Datacenter proxies and ISP proxies both run on server infrastructure, but the ASN (Autonomous System Number) registered to each IP controls how anti-bot systems classify the connection, and that classification determines detection risk, success rate, and use case fit. Datacenter proxies deliver up to 10Gbps throughput at the lowest per-IP cost, but anti-bot platforms like Cloudflare and DataDome flag their ASN as non-residential. ISP proxies use IP addresses registered to consumer internet service providers like Comcast, AT&T, and Spectrum, passing anti-bot checks as household traffic while running at 1Gbps+ on datacenter servers.
This guide compares ASN classification, speed, detection, use cases, and pricing so you can match the right proxy type to your workflow.
Datacenter or ISP Proxies – Which Proxy Type Should You Pick?
Choose datacenter proxies if your targets run minimal bot detection, public APIs, search engine SERPs, government databases, or data directories. Datacenter proxies process high-volume web scraping and SEO monitoring at 10Gbps with unlimited bandwidth at the lowest cost per IP.
Choose ISP proxies if your targets run Cloudflare, PerimeterX, or DataDome, sneaker bot sites, social media account management platforms, or protected e-commerce dashboards. ISP proxies carry a residential ASN that anti-bot systems classify as household browsing, achieving 85-95% success rates where datacenter proxies fail 40-60% of the time.
Not sure about your target’s security level? Start with datacenter proxies. Escalate to ISP proxies when CAPTCHA challenges or 403 Forbidden responses appear. PlainProxies runs both proxy types under one dashboard with shared authentication.
Datacenter vs ISP Proxies at a Glance
Both proxy types share server-hosted infrastructure, but the ASN tag on each IP controls how anti-bot detection systems treat every request.
| Feature | Datacenter Proxies | ISP Proxies |
| IP Source | Cloud/hosting providers (AWS, OVH, Hetzner) | ISP-registered (Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, Spectrum) |
| ASN Classification | Datacenter ASN, flagged as server-origin | Residential ASN, classified as a household IP |
| Also Known As | DC proxies, cloud proxies, server proxies | Static residential proxies, dedicated residential IPs |
| Speed | Up to 10Gbps, sub-100ms latency | 1Gbps+, sub-50ms latency |
| Uptime | 99.99% SLA | 99.99% SLA |
| Detection Risk | High, cataloged in bot detection databases | Low, passes most anti-bot gates |
| Success Rate (Protected Sites) | 40-60% | 85-95% |
| IP Behavior | Static or rotating | Static (dedicated, fixed per user) |
| IP Pool | 15,000+ dedicated IPs | Smaller dedicated pool |
| Geo-Coverage | 6 locations (US, UK, DE, NL, CA) | US-based (Auburn, AL) |
| Pricing | Per-IP, flat monthly, unlimited bandwidth | Per-IP, unlimited bandwidth |
| Protocols | HTTP(S) + SOCKS5 | HTTP(S) + SOCKS5 |
| Best For | Bulk scraping, SEO monitoring, API crawling | Account management, sneaker bots, social media |
ISP proxies and static residential proxies are the same product; the proxy industry uses both names for IPs registered to ISPs but hosted on server infrastructure.
How ASN Classification Creates the Core Difference
ASN classification is the root technical difference between datacenter and ISP proxies; every distinction in detection risk, trust score, and use case fit branches from this single identifier.
Why Anti-Bot Systems Block Datacenter Proxies
Anti-bot platforms, Cloudflare, PerimeterX, DataDome, and Akamai check every incoming request against ASN classification databases before the connection reaches the target server. Datacenter ASNs from AWS, OVH, and Hetzner are cataloged as server-origin IP ranges. Requests from these ASNs trigger CAPTCHA challenges, 403 Forbidden blocks, rate limiting, and subnet-level blacklisting. The ASN flag stops the connection at the detection gate before the target site processes it.
