Mobile proxies are specialized internet proxies that route your traffic through mobile devices connected to cellular networks (3G, 4G, or 5G). When you use a mobile proxy, your IP address appears as if it originates from a mobile carrier, making it highly legitimate and less likely to be flagged by websites or platforms. This unique setup allows for high levels of anonymity and credibility since mobile IPs are perceived as belonging to real users. These proxies operate by assigning you a dynamic IP address, often shared among multiple users, mimicking natural user behavior.
Mobile proxies are particularly beneficial for bypassing geo-restrictions and accessing content that might otherwise be blocked. Businesses often use them for ad verification, ensuring that their advertisements are displayed correctly across different locations and devices. Additionally, they are essential for web scraping, enabling users to collect data without triggering security systems designed to detect and block bot-like activity. Mobile proxies are also effective for managing multiple accounts on platforms that restrict one account per IP, as they rotate IP addresses, reducing the risk of detection or bans.
Mobile proxy types
There are several mobile proxtypes with varying functionalities. Among the many, the following are the most common:
| Mobile proxy type | Definition | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated | These proxies are exclusively assigned to one user at a time, ensuring that no one else can use the same IP address. | • Greater privacy and control. • Reduced risk of IP bans due to limited shared usage. • Higher cost compared to shared proxies. |
| Rotating | These proxies automatically switch IP addresses at regular intervals or after each request. | • Reduces the likelihood of IP bans. • Provides access to a wide range of IP addresses. • Inconsistent connection due to frequent IP changes. |
| Static | These proxies provide a fixed mobile IP address for consistent use. | • Reliable for maintaining long-term sessions. • Easier to manage compared to rotating proxies. • Higher risk of IP bans if overused for sensitive tasks. |
| 4G/5G | These proxies use 4G or 5G mobile network connections to provide high-speed, dynamic IP addresses. | • Superior speed and connection reliability. • Higher IP reputation due to mobile carrier networks. • Premium cost. • Limited availability in certain regions. |
| Geo-Targeted | These proxies allow users to select specific geographic locations for their mobile IP addresses. | • Provides access to content or platforms restricted to specific regions. • Ideal for localized ad testing or compliance verification. • Costlier than non-geotargeted options. |
Best Mobile Proxy Providers to Consider in 2024
1. Bright Data
Bright Data is a versatile proxy provider in the premium segment, offering extensive features and maintaining the industry's second-largest datacenter IP pool. With over 770,000 fast, reliable, and ethically sourced datacenter IPs spanning 98 countries, Bright Data supports both shared and dedicated proxy IPs. The provider serves a large customer base that includes well-known enterprises.
Catering to both businesses and individuals, Bright Data offers flexible plans, including comprehensive all-in-one packages and pay-as-you-go options. Their 24/7 support helps new users and existing clients, including during the free trial period.
You can purchase anywhere from a single IP to ten thousand IPs, restrict them to specific domains or use them universally, and acquire cooled-down addresses to minimize detection risks. For those who do not require IP exclusivity, Bright Data provides shared datacenter proxies with flexible billing options such as pay-per-IP or pay-per-usage. Using a proxy manager, you can rotate, filter, and manipulate proxies to suit your tasks.
The service supports country and city-level targeting and offers flexible rotation options: you can choose to rotate proxies with every request or maintain the same IPs for as long as they are available. Additionally, Bright Data provides an option to automatically replace any proxy server that goes offline with a new one, contributing to their impressive 99.99% uptime.
However, this level of adaptability can influence pricing through upsells; costs may increase for features like unlimited traffic or access to IPs that have not been used recently.
2. Smartproxy
Smartproxy offers shared and dedicated datacenter proxies that are easy to use and backed by great customer service. The company distinguishes itself by balancing cost and performance, making it a popular choice among developers and small businesses.
Smartproxy maintains a pool of 500,000 datacenter proxy IPs in seven other countries, with over 400,000 in the United States alone. With pricing lower than premium-oriented competitors like Oxylabs and Bright Data, Smartproxy remains competitive among the top datacenter proxy providers.
