Decodo (Smartproxy) vs Webshare: A Comprehensive Comparison

Collecting data is a big part of how businesses stay ahead today. Whether it’s structured numbers or unstructured insights, companies need data to make better decisions, improve processes, and remain competitive. That’s where tools like Decodo (Smartproxy) and Webshare come in. These platforms help businesses gather data efficiently and securely, using proxies and smart technology to access hard-to-reach information online. Both are solid choices in the market, but they serve slightly different needs.

Each platform offers its own strengths, features, and price points. In this guide, we’ll explore what Decodo (Smartproxy) and Webshare offer, how they compare, and which one might fit your data needs. Let’s dive in!

About Decodo (Smartproxy)

Decodo (Smartproxy) started in January 2018 and has grown into one of the easiest and most flexible proxy services. It offers different types of proxies, including residential, shared, and private datacenter proxies. These help businesses with tasks like data scraping, SEO tracking, and ad checking.

One of Decodo’s biggest strengths is its global coverage. It has IP addresses in over 195 locations around the world and a huge pool of more than 55 million residential IPs. Another great feature is its scraping APIs, which promise 100% success rates. Users can even scrape data without writing any code. Decodo (Smartproxy) makes data collection simple and reliable for businesses of all sizes.

Key Features of Oxylabs:

• Proxy Variety: Residential, shared, and private datacenter proxies.
• Residential Pool: Over 55 million IPs with <0.5s average speed.
• Global Coverage: Access to 195+ locations, including all 50 U.S. states.
• Datacenter IPs: 500K+ shared and dedicated options.
• Unlimited Threads: Ideal for high-volume scraping tasks.
• Smart Wallet: Simplified payment management.
• User Dashboard: Easy to navigate with detailed setup guides.
• Free Tools: Included with any plan (IP checker, user agents, etc.).

Use Cases:

Decodo (Smartproxy) is frequently used for:

• Web scraping and SEO monitoring.
• Ad verification and brand protection.
• Price comparison and market research.
• Travel aggregation and localized content testing.

About Webshare

Webshare has become a trusted name in the proxy world. It is known for being fast, affordable, and focused on legal enterprise use. Many tech users and companies like Webshare for its reliable proxies. They use it for data mining, malware checks, market research, and price tracking.

Webshare offers a great starting point with a freemium plan. Users can get 10 datacenter proxies for free, with no credit card needed. Paid plans start at just $2.99 per month, making it very budget-friendly. This makes Webshare a good choice for developers and small businesses. It’s ideal for those who want to test proxy tools before investing in larger plans.

Key Features of Oxylabs:

• Freemium Access: 10 free datacenter proxies, no credit card required.
• Affordable Premium Plans: Starts at $2.99/month for 100 proxies.
• Datacenter Focus: Shared and dedicated IPs.
• Speed Optimization: Lightweight, fast connections.
• Custom Subnet Selection: Available on advanced plans.
• API Support: Easy-to-use API for developers.
• Dedicated IP Options: Enhanced control and performance.

Use Cases:

Webshare is great for:

• Lightweight web scraping.
• Anonymous browsing and VPN alternatives.
• Automated testing environments.
• Competitive pricing intelligence.

Feature Comparison of Decodo (Smartproxy) and Webshare

Proxy Network

Decodo (Smartproxy) stands out because of its large and diverse proxy network. It offers more than 55 million residential proxies and over 500,000 datacenter IPs. These IPs come from more than 195 locations around the world. This big network helps avoid IP bans and gives users stable access to local content.

Webshare is different. It mainly focuses on datacenter proxies and offers fewer IPs overall. However, it is known for being fast and low-cost. This makes it a good choice for simple projects that don’t need advanced geo-targeting or residential-level anonymity. Webshare works well for users who want quick proxy access without spending much, while Decodo (Smartproxy) is better for those needing wide coverage and higher reliability.

Speed and Reliability

Decodo (Smartproxy) is known for its fast performance. Its residential rotating proxies offer an average response time of less than 0.5 seconds. The service also has high uptime and low detection rates because it uses dynamic IP rotation. This means the IPs change often, making it harder for websites to block them.

