Best Residential Proxies to Use In 2024

If you are looking for a proxy that lets you browse the web with a real user IP instead of easy-to-detect proxy IPs, getting a residential proxy is the answer. 

To find the best residential proxy, TechJury experts put different proxies to the test using the following factors: the features that the product offers, customer support, subscription price, quality of the buying experience, and the company itself. 

Setting these factors as criteria, TechJury used a pointing system and shortlisted 7 of the best residential proxies. 

This article will cover each residential proxy to help you choose which one suits your needs. Read on. 

Leading Residential Proxies: An Overview

To give you a quick sum-up, here are the best residential proxy providers:

• Smartproxy: Excellent proxy performance and service at a low price
• Bright Data: Reliable and oldest residential proxy provider
• Nimble: AI-optimized and premium residential proxies
• Oxylabs: Largest residential proxy pool and premium service
• IPRoyal: Non-expiring residential proxies
• NetNut: Residential proxy service with detailed reports
• Webshare: Residential proxies with customization features
• Asocks: The most affordable residential proxy

Below is a table showing how each residential proxy performed based on TechJury’s evaluation: 

What is a Residential Proxy?

A residential proxy is a proxy type that lets you browse the web using another person's IP address.

A proxy server is a tool that allows its user to use a different IP and location instead of their real ones. This way, you can enjoy the following:

• Anonymous browsing

• Secure and private online sessions
• Access geo-restricted content

Residential proxy IPs come from real user devices like personal computers. These are distributed by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for domestic use. 

There are many benefits and uses of a residential proxy. Here are the typical ones:

• Bypass Geo-blocking

Plenty of websites, like streaming platforms, put geo-restrictions on their content. They do so to make the content accessible only from a particular location.

With residential proxies, you can access content without getting blocked or flagged. These proxies work as if you're viewing information from a specific location in the world.

• Ad-testing and Verification

Companies that pay for ads run several scripts to test their ads. These tests check and verify if the ads appear correct for better results. With residential proxies, businesses can cover more locations for testing.

• Shopping

Shoppers enjoy using residential proxies to buy items with limited releases. Most stores have secure sites, and they can easily detect proxy use. 

Using a residential proxy is the best way to get limited edition items since sites will simply see your IP as coming from a home address.

• SEO Works and Tasks

According to statistics, ​​68% of online experiences start with search engines. This makes Search Engine Optimization (SEO) one of today's leading industries. 

SEO works and tasks involve proxies due to the endless searching and testing they need to do. 

Some of these tasks are keyword research, position tracking, and scraping. Residential proxies are best for SEO tasks since they are not easily detected. 

• Travel Planning

Those who often plan their travels use a residential proxy. It lets you see and compare rates offered by sites in different locations.

It is also an excellent way to avoid overpricing. Some sites increase their prices when they see you search for the same thing multiple times.

• E-commerce Tasks

A residential proxy works well for e-commerce scraping tasks. With this proxy, you can check trends, positioning, and pricing without getting blocked. It also prevents the appearance of any false data.

Top Residential Proxy Recommendations

Not all proxy server providers offer all types of proxies. TechJury experts searched for providers all over the Internet that has residential proxies. With a set of criteria, each residential proxy was tested. 

Based on that evaluation, here is a list of the 7 best residential proxies:

1. Smartproxy

Known for: Excellent proxy performance and service at a low price

TechJury Rating: 9

Main Features:

• Proxy Pool: Over 40 million Residential IPs
• Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5
• Locations: Over 195 locations
• Rotation: Per request or every 10 to 30 minutes
• Support: 24/7 via Mail and Live Chat

Performance Overview:

• Proxy Pool Size: Large
• Success Rate: 99.4%
• Response Time: 0.6 seconds
• Satisfaction Rating: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot | 4.5/5 for TechJury

Pricing: Starts at $8.5 per GB (pay-as-you-go option)

Founded in 2018, Smartproxy now has almost 50,000 users worldwide. The company earns nearly $5 million in revenue annually. 

