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Internet proxies are valuable tools for virtually every web denizen, with numerous use cases. However, before working with one, there are many aspects to consider. Even experienced proxy users need help keeping track of their differences.
If you’re unfamiliar with proxies, their basic function is to replace a device’s ‘Internet Protocol’ (IP) address with another, masking its identity. IP addresses are effectively any given device’s street address; using a proxy is similar to using a Post Office box instead of telling everyone where you live.
Craving anonymity is by no means an inherently nefarious thing; it is a protection measure against others. Just like people shouldn’t go out into public without clothes, their internet-accessing devices shouldn’t, either.
However, the when, with what, and how of replacing IP addresses can vary widely between proxies.
Typically, proxy info is scattered across several web pages. On top of that, it can seem overly complex. Deciding what kind of proxy is appropriate for any given project may seem like a daunting task.
Let us simplify things.
There are five overarching categories of proxy types to consider. They are; connection type, protocols supported, IP type, session type, and bandwidth availability.
Here is a quick overview of each category, all organized in one place. Hopefully, it can help alleviate any confusion you may have.
When an individual user is shopping for a proxy, they are typically looking for what is referred to as a ‘back-connect proxy.’ However, there are three connection styles in total.
Most proxy services nowadays offer support for both protocol types. High availability doesn’t negate their differences, though.
This is rather technical information and not necessarily something you actively need to consider when choosing a proxy provider.
HTTP(S) stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol (Secure).
Some of the things that make HTTP(S) proxies stand out, compared to SOCKS proxies:
- They are only compatible with HTTP.
- Each request is a new connection that closes once its data has finished transferring.
- They can read data packets, allowing data filtering for improved accuracy, removing duplicate info, and rejecting suspicious code.
- HTTPS data encryption uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) – they previously used Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).
Sample Use Case:
- Web Scraping – with emphasis on clean and accurate data.
SOCKS is short for Socket Secure. Both SOCKS4 and SOCKS5 are publicly used, but most instances of 4 have phased out in favor of 5.
Some of the things that make SOCKS proxies stand out, compared to HTTP(S):
- They are compatible with every existing internet protocol.
- They primarily use Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) but also support User Datagram Protocols (UDP).
- They open a continuous connection between the client and the target server.
- They don’t encrypt data packets for the sake of higher speed.
- They can’t read or adjust the data packets they handle.
- They can bypass some firewalls via Secure Shell (SSH) encrypted tunneling.
Sample Use Cases:
- Web Scraping – with emphasis on speed and quantity.
- Streaming.
- Torrenting.
When choosing a proxy service, one of the primary deciding factors is its IP type. There are three options; datacenter, residential, or mobile.
Proxy provider packages contain a–preferably large–pool of IPs with access to only one given type each. This is why you need to know what’s best for your use case and budget in advance.
Some of the things that make datacenter IPs stand out, compared to residential and mobile IPs:
- They have the highest availability.
- They are the cheapest IP type.
- They have the fastest top speed.
- They are identifiable as a proxy, making them more likely to trigger anti-bot countermeasures.
Some of the things that make residential IPs stand out, compared to datacenter and mobile IPs:
- They are highly recommended for most projects.
- They have moderate pricing.
- They route your requests through privately-owned, ISP-provided IPs. This makes them look like ordinary users to the target site.
- They feature geotargeting, which lets you choose the proxy IP’s rough global position. This grants you access to location-restricted content.
Some of the things that make mobile IPs stand out, compared to datacenter and residential IPs:
- They have the lowest availability.
- Their rarity results in higher pricing.
- They route your requests through privately-owned, ISP-provided IPs. This makes them look like normal users to the target site.
- They feature geotargeting, which lets you choose the proxy IP’s rough global position. This grants you access to location-restricted content.
- They facilitate automated testing for mobile websites and features.
The ‘session type’ refers to how long the proxy holds any given IP address before changing to another. This is another primary consideration when you are choosing a plan and provider.
The ‘session type’ refers to how long the proxy holds any given IP address before changing to another. This is another primary consideration when you are choosing a plan and provider.
Some of the things that make rotating sessions stand out, compared to sticky and static sessions:
- They are the most commonly available session style.
- Their pricing is based on their bandwidth vs. threads.
- They change IPs with every request. Due to this, you can’t maintain a persistent account login session.
- The IPs you cycle through are shared with other proxy users.
- They grant the highest level of anonymity.
Some of the things that make sticky sessions stand out, compared to rotating and static sessions:
- Their pricing is based on their bandwidth vs. threads.
- They hold onto each IP for a fixed duration before rotating. Unlike rotation upon request, this allows for persistent account login.
- The IPs you cycle through are shared with other proxy users.
Sample Use Cases:
- Specialized Web Scraping – when accessing the target site requires signing into an account.
- Limited E-Commerce – requires a time delay between purchases, making them insufficient for highly competitive sales.
Some of the things that make persistent static sessions stand out, compared to rotating and sticky sessions:
- They are the least commonly available.
- Their pricing is based on the number of IPs.
- The IP address doesn’t change.
- You don’t have to share the IP address with other proxy users. Once you buy it, it’s uniquely yours.
- Once you have the static IP address, you can’t change any of its settings.
Sample Use Cases:
- Social Media Account Management. Ideally, use each IP for a single account.
- Private Networks.
- Gaming.
- Advanced E-Commerce, such as copping limited-availability sneakers within moments of their release. Doing so needs a unique IP per account.
There are two main styles for pricing plans, both of which are based on their data throughput.
If someone offers you something for free, there’s almost always a catch. Any high-quality, trustworthy provider will charge money in exchange for their services. At least, apart from any free limited trials they offer.
These plans are also commonly referred to as having ‘unlimited data.’
Some of the things that make unlimited bandwidth plans stand out, compared to metered bandwidth:
- They are cheap.
- Their providers might throttle their top speed. This is usually only after reaching your monthly data soft-cap.
- They allow only minimal simultaneous connections, called threads.
- They include only a few whitelisted IPs.
Sample Use Cases:
- General Web Scraping.
- Streaming.
- Torrenting.
- Load Testing.
These plans are also commonly referred to as having ‘unlimited threads’ or ‘unlimited connections.’
Some of the things that make metered bandwidth plans stand out, compared to unlimited bandwidth:
- Their pricing can snowball when handling large amounts of data.
- They maintain consistently high speeds.
- They offer high, if not unlimited, threads.
- They typically include multiple whitelisted IPs.
Sample Use Cases:
- Specialized Web Scraping.
- Low-Ping Gaming.
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