There are plenty of proxy providers, and every one of them promises "fast, reliable proxies at the best price". To avoid wasting money and time, compare more than the price per proxy. Here are 10 criteria that matter more in practice.

1. Does the proxy type fit your task?

Datacenter, residential and mobile proxies do different jobs and cost different amounts. First work out what you need — see "Residential vs Mobile vs Datacenter Proxies". The cheapest type that doesn't fit your task ends up the most expensive.

2. Dedicated or shared addresses

A dedicated proxy is issued to you alone. A shared one is used by several customers: it is cheaper, but what others do can ruin the address's reputation. For accounts, take dedicated ones.

3. Protocols and authentication

Check which protocols are offered: almost every program understands SOCKS5, and HTTPS encrypts the connection to the proxy. Make sure the access method you need is supported — login and password, or IP whitelisting. More on protocols in "HTTP, HTTPS or SOCKS5".

4. Countries and availability

Is the country you need available, and how long until the proxies are issued? Some countries are "made to order" — ask how quickly the proxies will arrive and what happens if they don't.

5. Honesty about limitations

Every proxy type has limitations, and a good provider states them plainly. IPv6 proxies, for example, only open websites with IPv6 — if a provider keeps quiet about that, you will find out after paying. Look for an honest description on the website of what the proxies are and aren't good for.

6. Speed and stability

Don't trust promises — test. Buy a small amount and try it on your own task: do the proxies work, how fast do they respond, do they drop out? How to do that is covered in "How to Test a Proxy".

7. Replacement and refund terms

Read the rules before buying: how long you have to replace faulty proxies or get your money back, and what counts as a fault and what doesn't. If there are no rules at all, that is a warning sign.

8. Support

Message support before you buy and see how quickly and helpfully they answer. When proxies stop working in the middle of a job, response time matters more than any discount.

9. Convenience

  • Are proxies issued right after payment?
  • Can you choose the line format and protocol, and download the list again?
  • Can you renew the same addresses without losing your setup?
  • Is there an account dashboard or bot where you can see everything?

10. Transparent prices and payment

The final price should be visible before you pay — with every discount and no surprises. Check whether there are volume discounts and payment methods that suit you.

Warning signs

  • A price several times below the market — the addresses are probably shared or already blocked.
  • No rules, no contacts, no clear information about the company.
  • Promises of "100% anonymity" and "works on any website" — no such thing.
  • Free proxies "forever" — why that is dangerous, see "Free Proxies".

How Netrun measures up

  • IPv6 proxies are issued to you alone and stay yours for the whole term.
  • SOCKS5 and HTTPS protocols, four line formats, and you can download the list again at any time.
  • We state plainly that IPv6 proxies only work with IPv6 websites, and we offer an IPv6 test so you can check sites before buying.
  • Within 24 hours of purchase we replace faulty proxies or refund the money to your balance; after that, we replace them. All the terms are in the rules.
  • Support replies within half an hour.
  • The price with every discount is shown before you pay, and bulk orders cost less.

FAQ

Should I buy the cheapest proxies?

Only if they fit your task and pass your test. Cheap but blocked or unstable addresses cost more in lost time and accounts.

How many proxies should I buy the first time?

A small amount, to test them on your task. How to work out the number you need is covered in "How Many Proxies Do You Need?".

Why does support matter if the proxies just work?

Because sooner or later something will go wrong: a website will change its rules, or you'll need a replacement or a different format. At that moment, response time is what counts.