If you don’t know how to get residential proxies, you might face slow internet, get blocked by websites, or even run into legal issues. You could pick a bad service or set up the proxies wrong, which can cause more problems. 

But here’s the good news for you. The process of obtaining residential proxies is super easy. Here’s the brief for you:

To get residential proxies, —

• First, pick a trusted proxy service.
• Next, sign up for one of their plans and set up the proxies using the IP addresses and login details they give you. 
• After that, keep an eye on how well the proxies work based on your usage level through the provider’s control panel.

What Are Residential Proxies?

Residential proxies are real or ethically-sourced IP addresses given by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to homeowners. When you use a residential proxy, it looks like your internet traffic is coming from a regular home address or business network.

This method makes these residential proxies much more trusted and difficult to block, especially by websites that monitor for unusual traffic patterns, like social media platforms, e-commerce sites, or streaming services. 

Why Do You Need Residential Proxies?

Here’s why residential proxies are useful:

• You can easily bypass geo-restrictions.
• You can easily verify your Ads to check if they look right in different areas.
• You can collect lots of data from sites without getting blocked.
• You can keep your identity safe with a real residential IP.
• You can manage lots of social media accounts from different locations to reach more people.

How Residential Proxies Work

Here, I’m presenting a simple chart to show you the workrflow of these proxies first to last.

5 Steps on How to Get Residential Proxies

Now, let's get into how you can obtain residential proxies.

Step 1: Choose a Reputable Proxy Provider

The first and most important step is to pick a trusted residential proxy provider. Many companies offer this service, but not all are safe or reliable. When choosing one, think about these things:

• IP Pool Size: Pick a provider with lots of IP addresses, like 10 to 40 million, or even as high as 100 million IPs from any reliable providers.
• Locations: Make sure they offer IP addresses from over 150 to 190 countries.
• Connection Speed: An almost 99% uptime rate is super helpful.
• Support and Reliability: Go with a company that has 24/7 customer support, and is dependable.

Some popular residential proxy providers are:

• Smartproxy

• Bright Data (formerly Luminati)

• Soax

• Storm Proxies

• Oxylabs

• Webshare, etc.

Step 2: Sign Up for a Plan

After choosing your provider, the next step is to sign up for a plan. Most residential proxy services have different pricing options based on what you need. 

Here’s what to think about when picking a plan:

Bandwidth

Some providers charge for the amount of data you use. If you’re going to collect lots of data or visit websites with lots of media, pick a plan with more data. 

**For instance, if you're going to collect data from a big online store with lots of product pictures, you’ll need a plan with unlimited bandwidth or a high data allowance.

Number of Proxies

Some plans give you a set number of proxies, while others give access to all their IPs.

**For example, if you only need proxies once in a while, a plan with 10-20 proxies is enough. But for bigger tasks, like social media marketing or collecting data from many websites, you’ll need a plan with hundreds or even thousands of proxies.

Usage Limits

Check how often you'll use the proxies. If it's just once in a while, a basic plan might work. For heavier tasks like data scraping, you’ll need a bigger plan.

**For instance, if you only need proxies for a few hours a month, a pay-as-you-go plan or one with limited usage is fine. But if you’re using proxies every day, it’s better to get a monthly plan with unlimited access.

Step 3: Configure the Proxy Settings

Once you buy a plan, your provider will give you access to a dashboard where you can manage your proxies. 

Here's how to set it up:

• Get Proxy Info: The provider will give you the IP addresses, ports, and login details (username and password).
• Pick How to Log In: You can either log in with a username/password or allow your own IP address to access the proxy (called whitelisting).
• Set Up the Proxy: Depending on what you need, you’ll have to adjust the proxy settings in your browser or device. You can usually find these options in the network or proxy settings.

For example, in Google Chrome:

Manual Configuration

For Windows:

• Open the “Control Panel" and then go to “Network and Internet” > “Network Connections.”
• Right-click on your active network and choose “Properties.”
• Double-click on “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).”
• In the General tab, check “Use the following IP address” and “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
• Enter the proxy server address and then the port number.
• If needed, enter your login details (username and password).
• Click OK to save the settings.

