Frequently asked questions

A datacenter proxy is a type of proxy server that provides a data center IP address instead of one linked to an internet service provider (ISP). Like other proxy types, it still hides your IP address, changes your digital location, and routes your traffic through a proxy server before it reaches the internet.

Since datacenter proxy IP addresses aren’t provided by an ISP, the servers also have a data center Autonomous System Number (ASN). This means that the websites, apps, or services you use can tell you’re connecting via a proxy.

This isn’t much of an issue for most proxy use cases. However, proxies which use IP addresses that are announced to datacenter networks or ASNs can be flagged and banned by the security systems of some websites.

Residential proxies are proxy servers which use IP addresses announced and assigned by residential internet networks (ASNs) and belong to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like AT&T, Spectrum, Comcast, BT, Orange and others who provision residential broadband services to end users.

IP addresses can be profiled by their ASN and this allows datacenter proxies to be easily identified and blocked by some websites. Websites which want to block traffic originating from datacenters will compile or use a list of known datacenter ASNs like the Udger list and then when a request is received by the website, the connecting IP address will have their ASN referenced against this list and blocked if there is a match. This block method is highly scalable and relatively easy to deploy so it is very common across the internet.

Residential proxies are able to access websites which block datacenter IP addresses because they use IP addresses announced to residential internet networks rather than datacenter networks. This means the ASN of the IP address isn't present on lists like Udger and therefore is not blocked. This makes these proxies indistinguishable from regular internet users.

The main difference between residential and datacenter proxies lies in their origin and how they're perceived by websites. Residential proxies use IP addresses from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like AT&T or Comcast, making them appear as regular internet users and harder to detect as proxy traffic. Datacenter proxies, on the other hand, use IP addresses from data centers, which are easier to identify and more likely to be blocked by websites.

Residential proxies offer better anonymity and access to restricted content, as they're associated with residential Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) and are less likely to be on blocklists. Datacenter proxies, while often faster and more cost-effective, may face limitations on platforms that actively block known datacenter IPs.

The main difference between Static Residential Proxies and Residential Bandwidth Proxies lies in their hosting and usage models.

Static Residential Proxies are hosted in datacenters but use IP addresses assigned by ISPs (Internet Service Providers) like AT&T, Spectrum, or BT. These proxies are static, meaning their IP addresses remain consistent over time, making them ideal for long-term use cases such as account management, ad verification, or accessing websites that block datacenter IPs. Since these IPs are tied to residential ASNs, they are less likely to be blocked by websites using ASN filtering methods. You pay per IP address, and the proxies are always available and dedicated to your use, with a specific location of your choice.

Residential Bandwidth Proxies, on the other hand, use real residential IP addresses from devices in homes. These proxies are dynamic, meaning the IP addresses change frequently as they are pulled from a rotating pool of IPs from residential users across different regions. They are charged on a pay-per-GB model, making them ideal for use cases requiring a large volume of IPs across different locations, such as web scraping or market research. With Residential Bandwidth, you can generate unlimited proxies and use them concurrently, without any rate-limiting, and select from a wide range of countries and cities worldwide.

In summary, Static Residential Proxies offer long-term, consistent IPs tied to a specific location, while Residential Bandwidth Proxies provide flexibility with dynamic IPs and are charged based on data usage.

We support both username/password authentication and IP authentication (Static Proxies Only) across our services.

Our innovative Proxy User and IAM system allows you to create Proxy Users, edit their credentials, track their usage, limit their residential bandwidth, and link their access to specific proxies and services all from our dashboard.

We work with several large carriers such as ATT, Comcast, Orange, Deutsche Telekom AG, Glide, Spectrum, RCN, Virgin Media, Windstream and others to provision our Static Residential services.

Our inventory is dynamic and all the providers mentioned may not be available at any given time.

Yes, all of our plans include carrier and ASN targeting as standard, allowing you to choose from over 10,000 networks and ASNs. While we cannot guarantee availability for every ASN, we have a strong inventory of proxies from major carriers such as China Mobile, Reliance Jio, Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, China Telecom, AT&T, Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, and many others.

It's important to note that limiting your proxies to a specific ASN or carrier can reduce the number of available proxies. Unless your use case specifically requires targeting a particular carrier or ASN, we generally recommend leaving this feature off to maximize proxy availability.

Yes, we offer Sticky, Static, and Rotating Sessions based on your specific needs.

Sticky Proxies assign a single IP address to a user for an extended period, with the same IP potentially available for up to 24 hours. This makes them ideal for tasks requiring consistent identity, such as managing user accounts, accessing geo-restricted content, and running e-commerce operations. However, since these IPs are sourced from real residential devices, availability is not always guaranteed, meaning a particular IP may go offline.

Rotating Proxies, on the other hand, automatically change the IP address after each request. This provides dynamic IP allocation, shorter session durations, and a higher level of anonymity. Rotating proxies are commonly used for web scraping, data collection, and scenarios where frequently changing IPs helps avoid detection or blocks.

Static Proxies offer greater stability, with IP addresses that can be kept for months, or even years, at a time. These are sold by IP address and are perfect for applications that require long-term usage without IP changes. More details on purchasing Static Proxies can be found here.

Yes! Ping Proxies, partner up with SDK programs and peer payment applications which compensate developers and end-users for their participation in our network.

These programs pay regular internet users to share their traffic and become a part of a proxy network. This way, users are fairly compensated and are always well-informed about how their IP addresses might be used.

On top of that, Ping Proxies has a strict Acceptable Usage Policy which helps ensure that the users don’t misuse the proxy and are a proud IWF member, enforcing their blocklists across our network. This protects everyone within the proxy network and minimizes the amount of shady or illegal activities.

Yes, with our Residential Bandwidth packages, you can generate an unlimited number of residential proxies. Since these proxies are charged on a pay-per-GB basis, there are no restrictions on the number of proxies you can create or the number of concurrent connections. This allows you to generate millions of proxies and use them simultaneously without worrying about rate-limiting, making it ideal for large-scale web scraping, market research, or scenarios that require frequent IP rotation across different regions.

You can reach our support team through various channels, including email, the dashboard ticket system, Telegram, and Discord. If you have any suggestions for additional platforms where you'd like to see support offered, feel free to provide feedback through the dashboard. We're always open to improving our support options.

Our customer service main operating hours are 5AM to 7PM EST and we currently only support English language support. We have out-of-hours support which is available 24/7 with slower response times.

Yes, we have a comprehensive Knowledge Base that covers everything related to our services, including detailed guides on Proxy Users, Residential Proxies, Static Proxies, Account Management, and Billing. It serves as a resource for users to get quick answers and instructions on using our platform effectively.

Yes, Ping Proxies, operating under the trading name Ping Technology Labs LTD, is a company based, regulated, and incorporated in the United Kingdom. As a UK-based business, we comply with strict laws and regulations, including data protection standards and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). This ensures that our services and operations adhere to the highest legal and ethical standards, providing our customers with secure and compliant proxy solutions.