The service is available under two pricing models: pay-per-GB and pay-per-IP. The dedicated plans feature unlimited traffic and unrestricted access to all domains without extra charges or hidden fees. You face no target limits and can establish unlimited parallel connections. Proxies rotate with each connection request but can be configured for 30-minute sticky sessions.
Smartproxy's dashboard allows you to choose between sequential or non-sequential IPs and select either SOCKS5 or HTTP(S) protocols. You can refresh your entire IP list or retain the same IPs upon subscription renewal.
Smartproxy delivers good value by providing high-performance proxies at affordable prices, albeit with fewer bells and whistles than the premium segment.
3. Oxylabs
Oxylabs operates the market's largest datacenter proxy server network, featuring over 2 million IP addresses. IPs are available in 188 countries, and you can target specific cities. Their primary focus is on performance, delivering rapid average response times. As such, the risks of encountering ASN and subnet-related restrictions are greatly reduced.
Oxylabs primarily targets businesses offering a premium range of proxy solutions, including dedicated and shared datacenter proxies. While their datacenter proxies may be costly for individual or general use, they don’t really have any compromises.
Oxylabs' shared datacenter proxies comprise 22,000 IPs across 9 locations, including the U.S. and several European and Asian countries. You can rotate these proxies with each connection or establish sticky sessions for a desired duration.
Oxylabs provides a functional dashboard for self-service purchases and shared and dedicated IP monitoring. As a premium provider, Oxylabs can fine-tune the proxies based on your targets and requirements, including pay-per-IP and per-traffic options. You also receive an account manager and access to an IP replacement API. Lastly, their proxies have unlimited traffic, domains, connections, connection requests, and 24/7 live support.
4. Webshare
Known for its flexibility, Webshare provides highly customizable self-service options, allowing you to personalize proxy plans. You can select the number of proxies, set bandwidth limits, and adjust the number of threads. Additionally, you can choose the geolocation of your IPs and get IP refresh intervals ranging from five minutes to one month. The user-friendly dashboard ensures that even first-time users can easily navigate the platform.
Webshare offers three datacenter proxy types: shared (used by more than two users), private (shared with one or two users), and dedicated (exclusively allocated to you). The service supports HTTP and SOCKS5 protocols and provides IP coverage in over 50 countries worldwide.
Webshare has a free plan with 10 static IP addresses from four locations. You receive 1 GB of free data monthly and can run up to 50 concurrent threads. Your free proxy list becomes available automatically upon registration.
Aimed primarily at entry-level and mid-tier users, Webshare offers affordable pricing. For example, customer support is limited to email communication, as no live chat option is available.
5. NetNut
NetNut operates over 150,000 datacenter IPs. The proxy pool provides impressive coverage across over 200 countries, including state and city-level targeting options. While the entry price of $100 per month is suitable for businesses, it may deter individual users. However, NetNut provides a 7-day free trial for you to test its datacenter proxies firsthand.
For those requiring stable and consistent proxy performance, NetNut is a solid choice, serving as a simpler alternative to a select group of premium providers.
NetNut offers both static and rotating proxies. IPs rotate with every request, and you can opt for sticky sessions lasting up to two days, though custom rotation intervals are not available.
Proxies are accessible through a self-service, with a registration process that involves only three steps and requires no human interaction.
As a premium provider, NetNut's monthly plans start at $100 ($1 per GB). More favorable rates and additional features become available at $350 and above, including access to a dedicated account manager, live support, and reduced pricing of $0.70 per GB or less. Despite these discounts, pricing remains above the industry average.
The pricing model of mobile proxies
The pricing of mobile proxies depends on several factors, including their type, provider, and intended use case. Here’s an overview of how mobile proxies are typically priced:
| Pricing Model | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Pay-As-You-Go |
|
| Subscription-Based |
|
| Per Proxy |
|
Conclusion
Mobile proxies offer a unique and powerful solution for achieving secure, anonymous, and efficient internet activity. Their ability to route traffic through real mobile networks gives them a high trust score, making them ideal for bypassing geo-restrictions, managing multiple accounts, and conducting large-scale data operations like web scraping or ad verification. By mimicking natural user behavior, they reduce the likelihood of detection or bans, providing a reliable tool for businesses and individuals alike.
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