What Is a Static Proxy?

You probably already know or have heard about residential proxies. In short, they are the top answer on how to hide an IP address by covering it up with another residential (legitimate) IP. Before reading this article, visit our residential proxy product page to learn more about our offerings.

Even though residential proxies are very reliable and block-free, they’re not as fast as datacenter proxies. But what if a solution combined the two – legitimacy and speed?

This is where static proxies, also known as ISP Proxies, come in. ISP Proxies are connected to an IP provided by reliable ISPs. Regarding legitimacy and speed, these proxies give you the benefits of both (residential and datacenter) worlds. In this article, we’ll go over what they are, how they work, and how they could benefit your specific business case. Let’s jump right in.

What are static proxies?

Static (or ISP) proxy servers are datacenter IPs assigned via a contract with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). And as the name “static” implies, it allows you to operate as a residential user with the same IP for as long as required.

To put it simply, you get the high anonymity of residential proxies and the speed of datacenter proxies. Additionally, ISP proxy servers allow you to avoid IP address rotation, making their use significantly simpler. Static proxies can also be private proxies, meaning that you'll be the only one using that particular IP address.

Unlike regular datacenter proxies, static proxy services are not created by using virtual machines. These proxies (also known as sticky IP addresses) will look like a genuine consumer to most websites. As most websites will only see an average consumer browsing their services, static proxies will be significantly less likely to be flagged as potential bots.

Static proxy benefits

Let’s go through the key benefits a static IP proxy server:

• Fast – originating from datacenter proxies, static proxies are just as fast as their counterparts. Usually hosted on virtual servers, static proxy IPs boast excellent bandwidth and high-speed internet connections.

• High anonymity – being assigned by an ISP, static IP proxies offer high anonymity and legitimacy.

• Reliable – Oxylabs’ ISP proxies are as reliable as they come – not only being assigned by an ISP but also coming from a reliable and proven source.

• Guaranteed 99% uptime – with the power of datacenter proxies and residential proxies – static proxies have the power of both. 

• Unlimited number of targets – static IP proxies have no limits or restrictions when deployed for scraping.

Note that the benefits above usually don’t apply to free static proxy lists due to various cuts in features. As a rule of thumb, costly features can hardly be offered for free. 

As the name suggests, a static IP proxy retains the same address over multiple sessions. Remember that maintaining the same IP addresses can be both beneficial and detrimental. Whether a static IP proxy service should be used depends on your goals.

What are static IP proxies used for?

Static proxies (AKA static residential proxies, static IP proxies) can be used when IP rotation is not a viable option. A static proxy service is used whenever changing addresses could lead to blocks or bans.

Sometimes a rotating IP can cause issues or get banned from sites. This usually happens when making a purchase on e-commerce sites, creating social media accounts, or managing business operations on classified sites. Static IP proxy service is best suited for working with websites that require logging in. A static IP ensures a continuous session and lets you avoid interruptions such as re-entering user credentials. Static proxies allow you to continue using target websites and reap all the benefits of staying anonymous at the same time.

Static proxies create a unique solution for businesses looking to protect their brand. Those who try to illegitimately profit from abusing a brand’s image will often try to block those companies from accessing their content. Static proxies allow businesses to afford incredibly high speeds to scrape the internet for possible copyright infringements or other illegal activities related to their brand and, at the same time, resemble genuine consumers.

But the most common reason to use static proxies is quite apparent. In the words of our Account Manager, Viktorija Lapytė: