Best Residential Proxy Providers for 2026: Official Pricing for Residential Proxies From Bright Data, Oxylabs, Decodo, SOAX and ProxyEmpire

A pricing analyst is asked to compare a retailer's shelf prices across 40 postcodes in three countries. The proxy budget is fixed, and the study needs IPs that appear inside each postcode, not merely inside each country.

Two numbers decide whether the budget holds: the per-gigabyte rate, and whether targeting below country level adds to it. A third, whether unused traffic survives between project phases, decides how much of the budget is actually used. Providers publish the first prominently. The second usually sits deeper in their documentation.

This comparison puts both side by side for five providers, using each one's official residential pricing and published targeting options. Each profile opens with a quick facts table, followed by notes on how the targeting and pricing combine in practice.

1) ProxyEmpire

ProxyEmpire lists seven residential targeting dimensions and three mobile ones, and none carries a surcharge. For the postcode study above, that means ZIP-level IPs cost the same $3.50 per GB as country-level IPs, and ISP or ASN filters can be added where a retailer serves different content by network.

The OS/TCP dimension is the least common of the seven: it selects IPs whose connection characteristics match a given operating system. Unused GB on GB-based plans do not expire, so a study that runs in phases does not lose budget between them. The company reports 30M+ residential IPs across 170+ countries.

Beyond residential, the same account carries mobile at $4.50 per GB, static ISP, datacenter and dedicated mobile. Sessions can be held for a set time, kept for a full session or rotated per request, and concurrent sessions are unlimited for approved use cases.

All sales are final. The $1.97 trial includes 100 MB of residential and 50 MB of mobile traffic, enough to check location accuracy on a sample of target postcodes.

2) Bright Data

Bright Data includes five residential dimensions at no charge, reaching ZIP and ASN, and lists carrier targeting on its proxy services page. Its pool size is the largest of the five, which matters for postcodes in smaller markets.

Unused monthly commitments do not roll over, and KYC is required before residential use. Live IP counts per country on its services page help check coverage before buying.

For teams that do commit, monthly plans step through 141 GB for $499, 332 GB for $999 and 798 GB for $1,999, with custom pricing beyond a terabyte. A free trial requires no credit card, the first deposit is matched up to $500, and daily spend limits per zone can cap exposure on a fixed-budget study.

3) Oxylabs

Oxylabs states that geo targeting is free on residential and mobile but does not itemize the levels on the pages reviewed. Buyers needing postcode precision should confirm it in documentation or with support before committing to a tier.

Residential is priced in four tiers within a subscription that also covers its Web API and agent browser. Plans include unlimited concurrent sessions and 3 proxy users.

Mobile coverage spans 140+ countries with IPs from real devices, priced from $7.50 down to $3.50 per GB by tier. No pay-as-you-go tier is shown on its pricing pages, so a fixed-budget study would start on a monthly subscription, with a $5 welcome credit available for a first test.

4) Decodo (formerly Smartproxy)

Decodo adds continent targeting to the usual levels and includes all six in every plan. For a multi-country postcode study, that offers broad control without extra cost.

A free 3-day trial gives 100 MB of residential traffic but converts to a paid plan unless cancelled. Whether unused subscription GB roll over is not stated, and VAT is added to listed prices.

A Wallet option sells single gigabytes at $4 but cannot run alongside a subscription. Sticky sessions last up to 30 minutes per its FAQ, which is usually enough for a single page check but short for multi-step flows. First purchases qualify for a conditional 14-day refund.

5) SOAX

SOAX lists five targeting dimensions on its mobile page, and its FAQ separately mentions city, state and ASN. Whether finer targeting changes the credit rate is not stated.

Because price varies by country tier, a multi-country study will cost a different amount per GB in each market. Package guardrails can cap spending per country or client.

Rotation options include per request, after a set number of requests, on a timer or on error, and analytics separate delivered from blocked traffic. A free Sandbox account is available without a card, and upgrades apply immediately.

Pitfalls in Location-Based Pricing

Comparing country-level rates for postcode-level work. The rate that matters is the one that applies with the targeting the project needs. Where finer filters cost extra, the headline rate understates the real cost.

Assuming every provider itemizes its targeting. Where levels are not listed, confirm them before buying.

Ignoring multi-market pricing. Country-tiered pricing means the same study costs differently in each market, which complicates a single budget across several countries.

Buying ahead on expiring plans. Where unused commitments lapse, phased studies lose budget between phases.

Skipping a location test. A trial on the exact postcodes needed confirms accuracy before scale. Checking the IP location a site reports, not only the one the dashboard shows, catches mismatches early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which providers include ZIP targeting at no extra cost?

ProxyEmpire, Bright Data and Decodo include ZIP targeting in their residential rates. Oxylabs includes geo targeting without itemizing levels on the pages reviewed.

What is ASN targeting?

ASN targeting selects IPs from a specific network operated by an internet provider. It helps when content or ads differ between providers, or when a study needs to compare how one site treats visitors from different networks.

Which offers the most targeting dimensions?

ProxyEmpire lists seven residential dimensions, including OS/TCP, plus carrier on mobile. Decodo lists six, adding continent, and Bright Data five.

Does targeting change the price?

Not at ProxyEmpire, Bright Data, Decodo or Oxylabs, which include targeting in their rates. SOAX does not state whether targeting affects its credit pricing. Its rates do vary by the country targeted, so location still affects cost there.