If you're thinking about which proxy to use (sticky or rotating), you've found the right guide. Let's compare them.
Which One to Use:
The main difference between sticky and rotating proxies is that a sticky proxy maintains the same IP address for multiple requests (within a specific time frame.) But a rotating proxy changes the IP address per request. So the traffic appears to originate from a different location for each request.
So ,since rotating proxies assign a new IP from a pool per request, they're actually better suited for accessing websites with aggressive anti-bot measures. Opt for rotating proxies if your task requires strict anonymity, such as large-scale web scraping or crawling.
Sticky proxies are ideal for maintaining session integrity. They assign the same IP for multiple requests within a session or time frame. While repeated requests from the same IP can result in detection, sticky proxies can still help avoid anti-bot measures (that monitor IP changes.)
What Is a Sticky Proxy?
A sticky proxy assigns a single IP address for a specified duration, rotating to a new IP only when the session expires. These proxy types use sticky sessions to determine how long the IP remains active.
For example, with a sticky session length of 10 minutes, all requests made within those 10 minutes will use the same IP before a new one is assigned.
Depending on the session length, sticky proxies can limit large-scale tasks like web crawling. Generally, prolonged sticky sessions can increase the chances of anti-bot detection since heavy traffic tends to come from a single IP address. However, shorter sessions can mitigate this limitation and increase the chances of bypassing anti-bot detection.
🛠️ Features
- It assigns a fixed IP address for a specified duration.
- The duration of the IP depends on the sticky session length.
- It rotates the IP after session expiration.
- Most providers allow you to control the IP duration.
- Sticky proxies are suitable for maintaining session integrity.
What Is a Rotating Proxy?
A rotating proxy assigns a new IP per request from a large pool of IP addresses. Unlike sticky proxies, rotating proxies don't assign IPs based on duration. Instead, they automatically route each request through a different IP address.
The target site receives connections from various trusted IPs collected from several geolocations. This way, your requests appear to originate from different users, making it difficult for the host server to detect your activities. Most rotating proxy providers also offer geo-location services, allowing access to localized content without risking geo-restricted IP bans.
🛠️ Features
- Rotating proxies assigns a new IP per request.
- They're suitable for bypassing rate-limited IP bans.
- They provide high anonymity due to frequent IP changes.
- Most providers support geo-targeting to access localized content.
- They're suitable for large-scale scraping.
Now that you've seen what each proxy type offers, the next sections will show you a more detailed comparison of both solutions.
Sticky vs. Rotating Proxies: In-depth Comparison
Before comparing static and rotating proxies in detail, take a quick look at the following table that provides a quick overview of both proxies.
| Factors | Sticky proxies | Rotating proxies |
|---|---|---|
| Anonymity | Normal | High |
| Performance | Fast since it doesn't change IPs frequently | It can be slow due to frequent IP changes |
| Resistance to IP bans | Low | High |
| IP pool size | Small | Large |
| Suitable for web scraping | Only for small-scale scraping | For small, medium, and large-scale scraping |
| Geo-location | It can be limited, depending on the session length | Broader geo-location support |
Let's now compare both proxies based on specific metrics.
Rotating Proxies Minimize Detection
Many websites monitor IP traffic to control access to their content. If an IP exceeds request limits or attempts to access geo-restricted content, the website may block or restrict it.
Using rotating proxies ensures that each request is sent through a different IP address, so the website treats your requests as if they're from various users. This helps you avoid IP tracking and even access localized content. A sticky proxy doesn't offer such capabilities because it maintains a single IP address for several requests.
Sticky Proxies Are Often Faster
A sticky proxy's ability to maintain a single IP address over a long period eliminates the need to pull a new IP address from a pool. This feature reduces execution overhead and ensures session consistency.
In contrast, rotating proxies undergo a selection process, requiring background logic to assign a new IP for each request. This adds computational overhead, making them relatively slower compared to sticky proxies.
Rotating Proxies Are Better Suited for Large-Scale Scraping
Since a rotating proxy distributes traffic across several IPs, you can send multiple requests simultaneously without exceeding per-IP rate limits. This makes them particularly useful for large-scale web scraping.
Sticky proxies increase the risk of hitting request limits because they maintain the same IP for a specific duration. Notably, sticky proxies with longer sessions are more likely to be flagged or restricted due to excessive requests.
Conclusion
You've learned how sticky and rotating proxies work, their use cases, and their differences. While sticky proxies are better suited for maintaining mild anonymity within a session, rotating proxies work best for heavy tasks like web scraping.
For high-quality, reliable rotating proxies, ZenRows Residential Proxies stand out as the top choice. With access to over 55+ million residential IP addresses across 185+ countries and advanced geolocation features, ZenRows makes bypassing IP bans and geo-restrictions effortless.