Proxies function by offering a buffer between you and a web platform. They have the capability of keeping you anonymous on the Internet for ethical reasons such as web scraping, price monitoring, ad verification, stock market monitoring, and a host of other use cases.
Not all proxies are created equal and as platforms gain intelligence it is critical that you keep up with your network capabilities within your software stack.
In this guide, you are going to learn the difference between data center proxies and residential proxies. You will also learn how they work for several use cases and can be integrated with anti-detect browsers and custom-made bots.
Datacenter Proxies
As the title suggests, these are proxies that are created by accessing a server and dividing it into nodes. the IP address is assigned by the server and has the capability of keeping you anonymous. They are usually cheaper to purchase and work fine for general use.
Because the IP addresses come from corporate data centers you can expect to only be able to target a handful of countries and cities.
That is because there are no data centers in every location within a country. For example, in the United States, you may expect to find data center proxies allocated from Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Houston. The IP ranges are also limited to the host.
The only upside to data center proxies would be they are cost-efficient, and you can multiply your proxy pool easily. There are some major downsides to data center proxies. An example would be that platforms such as Instagram can identify you are using a proxy and block your access eventually.
Residential Proxies AKA Backconnect Proxies
Unlike data center proxies, residential proxies are procured from real Internet service providers where the IP address is assigned to a user’s home router. Companies like ProxyEmpire gain access to these prestigious networks through software contracts that legally allow them to use the client’s bandwidth.
Residential proxies enable you to conduct your business online as if you were not using a proxy at all.
Platforms like Google, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and so forth will think that you are a residential address performing your daily routine.
Because residential proxies are assigned from real Internet service providers, you can expect to do granular targeting by using a set of filters within a proxy manager that is provided to you by a proxy partner. Residential proxies are available in all countries and wherever people may have residence.
Unlike data center proxies, residential proxies can be used in small locations, and you can even target which Internet service provider you want to use. That is especially important for ad verification where ads are filtered based on Geolocation.
Backconnect proxies by nature rotate and are not static.
That is because these proxies rely on a user’s device and each session is determined by that user which is a real person within a domicile. Once a proxy is disconnected it automatically rotates to a new node without the platform seeing your real IP address.
Metered Bandwidth Vs. Unlimited Bandwidth
Residential and mobile proxies come up with two pricing models that need to be examined closely. Some companies offer unlimited bandwidth but charge you for each thread you connect to. The issue with this model is that it limits your ability to make a request and boxes you into one port.
So if you want to target multiple locations at once you will not be able to do it. It’s simply not scalable.
Proxy partners that offer meet bandwidth charge you per gigabyte you use while performing your task with the proxies. However, they allow you to connect to multiple threads which gives you the ability to target a variety of locations and make a lot of requests at one time.
While it may seem like unlimited bandwidth is a benefit it’s a hindrance to your ability to scale within your use case and confines you to a single request unless you pay for multiple threads.
Moving Forward From Here
Now you know the difference between residential proxies and data center proxies. You need to evaluate your use case, and which one would benefit you to the greatest extent. Remember, the best way to remain anonymous online is by using proxies that are not identified as such.
