Top Mobile Proxies: Features, Benefits & Uses [3G/4G/LTE]

As one of the most reliable ways of changing IP addresses, mobile proxies route internet traffic through real mobile IPs assigned by mobile carriers to devices that utilize 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. Therefore, different websites and social media platforms usually have a hard time detecting and blocking mobile proxies since they appear as legitimate mobile users.

That makes mobile proxies a fantastic choice for users who are looking for a high level of anonymity while using the Internet. Besides enhancing privacy, mobile proxies are very effective against geo-blocks. As a result, users can access content only available in certain countries and, at the same time, avoid detection when performing data-intensive and sensitive tasks such as web scraping and multi-accounting. On top of that, Mobile proxies are popular among app developers as they can offer significant flexibility for testing apps across many devices, operating systems, and locations.

How Mobile Proxies Work: A Simple Breakdown

Since mobile proxies utilize cellular networks and dynamically assign IP addresses to proxy users, they are very effective at mimicking natural user behavior. So, users can have a different IP address for each session and repeat data collection procedures without getting detected and blocked. All popular proxy servers and providers offer some sort of IP rotation for mobile proxies to maximize anonymity.

Some of the providers provide IP rotation at set intervals, so, for example, users will be connected to the Internet with a new IP every 5 minutes. Also, there are providers that offer IP rotation with each request sent to the server. However, the best providers usually allow users to control their IP rotation and offer them tools to set up the rotation conditions based on their own needs.

Key Benefits of Using Mobile Proxies

Understanding how mobile proxies work, above all, allows us to get a sense of how these proxies can help us improve our online experience. Here are the main benefits of using mobile proxies:

• High Level of Anonymity: Mobile proxies provide IP addresses from real mobile devices that are hard to detect and block. So users will be able to browse anonymously on most websites and freely access data. This is especially beneficial for tasks such as data extraction from protected websites and private web browsing.
• High Success Rate: Mobile proxies very rarely fail to provide the requested information and can provide access to many types of websites and platforms. That’s why they are incredibly effective for large-scale web scraping, sneaker copping to get limited-edition releases and social media management.
• Geo-Flexibility: Mobile proxies are capable of providing access to geo-blocked content ,including region-restricted streaming services and social media platforms. Moreover, it’s a great tool for ad verification and app testing in different locations around the world.

How to Choose a Mobile Proxy Provider? Key Features to Look For!

To find the best mobile proxy provider possible for your needs, you should pay special attention to these important factors:

• Network Size: Always make sure that the provider offers a large enough IP pool for mobile proxies. Having a wide range of IP addresses will ensure you get a different IP with every rotation, and it significantly lowers the chance of getting an already blacklisted IP.
• Rotation and Customization: Having the option to customize the IP rotation process can ensure that you can optimize your IP rotation to suit various use cases. So look for providers that offer customization options alongside the IP rotation feature for mobile proxies.
• Speed and Reliability: To minimize latency and have a more stable connection, make sure that the provider offers 5G-enabled mobile proxies. This is especially helpful for tasks requiring steady high-speed connection,n such as gaming and video streaming.
• Support and Pricing models: Having access to 24/7 customer support that actually is happy to help you and answers the questions quickly is essential in the long run, even if you think you don’t necessarily need guidance in the beginning. To get a sense of how professional and considerate the team behind the service is, you can take a look at the pricing structure and how transparent the pricing plans are.
• Cost: Of course, you should compare the providers and choose the one that offers the services at a fair price. Mobile proxies are usually more expensive than residential and especially datacenter proxies. However, the high anonymity and near 100% success rates justify the cost.

Best Mobile Proxy Providers: Features, Pricing, and Performance Compared

To point you in the right direction, we have gathered the most reliable proxy providers out there. Take a look at their features and you’ll be able to make an informed decision:

1. Smartproxy

Smartproxy is a popular proxy provider with an advanced mobile proxy service that offers an IP pool with more than 10 million mobile IPs in 160+ locations from 700+ mobile carriers. Users can set the IP rotation to a set interval or set it to switch to another IP with every request. The 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G proxies provide great performance with less than 0.8s response time and 99.48% success rate.

On top of that, the pricing plans are very affordable and unlike many providers, there is a free trial that allows users to test the service without any payments. Users have the option to use the mobile proxies with Smartproxy browser extensions or through the free X Browser that lets them juggle multiple accounts. If you need to know more about this provider, read our Smartproxy review.

2. Bright Data

With a pool of over 7 million mobile IPs and a 99.9% success rate, Bright Data is a reliable choice for a mobile proxy provider. One of the best qualities of Bright Data is the wide range of tools for integration with third-party software. In addition, the mobile proxy service provides advanced geo-targeting capabilities to connect IPs from cities in 195+ countries in the world.

