As the name suggests, shared proxies are shared with other users. In other words, you’ll be sharing the same IP address with other people. How many users can simultaneously use the same proxy depends on the number of clients and the capacity of the IP address pool offered by the service provider.
This article lists the different types of proxies, how shared proxies compare to semi-dedicated proxies, and where to buy shared proxies.
All You Need to Know About Proxy Server Types
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the numerous proxy options available today. Or maybe you’ve got no idea what to expect in the first place. This section lists some of the options available to you and how to use them.
Proxies Based on Location
Proxy servers are designed to centralize requests and responses to breaking down complex distributed networks. Here, there are two clear categories: public-facing proxies and private-to-private proxies. A great example of the former is the gateway proxy server, which connects a private network to the internet.
On the other hand, private-to-private proxies separate a complex private distributed network, say a campus network.
Proxies Based on Anonymity
Another way to classify proxies is by the level of anonymity provided. The proxy server can forward the header information as requested, partially, or even remove and disfigure the header information to appear different. The categories here include transparent, anonymous, and elite proxies.
Proxies Based on IP
Proxy servers can also be categorized by how they obtain their IP. Today, service providers get IPs from mobile operators and ISPs, which has paved the way for residential and mobile proxies. You can also get data center proxies, which are not associated with ISPs. Instead, they get their IP addresses from the cloud.
For residential proxies, the IP addresses seem like requests from residents using their computers at home. However, these addresses are bought or leased from ISPs for commercial use, not residential. Similarly, mobile proxies mask the source IP behind cellular network IPs, so they appear to be coming from a mobile phone rather than a computer.
Proxies Based on Traffic Flow
These servers are based on the direction of traffic, i.e., inbound and outbound, and are used to further enhance protection from the internet. Forwarding proxies take internal requests from clients and forward them to external destinations on public networks while masking the clients’ identities.
Reverse proxies act in the opposite way, i.e., they take, process, and direct the outbound traffic from the internet to an internal network.
Proxies Based on Service
You’ll find free and paid service providers, giving either public or private proxies. Public proxies are usually free. However, they’re also often too slow and risky since you simultaneously share them with many other users.
On the other hand, private proxies offer faster speeds, reliability, and privacy, categorized into dedicated and shared proxies. Dedicated proxies only allow one user to connect and send requests, while shared proxies are used by several clients. By design, shared proxies can handle many requests at once.
Types of Shared Proxies
Shared proxies use two formats: one is essentially a list of IP addresses, while the other is a backend gateway server.
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Shared proxy list
The user receives a number of IP addresses listed in a text document to use as they like. This format is simple to use and understand. It’s ideal for entertainment, e.g., gaming or streaming, but not recommended for web scraping and other sensitive projects. Additionally, users only pay for the addresses they used from the list.
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Shared rotating proxies
These proxies connect users to the service provider’s proxy pool and assign IP addresses. As expected with rotating proxies, the addresses change with every request or after a set period. New IPs are obtained from the pool, and the process repeats.
Shared Proxies Vs. Semi-Dedicated Proxies: What’s the Difference?
Semi-dedicated proxies can be used by a small group of users (up to three). These proxies combine attributes of private and shared proxies since one IP address is shared among a few users. The performance and speed of semi-dedicated proxies give them an advantage over shared proxies. However, shared proxies are much cheaper in comparison.
Pros of Using Semi-Dedicated Proxies
Semi-dedicated proxies are significantly cheaper than dedicated proxies since they’re shared among several users. They’re more stable and reliable than shared proxies because only a few people can connect to a single IP address. Semi-dedicated proxies are a great choice for:
- Projects that don’t require dedicated proxies but still demand a decent level of privacy.
- Small-scale web scraping and automation (posting comments on blogs, social media, etc.)
- Bypassing geographic restrictions and other IP-based limitations.
Pros of Using Shared Proxies
While sharing your proxy address with others might seem like a debatable thing, there are numerous pros to doing so:
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Affordability
Like with most shared things, shared proxies are pretty affordable. A service provider can sell one proxy to several clients at a lower cost without negatively affecting their profits or service quality.
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Anonymity
All users sharing the same IP address can enjoy anonymity no matter their location since the proxy hides their true identity.
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Reliability
They are just as reliable as private proxies. All the service provider needs is to ensure their clients don’t use them for malicious purposes.
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Efficiency
They are suitable for data gathering and extraction using web scraping tools.
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Beginner-friendly
Shared proxies are ideal for beginners looking to experiment until they find their preferred alternative for their tasks.
Cons of Using Shared Proxies
Before buying shared proxies, it’s essential to understand the associated cons.
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Risky
Shared proxies are susceptible to security issues, thanks to “the bad neighbor effect.” If other clients use the proxy for malicious purposes, the IP address may be banned.
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Low speeds
Users may experience low speed depending on the number of clients on the shared proxy and how much bandwidth they’re using.
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CAPTCHA
When using Google, you’ll likely have to deal with CAPTCHAs and other similar tools where you need to confirm you’re human.
Your Go-To Solution
Since you’ll be sharing the same IP addresses with strangers worldwide, choosing a reliable and trustworthy service provider is imperative. At IPRoyal, we guarantee our clients anonymity while browsing, higher bandwidths, and fast speeds. Visit www.iproyal.com for any inquiries and to view all available options for you.
