Best Proxies for Web Scraping: Top Providers and Types Compared

The right proxy is the difference between a scraper that works and one that gets blocked. This guide ranks the best proxies for web scraping in 2026. We compare the top providers, then explain which proxy type fits each job. All pricing and network data was verified for this update.

Demand for web data keeps climbing. The web scraper software market was worth $568M in 2024. It may reach $1.63B by 2031, per Verified Market Research. Meanwhile, automated traffic now exceeds half the web, per the Imperva Bad Bot Report. Strong proxies are what keep your scrapers running against that scrutiny.

TL;DR: Best Proxies for Web Scraping

Bottom line: Bright Data is the best proxy provider for web scraping in 2026. It pairs the largest ethical network with built-in unblocking tools. Decodo and Oxylabs are strong runners-up. The table below compares the top 8 providers at a glance.

What Makes a Good Scraping Proxy?

A scraping proxy routes your requests through another IP address. The target site sees the proxy, not you. That hides your identity and helps you avoid blocks. New to the basics? Read how proxy servers work first.

We ranked each provider on the factors that matter for scraping:

• Success rate: how often requests beat anti-bot defenses
• Network size and reach: more IPs and locations mean better coverage
• Scraping tools: unblockers, scraping APIs, and browsers that cut build time
• Pricing and flexibility: pay-as-you-go options and a fair entry price
• Compliance: ethical IP sourcing and a clear KYC policy

1. Bright Data

Bright Data is the best proxy provider for web scraping. It runs a massive, ethically sourced network across residential, datacenter, and ISP proxies. On top of that, it bundles the unblocking tools that scrapers actually need.

That toolset is what sets it apart for scraping. The Web Unlocker handles CAPTCHAs and bot detection automatically. The Scraping Browser runs headful sessions for dynamic sites. The Web Scraper API returns structured data without managing infrastructure. There is also a dedicated SERP API for search results.

Independent testing backs this up. A 2026 benchmark of 16 scraping tools ranked Bright Data first, at a 98.87% success rate.

• Network: 400M+ residential, 1,300,000+ datacenter, and 1,300,000+ ISP IPs
• Coverage: 195+ countries, with city, ZIP, and ASN targeting
• Support: 24/7 live chat, email, and dedicated account managers
• Free trial: yes, plus pay-as-you-go on all proxy types
• Residential pricing: from $2.50/GB, with datacenter from $0.90/IP and ISP from $1.30/IP

Pros: largest ethical network, best-in-class anti-bot tools, strong compliance, flexible pricing.

Cons: the feature depth has a small learning curve for beginners.

Best for: any scraping job, from small scripts to enterprise pipelines on protected sites.

2. Decodo (formerly Smartproxy)

Decodo is a strong budget all-rounder for scraping. Its network is smaller than Bright Data’s but very capable. A short free trial and pay-as-you-go pricing lower the barrier to entry.

• Network: 115M+ IPs across 195+ locations
• Scraping tools: site unblocker and a no-code scraper
• Free trial: 3-day trial, plus pay-as-you-go at $4/GB
• Residential pricing: from $2/GB on volume

Pros: affordable, easy to start, solid success rate. Cons: smaller network and tool set than the leaders.

Best for: small and mid-size teams that want good value.

3. Oxylabs

Oxylabs runs one of the largest networks in the industry. It targets large enterprises with deep budgets. Entry prices are high, so small teams may struggle. It also enforces mandatory ID verification.

• Network: 175M+ IPs in 195+ countries
• Scraping tools: Web Unblocker and dedicated scraper APIs
• Free trial: available on request for businesses
• Residential pricing: from $2.50/GB at volume, with a $6/GB entry plan

Pros: huge network, high success rate, mature tooling. Cons: pricey entry, strict verification.

Best for: enterprises running large, demanding scraping workloads.

4. NetNut

NetNut is known for fast, stable ISP-based residential proxies. That architecture gives it strong speed for scraping. The main drawback is a higher entry price and no pay-as-you-go plan.

• Network: 85M+ IPs in 195+ countries
• Scraping tools: SERP API and a website unblocker
• Free trial: 7-day trial available
• Residential pricing: from $2.92/GB, with a $210 entry plan

Pros: fast ISP routing, reliable uptime. Cons: higher entry cost, no pay-as-you-go.

Best for: speed-sensitive scraping that needs stable sessions.

5. SOAX

SOAX shines on granular targeting by country, city, and carrier. It advertises a large pool of more than 155 million IPs. There is no true free trial, only a low-cost paid test.

• Network: 155M+ IPs in 195+ countries
• Scraping tools: web unblocker and scraping APIs
• Free trial: no, but a $1.99 trial covers 400MB
• Residential pricing: from $2/GB on volume, with a $90 starter plan

Pros: precise geo-targeting, large pool. Cons: no real free trial, no pay-as-you-go.

Best for: location-specific scraping that needs fine targeting.

6. IPRoyal

IPRoyal is a flexible, budget-friendly pick for scraping. Its standout feature is non-expiring traffic. Bought data never expires, which suits occasional projects.

• Network: 34M+ IPs in 195+ countries
• Free trial: none, but pay-as-you-go for residential
• Residential pricing: from $1.75/GB on volume, with pay-as-you-go at $7/GB
• Extras: traffic never expires, with modern Discord support

Pros: low cost, non-expiring data, flexible plans. Cons: smaller network, no free trial.

