TechRadar Verdict
With a selection of different subscription options, some of the most affordable prices we’ve seen, and a responsive support team, IPRoyal rises to the top as a leading proxy service provider.
Pros
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Affordable
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Versatile proxy network
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A selection of subscription options
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Available 24/7/365 direct support
Cons
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Limited self-help resources
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Proxy speeds are on the slow side
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No phone support
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Based out of the United Arab Emirates, IPRoyal is a tried and tested proxy service provider that offers a range of proxy solutions, including residential, datacenter, 3G/4G/5G mobile, and sneaker proxies among its over 8 million IPs. Its residential proxy solutions stand out as enticing, and its prices are among the most attractive out there.
In saying that, not all proxy providers are equal, and we wondered how well IPRoyal stacks up against the competition. We’ve since spent hours analyzing its services, and now present our findings in this IPRoyal review.
IPRoyal: Plans and pricing
IPRoyal offers several subscription options. Its top-end residential proxy service starts from $1.75 per GB of bandwidth, and includes a rotating IP address, SOCKS5 support, city/state targeting, and API access. Static residential proxies start at $1.80 each per day or $2.70 per 30 days, and come with unmetered bandwidth..
Sneaker proxies are specifically designed to help you make fast or multiple purchases on sneakers and other products like concert tickets that are likely to sell out within minutes of their release. These start at $1 for 24 hours of use, and $1.80 for 30 days.
The 3G/4G/5G mobile proxies (from $81 per month with a 3-month commitment) are limited, and only Lithuanian, US, and UK locations are available among the 1+ million proxies. You can access datacenter proxies for as little as $1.57 per proxy, with a 100-proxy package ($157 per month).
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Residential | Static Residential | Sneaker | 4G Mobile | Datacenter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From $1.75/GB | From $2.40/proxy | From $1/proxy | From $81/month | From $1.39/proxy |
| Static IP | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Rotating IP | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Unmetered Bandwidth | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
IPRoyal: Features
IPRoyal’s versatile proxy solutions are backed by a selection of valuable features. Here are a few of the most noteworthy.
Browser proxy managers
IPRoyal has useful browser extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. These come with a suite of management tools that enable you to switch between proxies, configure your existing proxies with profiles that can be easily switched out- without changing the OS, and create rules about how each proxy is used.
Wide country selection
One thing that stands out about IPRoyal’s services is that it offers proxies in almost every country on Earth. These geo-specific proxies are excellent for bypassing geo-blocking restrictions, enabling access to content from other regions.
In more detail, IPRoyal offers over 2 million "ethically sourced" proxies in 195 countries, as well as another 6 million IPs through datacenters and sneaker proxies. The top countries for proxies are the US, Germany, UK and France.
Free proxies
IPRoyal also provides a tidy list of free proxies you can use if you’re on a tight budget. The list is updated every 10 minutes, and you will usually find thousands of different options to choose from; we found over 6800 when we looked, and they were located in many different countries. Although free proxies can be used in a pinch, they’re typically slower, not as secure, and could be used by malicious third parties to collect sensitive personal data.
IPRoyal: Interface and use
The IPRoyal interface is user-friendly, so you shouldn’t have too many issues in getting it up and running. On the left of the main screen, you will find links to each of the company’s five products, namely the different types of proxies. Following them enables you to manage your subscriptions, create new proxies, and find useful information about each type.
There’s also a settings area, where you can update general settings. Adding funds to your account is a straightforward process via the Deposit tool. On the downside, there’s no mobile app for proxy management. Be aware that this company offers its IPRoyal Pawns app that enables you to earn passive income by sharing your internet connection, which is where the mobile proxies come from.
IPRoyal: Support
IPRoyal provides around the clock 24/7/365 live chat and email support, and support agents are responsive and knowledgeable. The support email is even prominently featured on the home page, along with the chat box making them easy to find. We tested the live chat, and the agent we were connected to was able to answer our questions within a couple of minutes. However, for those that want other direct support options, such as telephone, or fax, those are not there.
The blog section of the site is filled with quick-start documents and instructions for integration with different tools. For those willing to develop their own web scraping solutions, IPRoyal has guides and tutorials for the most popular programming languages and more.
IPRoyal: Security
IPRoyal is a top-rated proxy provider, and performs well on the security front. For starters, IPRoyal offers HTTP and HTTPS proxies with different levels of encryption.
What’s more, IPRoyal’s proxies provide a high level of anonymity to the user, preventing other entities from tracking your internet use. This can also help protect your sensitive information and data from prying eyes. Plus, two-factor authentication is available to protect your account from an attack by a hacker, or other type of breach event..
IPRoyal: The competition
IPRoyal is an attractive low-cost option, but a few alternatives may certainly be worth considering.
For example, Smartproxy has a pool of more than 55 million residential IPs and various browser extensions.
Another popular option is Bright Data (formerly Luminati), which claims to have an IP network covering every country and city on Earth. This includes a considerable pool of 72 million+ IP addresses. What’s more, Bright Data provides excellent documentation that makes it super easy to use along with 24/7 support.
IPRoyal: Final verdict
IPRoyal is an attractive low-cost proxy provider that offers a versatile selection of different proxies. These include top-end residential proxies, datacenter proxies, and even niche-specific sneaker proxies that some other proxy providers do not offer.
Its user interface is beginner-friendly and easy to get the hang of, and support services are exceptional. On the downside, limited self-help documentation means you may have to reach out to the IPRoyal team if you have significant issues, but thankfully it is available 24/7. Overall, IPRoyal is an excellent option worth considering for an array of different use case scenarios.
To find out more, see our guide to the best proxies available. You might also like to read our guide to sneaker proxies, or find out the difference between residential and datacenter proxies.
