Guide
Start with the cheapest
that works.
How to choose a proxy type
There are four kinds of proxy, and the names say little about when to use each. This guide picks by what the task needs: how strict the site is, whether the address must stay the same, and how much data you will move.
Datacenter $0.75/GB · residential from $1.50/GB · mobile $5/GB · static ISP per IP
The four types
What each one is.
The type is defined by who the address is registered to. Everything else follows from that.
| Type | Address belongs to | Changes | Billing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Datacenter | A hosting company | Per connection | Per GB, lowest rate | Volume on sites that allow it |
| Residential | A home broadband provider | Per request or session | Per GB | Sites that screen datacenter traffic |
| Mobile | A mobile carrier | Per request or session | Per GB, highest rate | Tasks that need a carrier connection |
| ISP (static) | An internet provider, assigned to you | Never | Per IP, per month | One consistent address |
Decide
Three questions, in this order.
Answer them in order and stop at the first one that settles it.
Must the address stay the same?
If an account, an allow-list or a long session depends on one address for days, you want a static ISP address. Rotating pools cannot promise that.
Does the site screen datacenter traffic?
Test with datacenter first. If it works, you are done at the lowest rate. If you are blocked, move to a residential tier.
Is residential still screened?
Try a reputation-screened residential tier next. Use mobile last, or first only when the task itself needs a carrier connection.
By task
Where most people end up.
A starting point, not a rule. Test on a small balance before you scale.
| Task | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk public data from tolerant sites | Datacenter | Lowest rate, fastest, a new IP per connection |
| Prices, search results, adverts by country | Residential | You see what a local visitor sees |
| Logins and multi-step flows | Residential with a timed session | One exit held across the steps |
| Sites that weigh IP reputation | Screened residential | Flagged IPs are skipped before use |
| Mobile apps and mobile-only content | Mobile | The task needs a carrier address |
| An account that expects one address | ISP (static) | The same IP at every login |
| An allow-listed API or service | ISP (static) | You add one fixed address to the list |
Before you pay
Three checks that save money.
Estimate the data
Per-GB billing counts traffic in both directions. Measure one real run, then multiply. The cost calculator does the sum.
Test the cheap tier first
It takes one request to learn whether a site accepts datacenter traffic. On PrivateByte the tier is the password, so switching is a one-word change.
Check your client
Country and session options ride in the password and work over HTTP and SOCKS5. State and city targeting needs HTTP proxy headers. SOCKS5 does not carry UDP.
Answers
A few things worth knowing.
Which proxy type is best?+
None is best in general. Datacenter is cheapest and fastest, residential is accepted more widely, mobile covers carrier-only cases, and ISP gives one fixed address. The best one is the cheapest that completes your task.
Can I change type later?+
Yes. Datacenter, residential and mobile tiers share one key and one balance; the password selects the tier per request. Static ISP IPs are a separate monthly product.
Do I need rotating or sticky?+
Rotating gives a new address per request, which suits collecting many independent pages. A session holds one address across steps, which suits logins and checkouts. See how rotation works and sticky sessions.
Will a better proxy stop me being blocked?+
Sometimes, but the address is only one signal. No tier guarantees that a particular website will accept your requests. Sites also weigh request patterns, account history and other signals. See troubleshooting.
How do I set it up in my tool?+
The tool setup guides cover common browsers and automation tools, and the quickstart covers cURL and Python.
Test on a small balance.
Change tier with one word.
Datacenter, residential and mobile tiers share one key and one balance. The password picks the tier.