Dedicated vs. Shared Proxies: The Main Differences

There are several ways to avoid being blocked when undertaking online activities, and one of them is by using a proxy service.

In simple terms, a proxy is an intermediary between you and the target website, and it helps to disguise your actual IP address. There are different types of proxies in the market, including shared and dedicated proxies. 

When deciding between these two proxies, it is crucial to make a comprehensive comparison. With that said, here’s everything you need to know about dedicated vs. shared proxies.

Dedicated Proxies

As the name may suggest, dedicated proxies are used exclusively by one user or device. Also known as private proxies, dedicated servers only host one website, and the hardware is left under the owner’s control. This means that you will be solely responsible for how the server functions and its security.

Pros of Dedicated Proxies

• High uptime 
• Better security
• Optimize page loading times
• Allow complete control
• Dedicated support
• Highly flexible

Cons of Dedicated Proxies

• Expensive
• Require technical skills
• Scalability issues

Shared Proxies

Unlike dedicated proxies, shared proxies are meant to be used by more than one user. Therefore, these proxies lack exclusivity, and users can share resources. 

However, these proxies are pretty inexpensive and a good choice for first-time users. Still, shared hosting may not be a good alternative if you are looking to grow your business. 

This is because the server power is distributed between other clients and websites, and an increase in traffic can cause downtime. Moreover, this type of hosting includes limited resources as compared to dedicated hosting.

Pros:

• Low cost
• Don’t require technical skills
• Highly anonymous
• Allow integration of web scraping tools

Cons:

• Slower response time
• Low security
• Limited space
• More prone to blacklisting
• Lower level of control

The Difference Between Dedicated and Shared Proxies

As you have seen above, both dedicated and shared proxies have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s now take a closer look at their differences.

1. Performance

One notable difference between a dedicated and a shared server is the performance. Ideally, dedicated proxies deliver excellent performance and guarantee high speed since users don’t share the bandwidth with other clients. Therefore, you can be assured of uptime of up to 99.995%, even during peak times.

On the other hand, shared proxies often lack performance reliability because users and websites share resources. This dramatically reduces the speed and can cause a shutdown when the proxy server’s bandwidth is overloaded.

2. Server Security

Your site’s security is critical, and the last thing you want is for hackers and spammers to compromise your sensitive information. In this case, the best thing about dedicated servers is that they give you complete control of the server, eliminating the possibility of security issues. 

Since multiple users use shared proxies, they are more prone to hacking and other security risks. Aside from that, you might also suffer from the bad neighbor effect when one or more users do illegal activities.

3. Anonymity

One significant advantage that shared proxies have over dedicated proxies is anonymity. This is because many people use the same IP simultaneously, and it can be challenging to pin down a user. 

In contrast, dedicated servers may not offer total anonymity on the web since you’re the only one who’s using the proxy. So, it’s easy for you to be linked to the IP address of your server.

4. Control of Activity

With dedicated proxies, you have complete control of the server and its activities. You can choose the programs that boost your site’s performance, and you don’t have to worry about bad neighborhood effects. 

Furthermore, your IP address is less likely to get blocked or blacklisted. However, in a shared proxy, you won’t have complete control over the server or the actions of other users. 

Consequently, your IP address can get blocked, and you will be blacklisted as well if another user is involved in malicious activity.

5. Cost

Price is another factor that you may want to consider when choosing a proxy server. Unlike their private counterparts, shared proxies are more cost-effective and the ideal choice if you’re on a tight budget. This is because the cost of using this proxy server is shared among many users.

With dedicated hosting, you can expect to spend a significant amount of money. Generally, dedicated servers have high maintenance and can be expensive for the host to resolve critical issues. Hence, they are more suited for large organizations.

6. Scalability 

Dedicated servers are highly flexible when it comes to scalability. There are no limitations on disk space and bandwidth since there is no resource sharing.

In contrast, a user is only confined to a specific package in a shared server, and each user’s bandwidth and disk space are limited. The storage space is dependent on the number of users, and you can be charged if you exceed the allotted disk space or bandwidth.

Conclusion

If your website needs a lot of resources to keep up with traffic and maintain performance reliability, you may want to consider dedicated web hosting. On the other hand, you can go with a shared proxy server if you are just starting, have a limited budget, and don’t need a lot of bandwidth or memory. Regardless of your needs, top proxy vendors like Oxylabs should cover all possible variations.

Overall, whichever proxy you choose, make sure that you research the best proxy service provider that will meet your specific needs.