Smartproxy is the best for offering excellent performance, reasonable pricing, and features. This provider offers a pool of over 40 million proxies. It also covers several locations, meaning you can target any state or city from 195 countries.

This provider allows beginners to use residential proxies with little to no interaction. Thus, it’s the best option if you want a self-service choice.

User Experience

When it comes to user experience, Smartproxy offers a generally smooth process. Creating an account takes only seconds, and you can use your Google Account to skip the login details.

Smartproxy also allows you to create a dashboard without entering any card details. You can buy your credits once you're in the dashboard.

Smartproxy’s User Dashboard

Its user dashboard is simple and easy to understand. You can easily access your stats and the free tools included in your plan from the dashboard. It also offers quick-start guides, video tutorials, and other documentation.

Customer Support

Smartproxy provides tons of helpful resources. You'll find a product tour, help documents, and a Discord page from the dashboard. 

They also offer a live chat option that replies quickly to your concerns. The Discord page is also helpful if you need some resources from other users.

2. Bright Data

Known for: Being the oldest residential proxy provider

TechJury Rating: 9

Main Features:

• Proxy Pool: Over 72 million Residential IPs
• Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5
• Locations: 195 Locations
• Rotation: Per Request or Custom Sticky Sessions
• Support: 24/7 via Email and Live Chat for Large Plans

Performance Overview:

• Proxy Pool Size: Very Large
• Success Rate: 99.1%
• Response Time: 0.8 seconds
• Satisfaction Rating: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot | 4.5/5 for TechJury

Pricing: Starts at $15 per GB (pay-as-you-go option)

Started in 2017, Bright Data is among the oldest and most reliable residential proxy providers. The company now earns more than $100 million in revenue and serves over 20,000 users globally. 

In the past, Bright Data has the largest proxy pool with over 72 million residential IPs. Oxylabs now hold the most extensive pool. Nonetheless, Bright Data still offers one of the largest proxy pool sizes.

User Experience

Creating an account in Bright Data is quick. You can use your Google account to sign up. You also do not need to pay for anything to register.

Bright Data’s User Dashboard

On the dashboard, you'll find a clean and straightforward interface. The stats and other details come in a separate tab. While it is not as convenient as other providers, some users prefer this design. 

Bright Data’s dashboard does not include the resources you usually find in other providers. You must click the button on the bottom right of customer support to access the resources that you need. 

In short, Bright Data may not be user-friendly for new proxy users. Most beginners will need some time to adjust to its interface.

Customer Support

If you need to contact staff for help, they only offer email support. You can only enjoy live chat support if you buy a premium plan.

Nonetheless, Bright Data sends a personal email once you register. This is how they help you set up and start using residential proxies.

3. Nimble

Known for: AI-optimized and premium residential proxies

TechJury Rating: 9

Main Features:

Proxy Pool: Millions of reliable residential IPs

Protocols: HTTP and SOCKS5

Locations: 250+ countries

Rotation: Per request

Support: Responsive through email

Performance Overview:

Proxy Pool Size: Large

Success Rate: 99.4%

Response Time: 0.25 seconds

Satisfaction Rating: 4/5 for Techjury

Pricing: Nimble starts at $300 to $700 per month for individuals. It ranges from $1,100 to $4,000 monthly for professionals and enterprises.

Nimble is relatively new to the market as a data-gathering platform but also offers reliable residential proxies. This company promotes simplicity, from its user interface and dashboard design to its straightforward performance.

Proxy users in Nimble enjoy its advanced AI optimization engine. All IP requests are personalized by this system, delivering the best IP based on the user's needs. The request undergoes four phases, but Nimble ensures fast delivery and high performance.

User Experience

You can expect hands-on treatment from the Nimble team as soon as you begin your Nimble experience. Before committing to this platform, you can book a demo with Nimble experts. They will help you find the most suitable plan for your proxy needs.

As mentioned, Nimble focuses on simplicity. You can observe that quality on its intuitive dashboard, which makes navigation and account management easier for users. 

Alt tag: Nimble Dashboard

In case some users still find the dashboard overwhelming, Nimble prepared comprehensive tutorials and guides to navigate it. If more is needed, users can always contact the Nimble team for assistance.