Why ISP Proxies Pass the Same Security Gates
ISP proxy IPs carry an ASN registered to consumer internet service providers, Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, and Spectrum. Anti-bot systems classify these connections the same way they classify a person opening a browser at home. The IP runs on a datacenter server infrastructure for speed and uptime, but the residential ASN tag determines trust classification. PlainProxies ISP proxies deliver 1Gbps+ throughput with this residential ASN trust, datacenter performance wrapped in a household IP identity.
Speed, Latency, and Throughput Compared
Datacenter proxies deliver the fastest raw speeds in the proxy market, but effective throughput on protected targets depends on success rate, not connection speed alone.
PlainProxies datacenter proxies run at 10Gbps throughput with sub-100ms latency across 15,000+ dedicated IPs in 6 locations, US, UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Canada. Fiber backbone infrastructure eliminates connection variability. For high-volume operations on permissive targets, no proxy type matches the datacenter speed.
PlainProxies ISP proxies run at 1Gbps+ throughput with sub-50ms latency on a 99.99% uptime SLA. Unlike rotating residential proxies that route through end-user home connections, ISP proxies maintain consistent performance because the IP sits on server infrastructure despite carrying a residential ASN.
The metric that matters on protected targets is effective throughput. A datacenter request completing in 50ms but blocked 50% of the time delivers less usable data per hour than an ISP request at 80ms with 90%+ success. Blocked requests burn compute time, trigger retries, and return zero data. On permissive targets, datacenter proxies win. On anti-bot-protected targets, ISP proxies extract more usable data per hour.
Detection Resistance, Trust Score, and Success Rates
ISP proxies achieve 85-95% success rates on websites running anti-bot detection, while datacenter proxies succeed only 40-60% on those same targets.
Both proxy types cluster IPs in subnet ranges, but detection consequences differ. Datacenter subnets are cataloged in bot detection databases; if one IP in a range gets flagged, the entire subnet faces higher scrutiny. ISP subnets carry residential ASN protection, so individual IP flags don’t cascade across the range the same way.
ISP proxies are not block-proof. Overusing a single static IP against one target or sending requests at inhuman intervals still triggers detection regardless of ASN classification.
Datacenter proxies achieve 95%+ success rates on permissive targets, public APIs, government databases, and search engines without aggressive anti-bot systems. These targets don’t check ASN classification, making datacenter proxies the cost-efficient choice for bulk operations. For sneaker bot sites and account management platforms that do check ASN, ISP proxies are the reliable option.
Use Cases: When to Choose Datacenter vs ISP Proxies
Target site security determines which proxy type delivers the highest success rate per dollar spent.
When Datacenter Proxies Fit Your Workflow
High-volume web scraping: Public directories, search engines, government data portals. 10Gbps speed and unlimited bandwidth process millions of requests at the lowest cost.
SEO rank tracking and SERP monitoring: Search engine results pages run minimal bot detection. Speed and volume matter more than ASN trust for rank tracking operations.
Public API crawling: REST endpoints without ASN classification checks respond to datacenter IPs at full speed.
Ad verification on standard networks: Verifying display ad placements on networks that don’t run aggressive fingerprinting.
When ISP Proxies Fit Your Workflow
Account management and multi-login operations: Social media platforms, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, flag datacenter ASN ranges, and ban detected accounts on sight. A static ISP proxy holds a consistent residential IP identity that maintains session integrity without triggering login security flags.
Sneaker bots and limited-release purchases: Drop sites deploy advanced fingerprinting and IP classification. ISP proxies combine residential ASN trust with 1Gbps+ speed for session stability through checkout.
Price monitoring on protected e-commerce: Retailer sites running Cloudflare and DataDome block datacenter ASN ranges. ISP proxies collect pricing data from protected product pages at 85-95% success rates.
Long-running browser automation: Workflows needing hours of uninterrupted static connection, ISP proxies hold a fixed IP without rotation or reconnection overhead.
Pricing, Per-IP Models and Cost-Per-Successful-Request
Both datacenter and ISP proxies use per-IP pricing with unlimited bandwidth, but cost-per-successful-request on protected targets shifts the math.