The service comes with a premium price but reliable connections, the one-click IP rotation with the option to set a custom frequency, and free tools such as a proxy manager, make it worth it. Also, there is a free trial for newcomers to get their hands on the services before opting into any plans. If you’re stuck between our first two recommendations, check our Smartproxy vs Bright data article.

3. Oxylabs

Oxylabs offers one of the largest amounts of IPs in the industry, with a 20M+ mobile IP pool. Oxylabs’ geo-targeting capability is among the best as it provides precise state, city, coordinates, and ASN targeting in 140+ countries. What’s more, the performance is reliable, and the speed is fast, with a 1.1s response time and 99.9%. Proxy rotation with this service is easy since the provider offers a proxy rotator that allows users to switch IPs with a custom frequency.

The price can be high compared to other options but there are lots of community-driven tools that are free and open-source to get the best out of mobile proxies for your specific use case. Moreover, Users can take advantage of Oxylabs’ proxy manager for Android and a proxy extension for Chrome.

4. Soax

Soax provides even more 3G, 4G, and 5G IPs with a massive 33 million IP pool. The mobile proxies are from 195 countries and users can target locations down to cities or target specific carriers. The IP rotation is customizable and it’s possible to set intervals based on your needs. Moreover, Soax grants seamless integration with various popular platforms and provides scraper APIs to help users automate their proxy management.

Despite the advanced features and a 99.5% success rate, the mobile proxy service is relatively cost-efficient compared to similar services from other providers but there is no free trial. Soax emphasizes providing ethically sourced IPs and being 100% compliant with GDPR.

5. IPRoyal

IPRoyal provides more than 2.5 million IPs for 3G, 4G, LTE, and 5G mobile proxies with download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. The IP pool is small compared to other options but the unlimited bandwidth and rotation is an advantage. The IP rotation is customizable and you can set the IPs to change with each request.

This proxy provider doesn’t offer much flexibility when it comes to the pricing plans for mobile proxies and there is no free trial. However, the unlimited traffic and API access make it an attractive option. Furthermore, IPRoyal is a great option for beginners as it benefits from a user-friendly setup process and simple authentication.

Mobile Proxies vs. Other Proxy Types: Which One is Right for You?

When considering different types of proxies, users usually ask what are mobile proxies, and how they compare to residential or datacenter proxies. In short, compared to other proxy types, including datacenter proxies and residential proxies, mobile proxies offer the highest level of anonymity and lowest block rates. However, they are usually more expensive.

On the other hand, datacenter proxies are cost-effective options and route user’s internet traffic through servers in data centers. That’s why many websites equipped with anti-proxy measures can detect datacenter proxies and block them. Therefore, users mostly take advantage of these proxies when dealing with unprotected websites and web scraping more accessible data.

Residential proxies are a suitable alternative to mobile proxies since they can provide moderate anonymity for users. However, considering that the IP addresses are linked to a specific Internet Service Provider (ISP) and region, modern websites and trackers have a better chance of detecting and blocking them. It’s worth mentioning that the overall reliability and anonymity of proxies also depend on the provider and how it sources the IPs.

Conclusion: Why Use Mobile Proxies for Important Tasks

Mobile proxies are the best option for tasks that require high anonymity and low detection rates. Compared to datacenter and residential proxies, websites and social media platforms have a harder time detecting and blocking mobile proxy connections since they appear as legitimate connections from real mobile devices. This makes mobile proxies essential for high-stakes and sensitive tasks such as web scraping protected websites and handling various social media accounts.

When choosing a mobile proxy provider, make sure it offers a reliable connection, a large enough IP pool, customization options for rotating proxies, and helpful customer support. In addition, to avoid any legal issues, you should never use the proxies for unethical purposes and always ensure that the provider gets the IPs from legitimate sources.

Frequently Asked Questions: Quick Answers & Insights

• Are mobile proxies legal?

Yes, mobile proxies are completely legal to use. However, you should utilize them for ethical purposes and ensure that you are not violating the terms of services of the target websites.

• What is mobile IP rotation?

Many mobile proxy providers allow users to change or rotate the IPs in set intervals or automatically switch IPs with each request sent to the server. The IP rotation frequency and options depend on the proxy provider.

• Why are mobile proxies more expensive?

Mobile proxies rely on mobile carrier networks, and they are limited in availability. These proxies also require more infrastructure and support to provide high anonymity for users.

• What is the best mobile proxy provider?

There is no one single best mobile proxy provider for everyone. You should check out top providers and find the most suitable option based on your priorities and budget.

• Can I use mobile proxies to stream geo-restricted content?

Yes, mobile proxies are highly effective against geo-restrictions and you can utilize them to access and stream content only available in specific regions and countries.