Overall, Nimble is a user-friendly platform and company. It might seem like it’s not for beginners, but its experts are more than ready to lend a helping hand.

Customer Support

You can reach out to Nimble’s customer support team by submitting a contact form. Although they are responsive, this aspect of Nimble needs improvement. Having limited options to contact customer support and waiting for an acknowledgment doesn’t seem reliable enough for some customers.

Nimble users can also directly send an inquiry to [email protected] or [email protected]. Customers can usually receive a response within 24 hours. Ultimately, Nimble’s customer support team is decent enough for its growing user base.

4. Oxylabs

Known for: Having the largest residential proxy pool and premium service

TechJury Rating: 8.5

Main Features:

• Proxy Pool: Over 100 million Residential IPs
• Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5
• Locations: All Countries and Cities
• Rotation: Per Request or Custom Sticky Sessions
• Support: 24/7 via Mail and Live Chat

Performance Overview:

• Proxy Pool Size: Very Large
• Success Rate: 99.6%
• Response Time: 0.6 seconds
• Satisfaction Rating: 4.5/5 on Trustpilot | 5/5 for TechJury

Pricing: Starts at $10 per GB (pay-as-you-go option)

Oxylabs first started in 2017. The company now has around 500 employees and earns $50 million in annual revenue. 

If you’re looking for residential proxies with premium services, Oxylabs is the best option. It has the largest proxy pool—with over 100 million residential IPs.

Having the largest proxy pool, it covers all countries and cities. Oxylabs even offer ASN or ZIP code targeting. With its residential proxies, you can enjoy flexible rotation. 

Its only downside is its high price. However, it is reasonable for the premium service that Oxylabs offers. 

User Experience

Oxylabs can overwhelm users who only use proxies for personal use. Nonetheless, its user experience works well for most people who know what they're doing.

Account creation with Oxylabs is easy. You can even use your Google account for a quick sign-up. You also do not need to pay upfront since making the payment is possible on the dashboard.

Oxylab’s User Dashboard

Oxylab’s dashboard contains everything you need to start. You can access resources like documentation, FAQs, and quick-start guides. 

This proxy provider also offers a proxy manager for Android and an extension for Chrome for easier proxy use.

Customer Support

The Oxylab dashboard shows a live-chat box on the bottom right. You can also email your dedicated account manager if you want. 

Their staff is quick and helpful with the replies. Oxylab also gives users access to a GitHub platform for community-based resources. 

5. IPRoyal

Best for: Non-expiring residential proxies

TechJury Rating: 5

Main Features:

• Proxy Pool: Over 2 Million Residential IPs
• Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5
• Locations: 195 Locations
• Rotation: Per Request and Sticky Sessions
• Support: 24/7 via Email

Performance Overview:

• Proxy Pool Size: Small
• Success Rate: 89.5%
• Response Time: 3.5 seconds
• Satisfaction Rating: 4.5/5 on Trustpilot | 2.5/5 for TechJury

Pricing: Starts at $7 per GB (pay-as-you-go option)

One of the more recent proxy providers, IPRoyal was founded in 2020. The company earns almost $5 million yearly. 

IPRoyal is one of the best options due to its affordable price. It also offers more than 2 million residential IPs. 

However, what makes IPRoyal stand out is its non-expiring residential proxies, making data expiration the least of your worries. Once you buy residential proxy traffic, it will be yours permanently. 

User Experience

Generally, the user experience in IPRoyal can be improved. 

A quick sign-up using Google is unavailable, so you must enter your details manually to create an account. It also requires a phone number, unlike others. 

IPRoyal’s User Dashboard

Its user dashboard is easy to understand, with details like your paid orders and balance. You can also add funds whenever you want. 

It also has accessible tabs leading to other proxy types if you wish to use them.

Customer Support

IPRoyal’s customer support can also be better. They have a help center on the bottom left leading to resources.

There's also a chat button, but it only leads to email. You must put your email address, type your concern, and wait for a reply.

Unlike live chat, it takes a while to receive a response. However, the company sends helpful answers and resources to address your concern.

