Top 15 Cheap Proxy Providers in 2026

Most people scrolling through proxy options want the same thing: something that works without emptying their wallet.

You don't need a $300/month enterprise plan to scrape data, manage accounts, or bypass geo-blocks. You just need the right tool for your specific job. This guide walks you through 15 providers that deliver speed, stability, and affordability—without the usual compromises.

We're covering proxies that actually perform: fast response times, clean IPs, and pricing that makes sense. Plus, real insights on what works for scraping, SEO research, multi-account management, and geo-unblocking. No fluff, no filler—just what you need to pick the right proxy and move forward.

Go Cheap Without Compromising Quality

Not every budget proxy is worth your money. Some offer rock-bottom prices but fall apart the moment you need consistency. The goal isn't just to spend less—it's to get more value for every dollar.

A good cheap proxy doesn't mean low-grade. It means affordable, reliable, and built for real work. These services can still deliver speed, security, and flexibility. Whether you're scraping product data, running SEO audits, managing social accounts, or accessing region-locked content, you don't need enterprise pricing to get results.

Demand for proxies keeps climbing, and so do costs. That's exactly why knowing how to find affordable, high-performing options matters more than ever.

So what are cheap proxy servers actually used for? They work best for data scraping, ad verification, streaming, bulk testing, and social media automation.

• Rotating residential proxies help you scrape at scale without getting blocked

• Geo-targeted proxies let you view region-specific ads or content

• For streaming, residential or mobile IPs bypass geo-restrictions smoothly

• Datacenter proxies handle basic scraping, bulk tasks, or testing where stealth isn't critical

• Mobile or ISP proxies keep multiple social accounts safe from bans

What Makes a Proxy "Cheap but Good"?

A cheap proxy shouldn't just have a low price tag. It should also deliver:

• Consistent speed

• Low failure rates

• Clean IPs that aren't blacklisted or overused

• Support when something breaks

• Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or bandwidth traps

When it comes to proxies, cheap shouldn't mean cutting corners. It should mean streamlined, efficient, and purpose-built. A cheap proxy done right isn't basic—it's smart. Good budget proxies strike a balance between cost and performance. Look for pay-as-you-go plans, free trials, money-back guarantees, and bulk discounts. The key is value, not just cost.

1. RapidSeedbox – Best Proxy for High-Volume Use

RapidSeedbox gives you power and speed without draining your budget. It's built for users who need to move fast, work at scale, and stay within tight financial limits. This affordable service offers residential and datacenter proxies made specifically for scraping and geo-targeted access. If you need to run thousands of threads or maintain reliable long sessions, RapidSeedbox delivers.

Why It Works:

• 6.9+ million residential IPs across 100+ countries

• Sticky or rotating sessions with unlimited threads

• Fast speeds over 100 Mbps

• IPv4 and IPv6 datacenter proxies with dedicated IPs

• Flexible pricing: pay-as-you-go or fixed plans

What stands out: You get enterprise-level speed and scale at small business prices. Plus, RapidSeedbox offers a 24-hour money-back guarantee.

Pricing:

• Residential Proxies: Starts at $2.80/GB for 10GB. Down to $2.00/GB for 500GB plans

• Datacenter Proxies: From $13/month for 100 IPs (~$0.125/IP). Down to $0.017/IP for 50,000 IPs. Annual billing includes 2 free months

If you're looking for serious proxy power without blowing your budget, RapidSeedbox is worth checking out. Whether you need datacenter proxies for speed or rotating residential proxies for stealth, they offer solid options that won't drain your wallet.

2. Oxylabs – Enterprise Proxies Built for Scale

Oxylabs delivers high-performance proxies for teams that scrape big and need zero errors. With 175+ million residential IPs and AI-driven tools, it's built to handle complex, high-volume data jobs.

Yes, it's pricey. But you get what you pay for—fast speeds, low failure rates, and tools that automate the grind. If precision matters, Oxylabs won't slow you down.

