Shared proxies allow multiple users to use the same IP addresses. They provide an affordable way to mask your identity and location online. But how exactly do shared proxies work, and when should you use them? This guide will cover everything you need to know.
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A shared proxy is an IP address that is shared concurrently by multiple users. For example, User A and User B can both use Proxy 1 to access different websites at the same time.
The most common type of shared proxy is a datacenter proxy hosted by a cloud provider. However, residential and mobile IPs can also be shared.
The main appeal of shared proxies is their low cost. You only pay for a portion of the proxy‘s bandwidth, which brings the price down. Of course, this comes with some tradeoffs in speed and privacy.
There are two main types of shared proxy services:
Some providers will give you a list of proxy IP addresses to use. The IPs remain static and don‘t rotate. This works well if you need to keep using the same IP address.
Other providers offer a backconnect gateway that rotates proxy IPs automatically. For example, you might get a gateway like proxy.provider.com:22233 that connects you to a pool of shared proxies. Each request will use a different IP address from the pool.
Rotating shared proxies give you more anonymity but require slightly more setup.
Here are some common uses for shared proxy services:
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Masking your IP address – Shared proxies let you browse anonymously by hiding your real IP and location.
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Accessing geo-restricted content – Get access to region-locked content by using shared proxies from that country.
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Torrenting – Shared proxies work well for P2P file sharing while keeping your IP hidden.
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Web scraping – Scrape data from smaller sites that don‘t have advanced anti-scraping measures.
Shared proxies likely won‘t work on highly-trafficked sites like Google, Facebook, Instagram, etc. But they can handle a lot of everyday web use cases.
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Low cost – You only pay for a portion of the proxy‘s bandwidth, which is much cheaper than alternatives.
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Anonymity – Shared proxies mask your real IP address and location. Rotating proxies take this even further.
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Slower speeds – With multiple users on one proxy, you‘ll have lower bandwidth per user. This can cause speed issues.
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Banned IPs – If one user abuses a shared proxy and gets its IP banned, all other users suffer. This is also known as the "bad neighbor" effect.
How do shared proxies compare to other options?
Shared vs. Dedicated – Dedicated proxies are optimized for specific sites. They‘ll perform better for things like sneaker bots. But they‘re far more expensive.
Shared vs. Semi-Dedicated – Semi-dedicated proxies have fewer users, usually 2-3 people. So performance is slightly better.
Shared vs. Private – Private proxies are dedicated to a single user. This brings the best performance but higher costs.
In general, shared proxies make sense when:
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You‘re new to web scraping and want something inexpensive to learn with.
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Budget is a concern – shared proxies give you more IPs for the money.
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You‘re targeting lesser-known sites without advanced bot protection. With some trial and error, shared proxies can work well for scraping many smaller websites.
If shared proxies fit your needs, here are some top providers to consider:
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BrightData – Extremely reliable proxies with great customer support. Decent transparency and tools.
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GeoSurf – Focus on residential proxies but also offer some shared datacenter proxies. Excellent IP diversity.
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Luminati – Huge peer-to-peer proxy network. Very affordable pricing but less support.
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Oxylabs – Large proxy network with unique netlock feature to secure IP addresses.
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Smartproxy – Good backend proxy manager and support. Datacenter proxies only.
I recommend starting out with BrightData or GeoSurf based on personal experience. But do your own trials to see which provider works best for your use case.
Shared proxies from reputable providers are generally safe to use. Just be cautious with free or unknown providers when transmitting personal data.
Dedicated proxies are safer since you‘re the sole user. With shared proxies, you don‘t know what others are doing on the same IPs.
Shared datacenter proxies likely won‘t work on Instagram because they‘re easy to detect. Residential or mobile proxies are better options.
Conclusion
Shared proxies provide an affordable way to mask your identity and location online. They work well for basic web browsing, accessing geo-restricted content, torrenting, and scraping smaller websites. Just be aware of the limitations like slower speeds and banned IPs before purchasing.
With a reputable provider, shared proxies can be a useful addition to your toolkit. I hope this guide gives you a better understanding of how to use shared proxy services effectively. Let me know if you have any other questions!