6. NetNut

Known for: Premium residential proxies with detailed reports

TechJury Rating: 5

Main Features:

• Proxy Pool: Over 52 million Residential IPs
• Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5
• Locations: 150 Locations
• Rotation: Per Request and Sticky Sessions
• Support: 24/7 via Email and Skype (only for larger packages)

Performance Overview:

• Proxy Pool Size: Large
• Success Rate: 93.5%
• Response Time: 2 seconds
• Satisfaction Rating: 4/5 on Trustpilot | 4/5 for TechJury

Pricing: Starts at $300 for 20 GB ($15/GB) for a month (no pay-as-you-go option)

NetNut was founded in 2021. Compared to its competitors, NetNut can be considered a small company having less than 25 employees. However, it is already earning almost $5 million in revenue annually. 

Its selling point is its detailed proxy usage report. From the user dashboard, you can see a real-time proxy usage status. 

Some of the data you can find are your requests, success and success rates, response times, and used data. Thus, you can have helpful insights to monitor and improve your work.

User Experience

NetNut's user experience is smooth, but it is more challenging and quick than others. 

For instance, NetNut does not offer Google sign-up. You must input details one at a time. Nonetheless, you won't have to pay anything to register.

NetNut’s User Dashboard

The user dashboard is simple and easy to understand. From the main dashboard, you can easily see the products you bought. You will also have an accessible proxy generator.

With NetNut’s detailed proxy usage report, you can check your requests, success, success rates, response times, and used data. Its account activity also shows your messages and logs.

Customer Support

Unlike other providers, the dashboard of NetNut does not offer access to helpful documents. 

Both buttons on the bottom left and right lead to live chat. While they have a live chat, the reply can take up to two hours—depending on the time. 

You can enjoy 24/7 support with a larger package. The responses are helpful and come with more resources to help you with your concerns. 

NetNut also sends a personal email to help you with setting up. You will receive one upon creating an account.

7. Webshare

Known for: Residential proxies with customization features

TechJury Rating: 6

Main Features:

• Proxy Pool: Over 30 million Residential IPs
• Protocols: HTTP and SOCKS5
• Locations: 195 locations
• Rotation: Per Request
• Support: 6 am - 6 pm Monday - Friday via email 

Performance Overview:

• Proxy Pool Size: Large
• Success Rate: 96.7%
• Response Time: 2.8 seconds
• Satisfaction Rating: 4.4/5 on Trustpilot | 4/5 for TechJury

Pricing: Starts at $2.99/month for 100 proxies & up to 5000 GB of bandwidth (no pay-as-you-go option)

Webshare started in 2018. It is one of the proxy providers with the highest revenue, earning up to $10 million yearly. 

With its customization features, Webshare is the ideal choice for DIY users. For instance, it allows you to choose a bandwidth limit. 

It also offers a network priority feature for a stable network. If you need a proxy rotation, you can rotate proxies per request. 

Webshare stays on the affordable side of residential proxies. However, due to limited targeting and no custom rotation, it's best only for light tasks.

User Experience

Webshare’s user experience is easy. Creating an account takes only two minutes. You also do not have to pay to sign up.

Webshare’s User Dashboard

On the dashboard, you'll find every data you need. You will also find a list of 10 free proxies you can get by creating an account. 

Webshare’s only downside is that it does not support HTTPS, only HTTP and SOCKS5. 

Customer Support

On customer support, Webshare offers instant answers through documentation. However, they are only available through email if you want to contact them.

Moreover, support is only available during work hours—from 6 AM to 6 PM (PT). The email reply can take up to 24 hours. 

However, if you chat within the available time, you can get an answer within two hours.

8. Asocks

Known for: Being the most affordable residential proxy

TechJury Rating: 7

Main Features:

• Proxy Pool: Over 7 million Residential IPs
• Protocols: HTTP and SOCKS5
• Locations: Over 150 Locations
• Rotation: Every 15 minutes
• Support: 24/7 via Email, Phone, and Telegram

Performance Overview:

• Proxy Pool Size: Small 
• Success Rate: 93.5% 
• Response Time: 2.6 seconds
• Satisfaction Rating: 4.9/5 on Trustpilot | 3.5/5 on TechJury

Pricing: Starts at $3 per GB (pay-as-you-go option)

Asocks offer the most affordable residential proxies for only $3 per GB. This provider offers a small proxy pool with only over 7 million residential IPs.