Top Features:

• 175M+ residential IPs with detailed geo-targeting

• Unlimited sessions with SOCKS5, HTTP, and HTTPS support

• 99.95% success rate with ~0.6s average response time

• Web Unblocker and Scraper API for smart automation

• 24/7 live support plus a dedicated account manager

Standout: Enterprise-grade anti-blocking tools that boost speed and slash failure rates for massive scraping tasks.

Pricing & Plans:

Residential Proxies

• Pay-as-you-go: $4/GB

• Micro Plan: 13GB for $45.50/month ($3.87/GB)

• Starter Plan: 40GB for $150/month ($3.75/GB)

• Advanced Plan: 86GB for $300/month ($3.49/GB)

Other Proxy Types

• Datacenter: From $1.20/IP

• ISP: From $1.60/IP

• Mobile: From $9/GB

• Dedicated Datacenter: $2.25/IP

Oxylabs isn't the cheapest option, but it's worth it if you're serious about scaling. I'd recommend it for data professionals who need reliability, precision, and power without compromise. It's built for high-demand use cases—and it delivers.

3. Smartproxy – Affordable Proxies with Automation Power

Smartproxy offers fast, flexible proxies for scraping, automation, and account management. It's beginner-friendly but packed with serious tools under the hood. When you need reliable proxy infrastructure for demanding tasks, 👉 explore proxy solutions built for performance and scale to see what enterprise-grade networks can handle.

Smartproxy stands out for its global IP coverage, low-cost plans, and built-in tools like browser automation and a scraping API. Plus, you get a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Key Features:

• 55M+ residential IPs in 195+ countries

• Supports HTTPS, SOCKS5, and IPv4

• Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox

• Scraping APIs for Google, social, and eCommerce platforms

• "X Browser" for managing multiple accounts

Standout: Flexible tools and wide proxy coverage at starter pricing.

Pricing Overview:

• Residential Proxies: Starts at $3.90/GB (2GB). Down to $1.50/GB at scale

• Mobile Proxies: From $4.90/GB in 160+ locations

• ISP (Static Residential): From $0.35/IP

• Datacenter Proxies: From $0.39/GB

• Site Unblocker: From $1.60 per 1,000 requests

Smartproxy is one of the best picks for anyone who wants reliable automation and full proxy access without spending a fortune. It's fast, easy to use, and gives you a lot of value for the price.

4. ScraperAPI – Scraping at Scale, No Proxy Setup

ScraperAPI handles proxies, browsers, CAPTCHAs, and rendering for you—so you don't have to. Just plug into its API and start pulling clean data at scale. It's built for developers running large, automated scrapes. Plus, you get global geo-targeting and auto-retries, keeping things fast and reliable.

Key Features:

• Auto-handles IP rotation, CAPTCHA, and JS rendering

• Built-in error handling and retries

• Simple, dashboard-free API integration

• Geo-targeting for US, EU, and more

• Supports async scraping and DataPipeline

Standout: A hands-off scraping API that scales with demand—no proxy headaches.

Pricing:

• Hobby: $49/mo – 100,000 API credits, 20 threads

• Startup: $149/mo – 1M credits, 50 threads

• Business: $299/mo – 3M credits, 100 threads

• Scaling: $475/mo – 5M credits, 200 threads

ScraperAPI is a great deal—especially with the 7-day free trial and 5,000 credits to get started. It's ideal if you want solid scraping results without the headache of managing proxies yourself. Perfect for more technical users who just want things to work.

5. ProxySite – Free Web Proxy for Quick Access

ProxySite isn't a traditional proxy service—it's a free, browser-based proxy. It's built for casual users who want quick, private access to blocked sites with no installs and no setup. Just pick a server, enter a URL, and browse over HTTPS. Great for schools or office networks.

Key Features:

• No signup or config needed

• 18+ US and several EU servers

• SSL encryption for safe browsing

• Unlimited bandwidth for casual use

• Instant-access buttons for YouTube, Reddit, and more

Standout: 100% free, browser-only proxy for quick and anonymous browsing.