For macOS:

• Open System Preferences and click on “Network.”
• Choose your active network connection and then click on “Advanced.”
• Go to the Proxies tab and check the Web Proxy (HTTP) option.
• Enter the proxy server address and port number.
• If needed, give authentication credentials.
• Click OK to save the changes.

Using Proxy Software:

• Many proxy providers offer easy-to-use software or browser extensions.
• Follow the provider's instructions to install and set up the software.

How to Test Your Proxy:

• Go to a website that displays your IP address.
• Check if the displayed IP address matches the residential IP given by your proxy provider.
• If it matches, your proxy setup is working.

Step 4: Start Using Your Residential Proxies

Once you’ve set up your proxy, you can start using it for browsing, data collection, or other tasks. Websites will see the residential IP address instead of your real one.

Step 5: Monitor Usage and Performance

It’s important to check how much data you’re using and how well your proxies are working. Most providers have dashboards where you can see your data usage, adjust settings, and change IP addresses.

Here’s what to keep an eye on:

• Connection Speed: If your browsing slows down, ask your provider if using a different IP range helps.
• Bandwidth: Watch how much data you use to stay within your plan’s limits.
• Rotation Settings: Some providers offer rotating proxies, which change your IP address regularly. This is helpful for tasks like web scraping or making lots of requests to the same site.

Tips for Using Residential Proxies Effectively

If you want to perfectly use the purchased residential proxies, here are some important things to keep in mind.

• Change proxies often to avoid detection.
• Use a tool to manage and switch proxies automatically.
• Check if proxies are working well and switch if they’re not.
• Follow provider rules to avoid getting banned.
• Use proxies from different locations for better data access.
• Follow laws and website rules when using proxies.

Besides, knowing the perfect way to set up a proxy for a PC is super important. You can visit this blog to get a detailed idea.

How to Get These Residential Proxies for Free

Some proxy providers offer free trials, but these free options are usually limited and only good for testing, not for long-term use. Free proxies often have less data, fewer IP addresses, and slower speeds. 

Plus, using free residential proxies for certain things, like scraping websites, can be risky or even illegal if it breaks website rules.

Here are some providers with free trials:

• Smartproxy: Offers a 3-day free trial, good for testing.
• Bright Data: Has a limited free trial, just for testing.
• Oxylabs: Offers a free trial, but it’s mainly for evaluation with limited usage.
• Webshare: Gives 10 proxies free with 1GB/month for testing.
• Storm Proxies: Offers 24 hours (money-back guarantee) for a trial.

Free proxies can help you test performance, but they’re not reliable for big or ongoing tasks because of legal risks and limits. If you need something stable and legal, it’s better to get a paid plan.

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, you now have a pretty good idea of how to get residential proxies. Getting residential proxies is easy once you know what to do and how to set them up. By following these steps, you can now browse the internet safely and without restrictions, without worrying about being blocked or detected by websites. Just make sure to pick a trustworthy provider, set everything up properly, and keep an eye on your usage for the best experience. 

Also, you can check out this latest blog post to learn about the best & cheapest Residential proxies in 2024.

FAQs

Do I need to configure my router to use residential proxies?

It depends on your network setup and the proxy provider's recommendations. Some providers might ask you to configure your router to use their proxies, but others offer software or browser extensions to make it easier.

Can I use residential proxies with my mobile device?

Yes, you can use residential proxies with your mobile device. Most proxy providers offer mobile applications or configuration instructions for iOS and Android devices.

Can residential proxies be traced back to me?

Residential proxies can hide your IP address, but your online activity can still be traced back to you if you leave other clues, like logging into accounts or sharing personal info.

How can I safeguard my privacy when using residential proxies?

Use strong passwords, avoid sharing personal info online, and be cautious of phishing attempts. Additionally, consider using a VPN in conjunction with residential proxies for added security.