GeoSurf vs. IPRoyal - An In-depth Feature Comparison
Software comparisons

Arevika Ambarcumian
Key Takeaways
-
Following GeoSurf's permanent shutdown in December 2023, IPRoyal serves as a highly capable replacement for users seeking reliable residential, ISP, datacenter, and mobile proxies.
-
IPRoyal expands upon GeoSurf's former capabilities by offering a pool of over 64 million residential IPs, SOCKS5 protocol support, and unlimited concurrent sessions on ISP proxies.
-
IPRoyal features an instant self-service platform with flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing and non-expiring traffic.
IPRoyal and GeoSurf used to compete with each other in the proxy market until GeoSurf had to shut down its operations in December 2023 due to losing a patent dispute with Bright Data.
If you were using GeoSurf’s services, you may still be looking for the best alternative. To help you, we’ll compare GeoSurf’s past features and pricing against IPRoyal’s current offering to highlight the differences and decide whether IPRoyal fits your needs and budget.
Shutdown notice: GeoSurf ceased operations on December 20, 2023. We keep this comparison published as a reference for former users researching alternatives. You can read more here .
GeoSurf vs. IPRoyal - Who Are They Built For?
IPRoyal provides proxy solutions for businesses handling projects of any size, be it web scraping, social media management, ad verification, SEO monitoring, or more. GeoSurf exclusively targeted enterprise clients, which was reflected in their steep pricing structure.
Here is a breakdown of their historical and current features:
| Provider | IPRoyal | GeoSurf (how it used to be) |
|---|---|---|
| Residential proxies | • Real household IPs • 64M+ in 195 countries • City-level geo-targeting • Non-expiring traffic • Sticky & rotating • High-end pool option • Unlimited concurrent sessions • HTTP/HTTPS & SOCKS5 |
• Clean IPs • 3.7+ million in 192 countries • City-level geo-targeting • Monthly plans • Sticky & rotating • Unlimited concurrent sessions • HTTP/HTTPS |
| ISP proxies | • Static IPs • Dedicated • IPs in 31+ countries • Unlimited traffic • HTTP/HTTPS and SOCKS5 • Daily and monthly plans |
• Static IPs • Private • IPs in 130 locations • HTTP/HTTPS • Monthly plans • Dual authentication |
| Datacenter proxies | • Dedicated • 100 GB/proxy monthly, pooled • 60+ countries • API support • HTTP/HTTPS & SOCKS5 |
• Dedicated |
| User experience | • Simple registration • Easy ordering • Instant delivery • Intuitive dashboard • Quick integration |
• Multiple-step registration • Simple dashboard • Quick integration |
| Support | • Available 24/7 • Instant response • Dedicated managers • Ample documentation |
• Available 24/7 • Slow response • Dedicated managers • Extensive documentation |
| Pricing | • Highly customizable • No subscriptions • No minimum deposit • Pay-as-you-go plan • Various payment methods |
• Subscription-based • No pay-as-you-go option • Multiple payment methods |
Note: Data collected in September 2026 from the official company websites and BestProxyFinder .
Residential Proxies
Until its shutdown, GeoSurf offered rotating residential proxies with city-level targeting, similar to IPRoyal’s current primary product. Both providers provided residential IP addresses from worldwide locations with city-level targeting, though IPRoyal also supports mobile proxies.
The proxy services include unlimited concurrent sessions, dual authentication, sticky sessions, and an auto top-up feature.
IPRoyal
IPRoyal offers both pay-as-you-go and subscription models without monthly minimums. Traffic never expires, which means it remains available until fully consumed. Pricing starts at $7.00 per GB and scales down to $1.75 per GB at high volumes, so you have more flexibility for different budgets.
IPRoyal covers 195+ countries around the world and has a pool of more than 64M residential IPs. The proxies rotate, but session control allows you to maintain the same IP for up to 7 days. It also supports HTTP/HTTPS and SOCKS5 protocols. Additionally, a high-end pool option (available with an active subscription) filters the proxy network to route traffic exclusively through the fastest available IPs.
GeoSurf
GeoSurf used to advertise a network of 3.7 million residential IPs across 192 countries, though their FAQ sometimes cited a smaller pool size of 2 million IP addresses in 150 countries. All plans included city/state-level targeting with access to over 1,700 cities.
Session control was more limited, with sticky sessions capped at 1, 10, or 30 minutes. GeoSurf only supported HTTP/HTTPS protocols, lacking SOCKS5 capabilities.
Their pricing relied strictly on a subscription model aimed at enterprise users. Plans started at $300 per month for 37.5 GB of traffic, with an overage charge of $8 per additional GB.
