Understand the difference between residential and datacenter proxies, and when residential IPs become a must-have for success.
Datacenter proxy: “Like renting a car from a big rental company — it works, but everyone knows it’s a rental.”
Residential proxy: “Like borrowing a friend’s personal car — it looks normal and blends in.”
| Dimension | Datacenter Proxy | Residential Proxy |
|---|---|---|
| IP Source | Cloud/data centers | Real ISPs (home users) |
| Trust Score | Lower — ranges widely labeled “proxy” | Higher — indistinguishable from real users |
| Cost | Lower | Higher (limited, curated pools) |
| Best For… | General tasks, lower scrutiny | Strict platforms, fraud checks, streaming |
Residential IPs are assigned to households by consumer ISPs. Platforms like streaming services, search engines, and e‑commerce sites are cautious about blocking them broadly, because that risks harming real users. As a result, residential pools deliver higher success rates on the most restrictive websites.
Tough streaming platforms often distrust datacenter IPs. Curated residential pools provide higher reliability.
See also: How to Unblock Netflix
Higher success on strict websites, fewer CAPTCHAs, and more consistent sessions for valuable data tasks.
Better trust signals for login and session maintenance on platforms sensitive to proxy usage.
Accurately view geo‑targeted ads and localized experiences like real users do.
Unblockium Premium includes access to a curated residential proxy network. All IPs are vetted for compatibility and high success rates — ideal for your most demanding tasks.
Upgrade to Premium for Residential AccessLegality depends on jurisdiction and purpose. Choose consent-based providers and respect platform terms and local laws.
Raw speed often favors datacenter IPs; residential excels in reliability and success on high-scrutiny platforms.
Subscribe to a provider with vetted pools. Unblockium Premium grants access to curated residential nodes for critical workloads.