The internet is similar to a city where you’re constantly on the move, looking and communicating. But with each step, you leave a digital footprint.
And as we live in an era when anonymity online is more than ever needed, you might be asking yourself how do you stay effective without making your activity a spotlight?
And that’s exactly why shared proxies come in your help. Since they act as a middleman and reroute your internet traffic, they will add a layer of anonymity to your online activities.
Besides other types of proxies, shared proxies stand out for their affordability and this makes them the best choice for any beginner or pro user which wants to scrape a website with non-strict detection bots.
In this guide, we will see exactly are what shared proxies, how do they work, what are their benefits and why you must keep an eye on Anonymous Proxies’ shared proxies.
What Are Shared Proxies?
Shared proxies are essentially “communal” proxy servers that let multiple people use the same IP addresses at the same time.
Instead of having your own IP—which happens with dedicated proxies—everyone connected to a shared proxy service taps into a common pool of addresses.
How Do They Work?
Picture a crowded cafeteria during lunch. There’s a steady stream of people coming in, grabbing a meal, and choosing a table.
Each person has a different objective—some want a coffee, others just need a sandwich—but they’re all in the same location. Shared proxies function in a nearly identical way.
Several people send their online requests through a single IP address (or small group of IPs). And because all of these requests are mixed together, it’s more difficult to trace any specific activity back to a single person.
Shared Proxies Benefits
1. Cheap
One of the best benefits of shared proxies is that they are less costly. Because several various users utilize the server resources, you only have to pay half of what you would have to pay for a dedicated proxy.
This cost-saving model makes shared proxies the best option for any user—small companies and freelancers, ordinary consumers who wish to have some more privacy, etc.
2. Anonymity
Sharing an IP address with others who use the service clearly boosts your anonymity.
By mixing up your online activities with others’, you create an environment where it is much harder to single out a specific user’s surfing activity or online behaviors.
3. Convenient for Small and Mid-Level Needs
If your day-to-day involves routine browsing, moderate web scraping, or managing social media accounts, shared proxies are generally up to the job.
Many come with easy-to-follow setup instructions, so even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy, you’ll have no problem getting started.
4. Versatility
Shared proxies aren’t limited to one specific scenario. Whether you’re dipping your toes into e-commerce monitoring, handling multiple social media profiles, or conducting SEO analytics, these proxies can adapt to your needs.
They also come in 2 variants: either HTTP or SOCKS5, so they can adapt to all of your needs.
Shared Proxies Drawbacks
1. Risk of IP Ban
Because the same IP address is shared by several users, the abuse of one person—e.g., spamming or very aggressive web scraping—can mark the IP for flags or even get it banned on certain websites.
2. Potential Slowdowns
If you’re sharing server resources with other people who might run high-volume tasks, you could experience slower speeds or occasional lags.
While most providers try to balance traffic among users, there’s no guarantee you’ll dodge every performance slowdown everytime you use a shared proxy.
Shared Proxies Use Cases
1. Light-Web Scraping
In case your project requires only minimal data scraping—like tracking competing prices or scraping reviews of users—shared proxies are enough to avoid being a target to suspicion.
Since multiple users are using the same IP, your requests for scraping are indistinguishable from others and therefore less likely to trigger anti-bot detection.
Even though they are not the best for massive, heavily-guarded sites, shared proxies will be good enough for occasional or medium-sized scraping tasks without breaking the bank.
2. Hiding Your True IP Address
One of the greatest advantages of shared proxies is that they allow you to hide your original IP address behind a shared one.
Instead of showing where you are browsing from, websites will only see the proxy’s IP.
So, you won’t need to worry about your privacy anymore because you’ll remain under the radar while you are using a shared proxy.
3. Getting Around Geo-Blocked Content
Shared proxies can also help you get around geo-restricted content. You just need to choose a shared proxy with an IP that is not restricted in that region and you will not have any problems seeing that content anymore.
Whether you want to a watch a movie, browse on a news website or simply shop something from an online store that is not available in your region, shared proxies will help you with this problem.
Shared vs. Dedicated Proxies: A Quick Comparison
| Feature | Shared Proxies | Dedicated Proxies |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Typically more affordable | Higher price for exclusive IP |
| Performance | May vary if multiple users run high-bandwidth tasks | Consistent speeds thanks to dedicated resources |
| Privacy | Strong anonymity from blended traffic | Strong privacy but tied to a single IP |
| Customization | Generally fewer configuration options | Greater flexibility for custom setups |
| Risk of IP Bans | Higher if another user abuses the IP | Lower, since you control all activity |
| Use Cases | Pefect for lighter tasks (browsing, modest scraping, etc.) | Better for heavy scraping, large-scale tasks, or high-privacy needs |
Conclusion
Now, you’ve seen that shared proxies offer a fantastic balance between cost-effectiveness and convenience.
So, they are the best pick if you are a beginner and your needs are not that high. And if you don’t know where you should buy them from, be sure that you check
Anonymous Proxies because they offer high-quality shared proxies at very low prices and 24/7 support if you encounter any issues with them or don’t know how to set them up.
