Oxylabs vs. Decodo (Smartproxy): A Comprehensive Comparison

The demand for proxies has been growing rapidly as more businesses and individuals look for reliable ways to gather publicly available data from the web. Proxies are essential for web scraping, helping users bypass geo-restrictions, avoid IP bans, and collect data at scale. Two of the top names in the proxy industry are Oxylabs and Decodo (Smartproxy). Both offer strong solutions, but their features, performance, and pricing vary.

Here, we’ll break down the key differences between Oxylabs and Decodo (Smartproxy), making it easier for you to decide which one suits your needs. Whether you’re scraping data for research or business purposes, this guide will help you choose the best proxy provider for your situation.

Decodo (Smartproxy)

Decodo (Smartproxy) was founded in 2018 and has quickly become one of the most popular names in the proxy industry. The company specializes in residential proxies, mobile proxies, and datacenter proxies, along with a suite of scraping tools and APIs. Decodo (Smartproxy)’s mission is to provide businesses and individuals with access to data while ensuring high levels of privacy and security. They aim to help their users extract data from the web without being blocked or restricted.

Core Offerings:

• Proxy Types: Residential, Datacenter, Mobile, and ISP proxies.
• Scraping Solutions: No-Code Scraper, Scraping APIs (SERP, Social Media, E-Commerce, etc.).
• Special Features: IP rotation, region-based targeting, and dedicated IP options.

Oxylabs

Oxylabs, founded in 2015, is a well-established player in the proxy industry. It is known for offering many high-quality proxies designed to support large-scale web scraping operations. Initially, Oxylabs focused on providing datacenter proxies before expanding into residential, mobile, and ISP proxies. Oxylabs also offers specialized web scraping APIs and custom parsing tools to help businesses collect and structure data efficiently.

Core Offerings:

• Proxy Types: Residential, Datacenter, Mobile, and ISP proxies.
• Scraping Solutions: APIs for various use cases (SERP, E-Commerce, Real Estate, etc.).
• Special Features: Automated IP rotation, advanced fingerprint generation, and location-based targeting.

Key Differences Between Decodo (Smartproxy) and Oxylabs

Below is a table summarizing the key differences between Decodo (Smartproxy) and Oxylabs:

Proxy Types and Features

Decodo (Smartproxy)

Decodo (Smartproxy) offers four main types of proxies: residential, datacenter, mobile, and ISP proxies. Here’s a breakdown of each:

• Residential Proxies: Decodo (Smartproxy) has 55 million residential IP addresses sourced from desktop and mobile devices. These proxies support HTTP(s) and SOCKS5 protocols. Users can filter the IPs by specific countries, cities, or zip codes. They can rotate IPs per request or hold the same IP for up to 30 minutes.
• Datacenter Proxies: Decodo (Smartproxy) offers both private and shared datacenter IP addresses. There are around 400,000 private IPs and 100,000 shared datacenter IPs, primarily from US and European data centres. They offer two pricing models: pay-per-IP and pay-per-GB, depending on the user’s needs.
• Mobile Proxies: The mobile proxy pool comprises over 10 million 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile IPs from over 700 mobile carriers. These proxies allow users to target specific mobile OSes (iOS or Android) and geographic locations.
• ISP Proxies: ISP proxies are ideal for those looking for IPs that are less likely to be flagged as proxies. They are available in countries like the US, Hong Kong, France, and Canada and are compatible with HTTP(s) proxy configurations.
• Scraping APIs: Decodo (Smartproxy) offers several scraping APIs that simplify the data extraction process. Their no-code scraper lets users select data elements directly from a webpage, while their web scraping API allows static and dynamic content extraction.

