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The available comparison supports a shortlist of nine rotating-proxy providers, not 14 independently assessed choices. Bright Data, Oxylabs, Decodo, SOAX, IPRoyal, Webshare, Rayobyte, ProxyEmpire, and DataImpulse are named in a Bright Data comparison accessed in October 2026. Its rankings, pool figures, prices, uptime, and success-rate numbers are publisher claims—not results from a shared independent test. The right choice depends on whether your work needs a changing IP for each request or a stable address for a session, plus the provider’s billing and targeting terms.
What to check before choosing a rotating proxy
“Rotating proxy” can describe a service that assigns a different exit IP automatically, but rotation behavior is not the only buying decision. Confirm the session controls, proxy network type, targeting, billing basis, and trial conditions against your workload. A large advertised pool or a low starting price does not establish that a service will work with a particular target site.
- Rotation control: Determine whether the IP changes on every request, at an interval, or only when you start a new session. Check whether the service also offers sticky sessions.
- Network type: Decide whether residential, datacenter, ISP, or mobile addresses fit the access pattern and budget.
- Targeting: Confirm the exact geographic or network-level targeting you need. Do not assume a provider supports city, state, ZIP, carrier, or ASN targeting unless its current product terms say so.
- Billing: Compare bandwidth-based charges with per-IP charges, minimum spend, expiration or rollover rules, and any commitment. A headline rate alone is not a complete quote.
- Testing and support: Check current trial limits, verification steps, support channels, and whether a paid test is possible before committing.
Rotating proxies and sticky sessions solve different problems
Automatic rotation
With automatic rotation, the proxy service changes the exit IP according to its configuration—often for each request or after a set interval. This can help distribute requests across addresses when a workflow does not need to preserve one IP. Rotation does not guarantee access, anonymity, or success; target-site controls and provider policies still apply.
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Sticky sessions
A sticky session keeps the same exit IP for a configured period or session identifier. That can be useful when a site expects several requests to come from the same address, such as while maintaining a logged-in or multi-step session. The session duration and method for starting or ending a session vary by provider, so verify those controls before building around them.
For scraping that processes independent pages, per-request rotation may fit. For workflows that depend on continuity, a sticky session may be more appropriate. Some providers offer both, but the available duration and control should be checked on the current service page.
Residential, datacenter, and ISP proxies are not interchangeable
Residential
Residential proxies use addresses associated with residential networks. Bright Data describes its residential proxies as rotating and positions them for more sophisticated targets; that is the company’s product description, not a guarantee of access. Residential and mobile use on Bright Data also involves a customer verification and compliance process, according to its pricing FAQ.
#1 Best Overall
Datacenter
Datacenter proxies use machine-generated addresses. Bright Data describes them as cost-effective for less sophisticated targets. Their cost or address type does not determine whether a target site will accept requests.
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ISP proxies are residential addresses obtained through internet service providers. Bright Data describes its ISP addresses as static, for use cases that need a non-rotating address or a smaller number of residential IPs. This distinction is specific to the company’s description; confirm the behavior and terms of any ISP product you consider.
Bright Data’s official product pages describe separate residential, datacenter, and ISP networks, and its pricing FAQ says pay-as-you-go is available for residential, datacenter, ISP, and mobile proxies. These are provider-specific offerings, not universal definitions of every proxy service.
Nine providers named in the available comparison
The pool figures below are residential-IP claims reported in Bright Data’s comparison page, accessed in October 2026. They are not independently verified. Providers may define pool size differently, and a reported pool should not be read as the number of unique addresses available to one customer at one time. The source does not establish a common methodology for comparing these counts.
