Best Proxy Providers in 2026

With countless companies advertising the "best proxy servers," finding the right fit can quickly become overwhelming. To save you time (and potentially money), we've compiled a list of the five top proxy providers worth considering in 2025.

There's no universally agreed-upon "best" proxy provider, as business models, maintenance costs, and feature sets vary depending on whether you're looking at entry-level, mid-tier, or premium options. However, the following providers are known for performance, flexibility, and real-world reliability.

Oxylabs

Oxylabs has become a household name for businesses that need reliable, high-performance proxies—and they have the industry awards to prove it. Recognized by Proxyway for several consecutive years, they're particularly strong when it comes to enterprise-level projects that require global coverage and speed.

They offer a massive pool of over 177 million IPs, including residential, mobile, ISP, and datacenter proxies. Their Web Unblocker tool excels at handling tougher targets, and their entire proxy network is ethically sourced. Oxylabs isn't just about the technology—their 24/7 support and dedicated account managers make them a top-tier partner, especially for larger teams.

Key Features:

• Proxy types: Residential, mobile, datacenter, dedicated datacenter, ISP, Web Unblocker

• Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5

• Additional benefits: Convenient dashboard, extensive documentation, third-party software integration, free advanced geo-targeting, customizable proxy solutions

• Support: 24/7 professional support team via live chat, dedicated account manager

• Free trial: Available after contacting support or accessing a free proxy list without credit card required after dashboard registration

Starting Price:

• Residential: $4/GB with pay-as-you-go plan

• Datacenter proxies: Free plan, paid plans start at $12/month

• Dedicated datacenter proxies: From $6.75/month

• Mobile proxies: $9/GB with pay-as-you-go

• ISP proxies: From $16/month

• Web Unblocker: From $75/month

Pros:

• Recognized for outstanding performance and reliability

• Extensive global IP coverage

• Proxy sourcing adheres to the highest ethical standards

Cons:

• Premium pricing matches its high-quality services, which may be higher than basic options

Decodo (formerly SmartProxy)

Decodo (formerly SmartProxy) strikes a great balance between ease of use, speed, and support—perfect for individuals and businesses that want quality without unnecessary complexity. With 125 million IPs available across over 195 countries, they have plenty of muscle for everything from scraping to ad verification and SEO monitoring.

Their dashboard is intuitive, their browser extension is handy, and the 24/7 support (plus a dedicated account manager for larger clients) keeps things running smoothly. If you're managing large-scale data collection projects or need proxies that can handle geo-specific targeting, 👉 explore reliable proxy solutions that offer seamless global coverage and strong performance. The pricing is also competitive, and the 3-day trial or money-back guarantee lets you test before committing.

Key Features:

• Proxy types: Residential, static residential (ISP), datacenter, mobile proxies, website unblocker

• Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5

• Additional benefits: User-friendly documentation, convenient proxy management tools (e.g., browser extension), free advanced targeting

• Support: 24/7 tech support and dedicated account managers

• Free trial: 3-day trial period available or 14-day money-back guarantee

Starting Price:

• Residential: From $3/GB with pay-as-you-go

• Static residential (ISP): From $4.7/month with pay-per-IP

• Mobile proxies: From $7.5/GB with pay-as-you-go

• Dedicated datacenter proxies: From $5.55/month with pay-per-IP

Pros:

• Highly rated for customer satisfaction

• Large proxy server network with wide geographic reach

Cons:

• On the pricier side, especially for casual users

Webshare

If you're looking for something affordable and no-nonsense, Webshare is a solid choice. It's especially popular among developers and small businesses that need speed and simplicity more than enterprise bells and whistles.

They offer over 30 million IPs and flexible options for datacenter, residential, and static ISP proxies. The service is completely self-service—you manage your settings, rotate IPs, and handle everything from their dashboard. There's even a free plan with 10 IPs, which is great if you just want to experiment a bit before going all in.

Key Features:

• Proxy types: Residential, static (ISP) residential, datacenter

• Protocols: HTTP, SOCKS5

• Additional benefits: Free proxy list with 10 IPs, API documentation and help center, fully customizable self-service

• Support: Customer support team available via email

• Free trial: A free plan with 10 IPs

Starting Price:

• Residential: From $3.5/month

• Static (ISP) residential: From $6/month

• Proxy server (datacenter proxies): From $2.99/month

Pros:

• Affordable and offers great value for reliable service

• Prioritizes speed and security for efficient scraping

• Includes a free plan for easy service testing

Cons:

• Lacks scalable or tailored features for larger teams

Bright Data

Another leading provider offering a range of proxy types, advanced features, and locations while ensuring exceptional performance and high success rates. Bright Data is also one of the largest providers, currently trusted by more than 20,000 customers worldwide. That said, the pricing and setup can get complex. So if you're new to proxies, it might feel like overkill.

