Static or rotating: which to choose

One fixed address or a pool of changing ones — which tasks each option suits and how to save money.

The main difference

A static proxy is one fixed IP address assigned to you for the whole rental period. Today, tomorrow and a month from now, websites see the same address.

A rotating proxy gives you access to a large pool of addresses. The IP changes automatically: on every new request or after a set interval.

When you need a static proxy

• Social media and marketplace accounts. Platforms are wary of logins from constantly changing addresses. One account, one fixed IP is the safest setup.
• Whitelist access. If a service only lets in pre-approved addresses, you need one that doesn't change.
• Long sessions. Work where you can't afford to drop out of a session halfway through.

When you need a rotating proxy

• Data collection. Thousands of requests from different addresses don't hit the per-IP request limits that websites set.
• Checking search results and prices in different countries and cities.
• Tasks where the number of addresses matters more than keeping one.

Sticky sessions — the middle ground

Rotating proxies have a fixed-address mode (sticky): the address is held for a set time and then changes. It's handy when a site needs one IP for a short job — say, while placing an order — but you don't need a long-term address.

How to pay less

• Static proxies are billed per address and term — a good deal when you need a few addresses all the time.
• Rotating proxies are billed by traffic — a good deal when you send lots of requests and the pages are light.

If you're scraping, turn off images and video in your scraper: rotating proxy traffic will last noticeably longer.

In short