Top 15 Residential & Mobile Proxy Providers
This guide ranks 15 residential and mobile proxy vendors. For each provider we give: an executive summary, pricing guidance (USD / US market examples), pool size, mobile vs residential breakdown, suitability (small project vs enterprise), and pros/cons tailored for USA/Canada/Western buyers. Use this as a reference when selecting a provider for web scraping, ad verification, market research, or multi‑account management.
Sources: vendor pricing pages and industry reviews (Oxylabs, Bright Data, Smartproxy, NetNut, IPRoyal, SOAX, GeoSurf, etc.).
How to read this guide
Each vendor entry follows the same format: Quick facts (pool size & pricing), Mobile vs Residential breakdown, Suitability, and Pros/Cons. Pricing is shown in USD where vendors publish it; many vendors use GB-based billing for proxies or custom enterprise quotes always confirm the vendor's live pricing when procuring.
Summary ranked list
- Bright Data (formerly Luminati)
- Oxylabs
- Smartproxy (Decodo)
- NetNut
- IPRoyal
- SOAX
- GeoSurf
- Infatica
- AnyIP
- ProxyEmpire
- PacketStream
- Shifter (formerly Microleaves)
- Webshare / SendPulse proxies (budget options)
1. Bright Data — Feature-rich, largest pool & enterprise-grade
Quick facts
- Pool size (publicized): Very large — Bright Data advertises a vast pool (tens of millions; some vendor pages cite 150M+ across residential + mobile/data packages). citeturn0search10turn0search0
- Pricing (USD examples): Bright Data uses usage-based (GB) or data-pack based pricing; residential proxies commonly start in the single-digit USD per GB range on enterprise plans; mobile & premium offerings have higher per‑GB rates and often require sales quotes. See vendor pricing pages for exact current tiers. citeturn0search10
Mobile vs Residential
Bright Data supports both residential rotating proxies and mobile proxies; strong geo-targeting and session control. Mobile proxies generally cost more per GB than residential due to carrier/5G costs.
Suitability
Enterprise, large-scale scrapers, ad-verification firms and companies requiring advanced compliance and dedicated support.
Pros
- Massive IP pool and mature feature set (geo/ASN/city targeting, session controls).
- Good enterprise support, legal/compliance tooling and analytics for Western buyers.
Cons
- High cost for small projects — enterprise pricing tied to heavy usage.
- Vendor vetting and onboarding can be heavier than smaller providers.
2. Oxylabs — Strong performance, mobile + residential, transparent per-GB pricing
Quick facts
- Pool size: Oxylabs markets 100M+ IPs across its residential and datacenter networks (vendor info). citeturn0search0
- Pricing (USD examples): Oxylabs public pricing shows residential proxies ~ $8/GB and mobile proxies commonly listed at ~$9/GB with micro and starter packs (e.g., Micro $59/month for 12GB at ~$8.25/GB). Example pay-as-you-go and packaged tiers available. citeturn0search1turn0search9
Mobile vs Residential
Oxylabs offers rotating residential proxies and mobile proxy plans with clear per-GB pricing tiers. Session length and sticky options are available depending on plan.
Suitability
Mid-market to enterprise users who need predictable per-GB pricing, strong performance and worldwide coverage.
Pros
- Transparent per-GB pricing and multiple plan sizes to choose from.
- Good performance and strong support for large scraping jobs.
Cons
- Pricier than budget providers for small/experimental projects.
- Some advanced features require higher tiers or enterprise contracts.
3. Smartproxy (Decodo) — Balance of price, pool size and ease-of-use
Quick facts
- Pool size: Smartproxy advertises large residential pools (100M+ according to vendor messaging). citeturn0search3
- Pricing (USD examples): Smartproxy historically used credit/GB models; recent market references show residential proxy tiers around ~$8–$10/GB and mobile proxy pricing significantly higher (market reviews cite mobile near $50/GB in some analyses). Always check Smartproxy's live pricing page. citeturn0search11
Mobile vs Residential
Smartproxy provides rotating residential proxies and mobile offerings via partner programs; residential is their main strength for mid-market usage.
Suitability
SMB to mid-market customers who want a reliable managed proxy provider with strong UX and integrations to common scraping or account-management tools.
Pros
- Good documentation and straightforward onboarding for non‑enterprise teams.
- Competitive pool size and regional targeting for many Western countries.
Cons
- Mobile proxy pricing and availability can be more limited or expensive compared to specialist mobile providers.
4. NetNut — ISP-sourced residential + mobile, fast & stable
Quick facts
- Pool size: NetNut promotes a large global pool; exact counts vary by vendor messaging. Known for ISP-source static residential proxies alongside rotating pools. citeturn0search4turn0search12
- Pricing (USD examples): NetNut offers transparent plans and trials; contact sales for tailored quotes. Some pages mention trials and tiered pricing models. citeturn0search12
Mobile vs Residential
NetNut offers residential proxies (static and rotating) and mobile IPs; they emphasize ISP-sourced connections which can improve reliability for certain use-cases.
