Residential, ISP, Datacenter or Mobile: How to Choose a Proxy Type

The four proxy types differ in where the IP comes from, whether it changes, and how it is billed. Start from the job you need to do, then pick the cheapest type that does it reliably.

Do you need the IP to stay the same?

If you log in to accounts or run long sessions, a changing IP can trigger security checks. Choose a static type: ISP proxies (an ISP-registered address) or datacenter proxies (the lowest cost per IP). Both keep the same IP for the whole rental period.

If you collect public data at volume, spreading requests across many addresses matters more than keeping one. Choose residential, which can rotate on every request, keep a sticky IP, or rotate on a timer.

How strict is the target website?

• Lenient targets and APIs: datacenter proxies are usually enough and cost the least.
• Sites that block hosting-provider IPs: residential or ISP proxies, whose addresses belong to internet service providers.
• Platforms built around mobile apps or that expect carrier traffic: mobile 4G/5G proxies.

How is each type billed on AptProxy?

• Residential: by traffic. Packages from 1 GB ($5.65) to 1,000 GB, in 25 countries.
• ISP: per IP per period, from $6.30 per IP per month, in 24 countries.
• Datacenter: per IP per period, IPv6 from $0.48 (minimum 10 IPs) or IPv4, in 40 countries.
• Mobile: per proxy per period, shared modems from $32.50 per month and dedicated from $87.00, 33 operators in 18 countries.

Per-IP types get volume discounts as the quantity in one order grows. Prices on the website are indicative starting prices; the exact price is calculated at checkout for the country, quantity and period you choose.

A quick rule of thumb

1. Start with datacenter if the target allows it: it is the cheapest per IP.
2. Move to residential when datacenter IPs get blocked and you need rotation or city-level targeting.
3. Use ISP when you need residential-like addresses that never change.
4. Use mobile when the target expects phone traffic or you need a specific carrier.

The cheapest way to test a type is a small order: the smallest residential package, or a single ISP or IPv4 proxy. There is no free trial.