Different Types of Proxy Servers

There are several types of proxies with different use cases. Each type has its method of accessing the internet with an IP different from your own. Ideal for web scraping, residential proxies assign a home based IP address. Whereas datacenter proxies are cloud-based, which make them detectable.In this article, we'll cover the different types of proxy servers.

The Different Types of Proxy Servers

With proxies, the differences vary - especially between residential and datacenter proxies. This means methods of rerouting and IP hiding differ per proxy type.

Residential proxies assign a new IP per connection from physical devices. Whereas, datacenter proxy services get their IPs from data centers. Meaning, they don't assign new IPs per request.

Below is a list of the different types:

1. Mobile Proxies

Mobile proxies are physical devices connected to phone masts. They offer rotation to get passed IP blocks, bypass captchas, sticky IPs lasting for 10 minutes, & rotating IPs.    

With high-grade stealth, mobile proxies are unblockable. Because hundreds of users share the same IP from the same phone mast, public services can't block a single IP.Sites will have to block an entire cell tower to prevent scrapers & sneaker bots. It’s worth remembering companies won’t ban a whole area surrounding a mast based on 1 or 2 individuals, as they want to retain potential customers.

2. Residential Proxies

Residential proxies access the internet through real devices, which get used to pinpoint locations. Instead of masts, residential IPs use physical routers.

Homeowners across the globe own residential IPs. It's like accessing the internet from your friend's home, but you can access millions of different IPs through large residential IP pools.

Residential proxies are high in quality and stealth, making them hard to block. To anti-automation tools, requests sent from residential IPs appear 100% legitimate.

You get a new IP address every time you access to the internet through a residential proxy. This is because all connections are routed through physical devices situated globally.

If you decide to use a sticky IP within a residential proxy, your IP will last up to 10 minutes.

People use residential proxies to manage social media accounts, scrape online retailer sites, compare prices, and undergo ad verification.

3. ISP Proxies

ISP proxies are highly detectable, as ISP proxy providers pay for IP addresses, which share the same subnet & compromise on security. Meaning, they’re easily detected by anti-automation algorithms on websites. In addition, you could get a bunch of IPs blocked from a single site at once.

ISP proxies get used for every proxy use case but lack reliability for the reasons mentioned above.

4. Datacenter Proxies

Datacenter proxies get made with the servers of cloud-based host providers. They're adequate for accessing unprotected sites, and are cost effective.

Datacenter proxies are fast but compromise on stealth. They begin to fail when you access a website with strict anti-bot mechanisms in-place.  It isn't worth compromising on stealth for speed, as you risk exposing your IP. You may get blocked by targeted sites as a consequence.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• To use datacenter proxies efficiently, you need an in-depth understanding of proxies.
• Due to the range of IPs they belong to, they're easily detectable.

5. Public Proxy

Also known as ‘free proxies’, public proxies lack speed, anonymity and security, but don’t cost anything. They’re an option if you can't afford to invest in a proxy. In addition, third parties can view the information you get through them.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Most popular sites & social networks have already blocked public proxies.
• Free proxies get used for all use cases but expect little from them.

Conclusion

Mobile & residential proxies are the best, as they offer large IP pools & rotation to maintain anonymity to avoid getting banned. Whereas other proxy types lack stability, security and stealth. Meaning, they’re easily detectable and don’t offer IP rotation.

AnyIP is a dependable proxy service that offers mobile and residential proxies. While offering competitive prices, we thrive on receiving positive consumer feedback.

Mobile proxies can be costly, but we don't overcharge our consumers. Meaning, our mobile proxy service costs the same as our residential proxies.

If you need a reliable and affordable proxy, consider giving AnyIP a try!

FAQs

To provide you with a better understanding of proxies, we have answered some FAQs to help you along the way:

Which is the Most Common Type of Proxy Server?

Common proxy server types are mobile & residential. Requests appear legitimate to targeted websites, as they come from real devices. Mobile IPs are shared across many devices connected to cell phone towers. Residential IPs are owned by ISP subscribers who agree to share their IP with a proxy service. This makes them difficult to detect & block among protected websites.

Mobile & residential proxies are the most reliable with healthy rotation and give users access to large IP pools at a global scale. Datacenter proxies get used by people who wish to scrape unprotected sites. Public proxies, AKA ‘free proxies,’ are aimed at people who can’t afford to subscribe to a proxy service. It’s worth remembering these proxy types provide minimal security, as you risk your activity and real IP getting exposed to third parties and targeted sites.

Which is the Safest Proxy Type?

Residential & mobile proxies offer large IP pools & high encryption levels, making them the safest proxy types. They offer IP rotation, which grants you a new IP address per connection. As a result, automated requests appear legitimate. In addition, every request & pieces of rerouted information gets encrypted.

How Do I Know The Type of Proxy I am Using?

To understand the type of proxy you are using, connect to your proxy and load https://ip-api.com/. If you are using a datacenter or public proxy, we recommend switching to a mobile or residential proxy. Mobile & residential proxies are undetectable, as they reroute requests & webpages through physical devices.

Which is Faster VPN or Proxy?

It depends on the VPN or proxy provider, but it isn’t about speed. It’s about efficiency. Having a high-quality mobile or residential proxy is essential if you want a faultless task flow. Also, VPNs are detectable by most websites, while residential proxies reroute requests through physical WiFi routers – making them undetectable.

How Do I Choose a Proxy?

To choose a proxy you must consider the main features, proxy type, and traffic limit to decide on a proxy. Residential & mobile proxies are undetectable, while datacenter, public, and ISP proxies are. Making residential and mobile proxies a much safer option, as they offer IP rotation & route requests through physical devices (genuine IPs) – ensuring anonymity.

This means every request you make will appear legit, instead of automated. Therefore, anti-automation on protected sites won’t block them.