Pricing: Free with unlimited use, no paid plans

ProxySite is perfect when you just need quick, no-fuss access to blocked websites. I wouldn't use it for scraping or anything heavy-duty, but for casual browsing or bypassing simple restrictions, it does the job.

6. VPNBook – Free Proxy & VPN with Privacy Trade-Offs

VPNBook offers free proxy and VPN tools with global servers. It's useful for unblocking sites on public networks but lacks serious privacy protections. It supports browser-based SSL proxy and OpenVPN/PPTP configs. No sign-up required, but there's no logging policy clarity either.

Key Features:

• Free SSL web proxy—no installation needed

• OpenVPN & PPTP setup files

• Servers in the US, UK, CA, EU

• No account or personal data needed

Standout: Global access to basic tools—completely free, but with privacy risks.

Pricing:

• Web Proxy: Free, browser-only, limited server access

• VPN: OpenVPN (secure, manual setup) and PPTP (easy setup, outdated and weak). Shared logins, IP logs stored for up to 7 days

VPNBook is fine for light, public browsing—like checking news or social media on public Wi-Fi. But I wouldn't trust it for anything privacy-sensitive or torrenting. And it's definitely not suitable for intense tasks like scraping or social media automation. There are better tools out there for that kind of protection and performance.

7. ProxyEmpire – Scalable Proxy Access with Flexible Pricing

ProxyEmpire offers rotating and static proxies—residential, mobile, and datacenter—across 170+ countries. It's built for users who need full control and pricing that grows with their needs. With ProxyEmpire, you get over 9.5 million clean IPs, HTTPS and SOCKS5 support, and session control. This service is ideal for scraping, SEO, ad checks, fare tracking, and more. Pay only for what you use—scale up without wasting money.

Key Features:

• Residential, mobile, and datacenter proxies

• 9.5M+ IPs in 170+ countries

• Supports HTTPS and SOCKS5

• Session control with IP rotation

• Best for scraping, SEO, e-commerce, and travel data

Standout: Pricing scales from solo use to enterprise-level

Pricing (Rotating Residential):

• Pay As You Go: 1GB at $7/GB – $7

• Starter: 7GB at $5.71/GB – $40

• Hobby: 28GB at $5.36/GB – $150

• Startup: 60GB at $5.00/GB – $300

• Business: 135GB at $4.44/GB – $600

• Company: 315GB at $3.97/GB – $1250

• Corporation: 500GB at $3.50/GB – $1750

• Enterprise: 1TB at $3.00/GB – $3000

• Custom: 2TB+ – Contact sales

• Trial starts at $1.97

Proxy Empire is a solid choice if you're growing from small-scale testing to serious, high-volume scraping. I like that it offers global coverage and supports all major protocols—it's built for flexibility without limitations.

8. Webshare – Ultra-Low-Cost Proxy Access at Scale

Webshare is built for affordability and scale. It offers datacenter proxies for just $0.0179/IP and a free plan with 10 proxies. This service is perfect for developers, small teams, and large scraping ops. Plus, its tiered pricing keeps costs low as you grow.

Key Features:

• Free plan with 10 datacenter proxies

• Datacenter, residential, and static residential IPs

• 30M+ residential IPs in 195 countries

• Supports HTTP and SOCKS5

• Chrome extension for fast setup

Highlight: Lowest proxy pricing with full flexibility

Pricing:

• Datacenter Proxies (Monthly):
  
  

  • 10 proxies – Free

  • 100 – $0.0299/proxy

  • 1,000 – $0.0269/proxy

  • 5,000 – $0.0239/proxy

  • 60,000 – $0.0179/proxy

• Residential Proxies:
  
  

  • 1GB – $7.00

  • 10GB – $5.50/GB

  • 25GB – $5.20/GB

  • 100GB – $4.50/GB

  • 3,000GB – $2.80/GB

• Static Residential: Starts at $0.23/proxy
  
  

Webshare is a great pick if you're watching your budget but still need reliable, high-volume proxy access. I've found it super convenient—no contracts, no hidden fees, just a straightforward service that scales.

