Choosing Between the 5 Best Residential Proxy Providers: 2026 Comparison of Leading Brands

For a first residential proxy purchase, ProxyEmpire is the easiest place to begin, because $1.97 lets you test both residential and mobile traffic without being moved onto a paid plan afterward. Decodo comes next with a free residential trial, and Bright Data follows for teams that need enterprise scale.

That ordering reflects a simple idea. When you're new to residential proxies, the biggest risk isn't paying a few cents more per gigabyte; it's committing to a plan before you know whether its IPs work on your targets. The providers here differ most in how cheaply and safely you can find that out.

Webshare and NodeMaven complete the list. Webshare offers a permanent free plan, though for datacenter proxies only, while NodeMaven sells a paid trial that covers residential and mobile together.

Our picks in brief

• ProxyEmpire: low-risk trial for residential and mobile
• Decodo: free residential trial
• Bright Data: enterprise scale and certifications

How to Choose a Residential Proxy Provider

Start with what you need to test. If your project might use mobile IPs as well as residential, pick a trial that covers both networks; otherwise you'll only learn half of what you need.

Next, look at what happens to unused traffic. Some providers let gigabytes roll over, others expire them at the end of a billing period. If your usage is irregular, rollover saves money.

Then check targeting. A residential proxy is valuable because it looks like a real household connection, but for local research you also need the right city or ZIP code. Confirm whether those options are included or cost extra.

Finally, read the refund terms. Several providers offer limited or no refunds, which makes a trial even more important.

Free vs Paid Trials

A free trial costs nothing up front, but it may come with conditions. Decodo's free trial gives 100 MB of residential traffic for 3 days and then turns into the plan you picked unless you cancel. Bright Data's free trial requires no credit card. Webshare's free plan is permanent, but it covers 10 datacenter proxies, not residential ones.

A paid trial asks for a small fee, often to filter out abuse, and usually gives you more control. ProxyEmpire charges $1.97 for 100 MB of residential and 50 MB of mobile traffic and does not convert to a subscription. NodeMaven charges $3.50 for 750 MB across residential and mobile.

The right choice depends on what you're testing. For residential only, a free trial works well. For both networks, or to avoid an automatic renewal, a small paid trial can be the safer option.

Our Recommended Order and Why

ProxyEmpire (best for a low-risk trial on residential and mobile)

ProxyEmpire's trial is built to answer the question new buyers care about most: will this work on my targets? For $1.97 you get both rotating residential and rotating mobile traffic, so you can compare the two networks side by side, and the trial ends there rather than starting a subscription. The small fee is there to filter out abuse.

If the test goes well, rotating residential costs $3.50 per GB and rotating mobile $4.50 per GB without a contract, and unused GB never expire. Targeting down to ZIP on residential and carrier on mobile is included, and 24/7 live chat is available. Keep in mind that paid plans can't be refunded, which is exactly why the trial matters.

Decodo (best for a free residential trial)

Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) lets you try 100 MB of residential traffic free for 3 days, with access to the full residential pool and free targeting down to ZIP and ASN.

Set a reminder, though: the trial converts to the plan you chose unless you cancel. First purchases can be refunded within 14 days if you've used under 20% of the traffic and haven't used the trial.

Bright Data (best for enterprise scale)

Bright Data offers a free trial without a credit card and matches your first deposit up to $500. Its residential network covers 195 countries, and targeting from country down to ZIP code and ASN comes free, including state and city in between. Daily spend limits and an open-source Proxy Manager help teams keep usage under control.

Before you can use residential IPs, Bright Data runs a KYC check that may include a video call. Unused monthly commitments don't roll over. In exchange, you get compliance documents such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2, which larger organizations often need before they can buy.

Webshare (best for learning the basics free)

Webshare's free plan is a good way to learn how proxies work, even though it covers datacenter rather than residential IPs. When you move to residential, plans start at $3.50 for 1 GB, and you can choose your exact bandwidth and locations as you build a plan.

A residential trial isn't mentioned on its site, and refunds are available within 2 days of payment if conditions are met.

NodeMaven (best for testing filtered IPs)

NodeMaven's $3.50 trial gives 750 MB across residential and mobile, the largest stated trial allowance here. Its IP Quality Filter screens each address before you receive it.

Paid monthly plans start at $8.50 for 2 GB, and unused bandwidth rolls forward. ZIP and ASN targeting are not listed, but country, city and ISP targeting are, and monthly plans can earn up to 10% cashback on used traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a free proxy trial better than a paid one?

Not always. Free trials cost nothing but may convert to a paid plan automatically, as Decodo's does. A small paid trial, like ProxyEmpire's $1.97 option, can include more networks and avoid automatic renewal.

How much data do I need for a proxy trial?

For basic testing on a few target sites, 100 MB is often enough to confirm that requests succeed. If you plan to test both residential and mobile, choose a trial that includes both.

Can I get a refund on residential proxies?

It depends on the provider. Decodo offers a conditional 14-day refund on first purchases, Webshare allows refunds within 2 days if conditions are met, and some providers make all sales final.

Which Provider Should You Choose?

Choose ProxyEmpire if you want to test residential and mobile together for $1.97, with no automatic subscription and GB that never expire afterward.

Choose Decodo if you want a free residential trial and don't mind cancelling before it converts.

Choose Bright Data if you need enterprise scale and are comfortable with a KYC check.

Choose NodeMaven if you want the largest stated trial allowance and IP filtering for account work.