What’s The Difference Between a Residential and Mobile Proxy
If you’ve ever tried to access content that’s not available in your country, you may have heard about mobile proxies as a potential solution. It works by masking your IP address, making it seem as through you’ve connected to the internet through a mobile data network. But how does a mobile proxy differ from a residential proxy? Let’s look at the core differences.
Residential Vs Mobile Proxy
When you connect your device, whether it’s a computer or smartphone, to a WiFi connection, then websites are able to see your residential IP address. A residential proxy, in this case, is a kind of proxy server that guides internet traffic via a designated IP address. This IP is given by a respective internet service provider to a homeowner. Therefore, the residential IP address is linked to a physical location and looks like a regular household WiFi connection.
The benefit of using a residential proxy is that you’re less likely to get spotted and blocked by sites that have enabled proxy blockers.
In contrast, a mobile proxy routes traffic via an IP address that’s given by a mobile network operator to a specific mobile device. Therefore, each mobile IP address is associated with a device. Nowadays, mobile proxies are growing more and more popular due to the growing use of mobile devices for online activities. They offer various advantages as opposed to other kinds of proxies, like faster speeds, the ability to avoid geolocation restrictions, and better anonymity. They’re also a more cost-effective option compared to residential proxies.
Can Mobile IP Addresses Get Blocked Or Blacklisted?
Before we answer that question, it’s important to understand GCNAT, also known as Carrier Grade NAT. It’s an advanced technology that many telecommunications companies use. It acts as the foundation for the impressive advantages provided by mobile proxies. When you consider the IPv4 network structure, the Carrier Grade NAT provides network address translation. This allows many users to share one IP address.
Consequently, if a particular mobile IP is spotted as the reason for online scraping activity, website administrators may try prohibiting that specific IP address. In doing so, they could end up restricting the access of numerous legitimate users. So, the use of mobile proxies can bring down the chances of bans because website administrators understand that legitimate cell phone users may be accessing the internet through this specific IP address.
To answer your question simple: no, mobile IP addresses have a low chances of becoming blacklisted or blocked.
How Do I Set One Up?
To set up a mobile proxy for internet usage, you start by choosing a specific provider. Then, sign up with them and buy your preferred mobile proxy plan. After that, you can download and install their mobile proxy application. After installation, you should configure it and test to see if it’s working. Once you’re sure that the proxy is working, you can resume your web browsing activities. Just keep in mind that you should carefully choose your mobile proxy provider.
