Proxies are all around us. From the proxies that make internet surfing that much better, simpler, and faster to the proxies that protect our data from malicious individuals – it’s safe to assume that their use cases are plentiful.
Think of proxies as an intermediary between you and the server you’re requesting information from. This intermediary acts as a content filter, security measure and helps streamline the overall browsing,
There are more proxies than you might think, and all of them serve a different purpose. In this article, we’ll be covering the two most popular proxies, which are dedicated IP vs shared IP proxies. Below, we’ll define both of these, highlight some use cases, and define which is better.
What is a Private Proxy?
Private proxies are proxies with an IP address that’s exclusive to you. When you get a private proxy, you’re getting an IP address that only you can use. Private proxies are a fantastic way to protect your PC, gain access to locked content, and hide your browsing from your ISP.
One of the main reasons people pick private proxies is their adaptability and malleability. Since you gain a unique IP address, you can make the most of it without having to worry about someone else misusing it.
Through the use of private proxies, you can set up intricate cybersecurity, which makes it virtually impossible for hackers and malicious individuals to gain access to your data. Private proxies are also extremely fast, making them better suited for tasks that require quick responses.
They aren’t the cheapest thing on the market, though, making them a bit inapt for more menial tasks.
What is a Shared Proxy?
Shared proxies are proxies with an IP address that’s not exclusively yours. When you get a shared proxy, you’re sharing the same IP address with a small group of people. Shared proxies are useful if you’re looking to browse the web anonymously and gain access to the locked content.
Shared proxies are a popular type of proxy, as they are relatively affordable. You can purchase multiple shared proxies and employ all of them at the same time. Using multiple proxies is especially useful if you’re looking to deploy a bot.
While cheap, they’re not that fast, which makes them less than ideal for some uses. While less sophisticated than private proxies in almost every way, shared proxies are far cheaper, their top attribute.
When They are Used
Since the two proxies share a couple of similarities but are mostly different, they have different use cases.
Private Proxies
Private proxies are the most versatile type of proxy out there. The main appeal of private proxies is that they’re used by individuals and businesses alike. They can be used for a selection of things, such as:
- Protecting your online browsing
- Protecting your corporate data from hackers
- Establishing secure connections
- Gaining a high amount of anonymity
- Hiding your browsing from your ISP
- Extracting market data via web crawlers
- eCommerce, AdVerification, and brand protection
- Monitoring SEO and market research
Shared Proxies
Shared proxies, while somewhat lacking in features, are still good for a couple of things. They’re far cheaper than private proxies, making them better suited for individuals who are looking to:
- Secure their online browsing
- Automate purchasing via bots
- Harvest and collect data
- Unblocking geo-locked content
Why are Private Proxies Better
When it comes to dedicated IP vs shared IP proxies, dedicated is going to win every time. A private proxy can do everything that a shared proxy can but better, faster, and far more of it. The only thing shared proxies are better at is costing less and being more expendable.
Private proxies are exclusive to you or your business, and due to their highly secure nature, they’re the gold standard for businesses and individuals alike. There are many benefits to using a proxy, and all of them are highlighted with private proxies.
Conclusion
Proxies make the modern digital world go round, and they’ve done so since the inception of the internet. There are so many proxies out there that covering each and everyone would make for one long article. To simplify and streamline this issue, we’ve covered the two most popular proxy types and matched them against each other.
To make a long comparison slightly less long, private proxies dominate shared proxies in almost every aspect, excluding the price.
