The 6 Best Web Scraping Proxies: Trusted Proxy Services in 2024

The Best Proxies for Web Scraping in 2024

Introduction
Web scraping is the process of automatically extracting data from websites using bots or specialized software. It‘s a powerful technique used by businesses, researchers, and individuals to gather valuable information at scale. However, websites often implement measures like rate limiting, IP blocking, and geo-restrictions to prevent scraping.

This is where web scraping proxies come in. A proxy acts as an intermediary between your scraping tool and the target website, routing your requests through a different IP address. This allows you to avoid restrictions, access localized content, and gather data more effectively.

In this guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about choosing and using the best proxies for web scraping in 2024. We‘ll explain the different types of proxies, review the top providers, and share tips to maximize your scraping success.

Types of Proxies for Web Scraping
There are several types of proxies used for web scraping, each with their own characteristics:

1. Datacenter Proxies
   These proxies come from secondary corporations like data centers and cloud hosting providers. They are fast, cheap and great for high-volume scraping of non-sensitive targets. However, they are easier to detect and block.

2. Residential Proxies
   Residential proxies come from real user devices provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to homes and businesses. They are harder to identify as proxies, making them ideal for scraping more complex targets. However, they are pricier and often slower than datacenter proxies.

3. Mobile Proxies
   Mobile proxies originate from 3G/4G/5G mobile connections and are tied to real user devices. They are the hardest to detect as proxies but also the most expensive. Mobile proxies are best for scraping tough targets with strong defenses.

4. Rotating Proxies
   Also called backconnect proxies, these automatically assign a new IP address to your connection after a certain time or for each request. Rotating proxies make you much harder to track and block.

The Top Web Scraping Proxy Providers in 2024
We tested over 30 proxy providers on performance, features and price. Here are the 7 that stand out for web scraping this year:

1. Bright Data
   With over 72M+ residential IPs, Bright Data is a leader in the proxy industry. Their proxies performed exceptionally well in our scraping tests with a 99.51% success rate. You also get city/ISP/carrier targeting, ASN filtering, and expert support with every plan. The main downside is the high cost starting at $500/month for residential proxies.

2. IPRoyal
   If you want quality proxies on a budget, IPRoyal is a great choice. They offer 2M+ residential proxies across 190+ countries at very affordable rates starting from just $0.80/GB. You get features like unlimited threads, SOCKS5 support, and easy integration guides. While they aren‘t as fast as premium providers, IPRoyal is perfect for cost-effective scraping.

3. Proxy-Seller
   Proxy Seller is an established provider offering residential, datacenter and mobile proxies for scraping. Their 8M+ residential pool spans 150+ countries with city-level targeting. All plans come with advanced rotation and free proxy switching via an intuitive dashboard. Their proxies achieved 99%+ success rates but can be a bit slow during peak usage.

4. SOAX
   SOAX has 5M+ residential proxies across 100+ countries with flexible rotation settings. You can choose between sticky or rotating sessions from 1 to 30 mins. Their proxies support SOCKS4/5 and HTTP(S) for easy integration with any scraper. We got high 95%+ success rates with decent speeds during tests. Pricing starts at $99 for 19 GB.

5. Smartproxy
   With 40M+ residential IPs, Smartproxy offers great location coverage across 195 countries. You can target 8 major cities and enjoy flexible rotation or use their unique "Waterfall" system to route failed requests. Their proxies are fast with 99%+ success rates. The intuitive dashboard and Chrome extension make setup a breeze.

6. Proxy-Cheap
   Proxy-Cheap is true to its name with residential proxies starting from just $18 for 10 GB. Their pool spans 130+ countries with city targeting available. Authentication is done via user:pass, IP or API. Their speeds aren‘t the best but ok for small scale scraping. The main downside is limited customer support and documentation.

7. HydraProxy
   HydraProxy is a newcomer in the proxy scene but delivers good results. Their residential proxies span 50+ countries with mobile coverage in select locations. The dashboard is very user-friendly with API access and browser extension available. HydraProxy achieved 97%+ success rates in our tests with decent speeds. Plans start from $18 for 10 GB of traffic.

