What are the main proxy types?

Let’s start with proxies in general. There are several types of proxies, including residential, datacenter, ISP, and mobile proxies. Each serves a different purpose, and choosing the right one depends on your needs. Here’s a breakdown of each type, their unique specifications, and use cases:

• Residential proxies use IP addresses assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to homeowners. They are ideal for web scraping with high anonymity to avoid detection and blocking. Residential proxies are also useful for accessing geo-restricted content and services, conducting market research, and performing competitive analysis.
• Datacenter proxies leverage IP addresses provided by data centers that aren’t affiliated with ISPs. They are best suited for high-volume web scraping where speed and cost are prioritized over anonymity. Datacenter proxies are also effective for bypassing geo-blocks, SEO monitoring, and rank tracking.
• ISP proxies combine the benefits of residential and datacenter proxies by providing IP addresses from ISPs but hosted on datacenter hardware. They are excellent for balancing the advantages of both residential and datacenter proxies. Use cases include multi-accounting without detection and enhancing online privacy and security.
• Mobile proxies use IP addresses assigned by mobile carriers through 3G, 4G, 5G, or LTE connections. Mobile proxies are perfect for ad verification to ensure proper display and prevent fraud. They are also great for multi-accounting on social media platforms without risking bans and for accessing mobile-specific content and applications for testing and monitoring.

 

Why choose mobile proxies?

Mobile proxies are highly versatile, offering a wide array of use cases. They are favored for their stability and ability to remain undetected even by sophisticated anti-proxy software. Here are some of the most popular mobile proxy use cases:

• Ad verification. Mobile proxies are unparalleled in AdTech tasks. Advertising networks must ensure their ads are displayed correctly and reach the intended audience. Mobile proxies provide IP addresses that mimic real mobile users, allowing advertisers to check how ads appear on various mobile devices and networks. This level of accuracy is crucial to detecting and preventing ad fraud, as mobile proxies can emulate real user behavior and locations, providing a true representation of the mobile ad experience.
• Managing multiple social media accounts. Social media platforms often have strict policies against managing multiple accounts from a single IP address, leading to bans or restrictions. Mobile proxies offer a solution by providing unique IP addresses from mobile carriers, which appear as genuine user IPs. This makes mobile proxies the best option for social media managers and marketers who need to handle multiple accounts seamlessly without risking detection and account bans. The rotation of mobile IPs ensures each account operates as if it’s from a different mobile device, maintaining anonymity and security.
• Accessing mobile-specific content. Some online content and services are tailored specifically for mobile users and may not be accessible through traditional residential or datacenter proxies. Mobile proxies excel in this scenario by using IP addresses from mobile carriers, recognized as legitimate mobile devices by websites and applications. This makes them ideal for testing and monitoring mobile-specific content, such as app functionalities, mobile web pages, and localized content. Businesses can ensure that their mobile offerings perform correctly across different networks and locations, which is vital for delivering a seamless user experience.

 

Overview of the best mobile proxies in 2024

Let’s turn to the big players providing the best mobile proxies this year. These providers stand out for their reliability, extensive networks, and innovative features that cater to various business needs.

• Smartproxy – Industry-leading proxy service with a large IP pool and excellent quality-price ratio.
• Oxylabs – Extensive mobile proxy network with precise geo-location targeting and high success rates.
• SOAX – Customizable proxy management tools with global coverage for various online activities.
• IPRoyal – Offers authentic mobile proxies with unlimited bandwidth and robust customer support.
• Bright Data – Pioneered mobile proxies and is still one of the most popular ones.
• NetNut – Innovates with a unique residential proxy network for stable and fast mobile proxies.
• Infatica – Provides flexible pricing and reliable connections across various countries.

1. Smartproxy

Established in 2018, Smartproxy is a leading proxy and data collection provider renowned for its reliability and excellent quality-price ratio. They offer 3G/4G/5G ethically sourced mobile proxies with 10M+ IPs and 700+ ASNs across 160+ locations, ensuring high success rates and complete anonymity. One of their notable features is OS filtering by Android and iOS.

 

Although Smartproxy doesn’t provide a free trial for mobile proxies, new users can test their critically acclaimed residential proxies for free for 3 days. If unsatisfied with their product, you can claim a refund within 14 days of purchase. Moreover, their award-winning 24/7 tech support is always there to advise or help solve an issue.

 

• Proxy pool: 10M+ IPs
• Locations: 160+

• Supported protocols: HTTP, SOCKS5  

• Rotation: Every request; sticky sessions for 1, 10, or 30 min

• Pricing: Starts at $21/GB (Pay As You Go), or $30 for 2 GB ($15/GB)

• Customer support: 24/7 tech support via LiveChat and email

• Free trial: Not available for mobile proxies; 14-day money-back option

2. Oxylabs

Oxylabs is a premium proxy service known for its reliability and speed. They offer 3G/4G/5G/LTE mobile proxies with a large pool of 20M+ IPs from 140+ countries. 

Oxylabs’ service includes country, state, city, coordinate, and ASN targeting, ensuring precise geo-location capabilities and high success rates with minimal IP blocks. 

