The internet has evolved from just 60 websites back in 1992 to over 1.5 billion websites as of today. Users are constantly having new demands that give rise to these new websites. But the problem is that some websites struggle with handling huge amounts of data at once. For this, proxies are a viable solution that offers security, anonymity, and performance. Even though there are different kinds of proxies, static and shared are the most common ones to handle online activities.
In this blog, we are going to look at how ISP and data center proxies can handle high-traffic tasks.
What Are Static Proxies?
Static proxies, also known as ISP proxies, provide users with IP addresses assigned by their ISPs. These are hosted on data center servers but are registered with real ISPs that are both authentic and fast. They are hosted on strong data center servers for reliability and are less likely to be flagged. Since they maintain the same IP address over time, you can enjoy long sessions without frequent reconnections.
What Are Shared Proxies?
On the other hand, shared proxies are IP addresses that are used by multiple users from data centers. They are more cost-effective and anonymous. But they come with reduced speed during peak usage times, making them perfect only for less demanding tasks.
Shared proxies also come with IP rotation, which makes them useful for tasks such as web crawling and bulk SEO audits since they have different IPs with multiple requests that can reduce block rates. This makes them perfect for tasks that are short-lived, non-login-based, or non-sensitive, like:
- Scraping blog titles across thousands of websites.
- Performing keyword monitoring across different search engines.
- Running mass social media viewing or following actions (without account logins).
Static vs. Shared in Action
Let’s see a practical example of how a static and shared proxy works in action:
- eCommerce Data Scraping: If a company needs to scrape pricing information from various retailers without getting flagged, they can use static proxies for these long sessions. If they just need a single report on price from multiple retailers at the same time, they can use a shared proxy in this case to save on costs and time.
- Social Media Management: If an agency manages multiple client accounts across social media platforms, it can use static proxies for individual IPs that can mimic user behavior. If they are running bulk engagement campaigns, they can use shared proxies with IP rotation for a low-cost approach.
Comparing Static vs. Shared Proxies for High-Traffic Tasks
Let’s compare static and shared proxies to understand how they work with high-traffic tasks:
| Feature | Static proxies | Shared proxies |
| Performance | Higher speeds and uptime | Slower and may suffer from congestion |
| Reliability | Consistent IP address for stable connections. | Fluctuating IP address with less reliability. |
| Anonymity | They are from real ISPs and are less likely to be flagged. | More likely to be flagged since multiple users use the same IP. |
| Cost | More expensive | Affordable |
When to Choose Static or Shared Proxies?
If you are wondering when to choose a static or shared proxy, it all comes down to what type of task you need the tool for. Static proxies are best for engaging in activities that need fast and stable connections, such as large-scale web scraping or managing multiple online accounts. You can also use a static proxy for accessing platforms with strict security measures or requiring consistent IP addresses to maintain session integrity without frequent re-authentication.
You can use a shared proxy for performing low-risk tasks where some amount of interruption is acceptable, such as casual browsing or accessing geo-restricted content. If you are operating with a tight budget, a shared proxy can be helpful in providing you with an affordable pool of IP addresses that can be used for all kinds of tasks. It’s always important to choose from reliable proxy providers, such as ProxyWing, to get the best protection when you are online.
Conclusion
With these points, we can surely say that static and shared proxies have their own set of features and benefits that make them useful for different purposes. It comes down to your budget, task requirements, and the time that you are willing to spend.
