Hey all – so I have tried Proxymesh (too expensive) for Web Scraping, ProxyAG (trash customer service).

Need: a rotating proxy service

What I’m doing: Handling a lot of bandwidth while scraping data from a popular website, so ideally a service that has unmetered bandwidth or reasonably priced.
I have a budget, but not trying to spend an arm and a leg.

Any recommendations would be great.

Why Rotating Proxies?

Rotating proxies are like the disguises you wear to sneak into a high-security vault in a heist movie. They help you switch up your IP address so that you don’t get caught and banned by websites while scraping. But remember, with great power comes great responsibility; use it wisely and ethically.

Things to Consider ?

When choosing a rotating proxy service, keep an eye out for:

1. IP Pool Size: The bigger, the better. You want a lot of IPs to rotate through.
2. Geographical Coverage: Make sure it covers the regions you’re interested in.
3. Speed and Reliability: Slow proxies are a no-go. You want something that’s quick and reliable.
4. Concurrent Requests: The more requests you can make at the same time, the faster you can scrape.
5. Cost: Make sure it fits your budget. Some services can get really pricey.

Some Popular Choices ?

1. ScrapingBee: Known for being beginner-friendly.
2. ScraperAPI: Offers a lot of customization options.
3. Oxylabs: A bit on the pricier side but super reliable.
4. Luminati: Offers a massive IP pool and great geo-targeting options.

My Hot Take ?️

If you’re just starting out, go for a service that offers a free tier or trial period. Test the waters before you commit. And honestly, don’t skimp on this; a bad proxy service can turn your web scraping project into a nightmare.

In Closing

Finding the best rotating proxy service is crucial for effective and ethical web scraping. Do your homework, compare features, and choose the one that fits your needs like a glove. Happy scraping, and may you unearth many digital treasures! ?‍☠️?