The Top 5 Proxy Providers for Web Scraping: Expert Picks for 2024

In today's data-driven world, web scraping has become an indispensable tool for businesses, researchers, and developers. However, successful web scraping requires more than just writing code—it demands reliable proxy infrastructure to overcome common challenges like IP bans, rate limiting, and geo-restrictions.

After extensive testing and analysis of dozens of proxy services, we've identified the top 5 proxy providers that excel in performance, reliability, and ease of use for web scraping in 2024.

Why Proxies Are Essential for Web Scraping

Before diving into our top picks, let's understand why proxies are crucial for web scraping:

Avoid IP Bans: Distribute requests across multiple IPs to prevent detection
Bypass Geo-Restrictions: Access location-specific content from anywhere
Scale Operations: Handle thousands of concurrent requests without throttling
Maintain Anonymity: Protect your real IP address and identity
Improve Success Rates: Rotate IPs to overcome anti-bot measures

1. WebScraping.AI: The All-in-One Web Scraping Solution

WebScraping.AI distinguishes itself by offering more than just proxies—it's a complete web scraping platform with built-in proxy rotation, JavaScript rendering, and AI-powered data extraction.

Key Features:

Intelligent Proxy Rotation: Automatically switches between residential and datacenter proxies based on target website requirements
JavaScript Rendering: Built-in headless browser handles dynamic content without additional setup
AI-Powered Extraction: Uses machine learning to identify and extract structured data automatically
Simple API Integration: One API endpoint handles proxies, rendering, and extraction

Code Example:

import requests

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"
url = "https://webscraping.ai/api/v1/scrape"

params = {
    "api_key": api_key,
    "url": "https://example.com",
    "render_js": True,
    "proxy_type": "residential"
}

response = requests.get(url, params=params)
data = response.json()

Pricing:

Starter: $49/month (50,000 API credits)
Growth: $99/month (150,000 API credits)
Business: $249/month (500,000 API credits)
Enterprise: Custom pricing

Best For:

Teams looking for a comprehensive solution that handles the entire scraping pipeline, from proxy management to data extraction.

2. Decodo (formerly Smartproxy): Best Value Residential Proxy Network - FREE TRIAL

Decodo offers an exceptional balance of quality, performance, and affordability, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced scrapers.

Key Features:

65+ Million Residential IPs: Extensive coverage across 195+ locations
Sticky Sessions: Maintain the same IP for up to 30 minutes
Browser Extensions: Chrome and Firefox extensions for easy testing
Advanced Filtering: Target specific cities, states, or ASNs
99.99% Uptime: Industry-leading reliability

Code Example:

import requests

proxies = {
    'http': 'http://username:password@gate.smartproxy.com:10000',
    'https': 'http://username:password@gate.smartproxy.com:10000'
}

# Rotating proxy example
response = requests.get('https://example.com', proxies=proxies)

# Sticky session example (maintain same IP)
session_id = "session-123"
proxies = {
    'http': f'http://username:password-session-{session_id}@gate.smartproxy.com:10000',
    'https': f'http://username:password-session-{session_id}@gate.smartproxy.com:10000'
}

Pricing:

Pay As You Go: $12.5/GB
Micro: $80/month (8GB)
Starter: $300/month (35GB)
Regular: $500/month (60GB)

Best For:

Projects requiring reliable residential proxies with flexible session management and extensive geographic coverage.

3. BrightData (formerly Luminati): The Enterprise-Grade Pioneer

BrightData remains the industry leader in proxy infrastructure, offering the most comprehensive proxy network with advanced features for enterprise-scale operations.