9. InstantProxies – Test-Friendly Proxies at $1/IP

InstantProxies offers simple, private datacenter proxies with no strings attached. You can test them before buying, and plans start at just $10/month for 10 proxies. This provider is great for small-scale scraping, automation, and browsing. No contracts, no guesswork—just clean, working IPs.

Key Features:

• Private proxies with 99.98% uptime

• Free proxy testing before purchase

• Unlimited bandwidth and sessions

• Anonymous browsing with HTTP/HTTPS

• No contracts—cancel anytime

Highlight: Test-before-you-pay model adds trust and flexibility

Pricing:

• 10 Proxies: $10/month ($1 per IP)

• Includes:

  • 2 city options

  • 4 subnet choices

  • Unlimited bandwidth

  • Money-back guarantee

  • 99.9%+ uptime

InstantProxies is a great option if you want something that just works—no messy dashboards or confusing setups. It's super straightforward, and I've recommended it to anyone who values simplicity and control.

10. IPRoyal – Affordable, Ethical Proxies with Flexible Billing

IPRoyal offers budget-friendly proxies with full control. No contracts, no bulk commitments. Choose what you need—pay only for what you use. With IPRoyal, you get access to 34M+ ethically sourced IPs. Data never expires. Browser extensions and real-time testing make setup fast and simple.

Features:

• Residential, mobile, ISP, and datacenter proxies

• Chrome and Firefox extensions included

• Built-in IP tester and checker

• 99.9% uptime

• IP targeting options

Key Benefit: Pay-as-you-go with ethical sourcing

Pricing:

• Residential: From $1.75/GB (no expiration)

• Datacenter: From $1.39/IP

• ISP: From $2.40/proxy

• Mobile: From $117/month

IPRoyal is a solid choice if you're looking for low-cost proxy access without paying for what you don't use. It's been handy for scraping, SEO tasks, automation, and even ad verification—especially when you need something budget-friendly.

11. Bright Data – Enterprise-Grade Proxies with AI & API Tools

Bright Data powers large-scale data tasks—scraping, training AI models, or running global data ops. It's not a budget option, but it gives you the speed, scale, and precision you need. With 150M+ IPs in 195 countries, it leads in reach and reliability. Tools include APIs, scraping platforms, and ready-to-use datasets.

Features:

• 150M+ residential, ISP, mobile, and datacenter IPs

• AI-ready datasets and APIs

• Web Unlocker and anti-bot tools

• Smart Proxy Manager (open-source)

• Custom scraping for SERP and eCommerce

Standout Feature: Powerful scraping tools + global reach for high-volume data work

Pricing:

• Residential: From $2.94/GB (with discount)

• Datacenter: From $0.90/IP

• ISP: From $1.30/IP

• Mobile: From $5.88/GB

• Scraping Tools:

  • Web Unlocker, SERP API, Scraper API – From $1.05/1K requests

  • Scraping Browser – $5.88/GB

  • Dataset Marketplace – $250/month

  • Custom Scraper – From $300/month

Bright Data is unmatched when it comes to massive IP coverage and advanced scraping tools—it's what I'd recommend for big, enterprise-level projects. But if you're just starting out or working on smaller tasks, the price and complexity might be more than you need.

12. Storm Proxies – Simple Proxies with Unlimited Bandwidth

Storm Proxies keeps it simple. No advanced tools, just reliable proxies with unlimited bandwidth. Perfect for sneaker bots, scraping, or small automation tasks. Works best in the US and EU. Fast setup, straightforward dashboard, and no contracts.

