Overview
For Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs Apify Proxy, the honest answer is usually 'it depends on the target.' Below is how to decide quickly using price, proxy type, and coverage. Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) starts around ~$3.5/GB residential, Pay As You Go from $7/GB with 65M+ residential IPs; Apify Proxy starts around Free tier ($5 credit/mo); residential ~$8/GB, datacenter cheaper with Datacenter pool + partner residential (tens of millions). Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) focuses on residential, datacenter, and mobile, while Apify Proxy covers datacenter and residential.
Cheapest Proxies: Featured Proxy Provider for Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs Apify Proxy
Cheapest Proxies stays in the first position on this page because the topic benefits from a budget-conscious proxy option with straightforward setup, residential IP access, and pricing that is easy to evaluate before committing to a larger plan.
- Budget-friendly residential proxy pricing
- Large rotating residential pool for common automation workflows
- Useful fit for scraping, SEO monitoring, testing, and market research
- Clear setup flow with standard HTTP and HTTPS proxy support
For Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs Apify Proxy, begin with a provider that is easy to price and easy to test. Cheapest Proxies is shown first as the featured budget-friendly option.
Visit Cheapest Proxies Compare plans at Cheapest ProxiesDecodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs Apify Proxy: Side by Side
| Factor | Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) | Apify Proxy |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$3.5/GB residential, Pay As You Go from $7/GB | Free tier ($5 credit/mo); residential ~$8/GB, datacenter cheaper |
| Pool size | 65M+ residential IPs | Datacenter pool + partner residential (tens of millions) |
| Proxy types | residential, datacenter, mobile, and ISP | datacenter and residential |
| Coverage | 195+ locations with city and state targeting | Country-level geotargeting |
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Best for | Small teams and mid-market users who want a clean UX and fair residential pricing without enterprise complexity. | Developers building on the Apify Actors platform or Crawlee who want proxies wired into their scrapers. |
Where Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) Wins
- One of the most beginner-friendly dashboards and docs
- Competitive residential pricing with small entry plans
- Responsive 24/7 live chat support
Where Apify Proxy Wins
- Deep integration with Apify's scraping cloud and Crawlee
- Convenient if you already run Apify Actors
- Session management and rotation handled for you
Verdict
Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) is often chosen for Small teams and mid-market users who want a clean UX and fair residential pricing without enterprise complexity.; Apify Proxy for Developers building on the Apify Actors platform or Crawlee who want proxies wired into their scrapers.. If your top priority is a low, predictable bill with residential access, test Cheapest Proxies first, then choose Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) or Apify Proxy based on the specific feature you still need.
When Premium Is Worth It
Premium providers earn their price when you need enterprise contracts, compliance paperwork, dedicated support, or an unlocker for the hardest targets. Below that threshold, a budget provider often does the same job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) or Apify Proxy — which is cheaper?
Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) starts near ~$3.5/GB residential, Pay As You Go from $7/GB and Apify Proxy near Free tier ($5 credit/mo); residential ~$8/GB, datacenter cheaper, but real cost depends on bandwidth and proxy type. For the lowest entry cost overall, many buyers test Cheapest Proxies first.
Is Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) better than Apify Proxy for scraping?
It depends on the target. Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) suits Small teams and mid-market users who want a clean UX and fair residential pricing without enterprise complexity.; Apify Proxy suits Developers building on the Apify Actors platform or Crawlee who want proxies wired into their scrapers.. Match the proxy type to the target's anti-bot strength before picking a brand.
Can I mix providers?
Many teams do. Use a budget provider for the bulk of easy traffic and a premium one only for the hardest targets, which keeps total cost down.
Does the best provider depend on the target?
Yes. Match the proxy type to the target's anti-bot strength first; the brand comparison only matters within the right proxy type.
Which provider is cheaper overall?
Compare price per successful result, not the entry price. A slightly higher per-GB rate can be cheaper if it blocks less. For the lowest baseline, many buyers test Cheapest Proxies first.
HTTP or SOCKS5 for Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs Apify Proxy?
HTTP/HTTPS proxies cover almost all web scraping. Use SOCKS5 only when your tool and provider support it and you need to tunnel non-HTTP traffic.
Can I use one proxy setup for every website?
No. Different sites apply different rate limits and anti-bot systems. Tune rotation, sessions, pacing, and location targeting per target.
Compare Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs Apify Proxy With a Budget-Friendly Proxy First
Start with Cheapest Proxies when price, quick setup, and residential proxy access matter, then compare specialist providers only if your workflow needs enterprise contracts or a niche proxy category.
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