Top 7 Cheap Proxy Providers in 2026: How to Choose Them?

When searching for proxies in 2026, budget-friendly options are essential for businesses and individuals who want to ensure high performance without breaking the bank. With so many choices available, selecting the right proxy provider can be overwhelming. However, finding the best affordable proxy services doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality. In this guide, we will explore how to find the cheapest proxies that still offer the performance you need, including essential factors to consider and a list of the top 7 cheap proxy providers of 2026.

How to Choose the Cheapest Proxy? (Key Factors to Consider)

Selecting the most suitable and affordable proxy service involves more than just looking at the price tag. Below are some factors to consider before making your decision:

• Proxy Type: Residential proxies, data center proxies, and mobile proxies each have distinct uses. If you need to mask your IP address for general web browsing or for geo-targeting purposes, residential proxies might be your best choice. For scraping or larger-scale tasks, data center proxies are typically more cost-effective.

• Location Availability: Proxies that support geo-targeting are often essential for businesses aiming to access content from specific regions. Ensure the provider offers proxies in the locations you need, whether it's for testing, SEO, or bypassing geo-blocked content.

• Speed and Reliability: A cheap proxy should not sacrifice speed or uptime. Consider how fast the proxies are, and whether they can handle large-scale tasks like web scraping or managing multiple accounts.

• Customer Support: Even budget proxies should come with reliable customer support, particularly for troubleshooting issues that may arise during your use.

• Pricing Flexibility: Some budget proxies offer pay-as-you-go models, while others provide subscription-based pricing. Assess your needs and choose a provider that offers a plan that suits your budget and usage volume.

Top 7 Cheap Proxy Providers in 2026

Here, we’ll dive into seven of the most affordable proxy providers that stand out in 2026 based on their pricing, features, and performance:

1. LunaProxy

Best for: Residential Proxies with Geo-targeting Support

Overview: LunaProxy offers a well-rounded proxy service with over 200 million residential IP addresses across 195 countries. It’s ideal for businesses requiring a mix of affordable proxies with geo-targeting capabilities for various use cases, such as ad verification and data scraping.  

Key Features:

• IP Pool Size: 200 million residential IPs

• Protocols Supported: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5

• Location Coverage: 195 countries

• Uptime: 99.9%

• Concurrency: Unlimited

• Targeting Options: Country, city, ASN, ZIP code

• Support: 24/7 live chat, email and WhatsApp support

Pricing:
Starts at $0.65/GB. Flexible, scalable plans based on usage volume.

2. Bright Data  

Best for: Large-Scale Data Collection

Overview: Bright Data is an enterprise-grade proxy provider with one of the largest and most diverse pools of proxies in the market.  

• IP Pool Size: 150+ million IPs (Residential, Mobile, Datacenter, ISP)

• Protocols Supported: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 (+UDP)

• Location Coverage: 195 countries

• Uptime: 99.99% (guaranteed via SLA)

• Concurrency: Unlimited

• Targeting Options: Country, city, ASN, ZIP code, and OS targeting

• Support: 24/7 live chat, technical account manager, WhatsApp support

Pricing:
Starts at $2.5/GB for residential proxies.  

3. Massive

Best for: Affordable Data Center Proxies

Overview: Massive offers a cost-effective solution for those needing data center proxies. While it may not have the largest proxy pool, it provides excellent value for money with unlimited bandwidth and global coverage. 

Key Features:

• IP Pool Size:  1.6M+ residential IPs in 195+ countries

• Protocols Supported: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5

• Location Coverage: Global, with a strong presence in the US and Europe

• Uptime: 99.8%

• Concurrency: Unlimited

• Targeting Options: Country, state, city, ASN

• Support: Email, 24/7 support for large plans

Pricing:
Starts at $3.2/GB for residential proxies.  

4. Oxylabs

Best for: High-Quality Residential Proxies

Overview: Oxylabs is one of the industry leaders in providing premium residential proxies. Known for its vast IP pool and superior geo-targeting capabilities, Oxylabs is ideal for large-scale businesses and enterprises that need reliable proxies with a 99.95% success rate for high-demand tasks. 

Key Features:

• IP Pool Size: 175+ million residential IPs

• Protocols Supported: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5

• Location Coverage: 195 countries

• Uptime: 99.95%

• Concurrency: Unlimited

• Targeting Options: Country, city, ASN, ZIP code, operating system

• Support: 24/7 live chat, dedicated account managers

Pricing:
Starts from $4/GB for residential proxies.  

5. Decodo

Best for: Budget-Friendly Residential Proxies

Overview: Decodo, formerly Smartproxy, provides affordable residential proxies while maintaining an impressive performance record. With over 115 million IPs, Decodo is a reliable option for small businesses or individuals looking for a flexible, easy-to-use proxy service.  

Key Features:

• IP Pool Size: 115 million residential IPs

• Protocols Supported: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5

• Location Coverage: 195+ countries

• Uptime: 99.86%

• Concurrency: Unlimited

• Targeting Options: Country, state, city, ASN, ZIP code

• Support: 24/7 live chat, email, and API access

Pricing:
Starts from $1.5/GB. Flexible payment options available.

6. DataImpulse

Best for: Cost-Effective Geo-Targeting Proxies

Overview: DataImpulse specializes in geo-targeting proxies, making it an excellent choice for users who need precise location-specific data. With over 90 million residential IPs, DataImpulse offers a reliable, budget-friendly service that supports dynamic IP rotation and helps businesses avoid IP blocking .

Key Features:

• IP Pool Size: 90 million residential IPs

• Protocols Supported: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5

• Location Coverage: 195 countries

• Uptime: 99.9%

• Concurrency: Unlimited

• Targeting Options: Country, state, city, ASN, ZIP code

• Support: Dedicated account managers

Pricing:
Starts at $0.8/GB, making it one of the most affordable geo-targeting proxy services in the market.

7. ProxyEmpire

Best for: Multi-Region Support

Overview: ProxyEmpire offers a reliable proxy service with a focus on multi-region support. Its residential IP pool spans over 150 countries, making it a great choice for businesses that need global coverage.  

Key Features:

• IP Pool Size:  30 million residential IPs

• Protocols Supported: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5

• Location Coverage: 170+ countries

• Uptime: 99.8%

• Concurrency: Unlimited

• Targeting Options: Country, state, city, ASN

• Support: 24/7 support via email, live chat

Pricing:
Starts from $1.91/GB for residential proxies.  

Conclusion: How to Choose?

When choosing the best cheapest proxy provider for 2026, a balance between price, performance, and service reliability is crucial. For businesses seeking geographic proxying, these providers offer broad coverage and diverse IP pools. 

However, for users needing affordable residential and data center proxies, providers like LunaProxy and DataImpulse stand out with their relatively lower prices compared to other proxy services. Finally, ensure your chosen proxy provider offers flexible pricing plans and tailored customer support. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why are data center proxies cheaper than residential proxies?

A:  Data center proxies are cheaper because they come from data centers with many IPs, while residential proxies are more expensive due to their limited availability and better anonymity.

Q2: Are cheap proxies reliable?

A: Yes, many cheap proxy providers offer high-quality and reliable connections, such as LunaProxy. Always test a test server before choosing a long-term plan. Our tests show that you can obtain a small number of proxies for testing after contacting these customer service representatives and explaining your proxy needs. Testing beforehand is the best step in choosing a cheap proxy provider.