Cheapest Proxies First Provider vs Provider Updated 2026

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

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

Overview

This Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs SOAX breakdown looks at where each provider genuinely fits so you can match the tool to your workflow instead of overpaying for features you will not use. Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) starts around ~$3.5/GB residential, Pay As You Go from $7/GB with 65M+ residential IPs; SOAX starts around ~$4/GB residential, plans from ~$99/mo with 155M+ residential and mobile IPs. Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) focuses on residential, datacenter, and mobile, while SOAX covers residential, mobile, and ISP.

Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs SOAX: Side by Side

FactorDecodo (formerly Smartproxy)SOAX
Starting price~$3.5/GB residential, Pay As You Go from $7/GB~$4/GB residential, plans from ~$99/mo
Pool size65M+ residential IPs155M+ residential and mobile IPs
Proxy typesresidential, datacenter, mobile, and ISPresidential, mobile, ISP, and datacenter
Coverage195+ locations with city and state targeting195+ countries with city and carrier targeting
Rating4.6/54.5/5
Best forSmall teams and mid-market users who want a clean UX and fair residential pricing without enterprise complexity.Researchers and ad-verification teams needing precise city or mobile-carrier targeting on clean, low-ban IPs.

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 SOAX Wins

  • Excellent city and carrier-level targeting
  • Constantly cleaned pool keeps ban rates low
  • Strong mobile proxy coverage

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.; SOAX for Researchers and ad-verification teams needing precise city or mobile-carrier targeting on clean, low-ban IPs.. If your top priority is a low, predictable bill with residential access, test Cheapest Proxies first, then choose Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) or SOAX based on the specific feature you still need.

Price Is Not the Whole Story

For Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs SOAX, the cheaper headline price can cost more if it blocks often. Compare price per successful result, factoring in retries and bandwidth, not just the entry rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) starts near ~$3.5/GB residential, Pay As You Go from $7/GB and SOAX near ~$4/GB residential, plans from ~$99/mo, 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 SOAX 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.; SOAX suits Researchers and ad-verification teams needing precise city or mobile-carrier targeting on clean, low-ban IPs.. 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.

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.

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.

Do I need residential proxies for Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) vs SOAX?

Not always. Residential or mobile IPs are safer for protected sites, social platforms, and commerce targets; datacenter IPs can be enough for simple, public pages where speed matters more than stealth.

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 SOAX 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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