• Excellent for testing mobile apps and ads
• Rotates automatically as carriers reassign IPs

Cons:

• Expensive
• Limited bandwidth

Best for: Social media management, mobile ad verification, and app testing.

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ISP (static residential) proxies

ISP proxies are hybrids — datacenter proxies leased directly from ISPs.
They combine the stability of datacenter connections with the legitimacy of residential IP ownership.

Pros:

• Stable, long-term sessions
• Trusted IP range from ISPs
• High uptime with minimal detection

Cons:

• Costlier than datacenter proxies
• Limited availability

Best for: E-commerce monitoring, sneaker sites, and long-duration sessions.

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Rotating proxies

Rotating proxies automatically assign a new IP after each request or at timed intervals.
They’re essential for scraping, monitoring, or automation at scale.

Pros:

• Reduces bans and throttling
• Automates IP rotation
• Handles concurrent requests efficiently

Cons:

• Harder to maintain login-based sessions
• May change IPs too frequently for certain apps

Best for: Continuous web scraping, data mining, and uptime monitoring.

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Static proxies

Static proxies maintain a single IP address for as long as you need it.
They are best when session persistence or consistent identification is required.

Pros:

• Stable connection
• Works for logins and account-based systems
• Easy to integrate

Cons:

• Easier to track and block if misused
• Lacks built-in rotation

Best for: Account management, dashboards, and internal tools.

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Quick comparison table

Type	IP Source	Speed	Anonymity	Best Use
Residential	ISP devices	Medium	Very High	Data collection, AI, localization
Datacenter	Cloud servers	Very High	Medium	Automation, SEO, scraping
Mobile	3G/4G/5G carriers	Medium	Very High	Ad testing, app verification
ISP (Static Residential)	Hybrid	High	High	Long sessions, reliability
Rotating	Any pool	Variable	High	Scraping, monitoring
Static	Fixed IP	High	Medium	Logins, dashboards

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Which type of proxy should you use?

Goal	Recommended Type
Large-scale automation	Datacenter
Privacy or compliance	Residential
Testing mobile ads	Mobile
Long sessions or eCommerce	ISP
Continuous scraping	Rotating
Account-based access	Static

Choosing the right proxy depends on your project type.
For most business automation, datacenter proxies are the best balance between speed, price, and performance.

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Key takeaways

• Each proxy type serves a unique purpose — there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
• Residential = realism, Datacenter = speed, Mobile = adaptability.
• For scalable automation, datacenter proxies remain the most cost-effective option.
• Always buy proxies from reputable providers with transparent sourcing and uptime guarantees.