Difference Between Dedicated and Shared Proxies

Today, we live in a digital world full of cyber threats. As a result, we can see a significant surge in using various security measures to protect applications and data against these threats.

Using proxies is one of the popular security measures used by many organizations and individuals. In addition to security, proxies offer a range of benefits like improved performance, high anonymity, bypassing geo restriction, and more. However, we should have a good understanding of different proxy types and select the best one for specific scenarios.

So, this blog will explore 2 of the most used proxy types, dedicated and shared proxies, with their functionalities, advantages, disadvantages, and use cases to help you select the best one.

What are Proxies?

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between a user’s computer and the internet. It takes requests from a user, forwards them to the internet provider (ISP) then sends back responses

Proxies improve your experience on the Internet by hiding your IP address and making you anonymous, ensuring online activities. Furthermore, you can use proxies for request filtering, access controlling, bandwidth management through caching, and server load management.

What are Dedicated Proxies?

Dedicated proxies refer to IP addresses that exclusively serve only one client or organization privately. Since they are not shared among many users, dedicated proxies deliver exceptional performance and high-level security. Furthermore, this exclusivity ensures that users and IP addresses are not getting blocked due to activities from other users.

Advantages of Dedicated Proxies

• Consistent Performance: Since no other users share the proxy, performance remains stable and reliable.
• Security: Offer exclusive IP addresses, reducing the risk of data breaches and privacy intrusions.
• Avoid IP Bans: Reduced risk of IP bans due to responsible, single-client usage.
• Customization: Users have full control over the proxy settings.
• High Security: Ideal for activities requiring high security and performance, such as online banking or sensitive data transactions.

Disadvantages of Dedicated Proxies

• Higher Cost: The exclusivity and higher performance come at a higher price compared to shared proxies.
• Overkill for Casual Users: For simple tasks, the benefits of dedicated proxies may not justify the cost.
• Maintenance: Users are responsible for maintaining and managing their dedicated proxies.
• Availability: Limited availability in some regions can be a constraint.

Dedicated Proxies Use Cases

Dedicated proxies ability to provide unique IP addresses makes them invaluable for several use cases :

• Web Scraping: Extracting large volumes of data from websites without getting blocked.
• Social Media Management: Managing multiple accounts without risking IP bans.
• E-commerce: Monitoring competitors and market trends without interruptions.
• SEO Monitoring: Ensuring accurate data collection for search engine optimization efforts.

What are Shared Proxies?

Shared proxies are IP addresses allocated to several users at one time. Compared to dedicated proxies, shared proxies are far more affordable since the cost is distributed among many users. However, their performance and security is significantly lower dedicated proxies because due to bandwidth limits.

Advantages of Shared Proxies

• Lower Cost: Shared proxies are more affordable since multiple users pay for a single proxy.
• Good for Casual Use: Ideal for tasks that do not require high security or performance.
• Easy Setup: Often come with minimal setup requirements, making them user-friendly.
• Availability: Generally more readily available compared to dedicated proxies.
• Scalability: Can be easily scaled up without significantly increasing the cost.

Disadvantages of Shared Proxies

• Inconsistent Performance: Performance can vary based on the number of users and their activities.
• Higher Risk of IP Bans: Shared usage increases the risk of IP bans if any user engages in prohibited activities.
• Lower Security: Shared proxies offer less security compared to dedicated proxies.
• Limited Control: Users have less control over the proxy settings and configurations.

Shared Proxies Use Cases

Although shared proxies are less secure and low on performance, they are still used for many day-to-day activities:

• Casual Browsing: Suitable for everyday internet browsing without the need for high security or performance.
• Entry-Level Market Research: Collecting general data without requiring high speed or exclusive usage.
• Light SEO Tasks: Collecting SEO data from various locations without investing too much money.
• Academic Research: Researchers with limited funding can use shared proxies to access academic content.

What are the Differences Between Dedicated and Shared Proxies?

You already know that dedicated and shared proxies mainly differ in terms of the exclusivity of the IP address. However, the differences are not limited to that. Here is a detailed comparison between shared and dedicated proxies, highlighting their differences and similarities.

1. User Access

• Dedicated Proxies: A single user or group can use this proxy exclusively. This ensures that the IP address is only used by the designated user and reduces the risk of conflicts with other users.
• Shared Proxies: Many users are using a single proxy concurrently. This sharing inherently causes risks in terms of performance and security since any activity from one person on this proxy affects all others who also use it.

2. Performance

• Dedicated Proxies: Since resources are not shared, there is no variability in performance.
• Shared Proxies: Performance will be influenced by many factors, including how many users are logged in and what they are doing online. Speed can be significantly dropped during peak hours or when several users perform resource-intensive tasks.

3. Security

• Dedicated Proxies: Since the IP address is used by only one user, the risk of being banned due to the actions of others is low. This is crucial for activities that require maintaining a stable and reliable connection.
• Shared Proxies: Sharing an IP with multiple users increases the likelihood of suspicious activity being detected. If one user violates the terms of service, everyone else using the same proxy will get banned from that website. This shared risk makes them less suitable for activities where security and reputation are important.

4. Cost

• Dedicated Proxies: Significantly high cost since a single user needs to pay for the dedicated proxy.
• Shared Proxies: The cost for a single user is very cheap compared to dedicated proxies since the total cost is divided among the number of users.

5. Customizability

• Dedicated Proxies: Users can tailor the proxy settings to their specific needs, including security protocols, bandwidth limits, and usage patterns. This flexibility allows for optimized performance and security.
• Shared Proxies: Customization options are limited due to its shared nature. Internet service providers may offer some level of customization otions.

How to Select the Right Proxy for You ?

Based on what we discussed above, you should now have a good understanding of shared and dedicated proxies. So, let’s discuss what we need to consider when deciding between shared and dedicated proxies.

Well, the decision should be mainly based on whether you need an exclusive proxy or not. However, there are some other factors that might contribute to this decision.

• You must decide how anonymous you should be and the security levels required for the task you intend to perform with the proxy. Since dedicated proxies provide you with an independent IP address, it will reduce the risk of getting blacklisted and improve security and privacy. This is essential for tasks like handling sensitive data or securing online transactions. On the other hand, shared proxies are cost-effective but can hardly be relied upon since many users have to share the same IP, increasing the risk of IP bans and security vulnerabilities.
• The next point is to evaluate your bandwidth and performance requirements. For instance, high-traffic tasks such as streaming, gaming, or large-scale data scraping can benefit from faster and more stable connections in dedicated proxies.
• Consider your budget limits. Dedicated proxies may be more expensive but deliver greater performance and reliability, while shared ones are pocket-friendly and ideal for less demanding activities.
• Also, think about where these proxies are located. Having IPs in particular areas may be necessary to avoid geo-restrictions or target content for a specific region.
• Finally, analyze customer support services provided by the proxy provider as strong support helps resolve problems quickly to ensure uninterrupted functioning.

Overall, dedicated proxies are suitable for tasks that require high security, privacy, and performance, while shared proxies are suitable for most day-to-day tasks, such as casual browsing or simple scraping tasks.

By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision that meets your requirements, whether for the robustness of dedicated proxy servers or the flexibility of shared ones.