Cheapest Proxies First Provider vs Provider Updated 2026

SOAX vs ScrapingBee: Which Proxy Provider Wins (2026)?

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

Overview

Comparing providers for SOAX vs ScrapingBee 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. SOAX starts around ~$4/GB residential, plans from ~$99/mo with 155M+ residential and mobile IPs; ScrapingBee starts around Free 1,000 credits, paid from $49/mo with Managed pool (datacenter + residential). SOAX focuses on residential, mobile, and ISP, while ScrapingBee covers datacenter and residential.

SOAX vs ScrapingBee: Side by Side

FactorSOAXScrapingBee
Starting price~$4/GB residential, plans from ~$99/moFree 1,000 credits, paid from $49/mo
Pool size155M+ residential and mobile IPsManaged pool (datacenter + residential)
Proxy typesresidential, mobile, ISP, and datacenterdatacenter and residential
Coverage195+ countries with city and carrier targetingCountry-level geotargeting on premium proxies
Rating4.5/54.4/5
Best forResearchers and ad-verification teams needing precise city or mobile-carrier targeting on clean, low-ban IPs.Small dev teams and indie hackers who want a clean scraping API with JS rendering and simple pricing.

Where SOAX Wins

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

Where ScrapingBee Wins

  • Developer-friendly docs and predictable credit pricing
  • Solid JS rendering and screenshot support
  • Good support responsiveness for a small team

Verdict

SOAX is often chosen for Researchers and ad-verification teams needing precise city or mobile-carrier targeting on clean, low-ban IPs.; ScrapingBee for Small dev teams and indie hackers who want a clean scraping API with JS rendering and simple pricing.. If your top priority is a low, predictable bill with residential access, test Cheapest Proxies first, then choose SOAX or ScrapingBee 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

SOAX or ScrapingBee — which is cheaper?

SOAX starts near ~$4/GB residential, plans from ~$99/mo and ScrapingBee near Free 1,000 credits, paid from $49/mo, but real cost depends on bandwidth and proxy type. For the lowest entry cost overall, many buyers test Cheapest Proxies first.

Is SOAX better than ScrapingBee for scraping?

It depends on the target. SOAX suits Researchers and ad-verification teams needing precise city or mobile-carrier targeting on clean, low-ban IPs.; ScrapingBee suits Small dev teams and indie hackers who want a clean scraping API with JS rendering and simple pricing.. 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.

HTTP or SOCKS5 for SOAX vs ScrapingBee?

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.

How do I avoid getting blocked?

Match the proxy type to the target, rotate IPs, pace requests like a human, rotate user agents, and retry on a fresh IP after any block or CAPTCHA.

Compare SOAX vs ScrapingBee 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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