How to choose a proxy service in 2026
Proxy types explained in plain language, what actually matters when you buy, and an honest side-by-side of four providers we've used with our extensions.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. Discount codes below are real and give you a lower price. It doesn't change our ratings.
What a proxy actually does
A proxy routes your connection through another server, so the site you visit sees the proxy's IP address instead of yours. People use them to browse from a different country, run several accounts without them being linked, scrape public data at scale, test ads and prices in other regions, or simply add a layer of privacy.
The right proxy depends entirely on what you're doing. Buying the wrong type is the most common — and most expensive — mistake. Here are the three you'll actually choose between.
The three proxy types
Datacenter
IPs from cloud/hosting providers. Fast and cheap, but easy for big sites to detect and block.
Residential
Real home IPs from real ISPs. Much harder to detect, priced per GB of traffic.
Mobile (4G/5G)
IPs from mobile carriers, shared by thousands of real users. The hardest to block, the priciest.
What to check before you buy
- Type first. Match the type to the task above — don't overpay for mobile if datacenter will do.
- Pricing model. Datacenter is usually per-IP/monthly; residential and mobile are per-GB. Estimate your traffic before committing.
- Location coverage. If you need a specific country or city, confirm it's actually offered.
- Protocol & auth. HTTP/HTTPS and SOCKS5, with user:pass or IP-whitelist authentication — our extensions support all of these.
- Trial or refund. A free trial or money-back window lets you test speed and block rates on your real targets.
- Rotation. Rotating (new IP per request) vs sticky (same IP for a session) — pick based on whether you need continuity.
Quick comparison
| Provider | Main strength | Types | Pricing | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webshare | Free plan + cheapest datacenter | Datacenter, Residential | Free tier, then $/mo | Getting started, budget |
| Proxy6 | Cheap IPv4 & IPv6 | IPv4, IPv6, mobile | Per-IP, low cost | Bulk cheap IPs |
| Proxys.io | Wide range, flexible terms | Datacenter, residential, mobile | Per-IP / per-GB | All-round choice |
| Proxy-Seller | 150+ countries, all types | Datacenter, residential, mobile, ISP | Per-IP / per-GB | Specific geo, premium |
The providers, one by one
The easiest place to begin. Webshare gives you a genuinely usable free plan (10 datacenter proxies) with no card, so you can test our extensions and your workflow before spending a cent.
Pros
- Free plan, no card required
- Very cheap paid datacenter proxies
- Clean dashboard, instant setup
- Residential option when you grow
Cons
- Datacenter IPs get blocked on tough sites
- Smaller geo range than premium rivals
A long-running provider known for rock-bottom prices on IPv4 and IPv6 proxies. If you just need a lot of cheap, working IPs and don't need heavy anti-detection, it's hard to beat on cost.
Pros
- Some of the lowest prices around
- IPv6 available (even cheaper)
- 10+ years in business
- Simple per-IP buying
Cons
- Mostly datacenter — not for the toughest sites
- Interface is basic
o6JRPdiivs — 5% offGet Proxy6 →
A flexible middle-ground provider: datacenter, residential and mobile under one roof, with a range of countries and rental terms. A safe default when you're not sure exactly what you'll need.
Pros
- All three proxy types in one place
- Flexible rental periods
- Decent country coverage
- Good for mixing tasks
Cons
- Not the absolute cheapest per type
- Premium geo can cost more
The premium pick. Datacenter, residential, mobile and ISP proxies across 150+ countries with 24/7 support — the one to choose when you need a specific city, a hard target, or reliability at scale.
Pros
- Every proxy type, 150+ countries
- Residential & mobile for tough targets
- 24/7 support
- Granular geo targeting
Cons
- Pricier than budget providers
- More options = a bit more to learn
RUPLJK_374255 — up to 50% offGet Proxy-Seller →
So which should you pick?
- Just starting / on a budget? Begin with Webshare's free plan, upgrade only when you hit its limits.
- Need lots of cheap IPs? Proxy6 (use code
o6JRPdiivs). - Mixing tasks, want flexibility? Proxys.io.
- Specific country, hard target, or scale? Proxy-Seller (use code
RUPLJK_374255).
Whichever you choose, our free extensions — ProxyMaster, ProxyPilot and ProxySnap — let you plug in the proxy and switch, schedule and route it right inside Chrome.
FAQ
Are proxies legal?
Using a proxy is legal in most countries. What matters is what you do with it — follow the terms of the sites you visit and your local laws. Proxies are widely used for privacy, testing, and legitimate data collection.
Datacenter or residential — which do I need?
If the site doesn't aggressively block proxies and you want speed and low cost, datacenter is fine. If you're multi-accounting or the target has strong anti-bot protection, pay for residential or mobile.
What do the discount codes do?
They apply a real discount at checkout on that provider's site — Proxy6 gives 5% off with o6JRPdiivs, Proxy-Seller up to 50% off with RUPLJK_374255. Enter the code in the coupon field when you buy.
Do I need a proxy service to use your extensions?
Yes — our extensions manage and switch proxies but don't sell them. You bring your own proxy (from any provider above, or the free trial in the extension) and the extension handles routing.
How do I set up a purchased proxy?
Copy the proxy's host, port and credentials from the provider, open ProxyMaster/ProxyPilot/ProxySnap, paste them in, and connect. ProxyPilot even bulk-imports lists in host:port:user:pass format.
Ready to route it in Chrome?
Grab a proxy above, then manage it with our free extensions.
See our proxy extensions →