Suitability
Mid-market to enterprise use-cases that require stable residential IPs and good performance for scraping and verification tasks.
Pros
- ISP‑sourced IPs (static options) that can offer more stability than some rotating-only pools.
- Transparent documentation and enterprise-focused tooling.
Cons
- Pricing often higher than budget providers; enterprise onboarding may be required.
5. IPRoyal — Budget-friendly with mobile & residential packages
Quick facts
- Pool size: IPRoyal advertises multi-million IPs (residential pool and mobile segments). Example pages cite 4.5M+ IPs for some plans. citeturn0search13
- Pricing (USD examples): IPRoyal lists competitive pricing such as residential from ~$1.75/GB (with promos), ISP proxies from ~$2/proxy, and mobile proxy daily plans from roughly $10.11/day for short-term plans; monthly packs from ~$130/month for mobile (30-day). citeturn0search13turn0search5
Mobile vs Residential
IPRoyal offers both mobile and residential proxies; the vendor specifically advertises unlimited bandwidth options on some mobile plans and discounts for longer commitments.
Suitability
Good for small-to-medium projects and cost-conscious teams who need mobile access without enterprise pricing.
Pros
- Budget-friendly and transparent pay-as-you-go options; competitive for Western budget buyers.
- Mobile plans with daily, 30/60/90-day discounted rates make short trials affordable.
Cons
- Some reviewers caution that “unlimited” claims may have fair-use limits; always read terms and test at scale.
6. SOAX — City-level targeting and flexible per‑GB plans
Quick facts
- Pool size: SOAX advertises large IP pools and strong geo-targeting, with millions of residential IPs across many countries. citeturn0search15turn0search7
- Pricing (USD examples): SOAX publishes per‑GB pricing tiers — starter around $3.60/GB for 25GB up to professional tiers with lower per‑GB rates as volumes rise. Exact tiered prices available on SOAX pricing page. citeturn0search7
Mobile vs Residential
SOAX focuses primarily on residential proxies with good session control and city-level targeting; mobile options may be available depending on their current product lineup.
Suitability
SMB to mid-market teams that need precise geo-targeting (city/region) for testing, ad verification or localized scraping.
Pros
- Clear per-GB pricing with low starting points for new users.
- City-level targeting and session control make it useful for localized testing.
Cons
- Not the cheapest at scale compared to some budget providers; mobile pool coverage can be limited relative to pure mobile specialists.
7. GeoSurf — Reliable residential network with premium pricing
Quick facts
- Pool size: GeoSurf advertises ~3M residential IPs and coverage across 120+ countries (vendor messaging). citeturn0search6
- Pricing (USD examples): GeoSurf historically positions itself at a premium price point; some market reviews list starter plans around several hundred dollars per month (e.g., $300/month for 37.5 GB in market writeups). Confirm with GeoSurf sales for current tiers. citeturn0search14
Mobile vs Residential
GeoSurf focuses on residential proxies (static & rotating) with strong city and country targeting; mobile proxies are less prominent in their main offering.
Suitability
Enterprises and brands that prioritize reliability and have budgets for premium residential coverage (ad verification, brand protection, price monitoring).
Pros
- Reliable network and strong geo coverage for enterprise use-cases.
- Premium support and SLAs available for larger customers.
Cons
- Higher cost makes it less attractive for small or experimental projects.
8. Infatica — Mobile & residential provider focused on scale
Quick facts
- Pool size: Infatica markets mobile and residential pools in the multi‑million range; they emphasize mobile pools and global reach in vendor materials.
- Pricing (USD examples): Infatica offers plans and pay-as-you-go pricing for residential and mobile; contact vendor for current USD pack pricing. (Check vendor pricing for updates.)
Mobile vs Residential
Infatica is notable for mobile proxy offerings (4G/5G) alongside their residential service — a strong option if you need carrier-based IPs.
Suitability
Mid-market teams and enterprises that need mobile-first scraping or app testing across carriers.
Pros
- Mobile-focused product set and experience with carrier-level traffic.
- Good for app-level testing and mobile-only target scenarios.
Cons
- Pricing transparency can be limited; enterprise sales often required for full mobile access.
9. AnyIP — Lower-cost combined mobile & residential plans
Quick facts
- Pool size: AnyIP advertises tens of millions of IPs and claims both residential and mobile coverage. citeturn0search8
- Pricing (USD examples): AnyIP lists plans starting from low per‑GB rates (market pages show ~ $2/GB entry in some offers) — useful for budget projects; confirm live pricing on AnyIP site. citeturn0search8
Mobile vs Residential
AnyIP bundles both types in simplified plans — good for projects that need flexibility without separate vendor contracts.