Key Features:

72+ Million Residential IPs: Largest proxy pool in the industry
Mobile Proxies: Access to 7+ million mobile IPs
Proxy Manager: Open-source tool for advanced proxy orchestration
Web Unlocker: Automatic CAPTCHA solving and anti-bot bypass
Compliance Tools: Built-in features to ensure ethical data collection

Code Example:

import requests

# Using BrightData's Web Unlocker
proxy = "http://USERNAME:PASSWORD@zproxy.lum-superproxy.io:22225"

headers = {
    "User-Agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36"
}

response = requests.get(
    "https://example.com",
    proxies={"http": proxy, "https": proxy},
    headers=headers,
    verify=False
)

# Using Proxy Manager for advanced rotation
from proxy_manager import ProxyManager

pm = ProxyManager(
    customer="YOUR_CUSTOMER_ID",
    zone="YOUR_ZONE",
    password="YOUR_PASSWORD"
)

proxy = pm.get_proxy()
response = requests.get("https://example.com", proxies=proxy)

Pricing:

Residential Proxies: Starting at $11.95/GB
Datacenter Proxies: From $0.110/IP
Mobile Proxies: From $24.50/GB
Web Unlocker: From $2.10/CPM

Best For:

Enterprise teams requiring maximum scale, compliance features, and advanced proxy management capabilities.

4. Oxylabs: Premium Performance with AI Enhancement

Oxylabs combines premium proxy infrastructure with AI-powered tools, making it perfect for complex scraping projects that demand high success rates.

Key Features:

100+ Million Residential IPs: Extensive global coverage
Next-Gen Datacenter Proxies: Self-healing infrastructure with 99.9% uptime
Web Scraper API: Handles JavaScript rendering and anti-bot challenges
Real-Time Crawler: Specialized for search engines and e-commerce
Dedicated Support: 24/7 technical assistance with dedicated account managers

Code Example:

import requests
from urllib.parse import quote

# Using Oxylabs Real-Time Crawler
username = "YOUR_USERNAME"
password = "YOUR_PASSWORD"

proxy = f"http://{username}:{password}@realtime.oxylabs.io:60000"

# Scraping e-commerce data
payload = {
    "source": "universal_ecommerce",
    "url": "https://example-shop.com/products",
    "geo_location": "United States",
    "render": "html"
}

response = requests.post(
    "https://realtime.oxylabs.io/v1/queries",
    auth=(username, password),
    json=payload
)

# Using residential proxies with session control
session_id = 12345
proxy_session = f"http://{username}:{password}-session-{session_id}@pr.oxylabs.io:7777"

response = requests.get(
    "https://example.com",
    proxies={"http": proxy_session, "https": proxy_session}
)

Pricing:

Residential Proxies: From $10/GB
Datacenter Proxies: From $50/month
Web Scraper API: From $49/month
Real-Time Crawler: Custom pricing

Best For:

Organizations needing premium performance, advanced e-commerce scraping capabilities, and dedicated support.

5. Shifter: Unlimited Bandwidth Pioneer

Shifter stands out with its unique unlimited bandwidth model and massive proxy pool, ideal for high-volume data collection projects.

Key Features:

31+ Million Residential IPs: Constantly refreshed pool
Unlimited Bandwidth: No data caps on any plan
Backconnect Proxies: Automatic IP rotation every 5 minutes
Custom Rotation Times: Configure rotation intervals from 5 minutes to sticky sessions
Global Coverage: IPs from every country and major city

Code Example:

import requests
import time

# Basic backconnect proxy usage
proxy = {
    'http': 'http://proxy.shifter.io:PORT',
    'https': 'http://proxy.shifter.io:PORT'
}

# Authentication via headers
headers = {
    'Proxy-Authorization': 'Basic YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN'
}

# Scraping with automatic rotation
for i in range(10):
    response = requests.get(
        'https://example.com',
        proxies=proxy,
        headers=headers
    )
    print(f"Request {i+1}: Status {response.status_code}")
    time.sleep(1)

# Using sticky sessions
sticky_proxy = {
    'http': 'http://proxy.shifter.io:STICKY_PORT',
    'https': 'http://proxy.shifter.io:STICKY_PORT'
}

session = requests.Session()
session.proxies = sticky_proxy
session.headers = headers

# Multiple requests with same IP
for url in ['https://example.com/page1', 'https://example.com/page2']:
    response = session.get(url)
    print(f"URL: {url}, Status: {response.status_code}")

Pricing:

Basic: $249.99/month (10 ports)
Advanced: $599.99/month (25 ports)
Premium: $999.99/month (50 ports)
Enterprise: Custom pricing (100+ ports)

Best For:

Large-scale scraping operations that require unlimited bandwidth and consistent proxy availability.