Datacenter proxies carry the lowest per-IP cost in the proxy market. Unlimited bandwidth keeps billing predictable, no per-GB overages, no bandwidth caps.
ISP proxies cost more per IP than datacenter but less than rotating residential per-GB plans. Unlimited bandwidth is included; your bill stays fixed regardless of data transfer volume.
The metric most buyers miss is cost-per-successful-request. A datacenter proxy failing 50% on a Cloudflare-protected target doubles effective cost, failed requests burn compute time, retries consume resources, and zero usable data returns. An ISP proxy succeeding 90%+ on the same target delivers lower cost per usable data point despite the higher per-IP price. Match proxy type to target security before comparing sticker prices.
For operations needing rotating IPs on a predictable budget, PlainProxies also offers unlimited residential proxies with flat-rate pricing and no bandwidth caps.
Common Mistakes When Choosing Between Datacenter and ISP Proxies
Mismatching proxy type to target security wastes budget on blocked requests and failed sessions.
Running datacenter proxies against Cloudflare-protected sites: A 40-60% failure rate doubles the effective cost through retries and wasted compute. Switch to ISP proxies for anti-bot-protected targets.
Paying ISP per-IP rates for permissive targets: Public APIs, search engines, and ad verification networks don’t check ASN classification. Datacenter proxies deliver identical success at lower cost for SEO monitoring, price monitoring, and bulk data collection on unprotected sites.
Expecting ISP proxies to cover global geo-targeting: ISP proxy locations are limited. Operations needing 195+ countries require rotating residential proxies.
Ignoring rotating datacenter as a mid-tier option: PlainProxies datacenter proxies support both rotating and sticky sessions, adding scraping flexibility without ISP pricing.
Start With the Right Proxy for Your Target
Need bulk speed on permissive targets? PlainProxies Datacenter Proxies, 10Gbps, 15,000+ IPs, 6 locations, 99.99% uptime, unlimited bandwidth, HTTP(S) + SOCKS5.
Need static trust on protected targets? PlainProxies ISP Proxies, 1Gbps+, sub-50ms latency, residential ASN, 99.99% uptime, unlimited bandwidth.
Need rotating stealth at a global scale? PlainProxies Residential Proxies, 25M+ IPs, 195+ countries, 50,000 concurrent connections, ethically sourced.
All plans: instant activation, 24/7 support, no credit card required to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a datacenter and an ISP proxies?
Both run on server infrastructure, but datacenter proxies carry an ASN from hosting providers (AWS, OVH, Hetzner), while ISP proxies carry an ASN from consumer ISPs (Comcast, AT&T). Anti-bot systems check this ASN to classify traffic as server automation or household browsing.
Are ISP proxies the same as static residential proxies?
ISP proxies and static residential proxies are the same product. Both use IP addresses registered to consumer ISPs, hosted on datacenter servers for speed and uptime. The industry uses both names interchangeably.
Do datacenter proxies support unlimited bandwidth?
PlainProxies datacenter proxies include unlimited bandwidth on all plans. Per-IP pricing keeps billing fixed regardless of request volume or data transfer.
Can I use rotating datacenter proxies instead of ISP proxies?
Rotating datacenter proxies work for scraping permissive targets where ISP-level trust isn’t needed. For targets running Cloudflare or DataDome, ISP proxies with residential ASN achieve higher success rates. PlainProxies datacenter proxies support both rotating and sticky sessions.
Which proxy type costs less, datacenter or ISP?
Datacenter proxies carry the lowest per-IP cost. On protected targets where datacenter proxies fail 40-60%, cost-per-successful-request doubles through retries. ISP proxies cost more per IP but deliver a lower effective cost on anti-bot-protected sites.
Should I run the datacenter and ISP proxies together?
Running both is standard for advanced operations. Datacenter proxies cover bulk scraping on public pages, APIs, and SEO tracking. ISP proxies cover account management, sneaker bots, and targets where anti-bot systems block datacenter ASN ranges. PlainProxies supports both through one dashboard with shared authentication.
