Dedicated IP address vs shared IP address

An IP address that is allocated to a specific device, compared to an IP address that is shared by multiple devices.

The main difference between a dedicated and a shared IP address (IP is short for Internet Protocol) is that dedicated IP addresses are provided exclusively to one user, while shared IP addresses can be used by multiple users at the same time.

When it comes to hiding your identity online, using proxies is a great way to stay anonymous and hide your real IP address.

However, once you start looking into proxy solutions, you'll probably end up trying to decide between dedicated (so-called private) and public proxies.

When it comes to the question of "shared IP address vs. dedicated IP address", the answer is that dedicated proxies are usually chosen more often than shared ones. In this article, you will find out why.

But before we get to that question, let's take a closer look at the definitions of these two types of proxies.

Virtual IP address vs. dedicated IP address: the main differences

The most important difference between dedicated (private) and public IP addresses is that dedicated IP addresses are provided exclusively to one user. Instead, a shared IP address can be used by several users at the same time.

Direct comparison of virtual and dedicated IP addresses

Now let's compare the two types of IP addresses by several different criteria.

Blocking risk.

The main difference between a shared and a dedicated IP address is how likely you are to be blocked while scraping. If you use a dedicated IP address for web scraping, the probability of blocking is much lower than in the case of a shared one

Control.

This point is closely related to the first one - controlling and owning your IP addresses reduces the risk of blocking. After all, you are responsible for which websites are crawled from a particular IP address, for how long, and in what way; and all this while knowing that no one else is using that IP address at the moment.

Speed.

When it comes to web crawling, most users are looking for speed. Dedicated proxies are usually very fast because you don't have to share performance with anyone else. Unlike shared proxies, dedicated data centre proxies have no bandwidth limits and have extremely high uptime.  

However, it's important to note that there are times when shared IP addresses can be just as fast as dedicated ones. This mainly depends on what other users connected to the same server are doing; in other words, how heavy their traffic is. However, if you choose virtual IP addresses and need high performance, make sure you choose a premium service with a large pool of IP addresses.

Security.

Dedicated proxies are also called private proxies because they are not shared with anyone else and are usually protected by HTTP, HTTPS, or SOCKS5 protocols. By purchasing dedicated proxies from a reliable IP address provider, you can be sure that your personal information will not be compromised and will remain encrypted. In addition, since dedicated proxies are assigned to only one user, there is very little chance of bandwidth overload.

However, if you want to take full advantage of the benefits of dedicated proxies, choosing the right IP address provider is a task that should not be taken lightly. You may find providers that offer free dedicated proxies, but in fact, dedicated proxies cannot be free. Do not trust these false advertisements and make sure you only buy from legitimate companies.

Pricing.

When it comes to the price of dedicated and virtual proxy servers, dedicated proxies are not as cheap as virtual proxies. Since proxy providers sell one IP address to only one user, that user pays the full cost of maintaining the dedicated proxy servers. Meanwhile, shared proxies are known to be the most cost-effective solution when it comes to web crawling.

Type of the target website. General proxies are ideal for crawling niche sites that are not usually crawled by other users - such sites are less likely to use anti-bot measures. In other words, you won't be affected by other users who use the same shared proxy but crawl completely different sites.

Another scenario where it is recommended to use shared proxies is when your target website does not seem to resist crawling and is not likely to use serious anti-bot measures; however, you still need proxies for anonymity and location spoofing.

One final note.

In the end, both public and dedicated IP addresses fall into the category of dedicated IP addresses. Shared and dedicated IP addresses are not as different as, say, proxies for data centres and for home users.

The main factors we have considered - speed, security, etc. - further help to evaluate the entire proxy and IP address market, especially when it comes to free proxies without proper guarantees of reputation or ownership of IP addresses. At Stableproxy, you can safely choose any type of proxy without worrying about speed and security being compromised.

Conclusion.

While dedicated IP addresses may seem like an obvious choice in most cases, we want to emphasise that it all depends on your needs. If you're looking for cost-effectiveness, virtual IP addresses are likely to be your choice. .

If you're not sure if dedicated proxies are the right choice for you or your business, please contact us and we'll help you make a decision.

Frequently asked questions

Is my IP address public or dedicated?

Your network IP address assigned by your ISP will always be a dedicated one; it can be static or dynamic.

When it comes to IP addresses from proxy (or VPN) providers, unless you have specifically requested and paid for a dedicated IP address, you are most likely using a shared IP address.

Click here to learn more about static and dynamic IP addresses.

Is a dedicated IP address safe?

Although a dedicated IP address seems like a more secure option because it is used by a single person, this does not mean that it is a necessity. Opting for shared IP addresses should be secure enough if they come from reliable premium providers. On the other hand, if you use free proxy servers without guarantees of a good IP address reputation, you may face several risks.

Can I change my dedicated IP?

This depends solely on the provider of your dedicated IP address - you should contact them to discuss the possibility of obtaining a new dedicated IP address.