What are Datacenter Proxies?

Looking for budget-friendly yet reliable proxies? Well, datacenter proxies might just be the best choice for you. It’s usually the cheapest proxy type offered by proxy providers, but it is still one of the fastest and most reliable options.

Of course, they’re not perfect. Otherwise, there wouldn’t even be a market for residential or ISP proxies. Let’s take a closer look at what datacenter proxies are, what they do, and when you should choose them over all others.

What are datacenter proxies?

A datacenter proxy is a type of proxy server that provides a data center IP address instead of one linked to an internet service provider (ISP). Like other proxy types, it still hides your IP address, changes your digital location, and routes your traffic through a proxy server before it reaches the internet.

Since datacenter proxy IP addresses aren’t provided by an ISP, the servers also have a data center Autonomous System Number (ASN). This means that the websites, apps, or services you use can tell you’re connecting via a proxy.

This isn’t much of an issue for most proxy use cases. However, proxies which use IP addresses that are announced to datacenter networks or ASNs can be flagged and banned by the security systems of some websites.

Ping Proxies uses a large variety of subnets and datacenter ASNs to provide a diverse pool that is less likely to get banned. Their Dedicated Datacenter proxies also provide you with a unique, dedicated IP address that is not shared amongst other users, so it’s much less likely for the proxies to be blacklisted.

Datacenter Proxies Use-Cases

Datacenter proxies are capable of taking on all proxy-related uses. You might face IP bans to a certain extent, but if you take due diligence in choosing a proxy provider that doesn’t make you share an IP with thousands of other users, it shouldn’t be much of an issue.

• Web-scraping: Web-scraping is arguably the most popular use case for datacenter proxies. Solid speeds and reliable performance allows users to collect large amounts of data quickly. This makes it possible to conduct market research, monitor prices, analyze competitors, and make data-driven decisions effectively.
• Social media management: Many proxy users prefer datacenter proxies for social media management because they provide a static IP address. This allows users to always connect from the same location and the same IP address. As a result, social media platforms don’t get suspicious of your activity, which they might do if you used a proxy that constantly changes your IP address but they're only the right option if the social media you're using doesn't block datacenter ASNs.
• Online retail: Offering limited-supply products is becoming more and more popular in the world of online retail, something that’s especially prominent with sneakers or other fashion items. Using a proxy allows you to overcome regional blocks or shopping cart limitations when shopping online.
• That said, some retailers have set up their anti-scraping systems to block ASNs that can be linked to datacenters. So if you can’t access popular websites with a datacenter proxy, you might want to get a residential proxy instead.
• Accessing geo-restricted content: If you want to access a website or app that is blocked in your country, proxy servers offer a solution to your problem. When choosing a datacenter proxy, simply make sure that the datacenter is located in a country that doesn’t block the content you want to access.
• Online privacy: A datacenter proxy hides your IP address and physical location, which enhances your online privacy. You don’t get the same levels of encryption and overall protection as you would with a quality Virtual Private Network (VPN). Still, it’s a nice benefit of having access to a proxy.

When should you choose a datacenter proxy?

A datacenter proxy is a great, affordable option for carrying out most proxy-related tasks. That said, it’s better at some than at others. Here are some of the main reasons for choosing a datacenter proxy over other proxy types:

• Price — if you want to spend as little as possible on a proxy, datacenter proxies should be your choice. They’re typically the cheapest options that proxy providers offer;
• Static IP Address — some uses, such as social media management or remote work, benefit from always being able to access the same IP address. Datacenter proxies provide just that;
• Performance — since datacenter proxy servers are located in data centers, they’re usually well-maintained and powerful enough to offer solid performance numbers.

It’s worth noting that datacenter proxies don’t provide a residential IP address. If you know that your target website utilizes strict security settings or integrates with proxy detection APIs like Akamai, IPQS, Datadome, or Kasada, datacenter proxies may not work for you. In this case, consider purchasing Residential Proxies or Static Residential ISP Proxies.

That said, according to Proxyways’ 2024 market research, rotating IP datacenter proxies had a 99.88% connection success rate on average. So you’re only likely to experience bans or restrictions on websites that put the time and effort into filtering out proxies.

If you’re not sure whether datacenter proxies will work with the websites you need to access, we recommend placing a small order first and testing our proxies out before you commit to a bigger plan.

