ISP Proxies vs Residential Proxies: Which to Choose?
Proxy fundamentals
Justas Palekas
Key Takeaways
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ISP proxies are IP addresses provided by internet service providers, but hosted on data centers, offering consistent, high-performance IPs.
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Residential proxies use household device IPs and route traffic through those devices, making residential proxies the best at avoiding IP bans and accessing geo-restricted content.
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ISP proxies are mainly used for long sessions, account management, and bandwidth-heavy tasks.
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Residential proxies generally provide a wider geographical accessibility and larger IP pools for location-specific and data gathering tasks.
Whether you’re new to proxies or already an experienced user, choosing between ISP and residential proxies can be difficult. While both proxy types hide your original IP address with IPs provided by internet service providers, the way they work is entirely different.
To understand which proxy type is the right one for you, we’ll break down the key similarities and differences between ISP and residential proxies. The article will explain what each proxy type is, how it operates, and the use cases it’s designed for.
What Are ISP Proxies?
ISP proxies, also known as static proxies, are provided by internet service providers and hosted on servers in data centers. Most providers consider them a combination of residential and datacenter IPs with the best qualities of both types of proxies .
More precisely, ISP proxies are datacenter proxies with an ASN number connected to internet service providers. Although datacenter server hosts them instead of household devices, target servers still “see” them as authentic residential proxies.
In other words, think of them as disguised datacenter proxies that provide the speeds of datacenter IPs and the anonymity of residential ones. Learn more about the difference between datacenter and residential proxies in our in-depth comparison.
Advantages and Disadvantages of ISP Proxies
Since internet service providers assign IP addresses to these proxies, they offer higher anonymity and more legitimacy than datacenter proxies. They usually come with unlimited bandwidth, bulk IPs, and excellent rotation options, although it depends on the provider and the pricing model you choose.
However, these proxies are not without weaknesses. ISP proxies usually have limited location coverage as they rely on data centers, so don’t expect ISP proxies in smaller countries or regions. Also, ISP proxies usually have low subnet diversity and a small number of internet service providers on board, so it’s easy to blacklist them if they’re not refreshed.
Use Cases of ISP Proxies
Due to their static nature, ISP proxies are ideal for activities that require a consistent identity. They are also great for traffic-intensive online tasks because they usually come with unlimited bandwidth.
Static ISP proxies are mainly used for social media, e-commerce account management, and other tasks that require a single consistent IP address to avoid triggers or “new device” flags. Another popular use case for ISP proxies is sneaker copping, helping users to fairly get their hands on limited-edition shoes.
Now that we’ve covered ISP Proxies, let’s answer another common question: what are residential proxies , and when should you use them?
What Are Residential Proxies?
Residential proxies use household IP addresses and route traffic through genuine user devices like desktop computers, laptops, tablets, or mobile phones instead of data centers. Residential proxy networks offer two main session types – rotating IP addresses and sticky or static proxies.
In other words, residential proxies work by routing your requests through multiple real, local user devices. Although this makes them look authentic and nearly impossible to detect and block, it also means slower data retrieval times.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Residential Proxies
The most important advantage of using a residential proxy is that it helps you hide your IP address and appear as a local internet user. This makes it highly anonymous and extremely difficult to block.
Most residential proxy providers have large networks consisting of thousands or millions of residential IP addresses. They usually cover locations worldwide, so you’ll hardly get the same IP address twice. Since these IPs rarely share the same subnet , you don’t have to worry about your target blocking a bunch of IPs at once.
Like any other proxy type, residential proxies have specific weaknesses you need to be aware of. They can have slow speeds and unstable connections as they rely on the internet quality of end users, who can disconnect whenever they want.
Use Cases of Residential Proxies
Residential proxy networks typically offer large pools of diverse IP addresses, making it easier for users to access different locations around the world and view geo-restricted content. This also makes residential proxies great for collecting large volumes of data or accessing identity-sensitive public information without triggering security systems.