Best for: hobbyists and occasional, low-volume scraping.

7. Webshare

Webshare is the most self-serve option on this list. It offers a free plan and very low entry pricing. As a pure proxy provider, it ships few extra scraping tools.

• Network: 80M+ residential IPs in 195+ countries
• Free plan: yes, 10 proxies with 1GB monthly
• Residential pricing: from $1.40/GB at high volume
• Extras: instant self-serve signup and a free proxy list

Pros: free tier, cheap, fast signup. Cons: few tools, email-only support.

Best for: developers who want to test cheaply and scale slowly.

8. Rayobyte

Rayobyte focuses on ethical sourcing and US-based support. Its residential pool is one of the smallest here. The entry price is steep, but bulk plans drop it sharply.

• Network: under 1 million residential IPs
• Scraping tools: Scraping Robot and IPv6 support
• Free trial: yes, but very limited
• Residential pricing: from $3/GB on volume, with a $15/GB entry

Pros: strong ethics, US support, pay-as-you-go. Cons: small pool, steep entry price.

Best for: teams that prioritize compliance and US-based help.

Proxy Types for Web Scraping

The best provider still depends on the right proxy type. Three types matter for scraping. Each one trades cost against stealth and reliability.

Datacenter proxies

Datacenter proxies come from servers in data centers. They are fast and cheap, but easier to detect. Use them for high-volume scraping on sites with light defenses.

• Pros: high speed, low cost, great for bulk requests
• Cons: easier to block on protected sites

Residential proxies

Residential proxies use real home-device IPs. They look like genuine users, so they rarely get blocked. They are the top choice for protected, anti-bot-heavy targets.

• Pros: highest legitimacy, global coverage, IP rotation
• Cons: pricier and slower than datacenter proxies

ISP proxies

ISP proxies are static IPs registered to internet providers but hosted in data centers. They combine datacenter speed with residential trust. They suit logged-in sessions and long-running tasks.

• Pros: fast, highly reliable, trusted static IPs
• Cons: fewer IPs, no rotation, limited locations

Rotating vs. Static Proxies and Protocols

Beyond type, two more choices shape your setup: rotation and protocol.

Rotating proxies assign a new IP per request or session. They suit large crawls that need many fresh IPs. Static proxies keep one IP for longer. They suit logged-in sessions that must stay consistent.

Protocol matters too. Most scraping runs over HTTP or HTTPS proxies. SOCKS5 proxies also handle non-web traffic and UDP. Choose HTTPS for standard scraping and SOCKS5 for special cases.

How to Use a Proxy for Web Scraping

Adding a proxy to a Python scraper takes a few lines. Here is a basic example with the Requests library:

import requests

proxy = "http://USERNAME:[email protected]:33335"
proxies = {"http": proxy, "https": proxy}

resp = requests.get("https://example.com", proxies=proxies)
print(resp.status_code)

Swap in your provider’s credentials and endpoint. With rotating residential proxies, the provider changes the IP for you. You keep the same endpoint and let it rotate.

How to Avoid Getting Blocked While Scraping

Proxies help, but good habits matter too. Follow these best practices:

• Rotate IPs: spread requests across many addresses
• Vary user agents: rotate realistic browser headers
• Manage sessions: keep cookies consistent within each session
• Throttle requests: add delays to mimic human pace
• Respect limits: avoid hammering a single server
• Handle CAPTCHAs: use an unblocker or scraping API on hard targets

How to Choose the Right Scraping Proxy

Match the proxy to your target and budget:

• Protected, anti-bot-heavy sites: use residential proxies
• High-volume, lenient targets: use datacenter proxies
• Logged-in or long sessions: use ISP proxies
• Hard targets with CAPTCHAs: add an unblocker or scraping API

Always test a provider before you commit. Skip any vendor without a free trial or refund policy. For the full vendor breakdown, see our guide to the best proxy providers. For deeper criteria, read how to choose a proxy provider. You can also browse all proxy types in one place.

Conclusion

The best proxy for web scraping depends on your target and scale. Datacenter proxies win on speed and cost. Residential proxies win on stealth. ISP proxies balance both.

Across all three, Bright Data is the most complete choice for scraping. It serves Fortune 500 brands and over 20,000 customers. Its network spans 400M+ residential, 1,300,000+ datacenter, and 1,300,000+ ISP IPs. Paired with its unblocking tools, it handles even the hardest targets.

Start your free trial today and test the network on your toughest sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best proxy for web scraping?

Bright Data is the best proxy for web scraping in 2026. It combines the largest ethical network with built-in unblocking tools. Decodo and Oxylabs are strong alternatives.

Which proxy type is best for scraping?

Residential proxies are best for protected sites, since they look like real users. Datacenter proxies are best for fast, high-volume scraping on lenient targets. ISP proxies suit logged-in sessions.

Are free proxies good for web scraping?

Free proxies are usually slow, unstable, and risky. Many log your traffic or get blocked fast. Use a free plan or trial from a vetted provider instead.

How much do scraping proxies cost?

Residential proxies usually cost between $1.40 and $8 per GB. Volume commitments lower the per-GB rate sharply. Datacenter proxies are cheaper and often priced per IP.

How do I avoid getting blocked while scraping?

Rotate residential IPs and spread requests over time. Match the proxy type to the target’s defenses. For CAPTCHAs and advanced blocks, add an unblocker or scraping API.