Datacenter
- Exit IP comes from
- Hosting and cloud ASNs
- Typical use
- Bulk tasks on lenient sites
G2
4.7/5Excellent
Trustpilot
TrustpilotWhat Is a Proxy Server?
A proxy server is a computer that relays network traffic between a client and the servers it talks to. The client connects to the proxy, the proxy connects to the destination, and the destination sees the proxy's IP address rather than the client's.
- Session Control
- High Speed
- Privacy First
how it works
How a proxy server works
A connection through a proxy has two legs: client to proxy, and proxy to destination. The client tells the proxy where to go using a proxy protocol, and the proxy opens the second leg from its own network.
Because the destination sees the exit IP, the network behind that IP shapes how the request is treated. A proxy on a hosting provider's ASN looks like a server; one on a consumer ISP or mobile carrier ASN looks like a household or a phone.
Proxy server: key points
- HTTP proxies receive web requests and forward them, using CONNECT tunnels for https:// sites.
- SOCKS5 proxies relay TCP connections for any protocol.
- The proxy's outbound address, the exit IP, is what websites log, rate-limit and look up.
why it matters
Why the choice of proxy server matters
Choosing a proxy server mostly means choosing an exit network, an assignment model and an authentication method.
Proxy server: what it means for you
- Static or rotating: a static IP keeps one identity for a whole session; a rotating pool spreads requests over many IPs.
- Dedicated or shared: a dedicated IP's reputation is shaped only by your own traffic.
- Authentication: username and password, or IP whitelisting for fixed servers.
- Test before you scale: run a sample of IPs through the proxy checker for speed, location and ISP.
side by side
Types of proxy server
ISP (static residential)
- Exit IP comes from
- Consumer ISP ASNs, hosted in data centres
- Typical use
- Long sessions, managing your own accounts, SERP tracking
- 3
Rotating residential
- Exit IP comes from
- Home connections in a large pool
- Typical use
- Wide geo coverage and public data collection
Mobile
- Exit IP comes from
- 4G/5G carrier networks
- Typical use
- Mobile app QA and ad verification
The ISP vs residential vs datacenter guide compares them in depth. CleanProxies static ISP proxies are dedicated proxy servers on US carrier ASNs with unlimited bandwidth, as low as $0.75 per IP.
Static ISP proxies from $0.75/IP
The CleanProxies proxy that fits best here, with a $4.99 trial to test it first.
Best fit
Dedicated IPs on US carrier ASNs with unlimited bandwidth and threads, never shared.
starting from$0.75/IP
Dedicated static IPs registered to US and Canadian ISPs. The address stays the same for as long as you hold it, with unlimited bandwidth and HTTP(S) or SOCKS5 access.
Guides from the blog
Setup guides and best practices from the CleanProxies blog.
- GuidesOct 30, 2026
Shared vs Dedicated ISP Proxies: Differences, Risks and a Free Audit Script
Shared vs dedicated ISP proxies explained: what each model means, what providers publish about sharing, when shared is enough, cost per successful request, and a tested Python script to audit your proxy list.
19 Min ReadRead article - GuidesOct 27, 2026
How to Test Proxy Quality: Fraud Score, Blacklists, Speed and Leaks
A step-by-step guide to testing proxy quality before you use it: connectivity, exit IP, ASN, blacklists, fraud score, speed and WebRTC/DNS leaks, with free tools, cURL commands and what good results look like.
13 Min ReadRead article - GuidesNov 1, 2026
Best Oxylabs Alternatives in 2026: 6 Providers Compared
Oxylabs' best rates need a $2,500/month enterprise plan. We priced five workloads on Oxylabs and five alternatives on 1 November 2026, with screenshots. CleanProxies ranks #1: dedicated US ISP proxies as low as $0.75/IP, residential from $0.63/GB that never expires.
21 Min ReadRead article - GuidesNov 1, 2026
Best Smartproxy (Decodo) Alternatives in 2026: 6 Providers Compared
Smartproxy is now Decodo. We priced the same workloads on Decodo and six alternatives on 1 November 2026, with screenshots. CleanProxies ranks #1: residential as low as $0.63/GB that never expires, US ISP proxies as low as $0.75/IP, mobile from $0.79/GB.
20 Min ReadRead article - GuidesOct 31, 2026
Best IPRoyal Alternatives in 2026: 6 Providers Compared (Prices Checked)
The best IPRoyal alternatives in 2026, compared on prices read from each provider's pricing page on 31 October with screenshots. CleanProxies ranks #1: residential as low as $0.63/GB that never expires, US ISP proxies as low as $0.75/IP with unlimited bandwidth, mobile from $0.79/GB.
16 Min ReadRead article - GuidesOct 31, 2026
How Many IPs Are in a /24 Subnet? (256 Addresses, Explained)
A /24 subnet has 256 IPv4 addresses: 254 usable on a LAN, 251 in AWS or Azure, and 255 dedicated proxy IPs per block at CleanProxies. CIDR cheat sheet, Python examples and a tested script that audits your proxy list by /24.
19 Min ReadRead article
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Related terms
Terms that come up alongside Proxy server.
Proxy server FAQs
Straight answers about Proxy server.
Common uses are collecting public web data, monitoring prices, tracking search rankings, verifying ads in other locations, testing your own site from different regions, and filtering traffic on company networks.
Got more questions?All FAQs