Oxylabs

Oxylabs offers a broader range of proxy types and advanced features:

• Residential Proxies: Oxylabs provides both regular and next-generation residential proxies. The next-gen proxies come with automatic fingerprint generation, miming real-user behavior by creating a unique fingerprint for every request. Additionally, these proxies feature an auto-retry system, ensuring higher success rates during data collection.
• Mobile Proxies: Oxylabs’ mobile proxies support location-based targeting, allowing users to choose proxy locations based on geographical coordinates. These mobile proxies are shared but become dedicated for the duration of the session.
• Datacenter Proxies: Oxylabs offers around 20,000 shared datacenter IPs and 2 million private datacenter IPs sourced from six countries. These proxies support city and state targeting, which can be crucial for localized web scraping tasks.
• ISP Proxies: Oxylabs provides both static and rotating ISP proxies. They offer 100,000 static IPs and 360,000 rotating static IPs from over 20 locations globally. A large portion of these IPs is sourced from the US.
• Scraping APIs: Oxylabs provides specialized APIs for web scraping, including their SERP Scraper API, which supports localized targeting based on geographical coordinates. Other scraping APIs include E-Commerce and Real Estate APIs. Their Custom Parser is a standout feature, allowing users to create their own parsing rules and extract data in structured formats like JSON.

Performance

Both Decodo (Smartproxy) and Oxylabs excel in terms of reliability and performance, but there are some key differences:

• Decodo (Smartproxy): Users report generally high uptime and reliability with Decodo (Smartproxy). However, there have been some isolated instances of technical glitches and issues with certain configurations, especially related to IP targeting by city.
• Oxylabs: Oxylabs is renowned for its high success rates and minimal disruptions. Their advanced features, like next-gen residential proxies and automatic IP rotation contribute to a very smooth experience, especially for users with high-volume data collection needs. That said, there have been occasional complaints about consistency and minor errors.

Pricing and Plans

• Decodo (Smartproxy): Free Trial & Refund: Decodo (Smartproxy) offers a 14-day money-back guarantee for all proxies and scraping APIs. Additionally, users can take advantage of a 3-day, 100MB trial for residential proxies at just $1.
• Oxylabs: Free Trial & Refund: Oxylabs offers a 7-day free trial for verified companies, while individuals can benefit from a 3-day money-back guarantee. However, refunds do not apply to pay-as-you-go plans.

User Experience & Support

Decodo (Smartproxy)

Customer feedback for Decodo (Smartproxy) is primarily positive, with many users praising the platform for its reliable service and helpful customer support. However, there are some mixed reviews regarding its interface, which some users initially find overwhelming. Decodo (Smartproxy) is also known for being very responsive to customer inquiries, although a few complaints have been made about the unhelpfulness of specific support agents.

Oxylabs

Oxylabs is also known for its high-quality customer support, with many users praising the company’s attentive account managers. While most users report good experiences, some incidents of rude or unhelpful support have been isolated. The user interface is generally well-received, though some users report difficulty during onboarding, especially when transitioning to self-service.

Which One Is Right for You?

Choosing between Oxylabs and Decodo (Smartproxy) comes down to your specific needs. Here are some key considerations:

• If you need a larger pool of residential IPs and value advanced features like automatic fingerprinting and custom parsers, Oxylabs might be the better option for you.

• If you’re looking for a more affordable solution with a wide range of proxy types and excellent customer support, Decodo (Smartproxy) may be the ideal choice.

If you prioritize ease of use and don’t need highly specialized scraping APIs, Decodo’s user-friendly interface and flexible pricing options are worth considering.

Choosing between Decodo (Smartproxy) and Oxylabs depends on what you need. If you want something flexible, easy to use, and affordable, Decodo (Smartproxy) is an excellent option. It works well for smaller to medium-scale tasks and doesn’t cost much.

However, Oxylabs is the better choice for handling large-scale or complex scraping projects. It offers high performance, advanced tools, and reliable service, making it perfect for big data needs.

So, think about your goals and budget. Decodo (Smartproxy) is great for simplicity and cost-effectiveness, while Oxylabs is best for demanding, large-scale operations.