Shared Proxies vs HTTP/HTTPS Proxies
Shared Proxies vs HTTP/HTTPS Proxies — the two get confused often. Here's the practical difference, with pricing and best-fit tasks.
| Attribute | shared | HTTP |
|---|---|---|
| Price/GB | $0.10–$1 | $0.10–$8 |
| Anonymity | Medium | Varies |
| Speed | Fast | Fast |
| Pool | Large | Largest |
| Best for | budget tasks, light scraping | web scraping, browsing |
Shared Proxies
Shared proxies split each IP across several users to cut cost dramatically — the most affordable option for light, non-sensitive tasks where occasional IP reputation issues are acceptable.
Pros
- cheapest option
- fast
- easy to buy
Cons
- bad-neighbor risk
- shared rate limits
HTTP/HTTPS Proxies
HTTP/HTTPS proxies are the default for web traffic — they understand the HTTP protocol, work with virtually every scraper and browser, and are the most widely supported proxy type.
Pros
- universal tool support
- simple setup
- works everywhere
Cons
- HTTP traffic only
Which should you choose?
Choose shared for budget tasks, light scraping. Choose HTTP for web scraping, browsing, most tools. Many providers — including our value pick Cheapest Proxies — sell both.
Cheapest Proxies — from $0.45/GB
Get shared or HTTP proxies at the lowest verified price on the market.
Visit Cheapest Proxies →shared vs HTTP — FAQ
What's the difference between shared and HTTP proxies?
Shared proxies split each IP across several users to cut cost dramatically — the most affordable option for light, non-sensitive tasks where occasional IP reputation issues are acceptable. By contrast, hTTP/HTTPS proxies are the default for web traffic — they understand the HTTP protocol, work with virtually every scraper and browser, and are the most widely supported proxy type.
Which is cheaper, shared or HTTP?
shared proxies run $0.10–$1/GB; HTTP run $0.10–$8/GB. shared is generally cheaper.
Which should I choose?
Pick shared for budget tasks; pick HTTP for web scraping. Cheapest Proxies offers both from $0.45/GB.