Webshare, on the other hand, does not offer residential proxies. However, it provides very fast dedicated datacenter proxies. These proxies work well for many common tasks, like scraping websites or browsing content. They are a good choice for users who need speed and stability without the need for rotating or residential IPs. Webshare is simple and efficient for most small—to medium-sized data projects.

Geo-Targeting

Decodo (Smartproxy) is great for geo-targeting. It lets users choose IPs based on country, city, or even specific U.S. states. This is very helpful for brands that need to collect data from certain areas or test how websites look in different regions. It allows businesses to copy real user behavior from specific places.

Webshare also offers some location options, but only on its higher-tier plans. Even then, the choices are more limited. It does not provide the same detailed targeting that Decodo does. For simple location needs, Webshare might be enough. But if you need high precision and control over IP locations, Decodo is the better choice. It gives users more flexibility and better targeting tools.

Integration and API Support

Decodo and Webshare support API access, but Decodo has more advanced options. It offers a public API and a no-code scraping tool, making it easy for users who don’t want to code. Decodo also works well with popular tools and has SDKs for languages like Python and Node.js, helping developers build custom solutions quickly.

Webshare also provides API access and includes helpful documentation. Developers can use it to connect proxies to their apps or tools. However, Webshare’s features are simpler and less detailed than those of Decodo. Webshare’s API is enough for basic proxy use. But for more complex tasks or bigger projects, Decodo gives users more tools and support to work with.

Scalability

Decodo is built to handle large-scale tasks. It supports unlimited threads and multiple sessions at the same time. This makes it a strong choice for big companies or anyone running large scraping jobs. It can easily grow with your needs, from small tests to massive data projects, without needing extra setup.

Webshare also allows several connections at once. However, since it primarily offers shared datacenter proxies, it may struggle with large tasks. If too many users share the same IPs, the risk of being blocked increases. Webshare is fine for smaller or medium projects. However, Decodo offers better stability and performance for enterprise-level work. It’s more reliable when you need to scale up.

Cost-Effectiveness

Webshare is the better choice when it comes to price. It offers a freemium plan and a paid plan starting at just $2.99 per month for 100 premium proxies. This low cost makes it a great option for students, small startups, or people who want to try proxy services without spending much.

Decodo is more expensive. Its prices start at $12.5 per GB and can go much higher depending on the plan. But this higher price comes with advanced features. These include access to residential IPs, detailed geo-targeting, and 24/7 customer support. While Webshare is more budget-friendly, Decodo gives more tools and support for serious or professional use. The choice depends on your needs and budget.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Decodo (Smartproxy) Strengths:

• Huge residential and datacenter proxy pool.
• Excellent dashboard and onboarding tools.
• Flexible pricing, including Pay-As-You-Go.
• Unmatched geo-targeting and anonymity.
• Highly responsive 24/7 customer support.
• Free tools with every plan.

Decodo Weaknesses:

• Higher cost for premium/residential packages.
• Shared proxy plans can be slower.
• Some advanced features may require technical knowledge.

Webshare Strengths:

• Incredibly affordable, even free to start.
• High-speed datacenter proxies.
• Easy to use for beginners and small dev teams.
• Good support and simple dashboard.
• Transparent pricing.

Webshare Weaknesses:

• No residential proxy options.
• Limited geo-targeting.
• Smaller proxy network.
• Lower scalability for large-scale scraping.

Customer Support and Documentation

Decodo provides exceptional support with an average response time of 40 seconds, plus extensive self-service resources—guides, tutorials, and a regularly updated blog.

Webshare offers email and Skype-based support and assigns account managers for larger clients. However, its documentation is less detailed than Decodo’s, which may slow down beginners or non-technical users.

Final Notes

Both Decodo and Webshare serve different segments of the proxy market. If you’re looking for high performance, a broad proxy pool, advanced scraping tools, and global reach, Decodo (Smartproxy) is your go-to choice. It’s best suited for businesses that need reliable and scalable solutions.

But if you’re looking for a cost-effective, no-frills solution to get started with proxies, Webshare is a solid option. It’s ideal for smaller-scale operations and developers who want to experiment or run lightweight data tasks.

At the end of the day, the best proxy service is the one that fits your goals, technical skills, and budget. Whether you go with Decodo or Webshare, you’re moving toward smarter, more efficient data collection.

FAQs