What Is a Proxy IP?
A proxy IP is an intermediary server that acts on behalf of a user to access websites. When using a proxy, the target site sees the proxy’s IP instead of the user’s real one, enabling anonymous browsing or bypassing restrictions.
Types of Proxy IPs
- Datacenter Proxies – Fast but may be detected and blocked by some sites.
- Residential Proxies – IPs from real home networks, harder to detect.
- Mobile Proxies – 4G/5G-based IPs, mimic real mobile users for better stealth.
- Transparent Proxies – Don’t hide the user’s IP, used for caching or filtering (e.g., corporate networks).
Uses of Proxy IPs
- Access geo-blocked content (e.g., streaming services).
- Web scraping (avoid IP bans, collect data efficiently).
- Privacy protection (hide your real IP from tracking).
- Ad verification (check ads in different regions).
- Security testing (simulate attacks from multiple IPs).
How to Choose a Proxy IP?
- Speed – Datacenter proxies are usually the fastest.
- Anonymity – Residential & mobile proxies are stealthier.
- Cost – Datacenter proxies are cheapest, residential are pricier.
- IP Pool Size – Larger pools reduce blocking risks.
