Is Webshare Worth It? A Real User's Take on This Proxy Service

Looking for an honest take on Webshare proxies? I've spent weeks testing their service, and here's what you actually need to know before spending your money.

Webshare caught my attention initially because they offered free datacenter proxies. Now, they've evolved into a full-fledged proxy network offering static and rotating residential proxies alongside their datacenter options. But the real question is: does their service actually deliver on its promises?

What Webshare Offers Today

Webshare isn't the sketchy free proxy provider it used to be. They've seriously upgraded their game. While they offer residential proxies, their datacenter proxies are what most users gravitate toward. You can choose between dedicated proxies (yours alone) or shared proxies (split between multiple users).

Here's something clever: even with shared proxies, Webshare ensures that users sharing the same IP won't access the same websites simultaneously. This dramatically reduces the risk of getting blocked or triggering security measures.

The service supports both HTTP and SOCKS5 protocols, and pricing is genuinely competitive. They claim to be "the fastest proxies you'll find," but my testing revealed a more nuanced reality. Performance is solid, but calling it the fastest? That's a stretch.

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The Good and The Not-So-Good

What works well:

• Multiple datacenter proxy tiers based on how many users share each IP

• Genuinely affordable pricing, plus free options for hobbyists

• Coverage across 40+ countries

• Clean, beginner-friendly interface

• Strong developer support with well-documented API

Where they fall short:

• Performance could be snappier, especially under heavy load

• Sophisticated anti-spam systems can still detect these proxies

• About 80% of IPs are US-based

• Customer support is email-only with slow response times

How Big Is Their Network?

Webshare claims over 100,000 IPs in their proxy pool. After digging deeper, I found they actually have more than advertised. The US alone accounts for over 150,000 IPs. Countries like France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, UK, and Italy each have 10,000+ IPs available.

This puts their total datacenter IP count above 200,000, making them one of the larger providers in the market. These IPs span different networks and subnets, which helps when websites implement subnet-wide bans.

The main limitation? They don't clearly specify how many IPs are allocated to their dedicated, private, and shared proxy tiers. But overall, the pool size is impressive for a datacenter proxy provider.

Global Reach: Where Can You Get IPs?

Webshare supports datacenter proxies in 40+ countries across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. However, there's a catch: roughly 80% of their IPs come from the United States.

For non-US locations, IP availability varies significantly. Some countries have 200-5,000 IPs, while others have more robust options. If you need IPs from less common locations, definitely check availability before purchasing.

For most datacenter proxy providers, this level of geographic coverage is actually above average. But if you need extensive international coverage, you might want to explore their residential proxy options instead.

Speed Test Results: The Reality Check

I tested Webshare's dedicated proxies (not their shared ones) across multiple platforms: Amazon, Instagram, YouTube, Google Search, and Booking.com. I skipped generic speed tests and focused on real-world performance on actual websites.

The verdict? Webshare is average. Not bad, but definitely not "the fastest" as they claim. Providers like Proxy-Seller, Proxy-IPV4, and Proxy-Cheap consistently outperformed them in my tests.

That said, performance isn't terrible. The main issue: speed degrades when you ramp up concurrent threads. While they technically support up to 3,000 simultaneous connections, you should avoid pushing those limits. Keeping your thread count moderate will give you the best results.

Response times were middle-of-the-road across all tested platforms. Functional and usable, but not exceptional. For users who need blazing fast proxies for time-sensitive operations, you might want to look elsewhere. For everyone else, Webshare gets the job done.

Streaming and Response Times

I replaced the typical scraping test with streaming tests since these datacenter proxies aren't ideal for web scraping anyway. With 40+ location options, they're better suited for accessing geo-restricted streaming content.

The disappointing news: Webshare's datacenter proxies couldn't access US Netflix. However, they worked perfectly for YouTube streaming and online gaming with no lag or buffering issues. If Netflix is your priority, you'll need their residential proxies instead.

For general browsing and streaming, response times were acceptable but not outstanding. The data confirms what the speed tests showed: Webshare delivers middle-tier performance that works reliably without wowing you.

Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay

Webshare's pricing is surprisingly competitive, especially considering their upgraded infrastructure. Yes, you can still get 10 free shared proxies, but their paid plans offer much better value.

Dedicated proxies: Starting at $26.60 for 20 proxies ($1.33 each). Buy 100 proxies for $199 ($1.19 each). These are yours exclusively.

Semi-dedicated proxies: Starting at $13.89 for 25 proxies ($0.55 each). You share each IP with one other user, but you'll never use the same proxy on the same website. Clever system, solid value.

Shared proxies: $2.99 for 100 proxies. You're sharing with multiple users, so performance and reliability take a hit. Good for testing, not ideal for serious work.

Trial and refunds: Beyond the 10 free shared proxies, there's no trial period. They do offer refunds, but with strict conditions: request within 2 days, use less than 1GB bandwidth or 1,000 IPs. It's possible, but not guaranteed.

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Customer Support: Room for Improvement

Here's where Webshare disappoints. There's no live chat. You email them and wait. They don't even tell you how long to expect a response.

I tested their support and got a reply after one day. The response was helpful and knowledgeable, but waiting 24 hours when you have an urgent issue is frustrating. Many newer providers offer instant chat support, so Webshare is behind the curve here.

If you prefer self-service, their help center covers account management, proxy configuration, and troubleshooting basics. It's useful, but don't expect the hand-holding that other premium providers offer.

User Experience: Simple and Straightforward

Webshare keeps things minimal. You get what you need without unnecessary complexity. This makes it incredibly beginner-friendly, though power users might miss advanced features.

The interface is intuitive and clean. Navigation is straightforward. Combined with their help documentation, most users can get up and running without contacting support, which is good since support is slow.

Surprisingly, Webshare offers a robust developer API despite their simple interface. The available endpoints are numerous and practical. Even some expensive premium providers don't offer API access, so this is a genuine advantage for developers and automation enthusiasts.

Final Verdict: Should You Choose Webshare?

Webshare has worked hard to shed its questionable reputation and now offers legitimate, functional proxy services. They're not exceptional, but they're reliable and affordable.

The service is squarely average. Performance could be better. Speed isn't industry-leading. But for many users, Webshare delivers exactly what's needed at a fair price.

If performance is your top priority and budget isn't a constraint, there are faster options available. But if you want solid proxies that work consistently without breaking the bank, Webshare fits the bill perfectly.

The choice depends on your specific needs and budget. For casual users, social media managers, and anyone needing reliable US-based IPs, Webshare is worth considering. For heavy-duty scraping or mission-critical operations requiring top-tier performance, you might want to invest more.