Features:

• Unlimited traffic on all proxy types

• Automatic IP rotation (3–15 min or per request)

• Supports datacenter, rotating residential, and back-connect

• Quick activation and simple dashboard

Key Benefit: Affordable proxies with no bandwidth limits

Pricing:

• Datacenter (USA only): $10/month – 5 IPs. $640/month – 400 IPs ($1.60/IP)

• Rotating Residential (US/EU only): $50/month – 5 ports; $300/month – 50 ports

• Backconnect: $39/month – 40 threads; $97/month – 150 threads

Storm Proxies is a great fit if you want cheap, unlimited access without getting tangled in complicated setups. It's super simple and works well for light scraping, sneaker bots, or niche automation tasks where you don't need anything too fancy.

13. Proxy-Cheap – Low-Cost Proxies with Global Reach

Proxy-Cheap delivers one of the most affordable proxy services without cutting corners. Get access to over 7 million IPs in 127+ countries. It supports residential, mobile, ISP, and datacenter proxies (IPv4 + IPv6), both static and rotating. Great for scraping, automation, and account tasks.

Key Features:

• 7M+ IPs across 127 countries

• Static and rotating residential, mobile, datacenter, ISP proxies

• IPv4 and IPv6 datacenter support

• No KYC required

• Chrome manager and setup quiz included

Standout: Extreme flexibility at low prices

Pricing:

• Static Residential: From $1.99/IP

• Rotating Residential: From $1.00/GB (discounted)

• Mobile: From $0.96/GB (discounted)

• Datacenter: IPv4 – From $1.13/IP; IPv6 – From $0.30/IP

Proxy-Cheap hits the sweet spot for freelancers, marketers, and growing teams who need to scale data tasks without breaking the bank. It's affordable, flexible, and gives you just enough firepower to get serious work done without the enterprise price tag.

14. PapaProxy – Bulk Private Proxies at Bargain Prices

PapaProxy offers low-cost access to thousands of proxies. No frills—just big proxy bundles with unlimited bandwidth and up to 500 Mbps speed. Use them for scraping, gaming, or traffic routing. No KYC, crypto accepted. Bulk pricing starts at just $0.07/IP.

Key Features:

• 100K+ IPv4 proxies in 20+ countries

• Unlimited bandwidth, fast speeds (500 Mbps)

• HTTP/S and SOCKS5 supported

• Free proxy refresh every 8 days

• No KYC; crypto payments welcome

Standout: One of the lowest per-IP rates in the industry

Pricing:

• Datacenter: From $19/month (bulk options available)

• Private: From $2.50/IP per month

• Rotating: From $49/month

• UDP (gaming/streaming): From $19/month

• Bulk Rate: From $0.07/IP

PapaProxy is perfect when you need a bunch of IPs right away and don't want to deal with a complicated setup. It's fast, simple, and gets you up and running without the usual proxy headaches.

15. NetNut – ISP-Grade Proxies for Speed and Scale

NetNut gives you blazing-fast proxies direct from ISPs. No peer-to-peer slowdown. Just stable, high-speed access built for serious scraping and automation. With 85M+ residential IPs and 1M+ static ISP proxies, it's a top choice for high-volume, high-frequency data needs.

Key Features:

• 85M+ rotating residential IPs

• 1M+ static ISP IPs

• No concurrency limits

• Geo-target by city, state, or IP (on higher tiers)

• Web Unlocker + scraper APIs available

Standout: Direct ISP access = unmatched stability and speed

Pricing:

• Rotating Residential: From $1.59/GB

• Static ISP: From $3.82/IP

• Datacenter: From $0.45/IP

• Mobile: From $3.82/GB

• Tiered Plans:

  • Starter – 100GB

  • Advanced – 250GB

  • Production – 500GB

  • Master – 2TB

NetNut is a powerhouse if your team values uptime, speed, and scalability over just getting the cheapest option. The 7-day free trial is a great way to test it out—and from what I've seen, it's built for serious, high-volume use.

How to Choose the Right Cheap Proxy

There's no one-size-fits-all proxy. Start with your use case:

For Scraping: Choose rotating residential or mobile proxies. Look for IP rotation, geo-targeting, and retry logic.

