Web scraping has become a game-changer for businesses looking to gather product information from e-commerce websites. Whether you’re tracking competitor prices, monitoring inventory, or analyzing trends, web scraping helps you stay ahead in the market. But scraping isn’t as simple as just sending requests—you need to be smart about how you do it. One of the biggest factors? Choosing the right type of proxy.
Proxies act as a protective shield between you and the target website, helping you bypass restrictions, avoid detection, and prevent your IP from getting blocked. When scraping product information, two main types of proxies come into play: static and rotating. Each has its advantages and drawbacks, and picking the right one can mean the difference between smooth, uninterrupted scraping and constant roadblocks. Let’s break it down!
Static vs. Rotating Proxies: What’s the Difference?
Static Proxies: Your Digital Identity Online
A static proxy provides a single, fixed IP address that remains the same over time. Think of it as your permanent online identity. If you need to maintain a stable presence while scraping, this might be your best bet. Static proxies are often used when accessing sites that require authentication or logging in repeatedly. If you’re interested in high-quality static proxies, take a look at this list of the best dedicated proxies that can offer you stable, long-term access.
Pros:
- Less likely to trigger anti-scraping alerts when used carefully.
- Great for scraping trusted sites that require a consistent IP.
- Generally faster since it doesn’t need to switch IPs frequently.
- Works well for scraping data from accounts that require login authentication.
Cons:
- If your IP gets blocked, you’re stuck and will need a new one.
- Not the best option for large-scale scraping across multiple sites.
- May struggle with websites that have strict anti-bot measures.
Rotating Proxies: A New Identity with Every Request
Rotating proxies work differently—they assign you a new IP address at set intervals or with every request. This makes it harder for websites to detect your scraping activity, reducing the chances of getting blocked. They’re widely used for large-scale data extraction from multiple sources.
Pros:
- Lowers the risk of getting blocked since each request comes from a different IP.
- Ideal for scraping huge amounts of product data from multiple websites.
- Helps bypass geo-restrictions if you need to access region-specific data.
- Works well for scraping highly protected websites with anti-bot detection.
Cons:
- Slightly slower than static proxies because of the constant IP switching.
- Some websites may detect rotating proxy networks and block them.
- Can be more expensive than static proxies due to the higher infrastructure cost.
Which Proxy is Best for Scraping Product Information?
So, which one should you go with? It all depends on your goals and the websites you’re scraping from. Here’s how to decide:
- For steady, trusted website access: Go with a static proxy. It’s ideal if you’re scraping from a website that requires authentication or consistency. If you’re extracting product data from an account-based platform (such as a wholesaler dashboard), a static proxy is usually better.
- For large-scale data extraction: Rotating proxies are the way to go. They’re best when you need to scrape tons of data from multiple platforms without raising red flags. If you’re looking for the top-performing rotating proxies, check out the best rotating proxies to make an informed choice.
- For avoiding bans: If the website you’re scraping has strong anti-scraping protections, a rotating proxy is your safest bet. By frequently changing IP addresses, you make it much harder for websites to detect and block you.
Other Factors to Consider
Beyond just choosing between static and rotating proxies, there are other factors to keep in mind for efficient scraping:
- Website Restrictions – Some e-commerce platforms, like Amazon or Walmart, have strict anti-scraping mechanisms. If you’re targeting such sites, rotating proxies with residential IPs will offer better results. One of the most popular and reliable options is Bright Data, which offers both static and rotating residential proxies with a strong reputation for bypassing anti-bot protections
- Speed vs. Anonymity – Static proxies are often faster due to their stability, while rotating proxies prioritize anonymity and evasion of anti-scraping systems.
- Budget – Static proxies are generally more affordable for long-term use, whereas rotating proxies, especially those with residential IPs, can be more expensive.
- Legality & Ethics – Always check a website’s terms of service before scraping. Some sites strictly prohibit web scraping, and violating their policies could lead to legal consequences.
Final Thoughts
Picking the right proxy type depends on what you’re trying to achieve. If you need stable, long-term access to a particular site, a static proxy is your friend. If you need to scrape large amounts of data while staying undetected, rotating proxies are the way to go.
Regardless of which option you choose, using proxies wisely is key to scraping successfully without interruptions. Make sure you respect website rules, rotate headers and user agents, and use high-quality proxies to get the best results.
Do you need help setting up the best proxy for your web scraping project? Drop a comment below—we’d love to hear from you and help you get started!
