5 Tips on How to Choose Your Proxy Provider

Whether for web scraping or improving your online security, choosing the right proxy service can be daunting. It gets even more difficult if you don’t know much about proxies. You will have many options, each offering unique pros and cons. How do you make the right decision then?

The best way to choose your proxy provider is to learn the basics about proxies and how they are used. Below you’ll find all the information you need to make an informed decision and choose a perfect proxy for your web scraping project.

What are proxies, and what role do they play in web scraping?

When accessing the Web, you do it directly and without any middlemen. The best way to understand a proxy is to look at it as a middleman server between you and everyone else on the internet. In technical terms, a proxy server is a gateway routing all your outgoing and incoming traffic.

Proxy servers can be configured in many ways. For instance, they can simply act as gateways, but they can also add additional privacy and security layers. Proxies can also speed up your internet connection. Their most common use case in the world of business is web scraping.

A business can invest in proxy service to enable web scraping operations at scale. Proxies can play several roles in web scraping. At the most basic level, a proxy provides additional protection as your devices remain private while the proxy uses different IP addresses and hides your true IP address.

Website and server administrators are very well aware of web scraping because it can significantly slow down website loading speed and affect the browsing experience. That’s why they have anti-scraping measures in place. However, a proxy can help your scraping bot to pass as a human user and avoid suspensions or permanent bans. 

Since proxies can come with a pool of IP addresses assigned to different geo locations, companies also use them to obtain data from otherwise inaccessible websites. Many websites are geo-blocked, and proxies can help circumvent geo-blocks to enable scrapers to access a website.

With access to an immense pool of IP addresses, companies can also launch high-volume scraping operations. For instance, a proxy rotator can assign a new IP address to a scraper for every new request. It helps the scraper remain undetected while obtaining data from a target website.

5 main factors that are crucial when choosing a proxy provider

Now that you understand proxies and their role in web scraping, let’s see what you must consider before investing in a proxy service.

Speed

Not all proxy servers are the same in terms of speed. However, the connection speed will affect how quickly you can complete your projects. The more bandwidth, the better, especially if you want to run high-volume web scraping operations. Check for speed and bandwidth limits to ensure the proxy service is right for you. For example, Oxylabs provides the fastest proxies you can find on the market.

Encryption

Encryption is not a perk that you find in proxies by default. If you are handling sensitive data and you don’t want anyone to be able to see what you are doing, encryption is a must-have. Proxies with encryption can help you mask your traffic. Even if someone manages to tap into your connection, they won’t be able to make sense of data packets.

Privacy

Every proxy provider has a unique privacy policy. You should carefully review it before you make your final choice. It states whether the proxy stores your data or just relays it back to you. Additionally, you should check how a proxy builds its pool of IP addresses. You don’t want to end up using a proxy with blacklisted IP addresses in its pool and risk suspensions and bans. 

Type

Proxy type is perhaps the most important factor to consider as it defines a proxy’s use case. For instance, residential proxies are considered the best for web scraping because they use IP addresses attached to an actual physical location. Rotating proxies are also great for scraping because they keep changing the IP address making it easier to avoid anti-scraping measures.

Price

The last factor to consider is the price. Proxy providers offer their services at different price points. When proxy shopping, you should consider speed, privacy, and type to find the most affordable yet right option for your business.

Conclusion

Proxies are an essential part of every web scraping operation. Yet, many companies have problems choosing the right proxy service for their needs. It all boils down to clearly defining your business needs and goals. With needs and goals defined, you can compare different proxy services available on the market, considering factors such as speed, privacy, encryption, type, and price.