Datacenter Proxies vs Residential and ISP Proxies

When selecting a proxy, it's crucial to understand the differences between datacenter, residential peer, and ISP proxies. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which one best suits your needs.

If cost and speed are your top priorities, datacenter proxies are the best option. However, if you need higher anonymity, consider residential or ISP proxies.

Common Limitations and How to Overcome Them

Datacenter proxies have some drawbacks, especially when websites employ proxy detection technologies. Here are some common issues and ways to bypass them.

By selecting high-quality, dedicated datacenter proxies, users can significantly reduce detection risks and ensure uninterrupted access.

Case Study: Using Datacenter Proxies for Market Research

A digital marketing agency wanted to track competitor pricing and customer sentiment across multiple e-commerce platforms. They initially used residential proxies, but due to high costs and slower speeds, they switched to datacenter proxies, which were still unbanned on this target domain but were much cheaper and performant.

Results:

• Cost savings of 70% by switching to datacenter proxies.
• Faster data collection – Datacenter proxies allowed them to scrape 10x more product listings per hour.
• Minimized Rate Limiting by rotating between different datacenter IP addresses, subnets and ASNs.

This demonstrates how businesses can leverage datacenter proxies for high-speed, cost-effective data collection, provided they manage IP rotation carefully.

Not For Privacy

Datacenter proxies do not encrypt your data like a VPN, meaning your ISP can still see your traffic. Reputable proxy providers routinely log activity as part of their standard operations to monitor performance and troubleshoot issues—not to offer personal privacy or anonymity.

These proxies are designed for handling large-scale internet interactions rather than concealing user identities. They excel in business use cases such as:

• Web-scraping: Efficiently gathering large amounts of public data.
• Online automation: Managing repetitive online tasks at scale.
• Ad verification: Monitoring and ensuring the integrity of digital advertising.

If your priority is encryption or personal privacy, consider using a VPN alongside a proxy.

Performance Optimization Tips for Datacenter Proxies

To get the most out of your datacenter proxies, follow these best practices:

1. Use proxies from a provider with multiple ASNs – This reduces the chance of blocks by providing you with more proxy diversity, making your traffic patterns more difficult to detect
2. Rotate IPs intelligently – Avoid sending too many requests from a single IP in a short time.
3. Optimize request timing – Space out automated tasks to mimic human behavior and prevent bans.
4. Test proxy speeds – Run regular speed tests to ensure your proxies are performing optimally. If they aren’t, swap them out.

These simple optimizations boost reliability and minimize the chances of detection.

Legal and Ethical Considerations for Datacenter Proxy Usage

While datacenter proxies are legal in most countries, certain use cases can cross ethical or legal boundaries.

Legitimate Use Cases

✅ SEO Monitoring – Businesses track keyword rankings without affecting search engine algorithms.

✅ Market Research – Companies gather pricing and consumer trend data.

✅ Social Media Management – Agencies handle multiple accounts while maintaining a consistent digital presence.

Prohibited or Risky Uses

❌ Bypassing Paywalls – Using proxies to access paid content without a subscription may violate website terms.

❌ Fraudulent Activities – Using proxies for identity fraud or illegal transactions is strictly illegal.

❌ Scraping Personal Data – Some jurisdictions prohibit automated collection of personal user data.

For ethical proxy usage, always:

• Read and comply with the target website’s terms of service.
• Avoid high-risk activities that could result in legal repercussions.
• Use proxies responsibly to maintain access without triggering bans.

At Ping Proxies, we limit any and all activity on financial and government websites to stop fraud and abuse. We are also an Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) member and ensure their blacklist across our network.

Are Datacenter Proxies Right for You?

Datacenter proxies offer a fast, cost-effective, and reliable solution for users who need efficient web scraping, and geo-unblocking. However, they come with some risks and limitations, especially when websites have advanced proxy detection mechanisms.

Best For

✅ Users who need speed and affordability

✅ Businesses conducting large-scale data scraping on websites that don’t block datacenter ASNs

Not Ideal For

❌ Users who need high anonymity (consider residential proxies instead)

❌ Bypassing websites with strict security filters like Akamai or IPQS

❌ Individuals looking for full encryption and privacy protection (VPNs are better)

If you’re unsure whether datacenter proxies are the right choice, start with a small test order to evaluate their effectiveness for your specific use case.