A simple Google search will show you that there is no shortage of proxies available. On the one hand, this means you have a variety of options - which is a good thing. But, on the other hand, having so many options can make finding the best proxy for your needs a bit difficult, especially if you don't know what to look out for. That's why, in this article, we've broken it down for you, giving you tips on finding the best proxy provider.

Identifying the right proxy network for the job

One of the first steps in choosing a proxy provider should be determining if it can give you the type of proxy network you need.

There are several types of proxy networks to choose from, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Datacenter proxies are fast and cheap but relatively simple to detect. Residential proxies cost more but may have decreased performance in certain instances while simultaneously enabling access to more websites without issues.

Figuring out the features you need

Next, you should look for a provider that offers the necessary set of features. This ranges from functionality like IP rotation and filtering to proxy management tools.

For example, you might want IP addresses from a particular country. A provider can offer you a proxy pool that includes IPs from that country but give you no way to target them exclusively. This will quickly cause issues. Alternatively, you might only want to get IPs from a certain internet service provider’s ASN. This functionality is pretty rare, and not everyone supports it.

IP rotation works in the same way. For web scraping, you’ll most likely want proxies that rotate with every connection request. Conversely, some use cases will require keeping the same address for multiple requests – not an issue with Datacenter proxies, but a relevant factor for Residential and Mobile IPs. Consider if you can get this functionality out of the box, and if not, whether you’ll be able to set it up yourself.

Supreme Security

Another aspect to consider is to ensure you invest in a proxy server that incorporates sufficient and unmatched security. All proxies will pass through the requests, and thus, saving this data in the cache comes in handy in making it easy to view it later. However, when data is saved in the cache, it needs to be safe and secure, and it shouldn’t be accessible by third parties.

Proxy network size matters

You may have noticed that providers advertise varying numbers of proxy IPs under their belts. These numbers range from thousands for data center proxies to millions or even tens of millions for residential IPs. Is the size of the agency network primarily a marketing hype, or does it actually affect operational usage? The short answer is that network size absolutely matters! For residential addresses, this issue is even more important. Peer-to-peer residential agency leverages the connections of real people. These IPs are only available for proxy-based routing if certain conditions are met, so they come and go throughout the day. The advertised numbers you see are monthly estimates only; in reality, the proxy pool will have far fewer IPs available per day.

Fortunately, you can use the PIA proxy manager to switch 50 million IP resources around the world with one-click connection, helping you to break through IP restrictions and conduct business.

Consider the customer service

Proxy networks are a high-maintenance resource: the IPs and servers require constant supervision, and sooner or later things will break. When that happens, good customer service can be worth its weight in gold (even at gold’s current price!).

But what constitutes good customer service? If your business relies on proxy IPs to deliver a constant stream of data, 24/7 working hours are a must. That’s not only because you might encounter issues at night – sometimes, it’s as simple as being in a different time zone (say, Europe as opposed to the US).

Ideally, you should have direct access to the technical team via live chat, Skype, or another instantaneous communication channel. As we’ve discovered, email or tickets can take hours to respond to, which defeats the purpose of round-the-clock service. Of course, this largely depends on the provider.

Having an account manager is another big plus. During business hours, they will be your main point of contact, with knowledge about your specific needs, issues, and business goals. Account managers effectively turn a simple business arrangement into a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.

Choosing an Ethical proxy

Ethical proxy IP acquisition and use has become a hot button topic. Doubly so when it turns to Residential and Mobile proxy networks, as they involve real, sometimes unwitting users.

Ethical proxy handling involves two parts: IP acquisition and use. The first part, acquisition, determines how a provider sources their proxy IPs. The main ways include in-app SDKs, direct traffic-for-money exchange, and sometimes straight-up malware.

It’s important that end users consent to the access of their internet connection, and that they get something in return. Otherwise, your company will effectively be using a botnet service, which will constantly risk shutting down and damaging your reputation in the process.

The second part, proxy network use, defines which purposes they can serve. Proxy servers still carry a stigma from their involvement in ad fraud, credit card theft, email spam, and other illicit activities. This undermines the legitimate uses, such as brand protection or market research, casting a shadow on the whole industry.

If a provider fails or refuses to control black-hat activities, one client can use the same proxy network for ad fraud, while the other performs ad verification, with all the irony that entails. Once again, relying on such a service poses an ethical and reputational hazard for your company.