Answer four questions before comparing products
- Does the exit need to stay fixed? Separate long-running sessions from tasks that benefit from rotation.
- Which network matters? Determine whether the destination or test requires residential, datacenter or mobile exits.
- How much location detail is necessary? Country, city and ASN requirements may narrow availability.
- How will usage be measured? Compare traffic, duration, IP count and usable results.
Compare the four proxy types
| Product | Consider it for | Published rate | Verify first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | Regional research and flexible rotation | From $1/GB; default $6/GB | Location and session behavior |
| Static ISP | Consistent exits for ongoing workflows | From $2.88/IP/month | Stock, duration and renewal |
| Datacenter | Compatible public data tasks | From $0.50/GB; default $1/GB | Destination acceptance and usable results |
| Mobile | Mobile network and advertising checks | From $9/GB; default $15/GB | Region, carrier and actual need |
Starting rates may depend on package size or other conditions. Confirm availability, validity, bandwidth and the final charge in your account.
Match the product to a business workflow
Ongoing store operations
If consistent address use is a real requirement, start by evaluating static ISP. Check device permissions, platform requirements and recovery procedures separately.
Public market and price research
Try residential exits when regional residential content matters; compare datacenter exits when they produce the same usable result at a lower cost.
Advertising and localization checks
Choose the region and network environment required by the test. A mobile exit does not replace a real mobile device or correct browser localization.
Run a small test and calculate actual cost
Prepare a representative sample and define a successful result. Record target, time, region, protocol, total traffic, completed results and errors. Compare products under similar conditions.
For illustration only: if a task consumes 0.2 GB at a rate of $6/GB, the traffic calculation is $1.20. This is an arithmetic example, not a measured DF-IP benchmark or a final invoice; other plan conditions still apply.
Choose the protocol your tool supports
HTTP and SOCKS5 are connection methods, not separate promises about destination access. Select the protocol offered by the product and supported by your client. An HTTPS destination and an HTTP proxy setting are not necessarily the same configuration field.
For command-line tools, the official curl reference explains proxy settings and the difference between SOCKS5 hostname resolution modes. Use the client setup guide for a practical verification sequence.
Prepare a clear requirement for support
- Workflow and target countries or cities.
- Fixed or rotating exit requirements.
- Expected traffic or number of IPs and duration.
- Tool, protocol and any observed errors.
- Redacted screenshots that exclude passwords and complete proxy credentials.