For Social Media: Use mobile proxies or static residential proxies. These help avoid detection and account bans.

For SEO and Geo Checks: Go with datacenter proxies with IPs in specific cities or ISPs. Speed matters more than IP freshness.

What features really matter?

Skip the buzzwords. Focus on features that impact your work:

• Speed: Low latency = faster tasks

• IP Quality: Fresh, clean IPs reduce bans

• Location Options: City- or country-level targeting

• Session Control: Sticky sessions vs rotating IPs

• Support: Fast responses can save hours

Avoiding pitfalls: Unreliable providers, overused IPs

Low-quality proxies often cut corners. They resell overused or banned IPs, throttle speeds, and hide limits behind vague pricing.

Watch out for lack of support, limited control panels, and missing refund policies.

Always test before you commit. Use providers that offer IP testing, transparent dashboards, and clear limits.

Frequently Asked Questions: Cheap Proxy Servers

What's the cheapest type of proxy?

Datacenter proxies are the most affordable, often costing between $0.01 and $0.05 per IP. They're fast and efficient for simple tasks but easier to detect. If you need higher anonymity or plan to scrape large websites, choose residential proxies instead. They cost more but use real IPs tied to actual devices.

What are rotating proxies and why are they useful?

Rotating proxies switch your IP address automatically (either with each request or at regular intervals). This prevents blocks during tasks like web scraping, account management, or accessing region-locked content. They're ideal for high-volume automation where consistency and stealth are important.

What's the difference between residential and datacenter proxies?

Residential proxies use IPs from real devices assigned by internet service providers. They're harder to detect and work well for scraping, social media, and geo-targeting. Datacenter proxies come from servers. They're cheaper and faster but more likely to get blocked.

What are SOCKS5 proxies and how are they different from HTTP proxies?

SOCKS5 proxies support all types of traffic—web browsing, file transfers, P2P connections, and more. They're flexible and often used for torrenting, gaming, or automation tools. HTTP proxies only handle web traffic, making them better for browsing or scraping websites. SOCKS5 usually offers better speed and broader compatibility.

Are free proxy servers safe?

Not really. Many log your data, share bandwidth, or run on outdated infrastructure. That puts your privacy and performance at risk. Paid proxies offer better reliability, stronger security, and consistent speed—making them a smarter choice if you're serious about results.

What is proxy rotation?

Proxy rotation automatically changes your IP address during browsing or scraping. This avoids detection and IP bans, especially in large-scale tasks like SEO research, ad verification, or market monitoring. Most scraping-focused proxy services include rotation by default.

How do I test a proxy before buying?

Choose providers that offer free trials, money-back guarantees, or demo tools. Test for speed, IP location accuracy, reliability, and whether the IPs are flagged or blocked. A good provider will give you tools like browser extensions or dashboards to make testing easy.

Are shared proxies good for scraping?

Shared proxies are cheap but risky. Since multiple users share the same IP, the chance of bans or slow speeds increases. For scraping, go with dedicated proxies or rotating residential pools. They cost more but perform better and reduce risk.

What proxy features should I prioritize?

Look for unlimited bandwidth, location targeting, IP rotation or sticky sessions based on your use case, browser extensions for quick setup, and responsive support. These features save time and keep your tools running smoothly.

Conclusions

Most cheap proxies fail when you need them most. They're slow, unstable, and easily blocked.

But not all cheap proxies are bad. Some just skip the bloat and focus on what matters: speed, uptime, and clean IPs.

If you're doing intense tasks like scraping data or automation, pick a proxy that fits your workflow—not just your budget.

Don't pay more than you need. But don't settle for junk, either.

We tested the top options so you don't have to. The right proxy saves time, cuts friction, and scales with you.

Want a solid pick to start with?

Try RapidSeedbox—fast, stable, and priced for people who actually use proxies to work, not just browse. No bloated plans. Just results.