Here are the key differences between the two residential proxy services:
| Provider | IPRoyal | GeoSurf (how it used to be) |
|---|---|---|
| Pool size | 64M+ | 3.7M+ |
| Targeting | Country, state, and city-level | Country, state, and city-level |
| Non-expiring traffic | ✅ | ❌ |
| Sticky sessions | From 1 second to 7 days | 1, 10, and 30 minutes |
| SOCKS5 support | Yes | No |
| Starting price | $7.35/GB | $300/month for 37.5 GBs |
Static Residential (ISP) Proxies
Before GeoSurf closed, both providers offered dedicated static residential proxies. Unlike rotating proxies or mobile proxies, these fixed IP addresses provide maximum stability for long-term tasks.
IPRoyal
IPRoyal’s static residential proxy network covers over 31 countries and includes state and city-level targeting. For added flexibility, you can choose between 1-day, 30-day, 60-day, or 90-day plans.
The 1-day plan is best for users who need short-term static residential IPs. Pricing starts at $1.80/proxy daily or $2.70/proxy monthly, with discounts applied for longer commitments. All static plans include unlimited concurrent sessions, and datacenter proxies follow a similar per-IP structure at a lower cost.
These static residential proxies support HTTP/HTTPS and SOCKS5 connections. For authentication, IPRoyal allows both username:password credentials and IP whitelisting. The ISP proxies run to a 99.9% uptime target with unlimited concurrent sessions.
GeoSurf
GeoSurf provided limited public details regarding their static residential proxies. Historically, users could select from 130 countries and cities, plus 30 US Designated Market Areas.
GeoSurf applied the same pricing model to both their rotating and static residential proxies. Plans were exclusively monthly, starting at $300 for 37.5 GB, meaning unlimited bandwidth was not an option. The service included dual authentication and HTTP/HTTPS protocols, but lacked SOCKS5 support.
Here is a breakdown of their static residential proxy features:
| Provider | IPRoyal | GeoSurf (how it used to be) |
|---|---|---|
| Location coverage | 31+ countries | 130 countries and cities |
| Authentication | Username:password and IP whitelisting | Dual authentication |
| Unlimited traffic | ✅ | ❌ |
| Starting price | $1.80 per proxy/day or $2.70 per proxy/month | $300 for 37.5 GB/month |
User Experience
Historically, both platforms provided functional dashboards where users could monitor traffic, manage balances, and switch between proxy types.
IPRoyal
IPRoyal, being one of the leading proxy providers, features a fully automated self-service platform. To register, you only need an email and password, which is followed by immediate email verification. You can purchase and access proxies instantly, and the dashboard organizes different proxy types, proxy settings, affiliate settings, and tools into distinct and easily accessible sections.
GeoSurf
GeoSurf used to have a strict manual onboarding process: you filled in a web form that requested basic personal details, then received an email from the sales team scheduling a mandatory Skype call to discuss your use case. Only after this interview and a subsequent plan selection were users granted dashboard access. Once inside, the dashboard itself was straightforward and easy to navigate.
Support
While GeoSurf was still active, both platforms provided 24/7 customer support and dedicated managers for enterprise clients, but the approach and accessibility of those services were quite different.
IPRoyal
IPRoyal provides 24/7 support via live chat, email, and Discord, with agents responding within a minute on average. Dedicated account managers are reserved for enterprise clients.
There’s also a comprehensive Help Center, quick-start guides, and integration tutorials for those who want to figure things out on their own. Users also have access to free Chrome and Firefox proxy extensions and a built-in proxy tester to verify IP compatibility and speed.
GeoSurf
Before shutting down, GeoSurf offered support strictly via email and Skype, lacking a live chat option completely. Email replies often took several hours, which made Skype communication generally faster and more efficient. Dedicated managers were assigned to all users on plans starting at $480/month.
Their self-service resources included an extensive FAQ, white papers, and a residential proxy integration guide. Many video tutorials and integration instructions, however, remained outdated prior to the company’s closure. GeoSurf also provided Chrome and Firefox extensions, a toolbar, and a data collection API.
| Provider | IPRoyal | GeoSurf (how it used to be) |
|---|---|---|
| 24/7 support | ✅ | ✅ |
| Instant response | ✅ | ❌ |
| Dedicated account manager | Enterprise clients | For orders starting at $480 |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox | Chrome, Firefox |
| Proxy tester | ✅ | ❌ |
| Scraper APIs | ✅ | ✅ |
Pricing
Both platforms featured auto top-up options in their dashboards, but their pricing models differed significantly.
