How to choose a right proxy server?

Proxy is an intermediary server, a layer between you and the Internet. It serves well for advertising campaigns, multi accounting, parsing, mass liking, social network promotion, anonymous surfing and online safety.

But different kinds of private proxy servers vary in performance, so choose carefully. Read our blog post to learn what to focus on to buy a perfect match for your tasks.

Pros and cons of free proxies

The main advantage of free offerings is that they don’t cost anything. Therefore, you may abandon the service any time.

Unfortunately, the list of disadvantages is longer:

• nobody is responsible for servers, that's why many of them don't respond or fail often;
• free proxy server can be infected with viruses or spyware;
• you never know who has access to your personal data going through the intermediary;
• due to a large number of users, the connection speed is very low, and connectivity is unstable;
• a proxy server has one common IP for connections, that's why all users can be banned at the same time because of wrong actions by one user;
• many servers were included in black lists on popular websites, so it doesn't make sense to use them for many kinds of jobs, from sending newsletters up to multi accounting.

Using free proxies requires many efforts to maintain the up-to-date list of running servers. Still, connection can be compromised at any time just because of actions of one user.

What are advantages of individual paid proxies?

Some people say that free servers are best in the world, because you don't have to pay for them. But when you focus on performance, private proxy comes to the forefront.

To work in marketing, SEO, traffic arbitration or cryptocurrency investments, stability is required. Trouble-free parsing of big amounts of data, mass liking and multi accounting without bans, effective promotion of communities, advertising campaigns, subscriptions — all this is possible only with stable fast connectivity through uncompromised IP.

Paid individual proxy is only yours, so no one else will use the server. Besides, a provider that will fix all problems.

How to select the right server?

Every type of server handles the set tasks differently. Let's clarify the basic differences.

Address protocol

Solutions of two types — IPv4 and IPv6 —are available. They differ with IP address structure and the safety level. It's because the old version uses four single-byte decimal numbers (158.119.10.142), while the new format contains hexadecimal numbers separated by a colon (2001:fb8:ffc:8::5d). IPv6 has 1028 times more available addresses than IPv4.

The latest IPv6 uses reliable encryption methods no one could imagine when the previous protocol was developed. IPv4 is supported by all websites, while not all online resources trust a new format. Not every website owner wants to upgrade their resources to offer such support. That's why, with all advantages of a new technology, it's necessary to check, if it's compatible with the portals you need.

Connection protocol

There are three main protocol types used for work:

HTTP — the most common protocol. It's used to view pages, and cache the contents speeding up online surfing. It's suitable for parsing, rollout, seo promotion, but it doesn't provide high safety level.

HTTPS — a more advanced version of the first protocol. It's able to support secured connection, transfer secret information.

SOCKS5 — transfers the entire traffic without changes. As a result, websites don’t understand that they face an intermediary. This ensures complete connection anonymity. When such technology is used, the operating speed and safety level are quite high.

Private or shared

IPv4 servers are much more expensive than IPv6, but there is a way to spend less. This is the access method. Private servers belong to one owner, while shared ones are owned by a couple of users. Shared ownership allows to reduce the price. But such use imposes certain obligations, because, for example, such server is easier to identify in case of mass registration of accounts. And banned IP affects work of all owners.

If you need the solution for job tasks, it's better to purchase private proxy no one will compromise.

Static and dynamic

When ordering static IPs you get a list of addresses that remain unchanged throughout the lease. Dynamic addresses are changed while being used. This is useful, if the task performance can lead to multiple bans. With static addresses, the available list can be banned completely. A dynamic type doesn't have this disadvantage: when the pool of addresses is changed, you will get addresses the website doesn't recognize.

Server or resident

Server proxies are more common. They are initially created for commercial use. Companies rent equipment and networks of IP addresses users will buy. Whether private or shared, they are placed in data centers, run stable, fast, and don't cost much. But they are easier to discover, so they are banned frequently.

Resident proxies are banned much less often because of their operating principle. Addresses are located randomly, these are private computers, routers or mobile devices. Websites don't see them as intermediaries, and IP changes every time it is referred to. This solution is adequate for data collection, especially when extended geolocation is required.

Authorization with login / password or IP

There are servers without authorization, but this works only for free solutions. All private proxies must restrict access to exclude use of the bought service by anyone except the owner. Authorization can be arranged in three ways.

First is a standard input of login and password. No surprises, it's all stable and reliable. The only drawback is that it's annoying to enter credentials every time.

The second method — login by IP — saves from this routine. In this case, the proxy is connected to, if the login IP coincides with the one stated as IP for authorization. This system is user-friendly, but it won't work, if your provider changes IP.

The third method is a combination of the first two methods, when first login and password, and then the address is verified. It maximizes the safety level, but the drawback of IP-based access persists.

What proxy server to buy and where?

It's not easy to choose the best option. It all depends on your purpose. Any connection protocol will do just for Internet surfing, other parameters don't play important role here. It's only necessary to check whether the websites you need support IPv6. For this purpose, you may always use dedicated checkers.

And then it's necessary to check, whether the software you work with supports certain types of authorization or connection protocols, if regular IP rotation is required, what encryption level suits it best.

After that, you'll have to decide what provider to prefer. There are many proxy services, so you should rely on clear criteria of choosing a good provider.

Keep in mind company assessments. Before you make an order, read attentively feedbacks, information about the services, proxy purchase conditions, technical support details. Test drive period to check the purchase is also important.

A big advantage is the ways to independently validate proxies, and check, if websites support IPv6. Of course, the company itself must regularly validate the offered proxies keeping the list up-to-date.

Proxy.Market offers Russian IPv4, IPv6 and IPv4 shared proxies. There is a test drive period. Technical support works 24/7. On the website, users can find validity checker and check of IPv6 protocol.

Be attentive to what and where you buy, then the server will perform excellently!