A shared proxy is a proxy that is used by more than one person at the same time.
This could be for things from scraping a website to unblocking it, and while they are a preferred choice for some, generally speaking, shared proxies are considered one of the last proxies that you want to use, especially when you compare them to other proxies, like private ones.
However, if you’re using a proxy for a small-scale operation, then you may want to consider a shared proxy.
They’re helpful if you’re just starting out with web scraping and getting your data from websites that are lesser-known.
If you’re in the market for shared proxies for this kind of online activity, we’ve got a list of the best shared proxies for you to check out.
Let’s review them.
Best Shared Proxies
1. Bright Data
Bright Data has one of the biggest proxy databases that we’ve seen, coming in at over thirty-five million.
This beats Oxylabs, and they also have shared, private and residential proxies in over 200 countries.
Their proxies come with things like unlimited bandwidth, and they’re super quick as well, which is going to make your life a whole lot easier.
Bright Data is one of those proxy companies that makes it to the top of most proxy company lists because they just seem to have everything you would need in a proxy company.
The only slight downside to these guys is that their prices are pretty expensive – it’s going to cost you at least $500 a month to use them.
However, a lot of people would argue that this is worth it.
2. Proxy Seller
If you’re looking for a reliable, trustworthy company that can provide you with all of your shared proxies for an affordable price, we suggest you check out Proxy Seller.
These guys might not know the industry as well as some of the old-timers, but we have a feeling that they’re soon going to know more.
They currently provide their customers with support for HTTPS, as well as HTTP and SOCKS5.
They also come with 24/7 client support, and they make it easy for you to get in touch with them through their chat box that you’ll find in the bottom right-hand corner of their homepage.
If you’re worried about budget, Proxy Seller can help you out – they have a variety of different pricing options. What’s more, if you sign up for longer, you can end up getting some pretty sweet discounts.
Proxy Seller is a great all-rounder that has already established itself as a fan favorite in the proxy industry.
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3. SSLPrivate Proxy
Just like Proxy Seller, SSLPrivate Proxy Proxy has an extensive database of both shared and private proxies.
What’s perhaps one of the most significant advantages of using a company like this is that they also offer VPNs too, so if you’re somewhere in the world where proxies aren’t going to work too well, they have an alternative solution.
They have super fast servers to support both VPN and proxies, and they all come with RAM – as much as 16GB.
If you want to use shared proxies for things like Instagram and Facebook, and this is one of the best proxy companies out there.
They’re also great for web scraping as well.
4. Buy Personal Proxy
Buy Personal Proxy is another affordable proxy company, and from just $7 a month, you can get started with them.
We love how knowledgeable they are about proxies, which is great for you if you’re just starting out and are looking for a shared proxy because you’re new to the game and don’t know too much.
They can help you learn what there is to know about proxies, especially when it comes to using them for things like web scraping.
This is a reliable proxy company with a solid reputation, so if you don’t want to get caught up with a company that is going to take advantage of the fact that you’re green, stick with these guys.
5. Blazing SEO Proxy
Blazing SEO Proxy offers its customers options, like how they have three different ways to pay.
They also offer things like low prices, so for just $2.50 per proxy, you can get started with a small budget.
They have a two-day trial that all potential customers can access for free, and they can support HTTP as well as HTTPs.
Their proxies cover just five countries, so while they’re not the most extensive proxy company out there, they do have other advantages, including their price points and customer service.
If you’re working with a budget and need a great place to start, we suggest Blazing SEO Proxy.
6. BeeProxy
BeeProxy is not only a high-quality proxy company, but they’re also one of those more affordable options as well, with each of their proxies setting you back just $1.09.
They have a money-back guarantee as well, which means that they’re a pretty safe option in terms of risk.
Their online reviews say that this is a great company that can help you with social media activity, and they offer a substantial list of both shared and private proxies.
They cover 26 countries and have different categories depending on what you want to use your proxies for.
This is a great way to find the perfect shared proxy for your activity without having to spend too much time doing so.
Why a Shared Proxy?
A shared proxy can be useful for a number of different reasons:
- If you want a semi-dedicated proxy that you can share with people that you know
- If you’re going only to target websites that are small and not very well known
- If you don’t have the budget to invest in a private, dedicated proxy
- You’re just beginning, and you’re just needing something to start out with so you can learn more about using a proxy
What Do You Use a Shared Proxy For?
- Web Scraping: otherwise also known as data gathering. If you do not want to scrape data on a large scale, and the websites that you’re scraping data from are pretty small fry, then shared proxies are going to be your best bet.
- Torrenting: if you want to download movies or music by using a torrent, then you may want to do so using a shared proxy.
- Hiding Your IP Address: shared proxies can be used just like dedicated proxies can, to keep you anonymous online. However, when it comes to this task, you may also want to try a VPN as well, depending on what you want to do.
- Geo-Location Unblocking: a lot of people choose a safe approach to accessing the internet by purchasing proxies from reputable providers. While a VPN can often be a great, alternative solution, there are a lot of people out there that find proxies to be more flexible when it comes to committing to a contract. They can also be easier to set up if you just want to use it temporarily.
Final Thoughts
So, in light of all this, should you use shared proxies?
Definitely – if they suit your needs and you’re wanting to test using a proxy out before investing in something that’s slightly better quality, a shared proxy is definitely a great choice.
With this in mind, we have to recommend that you never use a shared proxy that’s free.
This is for your own benefit and safety – there’s no such thing as a free proxy that’s also high quality and safe.
Check out our list of the best shared proxies and see which one best suits your needs right now.