For businesses, IP rotation enables safer and more efficient web scraping, helping teams analyze markets and gain insights for product development, marketing optimization, brand protection, and more.
Comparing ISP Proxies With Residential Proxies
The comparison between ISP and residential proxies can often be looked at from the perspective of static vs rotating proxies . ISP proxies are sourced from servers in data centers , while residential ones come from regular people’s devices.
Residential proxies cover more locations than ISP proxies, so they are great for use cases that need precise location targeting. In terms of stability and speed, ISP proxies are the clear winner. That’s because they are hosted on servers in data centers and don’t rely on end users’ connections.
| Feature | ISP Proxies | Residential Proxies |
|---|---|---|
| IP source | Issued by ISPs but hosted on servers in data centers | IPs from regular users’ devices |
| IP pool size | Limited pool | Large pool |
| Block rates/detectability | Low block rates | Very low block rates, higher anonymity |
| Speed | Very fast and stable | Slower and less consistent |
| Bandwidth | High bandwidth and reliable connections | Limited by end-user connections |
| Geo targeting | Limited location coverage | High location coverage with precise targeting |
| Cost | Expensive due to speed | Typically less expensive than ISP proxies |
| Best for | Tasks requiring stable IPs and consistent identity | Tasks requiring high IP diversity and anonymity |
Which One to Choose?
Both ISP and residential proxies are excellent choices, but to function correctly, they must be used where they are most effective. While they’re both proxy services and do conceal your IP address, the way they do that is quite different.
- Choose ISP proxies for speed and reliability: ISP proxies are static residential proxies that source all IP addresses from internet service providers, hosted in verified data centers. This gives ISP proxies data center speeds with real IPs to manage accounts and automation tasks.
- Choose residential proxies for stealth and scale: Residential proxies also use real IPs but route traffic through real user devices instead of data centers, making it much harder to detect and block these proxies. That’s why these proxies are best used for large-scale web scraping, location-specific data collection, and ad verification.
- Consider hybrid solutions: While proxies serve specific use cases, often the best approach is to use a hybrid setup, combining different proxies. The ability to switch between ISP and residential proxies expands available use cases and offers a more cost-effective option for users who require proxies for a list of tasks.
The final step is to pick a reliable proxy service provider. IPRoyal is a premium proxy provider with its own global pool of ethically-sourced residential IPs and ISP proxies. We offer high-quality proxies at great prices and bulk discounts.
Final Words
Both ISP proxies and residential proxies hide your IP address, but they have different strengths, weaknesses, and use cases. While ISP proxies are best used for actions requiring speed and stability, residential proxies offer a wider IP coverage on a global scale, with high protection against blocks. It’s essential to know the differences and key strengths to choose the best proxy for your needs.
FAQ
What is the difference between ISP and residential proxies?
The key difference between ISP and residential proxies lies in how they route traffic. While both proxy types use ISP-issued IP addresses, ISP proxies are hosted on data center servers, whereas residential proxies route traffic through real user devices connected to those ISPs.
In short, ISP proxies are similar to datacenter proxies , but they use IP addresses issued by internet service providers.
Are ISP proxies better than residential proxies?
Different proxy types serve separate use cases, so there’s no clear answer to which proxy is better.
- If you need speed and stability, ISP proxies or static residential proxies are probably the choice for you, offering static IPs for long-term sessions.
- If you need a high level of anonymity and security, residential proxies, especially rotating ones, are typically used for high-volume tasks where IP needs to be frequently changed.
Which proxy is better for web scraping?
Rotating residential proxies are typically used for large-scale web scraping because they reduce the chance of IP blocks with consistent IP address changes. However, persistent scraping jobs requiring login sessions or consistent identity could benefit from the speed and stability of ISP proxies.
Can ISP proxies be residential?
Yes, ISP proxies are often listed under the residential proxy type because they source IP addresses from actual internet service providers. The only difference is that ISP proxies are hosted in data centers.