They also provide comprehensive customer support, making them a top choice for users who need high performance and dependability.

• Proxy pool: 20M+ IPs

• • Locations: 140+

• Supported protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5  

• Rotation: Every request; sticky sessions up to 30 minutes

• Pricing: Starts at $9/GB (Pay as you go), or $99 for 12 GB ($8.25/GB)

• Customer support: 24/7 tech support through LiveChat and email

• Free trial: 7-day free trial for businesses; 3-day money-back option

 

3. SOAX

SOAX offers a meticulously curated pool of 3G/4G/5G/LTE mobile proxies with one of the highest IP counts in the market. Their proxies span a wide range of locations, making them ideal for global operations.

They are favored for tasks such as price monitoring, ad verification, SEO monitoring, and market research. SOAX provides comprehensive proxy management tools, enabling users to customize settings for various applications with ease.

• Proxy pool: 33M+ IPs

• • Locations: 195+

• Supported protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5  

• Rotation: Every request; 90-600 seconds (with custom options)

• Pricing: Starts from $99 for 15 GB ($6.60/GB)

• Customer support: Email support

• Free trial: 3-day trial for $1.99

 

4. IPRoyal

IPRoyal’s 3G/4G/5G/LTE mobile proxies provide a highly reliable and secure solution, leveraging authentic IP addresses from real mobile phone users. These proxies come with the advantages of unlimited bandwidth and the capability to establish an unlimited number of threads or connections.

IPRoyal stands out with its vast pool of mobile proxies and high-speed connections, making it perfect for market research and social media management. Users can configure proxy plans directly on the site, and the service includes robust customer support, including assistance via Discord.

• Proxy pool: 2.5M+ IPs

• • Locations: 5

• Supported protocols: HTTP, SOCKS5  

• Rotation: Every 3 minutes using auto-rotate; manual change every 3 minutes 40 seconds or 6 minutes, depending on the location

• Pricing: From $117/month for unlimited bandwidth

• Customer support: 24/7 live support

• Free trial: 1-day plan for $10.11

 

5. Bright Data

Bright Data, a pioneer in the proxy market since 2014, offers a network of over 7M IPs of 3G/4G/5G mobile proxies worldwide, ensuring excellent uptime and speed. They are renowned for their extensive network and comprehensive features.

Bright Data is trusted by many Fortune 500 companies because of its ethical business practices. Their services support web scraping, data monitoring, ad verification, and more, with a user-friendly interface and extensive geo-location options.

• Proxy pool: 7M+ IPs

• • Locations: 195+

• Supported protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5  

• Rotation: Every request; 90-600 seconds (with custom options)

• Pricing: Starts at $8.40/GB (Pay As You Go), or $40/GB

• Customer support: 24/7 email support

• Free trial: 7-day free trial

 

6. NetNut

NetNut, renowned for its innovative use of residential proxy networks, offers a unique combination of stability and speed with its 3G/4G/5G/LTE mobile proxies. Leveraging their direct ISP connectivity, NetNut ensures a stable and reliable connection for users, which is crucial for web scraping, data mining, and ad verification tasks. 

NetNut’s network provides a large pool of mobile proxies, supporting various proxy types and offering robust customer support. Although their pricing is on the higher side, the quality and performance may justify the investment for businesses needing high reliability and speed.

• Proxy pool: 250K IPs

• • Locations: 100+

• Supported protocols: HTTP(S), SOCKS5  

• Rotation: Every request

• Pricing: Starts at $400 for 20 GB ($20/GB)

• Customer support: Live and email support during working hours

• Free trial: Consult with sales for a deal

 

7. Infatica

Infatica provides a versatile solution with a pool of over 5M mobile proxies, covering more than 100 countries. Known for its flexible pricing and reliable connections, Infatica caters to applications such as web scraping and social media management.

Their service supports HTTP and SOCKS5 protocols, with various rotation options to meet different needs, making it a practical choice for diverse business requirements. Infatica’s competitive pricing, reliable service, and extensive geographical coverage make them a strong contender in the proxy market.

• Proxy pool: 5M+ IPs

• • Locations: 100+

• Supported protocols: HTTP, SOCKS5 

• Rotation: Timed rotation (5/10/15…/60 minutes); rotation with each request; sticky sessions

• Pricing: Starts from $18/GB (Pay As You Go), or $45 for 3 GB ($15/GB)

• Customer support: 24/7 support for paying customers

• Free trial: Not available

 

So, there you have it! You’ll definitely find your best mobile proxies solution among these seven providers. It all depends on your specific requirements, whether you prioritize affordability, comprehensive features, ease of use, ethical practices, or something else. Evaluate each option based on what matters most to your operations to make an informed decision.

 

Final thoughts

The landscape of the best mobile proxies in 2024 is marked by providers who display significant advancements and diverse options catering to various needs. From the cost-effective and customizable offerings of Smartproxy and Oxylabs to the high-speed and extensive features of Bright Data and SOAX, each provider brings unique strengths to the table. As businesses increasingly rely on mobile proxies for tasks like web scraping, ad verification, and social media management, choosing the right provider becomes crucial for achieving optimal performance and ensuring the success of their online operations.