Comparison Table

Provider	Best For	Starting Price	Proxy Types	Unique Feature
WebScraping.AI	All-in-one solution	$49/month	Residential + Datacenter	AI-powered extraction
Decodo (formerly Smartproxy)	Best value	$80/month	Residential + Datacenter	Free trial available
BrightData	Enterprise scale	$11.95/GB	All types	Largest proxy network
Oxylabs	Premium performance	$10/GB	All types	AI-enhanced success rates
Shifter	High-volume scraping	$249.99/month	Residential	Unlimited bandwidth

How to Choose the Right Proxy Provider

Consider these factors when selecting a proxy provider:

Budget: Determine your monthly budget and expected data usage
Scale: Estimate the number of requests and concurrent connections needed
Target Websites: Some providers excel at specific platforms (e-g., e-commerce, social media)
Geographic Requirements: Ensure coverage in your target locations
Technical Expertise: Some services require more setup than others
Support Needs: Consider the level of customer support required

Best Practices for Using Proxies in Web Scraping

To maximize success with any proxy provider:

# Example: Implementing retry logic with proxy rotation
import requests
from time import sleep
import random

def scrape_with_retry(url, proxies_list, max_retries=3):
    for attempt in range(max_retries):
        proxy = random.choice(proxies_list)
        try:
            response = requests.get(
                url,
                proxies={"http": proxy, "https": proxy},
                timeout=10
            )
            if response.status_code == 200:
                return response
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"Attempt {attempt + 1} failed: {e}")
            sleep(random.uniform(1, 3))

    return None

# Implement rate limiting
from ratelimit import limits, sleep_and_retry

@sleep_and_retry
@limits(calls=10, period=60)  # 10 requests per minute
def rate_limited_request(url, proxy):
    return requests.get(url, proxies=proxy, timeout=10)

Conclusion

Choosing the right proxy provider is crucial for successful web scraping operations. While all five providers offer excellent services, your choice should depend on your specific needs:

Choose WebScraping.AI if you want an all-in-one solution with minimal setup
Choose Decodo for the best balance of features and affordability
Choose BrightData for enterprise-scale operations with compliance requirements
Choose Oxylabs for premium performance and dedicated support
Choose Shifter for high-volume scraping with unlimited bandwidth

Remember to always respect websites' terms of service, implement proper rate limiting, and follow ethical scraping practices. With the right proxy provider and responsible scraping techniques, you can efficiently collect the data you need while maintaining good relationships with target websites.

Table of contents

Why Proxies Are Essential for Web Scraping

1. WebScraping.AI: The All-in-One Web Scraping Solution

Key Features:

Code Example:

Pricing:

Best For:

2. Decodo (formerly Smartproxy): Best Value Residential Proxy Network - FREE TRIAL

Key Features:

Code Example:

Pricing:

Best For:

3. BrightData (formerly Luminati): The Enterprise-Grade Pioneer

Key Features:

Code Example:

Pricing:

Best For:

4. Oxylabs: Premium Performance with AI Enhancement

Key Features:

Code Example:

Pricing:

Best For:

5. Shifter: Unlimited Bandwidth Pioneer

Key Features:

Code Example:

Pricing:

Best For:

Comparison Table

How to Choose the Right Proxy Provider

Best Practices for Using Proxies in Web Scraping

Conclusion

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