Suitability
Small projects, testing and early-stage scraping where cost sensitivity matters.
Pros
- Low entry cost and combined plan simplicity.
- Good for testing and proof-of-concept efforts.
Cons
- Support, IP quality and uptime may not match enterprise vendors — test before committing.
10. ProxyEmpire — Privacy-focused, flexible billing
Quick facts
- Pool size: ProxyEmpire advertises large rotating residential pools and flexible billing with bandwidth rollover in some plans.
- Pricing (USD examples): ProxyEmpire has tiered plans with attractive small-bucket pricing; check vendor page for live per-GB tiers.
Mobile vs Residential
ProxyEmpire focuses primarily on residential rotating proxies with options for sticky sessions; mobile offerings vary by region.
Suitability
SMB teams needing privacy-focused rotating residential IPs and flexible billing for irregular workloads.
Pros
- Good for privacy-minded users and flexible monthly plans with rollover.
Cons
- Not as well-known as the big enterprise providers; verify success rates for your use-case.
11. PacketStream — Marketplace-style residential bandwidth
Quick facts
- Pool size: PacketStream operates a P2P-style marketplace where users sell bandwidth; pool size varies but can be large during peaks. citeturn0news80
- Pricing (USD examples): PacketStream historically had simple $1/GB-ish pricing for buyers with variable seller payouts; pricing fluctuates and reliability varies. Check PacketStream for current details.
Mobile vs Residential
Primarily residential via users' home connections (P2P). Mobile options are generally not a core focus.
Suitability
Low-cost experimental scraping, research projects and hobbyist use-cases where absolute reliability is not critical.
Pros
- Very low price for simple tasks and hobby projects.
Cons
- Inconsistent availability and potential ethical/quality concerns due to P2P sourcing model.
12. Shifter (formerly Microleaves) — Legacy rotating residential options
Quick facts
- Pool size: Shifter historically offered millions of rotating residential IPs; details vary by product line and legacy plans.
- Pricing (USD examples): Shifter has historically positioned itself as affordable with rotating plans; consult vendor for current pricing and availability.
Mobile vs Residential
Shifter is focused on rotating residential and static proxies; mobile-specific products may be limited or via partners.
Suitability
Budget-oriented teams that need rotating residential proxies with a legacy provider.
Pros
- Simple rotating proxies with legacy support and community knowledge.
Cons
- Older UI and limited modern feature parity versus newer providers; verify uptime and IP quality before large-scale use.
13. Webshare & other budget alternatives — SendPulse, Moosend proxies for low-cost testing
Quick facts
- Pool size: Webshare and similar budget vendors offer smaller pools (100k–few million) with lower prices for starter projects.
- Pricing (USD examples): Often affordable monthly plans <$20–$50 for small buckets or low-volume needs; pay-as-you-go options available on some vendors.
Mobile vs Residential
These vendors usually focus on residential IPs; mobile proxies are less common or via partners.
Suitability
Good for small tests, research projects and teams that want a cheap entry point before moving to an enterprise-grade vendor.
Pros
- Low cost and easy sign-up; good to validate use-cases and integration flows.
Cons
- Lower success rates at scale and fewer enterprise features; limited customer support and geo-targeting.
How to choose: decision checklist
- Define the use-case: scraping vs account management vs ad verification vs localized testing — mobile proxies are necessary for mobile-app-like traffic.
- Scale & budget: For long-term, frequent high-volume work, prioritize enterprise vendors (Bright Data, Oxylabs); for experiments pick budget providers (IPRoyal, AnyIP, Webshare).
- Targeting needs: city-level or carrier-level targeting pushes you toward premium providers (Bright Data, GeoSurf, SOAX).
- Rotation & session control: sticky sessions matter for login/account tasks; rotating per request is better for scraping large sites.
- Compliance & ethics: prefer vendors with clear sourcing and opt-out mechanisms; ask about IP sourcing and consent policies if operating in regulated markets.
90‑day evaluation & implementation plan
- Days 1–7: Shortlist 3 vendors matching your use-case (one enterprise, one mid-market, one budget). Arrange trial accounts and request pilot credits.
- Days 8–21: Run parallel small pilots (10–50k requests) to measure success rate, latency, and block/CAPTCHA rates across target sites.
- Days 22–45: Evaluate quality: success rate, session stability, and support responsiveness. Check geo-targeting accuracy and ASN diversity if required.
- Days 46–90: Negotiate contracts for chosen vendor (volume discounts, SLAs) and implement monitoring & fallback provider for resiliency.
Ethics, compliance & risk notes
Residential and mobile proxy usage can raise ethical and legal issues when IP pools are sourced without clear consent from end-users. Always consider the legal and contractual context of your scraping or multi-account management. Prefer vendors that document their sourcing and provide ways to opt-out. For regulated industries or sensitive data collection, consult legal counsel before deployment.