Proxies are essential tools for many online activities, from web scraping to sneaker bots. But with two main types available – residential and ISP proxies – it can be tricky to pick the right one.
In this guide, we‘ll dig into the key differences between residential and ISP proxies so you can make an informed decision.
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What Are Residential Proxies?
Residential proxies, also called rotating proxies, are IP addresses that belong to real devices – like home computers and mobile phones.
Proxy providers get access to these IPs by partnering with internet service providers (ISPs) or by developing consumer apps. When you use a residential proxy, your traffic is routed through the IP of an actual user.
This gives residential proxies some major advantages:
High Anonymity
Because the IP comes from a real device, it looks 100% authentic to websites. There are no obvious signs you‘re using a proxy, making residential IPs very hard to detect and block.
Large IP Pools
Good residential proxy providers have massive IP pools with millions of addresses. You can easily generate new IP addresses on demand.
Global Coverage
The large networks let you access IPs from almost any location. Choose proxies in a specific city or country for localized targeting.
Highly Diverse
IPs come from many different ISPs, devices, and subnets. There‘s very little chance of getting all your proxies banned at once.
However, residential proxies also come with some downsides:
Slower Speeds
Routing your connection via a residential device adds latency and relies on the user‘s connection quality. Proxies are generally 2-5x slower than datacenter IPs.
Unstable Connection
Since residential proxies depend on real users, their devices can disconnect or switch IP addresses at any time. Most providers offer "sticky sessions" to use the same IP for 10-30 minutes.
You‘ll be sharing residential proxies with other customers. At peak times, IPs may not always be available immediately.
When To Use Residential Proxies
The high anonymity and diverse IPs make residential proxies perfect for:
- Accessing heavily protected sites like social networks, sneaker shops, ecommerce sites
- Web scraping and gathering data from restrictive platforms
- Targeting multiple geographic locations
- Running a large number of parallel tasks
Example use cases include:
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Price monitoring – Track competitors‘ pricing on sites like Amazon and Walmart. Residential IPs avoid detection.
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Ad verification – Check ad placements and targeting across regions. Residential networks provide required location coverage.
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Account management – Control multiple social media or ecommerce accounts from different IPs.
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Limited sneaker releases – Cop coveted shoes with sneaker bots that run on residential proxy networks. Harder for sites to block.
What Are ISP Proxies?
ISP proxies are IP addresses owned by internet service providers. However, unlike residential IPs, ISP proxies are hosted on servers in data centers rather than residential devices.
This gives ISP proxies higher speed and stability. But since they aren‘t real residential devices, ISP proxies lack some anonymity.
Fast Connection Speeds
By removing the residential device from the chain, ISP proxies avoid that extra latency hop. Connection speeds are similar to datacenter IPs.
High Uptime
Hosted on reliable datacenter hardware, ISP proxies have continuous uptime. No more worries about users disconnecting.
Unlimited Bandwidth
Some ISP proxy providers offer unlimited monthly bandwidth. This works well for data-heavy tasks.
Private Proxy Options
ISP proxies can be purchased as private/dedicated plans where you‘re the only user of the IPs.
On the downside:
Lower Anonymity
Though ISP-owned, the IPs are not residential devices. Sites may be able to flag them as proxies over time.
Fewer Location Options
It‘s tough getting major ISPs to provide server IPs globally. Location targeting is limited.
Blocking in Ranges
Like datacenter IPs, ISP proxies tend to be allocated in contiguous blocks. A site could block your entire subnet if detected.
When To Use ISP Proxies
ISP proxies are ideal for:
- Accessing sites and accounts that require consistent IP addresses
- Running heavy traffic tasks without bandwidth limits
- Copping limited sneakers and items with fast, reliable connections
Some example use cases:
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Social media management – Post to multiple social media accounts from the same ISP proxy for consistent access.
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Product launches – Use ISP proxies with your sneaker bots for supreme copping due to their speed and unlimited bandwidth.
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Web scraping – Extract large amounts of data from target sites with no bandwidth restrictions.
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Brand monitoring – Track mentions of your brand across the web using a private ISP proxy network.
ISP and Residential Proxies for Sneaker Copping
Sneakerheads use both residential and ISP proxies to run sneaker bots safely past web security. But which is better for copping limited shoes?
Residential proxies are great because of the sheer volume of IP addresses available. You can spawn hundreds or thousands of tasks to increase your chances in raffles and releases. The diverse IPs are also tougher for sites to block entirely.
However, residential proxies may suffer from slower speeds and bandwidth limitations. Having too many tasks could exceed traffic limits.
ISP proxies are lightning fast and offer unlimited bandwidth for botting. Their consistent IP addresses mean reliable access to sites like Yeezy Supply and Supreme. But ISP proxies are easier to block in ranges if detected, and provide fewer location options.
For the best of both worlds, use a blend of residential and ISP proxies. Run most of your tasks through residential IPs, with ISP proxies handling heavy lifting like checkout and payment processing. This diversifies your risk while letting you scale tasks aggressively.
Comparing Residential and ISP Proxies
Here is a quick overview of the key differences between residential and ISP proxy types:
| Residential | ISP | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Real devices | Datacenter servers |
| Speed | Medium | Fast |
| Uptime | Medium | High |
| Locations | Many | Few |
| Anonymity | High | Medium |
| IP Diversity | High | Low |
| Access | Shared | Shared/Private |
| Ideal For | Highly protected sites, location targeting | Sites needing consistent IPs, heavy traffic tasks |
The Bottom Line
Residential and ISP proxies both have pros and cons that make them suitable for different use cases.
Residential proxies are versatile, anonymous and great for accessing highly protected sites. But lower speeds and shared resources limit them for large data tasks.
ISP proxies deliver blazing fast speed with no bandwidth limits. Their consistent IPs provide reliable site access. However, they are less anonymous and easier to block in ranges.
The best approach is using residential proxies for anonymity and ISP proxies when you need speed and unlimited data. Combining them helps maximize your success while mitigating risks.
With a clear understanding of the differences, you can pick the right proxy type for your specific needs. Our proxy reviews and coupon codes make it easy to find a top-quality provider.
