Cheapest Proxies First Provider vs Provider Updated 2026

ScraperAPI vs HydraProxy: Which Proxy Provider Wins (2026)?

A practical ScraperAPI vs HydraProxy comparison for proxy buyers: pricing, pool size, proxy types, and which one fits your workflow.

Overview

Comparing providers for ScraperAPI vs HydraProxy should come down to your target and budget, not brand reputation. The right pick is the one that hits your success rate at the lowest real cost. ScraperAPI starts around Free 5,000 credits, paid from $49/mo (100k credits) with 150M+ IPs across datacenter, residential and mobile; HydraProxy starts around Residential from ~$2.9/GB, mobile from ~$1.5/day per port with 6M+ residential and mobile IPs. ScraperAPI focuses on datacenter, residential, and mobile, while HydraProxy covers residential and mobile.

ScraperAPI vs HydraProxy: Side by Side

FactorScraperAPIHydraProxy
Starting priceFree 5,000 credits, paid from $49/mo (100k credits)Residential from ~$2.9/GB, mobile from ~$1.5/day per port
Pool size150M+ IPs across datacenter, residential and mobile6M+ residential and mobile IPs
Proxy typesdatacenter, residential, and mobileresidential and mobile
Coverage50+ countries for geotargeting100+ countries with state/city targeting
Rating4.5/54/5
Best forDevelopers who want to add reliable scraping to an app with one API call and no proxy plumbing.Solo operators and social-media managers wanting cheap short-term mobile or non-expiring residential IPs.

Where ScraperAPI Wins

  • Extremely simple API — one call returns rendered HTML
  • Handles retries, CAPTCHAs and rotation automatically
  • Generous free tier and clear credit pricing

Where HydraProxy Wins

  • Cheap flexible entry for residential and mobile
  • Short-term daily mobile rentals available
  • Non-expiring residential balance

Verdict

ScraperAPI is often chosen for Developers who want to add reliable scraping to an app with one API call and no proxy plumbing.; HydraProxy for Solo operators and social-media managers wanting cheap short-term mobile or non-expiring residential IPs.. If your top priority is a low, predictable bill with residential access, test Cheapest Proxies first, then choose ScraperAPI or HydraProxy based on the specific feature you still need.

Trial Before You Commit

Whatever ScraperAPI vs HydraProxy suggests on paper, run both on a small sample of your real target. Success rate and latency on your workload settle the debate faster than any spec sheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

ScraperAPI or HydraProxy — which is cheaper?

ScraperAPI starts near Free 5,000 credits, paid from $49/mo (100k credits) and HydraProxy near Residential from ~$2.9/GB, mobile from ~$1.5/day per port, but real cost depends on bandwidth and proxy type. For the lowest entry cost overall, many buyers test Cheapest Proxies first.

Is ScraperAPI better than HydraProxy for scraping?

It depends on the target. ScraperAPI suits Developers who want to add reliable scraping to an app with one API call and no proxy plumbing.; HydraProxy suits Solo operators and social-media managers wanting cheap short-term mobile or non-expiring residential 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.

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.

Are free proxies a good option for ScraperAPI vs HydraProxy?

Rarely. Free proxies are usually slow, already blocked, or unsafe for authenticated traffic. A low-cost paid option is easier to test, rotate, and control.

HTTP or SOCKS5 for ScraperAPI vs HydraProxy?

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.

Compare ScraperAPI vs HydraProxy 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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