Datacenter vs residential proxies – which one is better? Surfing anonymously masking IP-address is one of the critical goals for advanced users who want to read blocked information or searching marketing opportunities without safety rules of websites or restrictions for residents of specific countries.
One of the promising solutions for masking your IP is a proxy server. Up to 40% of internet traffic is generated by bots, which is impossible if you are not hiding IP-address. Additionally, a proxy server allows the user to escape from tracking and possible attacks and check how your website works from all over the world.
Types of proxies
According to Datacenter vs residential proxies, proxy server is an intermediate between the user and the Internet or any other network.
The interaction chain is the following:
- the proxy receives the request from the user,
- the proxy sends the request to the server,
- the server processes the request and delivers the requested information to the proxy,
- the proxy sends the received information to the user.
There are several types with different pros and cons. Proxies can be separated into different types based on various criteria. Below are described the most popular groups of proxies.
Based on protocols used by proxy, they can be HTTP, HTTPS or SSL, SOCKS. HTTP is the most common proxies, as this protocol is commonly used. SSL or HTTPS proxy is just an additional level of safety on HTTP. SOCKS is the safest protocol as it uses a firewall.
Based on the anonymous level, a proxy can be transparent, anonymous, and elite anonymous. A transparent browser proxy is the only proxy where the user’s IP address is still visible for websites; mainly, it is used to provide access for determined users. Elite anonymous proxies are the best solution as it is not apparent that a proxy server is used.
Based on the place of proxy location, proxies can be datacenter and residential proxies. The main impact on proxy work has the type of carrier where it is installed and who owns this IP address. If we do not count proxy with free access, all paid ones can be divided into groups:
1. Residential proxy
An IP address is an analogue of a virtual address but in the cyberspace. Your Internet provider attaches a definite IP after each device thus collecting and tracking the whole database. The latter is stored in regional Internet registers, or RIR.
Depending on your place of stay, your IP may belong to:
- the North America registers (or ARIN);
- the registers for Europe and the Middle East (or RIPE NCC);
- the registers of Asia and Pacific region countries (or APNIC);
- the registers for Caribbean region countries and Latin America (ACNIC);
- the registers for Africa and India continents (AfriNIC).
Residential proxies use such residential IP addresses, so they look authentic. The seller of residential proxies does not own the servers with residential IP addresses; he takes them on lease or VPN instead.
2. Datacenter proxy (hosted proxy)
These proxies use IP addresses from packages of website hosting providers; these IP addresses are not connected with real people. The Hosting provider of such proxies should have a data center from different IP-addresses locations with special software that is difficult to execute.
The general idea of all proxy servers is that the user IP address is replaced by the IP address of the proxy server.
Datacenter vs residential proxies
Residential proxies are the most used by big companies based on real IP addresses from different locations. Residential proxies from foreign countries are commonly combined in networks.
Some residential proxies can change IP address many times per day (dynamic change); this is possible with the reverse connection. But residential proxies are an expensive solution for masking. Residential proxy is a more legal proxy than datacenter ones.
Datacenter proxies are very easy to operate, but their IP addresses nowadays are commonly blocked by popular websites like Facebook, Amazon, Google, Netflix. Still, they are trendy and stable of connection with high speed.
Datacenter proxies are cheap ones; because of this, you can buy several ones and change them from time to time. You can buy one such proxy or the package. A proxy can be private or shared when several users have access to it.
Datacenter IP addresses are blocked by the range; the blocking mechanism does not apply to residential IP addresses as it is not possible to determine which natural person uses residential address and which by the user masking his IP address.
How to choose a proxy server?
While choosing a proxy server, you first need to determine your task. If you need maximum Internet speed with low costs that it is better to select datacenter proxies, you should not forget that you can be easily blocked.
Datacenter proxies are quicker as they are located on high-efficiency hardware with wide channels and under constant control of IT specialists. If you need a trustable source with a massive choice of different geolocation and a slight chance of being blocked, you need to use a residential one.
Also, a residential proxy can use the IP address of private users under special conditions, so you depend on the person; this may lead the IP address can change in a very unpredicted moment. A residential proxy can change every 10 secs; the user has an option for long sessions with one IP address only up to 30 minutes.
But such a quick change of IP address may be the primary goal of the user. Datacenter proxy uses IP-address for a long time, mainly a minimum of up to one month.
Datacenter proxies are paid for the amount of IP addresses; in most cases, one IP address costs 1-2 USD per month. Residential proxies are paid based on total traffic (downloads) per month; the start package is from 200 USD.
It is not worth describing that proxies for free do not provide the required anonymity and safety of personal data for its users. The user receives additional bonuses as the possibility to control advertisements. Please remember that while a proxy server does not show the user’s IP address, user information can still be transmitted via JavaScript, active X, or cookies; proxy servers can even have their log bog, so before choosing proxy, read information about it carefully.
Before buying any proxy, it is essential to check if they are not used before in the area you are interested in. Most of the proxies are not freshly created and already had been used for different purposes, even though most of the websites are blocking IP addresses for some time, but some forever.
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