Rank #3
| Provider | Residential pool claim reported by Bright Data | Source-page characterization |
|---|---|---|
| Bright Data | 400M+ monthly IPs | Feature-rich, with extensive targeting |
| Oxylabs | 175M+ IPs | Enterprise-oriented |
| Decodo | 125M+ IPs | Provider-authored comparison describes rotating and sticky sessions, geo-targeting, 195+ locations, and a short trial |
| SOAX | 155M+ IPs | Emphasizes granular targeting |
| IPRoyal | 34M+ IPs | Characterized as a lower-cost option with a smaller pool |
| Webshare | 80M+ IPs | Self-service/value option |
| Rayobyte | 40M+ IPs | Included in the comparison; no further fit claim is established here |
| ProxyEmpire | 30M+ IPs | Included in the comparison; no further fit claim is established here |
| DataImpulse | 90M+ IPs | Included in the comparison; the comparison lists a $1/GB entry residential price |
The comparison’s characterizations are the publisher’s judgments, not independent recommendations. It also reports a $6/GB entry residential price for Oxylabs; that and DataImpulse’s $1/GB figure are source-page prices, not normalized quotes or confirmed checkout prices. Bright Data’s official page displayed a promotional $4/GB residential pay-as-you-go offer when accessed in 2026. The company says USD is the binding billing currency for that offer. Promotions and rates can change, so check current checkout terms and minimums before purchase.
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How to use the shortlist
- Consider Bright Data if its broad targeting and separate network options match your requirements; validate the feature set, compliance process, and current price for your intended use.
- Consider Oxylabs if you are evaluating an enterprise-oriented provider; verify the current minimum commitment, session controls, and support terms directly.
- Consider Decodo if you need both rotating and sticky sessions, geo-targeting, and the locations described in its provider-authored comparison. Confirm current trial limits and session settings.
- Consider SOAX if granular targeting is important, but confirm which targeting levels are available for the specific proxy type and location.
- Consider IPRoyal if the comparison’s lower-cost characterization is relevant to your budget; compare actual billing and pool access rather than relying on that label.
- Consider Webshare if self-service setup is a priority; check that its current controls and network types cover your workflow.
- Evaluate Rayobyte and ProxyEmpire against your required proxy type, rotation behavior, and purchase terms; the comparison’s inclusion alone does not establish a fit.
- Evaluate DataImpulse if its comparison-listed entry price is relevant, but verify the live rate, minimum spend, and billing conditions before treating it as a low-cost option.
How to compare purchase terms fairly
Before selecting a provider, compare like with like. A per-gigabyte residential offer is not directly comparable with a per-IP datacenter plan, and an entry rate may depend on plan size, promotional timing, or a minimum purchase.
- Write down the workload: Record expected request volume, whether a session must keep one IP, needed locations, and the proxy type you intend to use.
- Match the rotation mode: Confirm how to request a new IP and how to keep one address when needed. Get the supported sticky-session duration and session identifier behavior from the provider’s current documentation.
- Calculate the full commitment: Check the billing unit, minimum spend, included bandwidth or IP count, expiration or rollover, and whether unused balance recurs or expires.
- Verify targeting and protocols: Confirm the locations, network-level targeting, and protocols documented for the exact product. Do not infer these from a provider’s overall feature list.
- Read test and support terms: Establish whether a trial is free or paid, its time and traffic limits, any identity verification, and what support access is included.
- Confirm policy fit: Read the proxy provider’s acceptable-use terms and the target site’s rules before using the service.
What the published performance numbers do—and do not—show
Bright Data’s comparison table reports 99.99% uptime and a 99.99% success rate for Bright Data. These are company-published figures shown in its comparison page, accessed in 2026; the available material does not provide a common independent test method or comparable measurements for all nine providers. Treat them as attributed claims, not a prediction of results for your target, location, or workload.
The same caution applies to pool-size figures and provider rankings. A large advertised pool does not show how many addresses are usable for a particular task, and a comparison-page label such as “best” is not evidence of a universal winner. Test the exact target and session pattern you are authorized to use, within the provider’s trial or paid-test terms.
Use proxies only for authorized work
A proxy changes the network path used for a request; it does not grant permission to access a site, evade its controls, or collect data. Check applicable law, target-site policies, and the provider’s acceptable-use terms. Where the provider requires identity verification or other compliance checks, complete them before using the relevant network.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
