One of the main reasons for using a proxy is to remain anonymous while you scrape the web for data. However, there are plenty of options in the market, often leaving you confused as to which type of proxy you should use for the task at hand. For instance, you will find lists of the best proxies of each type, such as the best rotating proxies. The list on Proxyway helps you decide on the service that will meet your requirements, but you first need to determine if that particular proxy type covers your needs.
In this article, we are going in-depth about rotating proxies and why they are your go-to option when anonymity is your no.1 priority.
What Are Rotating Proxies?
As you already know, a proxy is an intermediary server between the client and the destination server. It achieves this by altering your IP address to protect your privacy and allow you to reach geo-restricted content. Therefore, a proxy has found numerous uses nowadays.
A rotating proxy is a particular proxy server type that uses a dynamic approach. This means that it assigns a new IP address to the client at a pre-decided interval or number of connection requests. The best rotating proxies will even allow you to alter your IP after each request. This main characteristic has made rotating proxies a reliable choice for enhanced anonymity on the web.
In more detail, the key features of a rotating proxy server are the following:
- Enhanced anonymity – by changing the IP address regularly, rotating proxies can guarantee your anonymity. This is why you can complete your tasks while remaining untraceable.
- Avoid rate limits and IP bans – many websites try to prevent data scraping by setting rate limits and banning IP addresses, from which they have received too many requests. With the best rotating proxies, you can easily bypass them as each request can be from a different IP address.
- Avoid CAPTCHAs – this is one of the most popular anti-bot measures that can hinder your automated data scraping. A rotating proxy though is the ideal tool to bypass it by changing your IP address.
- Load distribution – the best rotating proxies will also distribute traffic to a pool of IP addresses, guaranteeing a more even distribution of requests. This way, it appears like the traffic comes from real users.
- Proxy type – a rotating proxy can be a datacenter, residential, or even take mobile IP addresses. This way, you can select which type you wish to use depending on your objective.
How Are They Different from Static Proxies?
Rotating proxies are often compared to static proxies. Both of them act as a gateway when you are trying to access a website. However, both types use IP addresses differently, thus giving them different uses. In more detail, their main differences can be summarized into the following points:
- IP rotation – when you are using rotating proxies, you know that your IP address will change within the predetermined amount of time or number of requests. If you are using a static proxy though, you don’t get any of that. Instead, the proxy will change your IP address, which will remain the same for the duration of the session.
- Anonymity – using the same IP address throughout your session reduces your anonymity since the IP you are using can be traced. On the other hand, rotating proxies offer high anonymity due to their constant alteration of your IP address.
- Exclusivity – you can find both dedicated and shared static proxies, depending on your needs and budgetary limitations. Rotating proxies though are only shared, since they give you access to a pool of IPs that you share with other users.
- Flexibility – A rotating proxy is super flexible as it will automatically alter your IP address, or even allow you to change it yourself if need be. On the contrary, a static proxy is not flexible at all, as you can use only the one address you have in the beginning.
- Maintenance – if you need to change or discard an IP address from your list, you need to do it manually in the case of a static proxy server. However, this is not the case in rotating proxies, as you can change IP addresses with just a couple of clicks.
When to Use Rotating Proxies
Taking into consideration all of the above, it is easy to understand that the best rotating proxies are perfect for when you need to remain anonymous. It is the type of proxy that guarantees that your IP address won’t be revealed and that you will remain untracked. Therefore, you can employ bots and create automated processes that will not lead to IP bans or fall for anti-bot measures.
Indicatively, you can use rotating proxies for all sorts of tasks, such as:
- Web scraping,
- Data mining,
- Ad verification,
- Market research,
- Competitor analysis.
What to Look for in the Best Rotating Proxies
Choosing the best rotating proxies is often a challenge since there are many different factors that you need to keep in mind. First and foremost, you need to check the IP rotation mechanism that each tool is using to ensure the anonymity level you require. Moreover, another crucial element is the IP pool size. You need a tool that gives you access to a large pool of addresses that you can use depending on your task.
Apart from these factors, you should also check the speed and overall performance of the proxy you will get. This is an important element if you are planning on using the proxy on time-sensitive tasks, such as sneaker copping. Finally, consider the pricing and customer support of each tool as you want to make sure that you will have all the help you might need available.
In Conclusion
If remaining anonymous is your top priority, select a rotating proxy over a static one. As we have seen in this article, it is built to guarantee that you retain your privacy during your online endeavors. Find the best rotating proxies for your tasks and enjoy their numerous benefits!