IPRoyal
IPRoyal provides both pay-as-you-go and subscription options for its residential proxies, requiring no long-term contracts. Pricing starts at $7.00 per GB and scales down to $1.75 per GB for bulk purchases. Traffic never expires and remains available until fully depleted.
Static residential proxies are available on 1-day, 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day plans, all with unlimited concurrent sessions. Pricing starts at $1.80 per proxy daily or $2.70 per proxy monthly, with a 5% discount on 60-day plans and 10% on 90-day plans.
IPRoyal supports self-service purchasing via PayPal, credit cards, and 25 cryptocurrencies.
GeoSurf
GeoSurf operated strictly on a monthly subscription model for all proxy types. Plans ranged from $300 for 37.5 GB up to $1,650 for 300 GB, with custom 1 TB plans available for enterprise users.
Because GeoSurf lacked a self-service checkout, customer support had to complete all orders manually, which significantly slowed the process. The steep entry price and lack of pay-as-you-go or daily plans limited its appeal primarily to enterprise clients.
Payment methods included Bitcoin, PayPal, and credit cards for US clients, while enterprise accounts also had access to wire transfers.
| Provider | IPRoyal residential | GeoSurf residential (historical) | IPRoyal ISP | GeoSurf ISP (historical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Traffic-based, non-expiring | Monthly allowance | Per-IP, included traffic | Monthly allowance |
| Starting price | $7.35/GB | $300 for 37.5 GB/month | $1.80 per proxy/day or $2.70 per proxy/month | $300 for 37.5 GB/month |
| Lowest price | $1.75/GB | $5.5/GB | $1.80/IP | $5.5/GB |
| Non-expiring traffic | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Unlimited traffic | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
GeoSurf vs. IPRoyal: Final Thoughts
Since GeoSurf ceased operations in December 2023, former users need a reliable replacement that covers their core use cases without added friction.
Here’s how GeoSurf’s former services compare to IPRoyal’s current offerings:
- Rotating residential proxies. IPRoyal replaces GeoSurf’s rotating network with a larger pool of over 64 million IPs across 195 countries, and offers pay-as-you-go pricing alongside standard plans. Both options come with non-expiring traffic, and IPRoyal also adds SOCKS5 support and extends sticky sessions up to 7 days.
- Static residential (ISP) proxies. IPRoyal’s ISP proxies serve the same purpose as GeoSurf’s static IPs but replace the per-gigabyte pricing with unlimited bandwidth. They also introduce flexible purchasing terms, including daily plans.
IPRoyal is a strong GeoSurf alternative for former users: it matches what GeoSurf offered and goes further, with larger proxy pools, mobile proxies, more proxy types, and more flexible pricing.
Migration Guide for Former GeoSurf Users
IPRoyal’s rotating and static residential proxies directly replace GeoSurf’s former offerings.
Your core scraping architecture requires minimal adjustments as IPRoyal maintains the HTTP/HTTPS protocol support and city/state-level targeting you used with GeoSurf. On top of that, you get more flexible sticky session controls.
IPRoyal also introduces several technical and workflow upgrades: you gain access to the SOCKS5 protocol across all ISP and residential proxies, the self-service platform eliminates manual onboarding, and you can use pay-as-you-go pricing for rotating residential proxies instead of relying strictly on monthly commitments.
FAQ
What happened to GeoSurf?
GeoSurf was involved in a patent dispute with Bright Data. After losing an appeal, a court settlement required GeoSurf to exit the proxy business and refer its remaining customers to Bright Data.
Is GeoSurf still operating?
No. GeoSurf permanently ceased all operations on December 20, 2023.
What’s the best GeoSurf alternative?
For users looking to replace GeoSurf’s rotating and static residential proxies, IPRoyal is a strong alternative. It provides a larger global pool of over 64 million residential IPs, non-expiring residential traffic, and the option for a pay-as-you-go model alongside standard subscriptions.
How do I migrate from GeoSurf to IPRoyal?
IPRoyal features a self-service dashboard for immediate setup. You can create an account, add funds or select a plan, generate proxy credentials, and update the settings in your automation software without manual approval.
Can I keep my proxy configuration after switching?
Your core architecture remains the same, though you must update your endpoint URLs, usernames, and passwords to your new IPRoyal credentials. IPRoyal supports HTTP and HTTPS, and introduces SOCKS5 support, which GeoSurf lacked.
Does IPRoyal offer city-level targeting as GeoSurf did?
Yes, IPRoyal offers city/state-level targeting for its residential, ISP, and datacenter proxies. For residential proxies, you set this in the proxy password string by combining the country and city keys, e.g., _country-us_city-chicago. For ISP and datacenter proxies, you select the location in the dashboard when you place your order.