Choosing the right proxy provider from the get-go can help to ensure fewer headaches in the future. But how do you accurately rate and determine which is the best proxy provider for your needs?
Every proxy network has its own main benefits of their services but it is these top 5 things you need to look at before making your final decision.
Number of IPs available
Every company boasts about the number of IPs they offer. Understanding the different product offerings across available vendors can help you determine which one is the best match for your needs, and therefore which provider would be the most suitable for you.
Data Center IPs: Provided from a Data Center Server allowing for a cost-effective proxy solution
Residential IPs: Peer device residential proxy IPs providing the ability to be a real user in the location of interest by forwarding your requests through real peer IPs
Mobile IPs: Requests are forwarded through real-mobile devices using 3G/4G connections
Shared: IPs can be utilized by multiple people for numerous domains
Exclusive: Limits the number of users using a specific IP and the number of domains that can be accessed with it
If your operations require a large pool of IPs which is common for ad verification and mass crawling, look into rotating networks that are commonly priced per GB allowing you to use any number of IPs. If you are managing accounts or require stable, non-rotating (static) IPs you may want to look for a price per IP option. Regardless of which one you require, ensuring your proxy provider has the locations you need is of the utmost importance.
IP Geo-locations
Along with the availability of specific IP types, their locations are just as important. Many sites are sensitive to the country the IP is derived from, as this helps in providing accurate information to that customer. You cannot collect the accurate pricing of items in Germany using a United States IP address. When it comes to working with accounts or financial technologies, country specifications may not be enough and you’ll require a higher targeting option such as city resolution. For ad verification on mobile phones or website testing on a mobile user-agent, you may require even higher resolution targeting including ASN and carriers. This is commonly used with direct billing campaigns and app promotions that target mobile users on specific carriers or user-agents.
Pricing models
When you buy proxy services, the vendors tend to have two main pricing models: bandwidth-based and IP based:
Bandwidth based normally provides a large pool of the same type of IPs and charges a price per GB for access to them. This pricing model is recommended when you require a large number of similar IPs as they normally have no limitations on the number of IPs you can use. These IPs are commonly provided in a shared IP pool and can be continuously rotated based on your specifications.
IP based pricing charges based on the IP type and number of IPs you require. They are beneficial when you require a high level of exclusivity and are commonly offered with a price per GB or a price for unlimited bandwidth.
Depending on what you are trying to accomplish understanding the IPs you will require will determine which pricing model suits your needs.
Where does the proxy service acquire their IPs?
When looking at Data Center IPs you want the proxy provider to have a large number of IPs across multiple data center farms with a large range of subnets. Subnets refer to blocks of IPs with a similar IP address. When one of the IPs in that range is blocked due to misuse of the IP, the entire subnet can be deemed unusable. By ensuring a large number of Data Center IPs across many subnets, one IP getting blocked or banned will not affect your operations as a whole.
Real-User IPs found in Rotating Residential and Mobile Networks are providing access to real-peers and therefor their explicit consent is required to ensure usability. Make sure your proxy provider explains where they acquire their peers from and if those peers need to clearly opt-in to the service to avoid future legal headaches. Also knowing that the peers are opting in guarantees a real rotating residential network and not just the selling of IPs directly from an Internet Service Provider.
IPPN Compliance
Understanding the way the proxy services have compiled their network is vital in guaranteeing the legality of the network itself and whether they comply with the standards set forth by your company. For instance, if your company complies with the strict guidelines imposed by GDPR, ensuring your proxy service does as well, is of the utmost importance.
As a new technology, ensuring your IP Proxy Network provider follows basic ethics and best business practices inline with your own, can guarantee no headaches in the future. How they acquire their peers is extremely important and how transparent a proxy provider is in this regard is easy to way to conclude the legality of their services.
Knowing the types of IPs you require for your operations will allow you to make the right decision in choosing a provider. This along with the geo locations offered, pricing model and support staff available are all things to take into consideration prior to making a purchase. Most providers offer a free trial and this is your opportunity to truly understand their network, its-ease-of use and if that service suites your needs. Speak with a proxy expert who would be happy to tell you the types of IPs they would suggest and how their company acquires the IPs.
Once all your questions are answered you can make an educated opinion on the right proxy provider for your needs and begin scraping the web like a professional!
