Databay field notes
Proxy guides, experiments & operator notes
Engineering guides and first-party measurements for people operating proxy-backed data systems.
Featured · Comparisons
AstroProxy Alternatives: Architecture and Migration Guide
Compare AstroProxy alternatives by port architecture, targeting, rotation, pricing, compliance, and measured migration fit using dated official sources.
· 15 min read
Comparisons
14 entries
Datacenter Proxy Reviews: An Evidence-Based Buyer Scorecard
Review datacenter proxy providers with a reproducible scorecard for allocation, protocols, route evidence, valid results, terms, and...
13 min readRead
GeoSurf Alternatives: A Proxy Migration Guide
GeoSurf stopped proxy operations. Translate the old requirement, compare current alternatives, and validate a replacement without...
12 min readRead
ProxyRack Alternatives by Billing and Proxy Type
Compare ProxyRack alternatives by traffic, thread, port, and IP billing; proxy type; targeting; sessions; and measured cost per usable...
13 min readRead
Smartproxy Alternatives After the Decodo Rebrand
Compare Smartproxy alternatives by the requirement Decodo no longer fits, then validate billing, targeting, sessions, and cost in a...
13 min readRead
Storm Proxies Review: Plans, Limits, and Fit
A source-based Storm Proxies review of product types, rotation, authentication, refund limits, pricing models, fit, and a buyer-run test...
12 min readRead
Webshare Alternatives: A Buyer's Proxy Comparison
Compare Webshare alternatives by billing, proxy type, targeting, sessions, authentication, refund terms, and a measured pilot, not an...
14 min readRead
Instant Proxies Review: Plans, Terms, and Alternatives
A source-based Instant Proxies analysis of published plans, authentication, locations, refund terms, open questions, and Databay...
9 min readRead
IPRoyal vs Smartproxy (Decodo): Residential Proxy Guide
Compare IPRoyal with Smartproxy (now Decodo) using dated residential pricing, targeting, session controls, trial terms, and a...
12 min readRead
Shared vs Dedicated Proxies: Allocation, Control, and Cost
Compare shared and dedicated proxies by allocation, persistence, network origin, measured performance, and normalized workload cost.
13 min readRead
Proxy Anonymity Levels: Elite vs Anonymous vs Transparent
What common proxy anonymity labels measure, how header-based tests work, and why no label proves privacy, safety, authorization, or...
4 min readRead
HTTP vs SOCKS5 Proxies: DNS, TLS, UDP & Client Tests
Choose HTTP or SOCKS5 from the client behavior you need, not an OSI-layer slogan. Compare handshakes, DNS location, TLS, authentication...
15 min readRead
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