How to Choose the Right Proxy Provider for Scraping
With so many options available, selecting the best proxy provider for your web scraping project can be tricky. Here are some key factors to consider:

1. Type of proxies
   Residential proxies are best for most scraping projects as they are harder to detect and block. But if you‘re on a tight budget or scraping easy targets, datacenter proxies can suffice. For scraping mobile content or apps, opt for mobile proxies.

2. Location coverage
   Make sure the provider offers IPs in the countries and cities you want to scrape from. The more locations, the better. Some providers also allow ASN/carrier targeting for mobile proxies.

3. Proxy pool size
   A large proxy pool means more unique IPs to cycle through and lower chances of blocks. Aim for providers with at least 1M+ proxies in their network.

4. Success rates
   The best proxies have high success rates of 95%+ as seen from our tests. This means fewer failed requests and retries. Avoid providers with less than 90% success rates.

5. Performance
   Proxy speed impacts your scraping efficiency. Premium providers offer fast proxies with low latency and quick response times. Cheap proxies can be very slow during peak hours.

6. Rotation settings
   The ability to customize IP rotation is crucial for avoiding bans. Look for providers that support both sticky and rotating sessions with adjustable duration. Some also allow rotating IPs after each request.

7. Integration and setup
   Your proxy provider should work seamlessly with your scraping setup. Most providers support HTTP(S) and SOCKS4/5 protocols. Some offer browser extensions, APIs and scraping guides for smooth integration.

8. Pricing
   Proxies are usually priced by bandwidth usage or ports. Residential proxies cost $3-$15 per GB while datacenter go for $0.50-$2 per GB. Pick a plan that fits your scraping needs and scales easily. Avoid free proxies as they are unreliable.

9. Support
   Web scraping often involves technical issues. Pick a provider that offers responsive support over live chat or email. Some even include a dedicated account manager for Enterprise clients.

Tips for Effective Web Scraping with Proxies
Using a reliable proxy network is just one part of the equation. Here are some tips to scrape successfully without bans or blocks:

1. Rotate user agents and headers
   Many websites track user agent and header patterns to identify bots. Use a diverse, realistic pool of UAs and headers matching your target audience. Rotate them along with IP addresses for each request.

2. Randomize request patterns
   Avoid sending too many requests too quickly from a single IP. Randomize the time between requests and limit concurrent connections. Try to mimic human browsing behavior.

3. Use referrals and search traffic
   Make your scraper visit the target website from search engine results and referring sites, not just direct navigation. This makes you look more like an organic user.

4. Handle CAPTCHAs and honeypots
   Some websites use CAPTCHAs and honeypots to block bots. Use CAPTCHA solving services or libraries like Puppeteer to handle them. Avoid interacting with hidden links and elements that are traps.

5. Monitor and adapt
   Keep an eye on your scraper‘s success rates and error messages. Adapt your approach if you encounter issues like IP bans, rate limits or content changes. Don‘t be afraid to experiment with different proxy types, geo-targets and request patterns.

FAQs about Web Scraping Proxies

1. Can I use free proxies for web scraping?
   While free proxies exist, we strongly advise against using them for any serious scraping project. Free proxies are often slow, unreliable, and already abused. Many even steal your data or infect you with malware. Stick to reputable paid proxy providers for the best results.

2. How do I set up proxies for web scraping?
   Most proxy providers offer easy setup guides for different tools and languages. Generally, you need to authenticate via whitelisted IP, user:pass or API and configure your scraper‘s proxy settings. Providers also have Chrome extensions and proxy managers to make management easier.

3. What do I do if my proxies get blocked?
   First, check if the target website has indeed blocked your proxy‘s IP. You can test this by visiting the site directly vs through the proxy. If it‘s a block, try switching to a new subpool of IPs from a different location. Adjust your request rate and patterns if needed. Contact your provider‘s support for help with persistent blocks.

Conclusion
Web scraping proxies are an essential tool for gathering data efficiently and reliably in 2024. By using proxies from trusted providers like Bright Data, IPRoyal, and SOAX, you can access any website without worrying about blocks or geo-restrictions.

Remember to pick the right type of proxies based on your targets, budget, and required features. Implement the scraping best practices we covered and you‘ll be able to extract valuable insights while staying under the radar.

As web scraping continues to grow in popularity, using high-quality proxies will only become more important. Invest in a reliable proxy solution and take your data gathering to the next level. Happy scraping!