It is only ideal for small and simple tasks. However, for only $3, you can have an all-in proxy experience, unlike other options.

User Experience

With Asocks, you can expect a smooth and easy user experience. Creating an account is easy and quick, usually done within two minutes. It is also free to sign up.

Asocks’ User Dashboard

You can easily find what you need from the dashboard, like the Proxy URL Link and Generate Proxy port tabs. A list of ports is also visible once you've created them.

Customer Support

Asocks provides a dedicated account manager. You can contact the manager via email, phone, Telegram, WhatsApp, or Skype.

While they offer a live chat, it's more about ticket issuing. They also have accessible FAQs in the dashboard if you need quick resources and answers.

Methodology

To pick the best, the web was scoured to find proxy providers that offer residential proxies. Then, each residential proxy was tested using the following factors: features, performance, support, and cost. 

To arrive at the review presented above, TechJury experts followed this process:

1. Research each proxy provider’s details.
2. Create an account for each proxy provider to have a first-hand experience.
3. Test free trials to get an overview of each proxy’s performance and other data.
4. Score and rank each residential proxy based on what they offer and how they perform. 

Here are the results upon comparing the seven residential proxy providers side-by-side:

Overall Rating 

All the residential proxy providers in the list above provide specific features. Each has a selling point or feature that makes them the best for a particular preference or need.

TechJury's overall rating came from the evaluation of the following factors:

• Product (4 points) - depending on the proxy pool size and performance
• Support (2 points) - based on how each company helps user concerns; by testing their dashboard and contacting their support teams
• Pricing (2 points) - depending on the actual cost and value of money
• Company (1 point) - based on the reliability and size of the company
• Buying Experience (1 point) - depending on how smooth account creation and user experience are

Here’s how each proxy performed based on those factors: 

Features Overview

When choosing the best residential proxies, looking at the features is one of the ways to make a wise decision. Below are the features that TechJury examined:

• Proxy Pool - how many residential IP addresses the provider has
• Protocols - what protocols do their residential proxies support
• Locations - how many locations the provider can cover
• Rotation - how often they rotate their residential proxies
• Support - how they help their customers with any concerns

Here's an overview of the features each provider offers:

Performance Overview

Performance is a major deciding factor when choosing a residential proxy provider. Below are factors that were considered to gain insights into the performance of each proxy provider: 

• Proxy Pool Size: determines how many IPs you can get with the provider; the larger the pool;  size, the better
• Success Rate: shows how successful every request is with the residential proxy
• Response time: refers to how long it takes for the request to return with the data you asked

Here’s a performance overview of the residential proxies from the tested providers:

Cost Overview

For most users, the price plays a crucial role in choosing. Here's a cost overview from all the tested residential proxy providers: 

Note: The listed price is for every GB, depending on the package. 

Buyer Guide

After thorough testing and checking, here's a buyer guide to help you decide the best for you:

Residential Proxies vs. Data Center Proxies

Proxy servers come in different types, making residential proxies just one of the many. 

However, what makes it different is this proxy is based on the location and acquisition of the IP address. 

There are only two proxy types that are classified based on location and IP acquisition: residential and data center. Both types can either be shared or private proxies. 

A residential IP address comes from Internet Service Provider or ISP. If the IP comes from a cloud hosting company, they are “data center proxies.”

Here’s a quick comparison between residential and data center proxies:

Conclusion

Residential proxies offer many benefits. While this proxy type works better than others, it would be better to get one from a reliable provider.

After rigorous testing, all the providers listed above offer the best services. Each company provides one or two features that the others can't. As such, picking the best boils down to your personal preference.

Based on experience and the scores given, Oxylabs is the best. It suits the needs of most users, has excellent value, and offers some of the best residential proxies.