Choosing a proxy isn't about finding the single best one — it's about matching three things to your task: the pool type to the target's strictness, the geography to the data you need, and the session mode to your workflow. Get those right and the rest is configuration.
Step 1 — Match the pool to the target
Start cheap and climb only if blocked. Datacenter for lenient targets and raw volume; residential for SERP, ad verification, price monitoring and anything that blocks datacenter; mobile for social platforms and the strictest anti-bot systems.
If you're unsure, test a small run on datacenter first. If it draws CAPTCHAs or blocks, step up to residential — you'll know within a few hundred requests.
Step 2 — Match the geography
Decide where your data should come from and target it. Country targeting covers most needs; drop to city or ASN when results vary by metro or you need a specific network. If you'll frequently target below country level, the premium residential pool includes fine geo at no surcharge.
Step 3 — Match the session mode
Use rotating sessions for stateless, high-volume reads, and sticky sessions when a workflow needs the same IP across steps (logins, carts, multi-page forms). You can mix both in one job — rotate for discovery, stick for the steps that require continuity.
Finally, size your bandwidth: estimate gigabytes from request volume and response size, and buy a pack that fits — bigger packs lower the per-GB rate, and here the balance never expires.