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The Best Alternatives to Big-Name Residential Proxy Networks

Last updated:
09 Feb 2026
In This Article:

Finding reliable alternatives to the major residential proxy networks, like Bright Data or Oxylabs, has become a growing priority for developers, researchers, and digital marketers looking for more transparency, cost efficiency, and performance flexibility. Big brands dominate the space but their pricing models, traffic limitations, and complex billing structures often don’t fit smaller-scale or fast-moving projects.

In this guide, we’ll explore strong alternatives that deliver stable, high-quality residential proxies without the enterprise price tag. We’ll look at notable providers such as SimplyNode.io, IPRoyal, Decodo, NetNut, ASocks, and others.

Why Look for Alternatives to Major Proxy Networks?

Residential proxy networks route internet requests through real user IPs to provide genuine browsing behavior, avoid detection, and bypass geo-restrictions. While large providers like Bright Data and Oxylabs offer excellent infrastructure, their models often aren’t designed for developers or SMBs running lean operations.

Common reasons for looking elsewhere include:

  • High upfront costs: Many leading providers have bulk commitment pricing that excludes low-volume users.
  • Overhead in setup and billing: Complex account configurations, feature segmentation, and minimum spend thresholds create friction.
  • Limited transparency: Some users prefer smaller providers that give clearer visibility into IP sourcing and ethics.
  • Underutilized scale: Not every project needs a global network of tens of millions of IPs.

Developers often search for alternatives that balance cost, speed, reliability, and ethical sourcing.

Top Residential Proxy Alternatives

1. IPRoyal

IPRoyal is often cited as a strong competitor to major proxy providers for good reason. According to industry reviews on G2, users appreciate its clean IP pool (over 95% success rate) and long sticky sessions that can last up to 24 hours. This makes it suitable for data scraping or price comparison projects that require session persistence.

Key advantages:

  • Sticky sessions up to 24 hours.
  • Affordable, pay-per-GB model.
  • Transparent proxy sourcing.

Use case: Ideal for ecommerce monitoring or SEO research where IP continuity is critical.

2. Decodo (formerly Smartproxy)

Decodo offers a large network exceeding 10 million residential IPs across 195 locations. It positions itself as a flexible option for power users who need high performance at volume.

Distinct features:

  • Fine-grained location targeting.
  • Browser extension for no-code configuration.
  • Easy integration for rotating sessions.

According to Proxyway’s 2026 ranking of residential proxies, Decodo is considered top value for money given its blend of reliability and user-friendly tooling.

3. NetNut

NetNut takes a technically distinct approach by connecting directly through ISPs rather than relying solely on P2P user devices. This setup can yield faster, more consistent results since traffic relies on fewer intermediaries.

Highlights:

  • Direct ISP connectivity.
  • Low latency and stable response times.
  • API-first integration for automation.

NetNut suits teams that need consistent uptime for real-time data streaming or API-based applications.

4. ASocks

ASocks focuses on affordability and simplicity. It’s known for its unlimited rotating residential proxies and straightforward pay-per-traffic billing.

Users often pick ASocks for:

  • Unlimited bandwidth models.
  • Competitive GB pricing.
  • Quick IP renewal cycles.

According to Proxy-Cheap’s 2025 proxy comparison, ASocks is quickly gaining traction among small agencies that run broad scraping campaigns.

5. DataImpulse

DataImpulse offers residential, mobile, and datacenter proxies with a clean record reputation and flexible scaling. It’s often selected by users who need multi-network support in one system.

Core benefits:

  • Residential, mobile, and datacenter options.
  • No time-based restrictions.
  • Focus on reliability and anonymity.

Their service works well for ad verification, content aggregation, or localization testing across devices.

6. SimplyNode.io

SimplyNode.io is a residential and mobile proxy provider focused on simplicity, predictable pricing, and stable performance. It’s designed for developers and marketing teams that want flexible proxy access without enterprise contracts or complex billing models.

Key features:

  • Residential and mobile rotating proxies
  • Traffic-based pricing (pay per GB only)
  • No per-IP or session-based fees
  • API access for automation
  • Suitable for scraping, ad verification, and account management

SimplyNode.io works well for teams that need to scale usage up or down quickly while keeping full cost control.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Proxy Provider

Before switching to an alternative, review the metrics that matter most to your projects.

Pricing Transparency

Many smaller providers like ASocks and SimplyNode offer flexible GB-based costs. However, check for hidden fees tied to API usage, concurrency limits, or bandwidth caps.

Network Size and Diversity

Bigger isn’t always better. While a 50M+ IP pool might look impressive, you may only need a few thousand quality residential IPs per region. Prioritize clean IPs and consistent performance over raw quantity.

Ethical IP Sourcing

Proxy ethics are becoming more visible across the SaaS industry. Reputable providers disclose how they obtain end-user consent. DataImpulse and SimplyNode emphasize compliance and transparency, which can reduce reputational risk if your company handles public data scraping.

Session Stability and Speed

If your workloads rely on persistent identities, look for long-session or sticky options. IPRoyal and SimplyNode.io support extended connections appropriate for scenarios like account management or multi-session testing.

Scalability and Automation

Projects that start small might scale quickly. Seek infrastructure with frictionless onboarding and reliable APIs.

When Proxies Might Not Be the Right Fit

For some use cases, alternatives such as VPNs or Tor routes may perform better. VPNs like NordVPN work well for general privacy-focused needs, while Tor provides deep anonymity for journalists or researchers. However, both options aren’t typically suited for scalable data collection or automation tasks since bandwidth and session control are limited.

Conclusion

The residential proxy market is evolving fast. Businesses now expect cleaner IP pools, flexible pricing, and greater transparency than traditional enterprise providers usually offer.

Alternatives like IPRoyal, Decodo, and NetNut deliver strong performance while keeping pricing accessible for individual developers and small teams. ASocks and DataImpulse add flexibility through pay-per-traffic models and the absence of strict time limits.

SimplyNode.io fits into this new wave as a practical residential and mobile proxy solution focused on simplicity and cost control. With traffic-based pricing and no per-IP or session fees, it works well for teams that need to scale usage up or down without long-term commitments or complex billing.

If you’re reevaluating your residential proxy setup, testing smaller providers is the best way to compare IP quality and session stability in real conditions. For teams looking for predictable pricing and an easy-to-manage proxy stack, SimplyNode.io offers a straightforward alternative built for modern data-driven workflows.

By:
SimplyNode team