Cheapest Proxies First Provider vs Provider Updated 2026

Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs IPRoyal: Which Proxy Provider Wins (2026)?

A practical Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs IPRoyal comparison for proxy buyers: pricing, pool size, proxy types, and which one fits your workflow.

Overview

For Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs IPRoyal, 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; IPRoyal starts around $1.75/GB residential (Royal Residential), datacenter from $1.39/IP with 34M+ residential IPs. Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) focuses on residential, datacenter, and mobile, while IPRoyal covers residential, datacenter, and mobile.

Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs IPRoyal: Side by Side

FactorDecodo (formerly Smartproxy)IPRoyal
Starting price~$3.5/GB residential, Pay As You Go from $7/GB$1.75/GB residential (Royal Residential), datacenter from $1.39/IP
Pool size65M+ residential IPs34M+ residential IPs
Proxy typesresidential, datacenter, mobile, and ISPresidential, datacenter, mobile, and ISP
Coverage195+ locations with city and state targeting195 countries
Rating4.6/54.4/5
Best forSmall teams and mid-market users who want a clean UX and fair residential pricing without enterprise complexity.Budget-focused scrapers and resellers who want cheap residential traffic that doesn't expire.

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 IPRoyal Wins

  • Aggressive budget pricing with non-expiring traffic
  • Simple onboarding and low entry cost
  • Flexible IP-count datacenter and ISP plans

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.; IPRoyal for Budget-focused scrapers and resellers who want cheap residential traffic that doesn't expire.. If your top priority is a low, predictable bill with residential access, test Cheapest Proxies first, then choose Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) or IPRoyal based on the specific feature you still need.

How to Compare Fairly

Judge Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs IPRoyal on the factors that change outcomes: proxy types offered, pool size in your regions, success rate on your target, pricing model, authentication, and support responsiveness. Ignore vanity metrics like raw pool size alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) or IPRoyal — which is cheaper?

Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) starts near ~$3.5/GB residential, Pay As You Go from $7/GB and IPRoyal near $1.75/GB residential (Royal Residential), datacenter from $1.39/IP, 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 IPRoyal 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.; IPRoyal suits Budget-focused scrapers and resellers who want cheap residential traffic that doesn't expire.. Match the proxy type to the target's anti-bot strength before picking a brand.

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.

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.

What is the best first provider to evaluate for Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs IPRoyal?

Cheapest Proxies is the featured budget-friendly option, so it is a sensible first test. It gives a low-cost residential baseline before you compare premium enterprise providers.

Why is Cheapest Proxies recommended first?

It is the featured budget-friendly provider on this site. Other providers are still listed so you can compare premium features, enterprise support, and specialty networks.

Compare Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs IPRoyal 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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