# Proxy types

When you’re using Incogniton you’re most likely also using proxies to browse anonymously and mask your real IP address. There are several proxy types to choose from - which one do you need? Discover the different possibilities in this article.

### Proxy hosting types / IP sources

* **Static residential proxies:** Sourced from real residential devices, giving the highest degree of anonymity. Suitable for almost 80% of use cases and the most commonly used proxies.
* **ISP proxies:** A type of residential proxy that sources directly from the Internet Service Provider (ISP) used by residential devices. ISP proxies are very reliable.
* **Datacenter proxies:** Sourced from large server facilities designed for proxy services. They are fast and affordable but more easily detectable because they don’t belong to real users.
* **Mobile proxies:** Route traffic through mobile carrier IPs and are ideal for working with mobile audiences. Mobile proxies offer high disguise but are the most expensive.
* **Free unblocked proxies:** Useful for accessing blocked content, testing geolocations, or other simple tasks with no cost. However, free proxies are not suitable for account management, as they can vary in performance and are shared with multiple users. Discover more about free proxies [here](https://incogniton.com/features/free-in-built-proxies/). 

### Proxy connection types 

When buying a proxy you can choose from different connection types:

* **HTTP proxies:** Used for web traffic (HTTP and HTTPS requests) and widely compatible with web browsers.
* **HTTPS proxies:** Same as HTTP proxies but add encryption using SSL, securing data between your device and the proxy server.
* **SOCKS proxies:** Used for various traffic types (apps, torrents, etc.), not only web traffic.

### Static versus rotating proxies

* **Static proxies:** Keep the same IP address for as long as needed - ideal for working on the same accounts over extended periods.
* **Rotating proxies:** Automatically switch between different IP addresses - a new IP can be assigned for each request.
* **Sticky proxies:** Rotate IP addresses but less frequently than rotating proxies (offer a middle ground).

### Proxy types per use case

| Use case                                   | Proxy type                                                                      |
| ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Social media / multiple account management | Static residential / ISP proxies                                                |
| Ecommerce and dropshipping                 | Static residential / ISP proxies                                                |
| Web scraping and data collection           | Static residential / ISP proxies and mobile proxies (for mobile-based websites) |
| Price comparison                           | Datacenter proxies                                                              |
| General web browsing                       | Datacenter proxies                                                              |

{% hint style="info" %}
**Does Google detect that you're using a proxy?** This problem is most likely caused by the quality of the proxy that you have attached to the browser profile. We recommend you to use high quality proxies, suited for your use case. 
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Do you want to know how to integrate proxies in your Incogniton account? Read [this article](https://docs.incogniton.com/proxy-management/incogniton-proxy-shop). If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our [support department](https://incogniton.com/contact/)!
{% endhint %}


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