Today, proxies are very important to help you stay online, private, and safe. Two very popular types are datacenter and ISP proxies. Let’s see how they differ and which should be chosen.
What Are Data Center Proxies?
Datacenter proxies do not have a connection to any internet provider or a physical location. Proxies are virtual IP addresses that are created by the servers of a commercial data center, and they can be used by the users to gain anonymized access to the web.
How they work?
Datacenter proxies give you new IP addresses and hide yours. That helps mask your request and give access to requested web-resources.
- Key characteristics of datacenter proxies
- Speed: by using powerful servers, datacenter proxies are very fast at processing requests and high on bandwidth.
- Privacy: The proxy service hides the real IP address so that you are kept private.
- Price: Data center proxies are very easy to scale; because of this, it’s the cheapest type of dedicated proxy
Pros
- Affordable: Data center proxies are less expensive than ISP proxies.
- High connection speed: speed is the main advantage which makes datacenter proxies suitable for all those applications which need instant access and unlimited traffic.
- Flexibility: Data center proxies are simple to install and can be used for automation as well as testing.
Cons
- Moderate blocking resistance and zero uniqueness: because IPs belong to the datacenter and aren’t associated with actual users, sites can easily recognize them as proxies and block them. Most web services see these IPs as non-residential and consider them to be suspicious which makes them more susceptible to blocking.
What Are ISP Proxies?
ISP proxies are the IPs from actual internet service providers. These proxies have data center efficiency with real IP addresses, so they are harder to sniff and block.
How they work?
ISPs provide IPs tied to specific regions, ensuring they look more authentic and reliable when used as proxies. Requests sent via ISP proxies look like they come from a normal user with a home network.
Key characteristics of ISP proxies
Realistic: IP addresses look like the ones of actual internet users, so they are less likely to get blocked.
Static IP address and stability: due to the connection to the data center, but using a real IP address from an Internet provider. They have an immutable IP address and high-stability
Pros
- Great for high level of trust: because they use actual IPs, they are the best for the projects that require maximum trust. Also, websites are not able to detect them as proxies.
- Fit for long-term projects: using ISP proxies is ideal for working with long-term projects that need static real IP.
Cons
- Pricing: ISP proxies tend to be more expensive than data center proxies because of real IP addresses.
- Lack of Scalability: Since they are based on actual ISPs, there are limited quantities of IP addresses in stock.
Comparing Datacenter And ISP Proxies
Performance: datacenter proxies offer very fast connections, and they are perfect for work where speed is an issue. ISP proxies are also fast, but they only benefit websites with respect to trust and the risk of being blocked.
Anonymity: Both proxies are anonymous, but ISP proxies offer greater assurance that requests won’t be flagged as proxies since they use real IP addresses. This is an advantage for tasks where detection must be avoided.
Cost: datacenter proxies are more affordable and they are perfect for mass web scraping and automation. The ISP proxies are more expensive, but they’re also more reliable and less likely to be blocked.
Use Cases: We typically use data center proxies for web scraping, automation, circumvention, app testing, and performance testing. ISP proxies, however, are best suited to establish and administer social media profiles, access to sites requiring strict user authentication, and internet advertising, where trust and risk of block are most important.
Which Proxy Type Is Right For You?
Datacenter vs ISP proxy — it all comes down to your requirement, budget, and tolerance for risk. For mass data collection, and you’re looking for a cheap and fast solution, data center proxies are a good solution. But if you want high confidence and the lowest possibility of blocking, ISP proxies are your bet. In case you’re running a social media operation or with advertising and you want to be as natural as possible – you need ISP proxies.
If you are seeking the best proxies for your needs then, we suggest you try the services of ProxyWing. Here you will find a large selection of proxy servers that are suitable for any task.
Final Thoughts
Both data center and ISP proxies have their own uses and pros and cons. Choose the right proxy type based on your task, budget, and required anonymity. Datacenter proxy is very fast and inexpensive. ISP proxy is very reliable and trusted because it uses real IP addresses. Invest in the right one according to your requirements and risks and keep in mind that you can only use a reputable proxy provider.