Key Features:

• Proxy types: Residential, datacenter, mobile, ISP proxies

• Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5

• Additional benefits: Third-party integrations, browser extension, user-friendly dashboard

• Support: 24/7 live human support

• Free trial: 7-day free trial available

Starting Price:

• Residential: $4.2/GB with pay-as-you-go

• Datacenter proxies: Shared—from $14/month, dedicated—from $22/month per GB—from $0.6/GB with pay-as-you-go

• ISP proxies: Shared—from $18/month, dedicated—from $35/month per GB—from $15/GB with pay-as-you-go

• Mobile proxies: $8.4/GB with pay-as-you-go

Pros:

• One of the largest IP pools with exceptional performance

• Offers a wide range of advanced proxy services and features

Cons:

• Expensive, especially if you need advanced targeting or features

NetNut

NetNut offers reliable, fast proxies with support for over 200 countries. It's an excellent choice for businesses that need consistent access to geo-specific content and solid customer service. The platform includes a clean, user-friendly dashboard, and you can reach their support team anytime through multiple channels. It's not the cheapest option on the list, but it delivers when it comes to reliability and global coverage.

Key Features:

• Proxy types: Rotating residential, static residential, mobile, datacenter

• Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5

• Additional benefits: Convenient dashboard, documentation

• Support: 24/7 support via multiple channels

• Free trial: 7-day free trial available

Starting Price:

• Rotating residential: From $99/month for 28GB

• Static residential: From $99/month for 7GB

• Mobile proxies: From $99/month for 13GB

• Datacenter proxies: From $100/month for 100GB

• Website unblocker: From $180/20GB

Pros:

• Known for stable connectivity and fast speeds

• Simple proxy management with a comprehensive dashboard

• Various support channels ensure immediate assistance

Cons:

• High minimum pricing may deter small businesses

Criteria for Best Proxy Providers

Choosing the right proxy service isn't just about price or speed—it's about finding a reliable setup that fits your goals. Here's what actually matters:

IP Pool Size and Locations
A large pool of IPs (especially across many countries) means better targeting, fewer blocks, and more reliable scraping. It also helps keep your activities anonymous and secure.

Helpful Features
Look for services that go beyond just "proxies"—things like automatic rotation, browser extensions, multiple protocols (SOCKS5, HTTP), easy API integration, and solid documentation make your life easier. For teams working with automation workflows or data collection at scale, 👉 having access to versatile proxy infrastructure with developer-friendly tools can significantly streamline operations.

Customer Support
Scraping and automation often hit roadblocks. A provider with 24/7 support and ideally a dedicated account manager can save you hours of frustration.

Pricing and Transparency
Not all plans are created equal. Some charge per IP, others per gigabyte. Make sure you understand what you're getting, whether there's a free trial, and that there are no hidden costs for scaling or adding features.

A solid track record and ethically sourced IPs are a must. Look for reviews on G2 or TrustPilot and check whether they clearly describe how their proxy networks are sourced.

Choosing the Right Proxy Type

Not all proxies work the same way—and using the wrong type can lead to blocks, slowdowns, or worse. Here's a quick breakdown:

Residential proxies route traffic through real user IPs. They're great for avoiding detection and accessing geo-restricted content. Best for web scraping, ad verification, and sneaker bots.

Shared datacenter proxies are fast and affordable, but shared with others so they're more likely to be flagged or blocked. Best for high-volume, low-risk tasks.

Dedicated datacenter proxies are similar to shared, but you get the IPs all to yourself. These offer better performance and stability, making them good for SEO monitoring, performance testing, or account management.

Mobile proxies route traffic through real mobile devices on 3G/4G networks. These are expensive but nearly unblockable, making them excellent for mobile testing, affiliate monitoring, or very difficult targets.

ISP proxies are a hybrid between residential and datacenter—fast, stable, and hard to block. Good for businesses that want high trust scores without the cost of mobile.

Wrapping Up

The best proxy provider is the one that fits your workflow, goals, and budget. If you're testing the waters, start with a free plan or trial. As you scale, look for a provider with excellent support, flexible pricing, and features that save you time in the long run.

And don't forget—a good proxy service isn't just about having millions of IPs. It's about reliability, transparency, and knowing you have a team behind you when things get tough.