SmartProxy Review 2022 – Top Features and Guidelines

The variety of proxies offered on the market is unbelievable. It’s extremely difficult to find a service that will meet both your feature and price demands. Most proxies provide a large proportion of offline IP addresses that tend to low down the connection rate. Searching for a proxy experimentally is a waste of time. In this SmartProxy review, we will explore proxy solutions, features, etc. to get a complete notion of the service.

SmartProxy Overview

SmartProxy is a premium proxy provider that started its work in 2018. In a few years, it has earned universal acceptance and gained a rating of 4,5. The service provides over 40 million rotating IP addresses from 195 locations. The choice of servers offered is rich. With SmartProxy, you can enjoy a fast, secure, and anonymous network. There are no traffic limits set for users, so you can run several parallel connections.

Feature Set and Guidance

SmartProxy offers a fine set of features for different purposes. 

Here you can get:

• Rotating proxies
• Residential proxies
• Backconnect proxies
• Datacenter proxies
• Anonymous proxies
• Shared proxies
• HTTP proxies
• No subnets
• IPv4
• Chrome extension 
• Unlimited threads
• 24/7 customer support
• 3-day money-back guarantee

Let’s focus on each feature in more detail. 

Rotating proxies

SmartProxy offers an automatic IP rotation that means the distribution of IP randomly or after a certain time interval. When connecting via a provider, the IP is automatically attached from the address pool. After disconnecting, the ISP distributes another available IP by rotating addresses. 

Rotating proxies offered by SmartProxy work two times faster than an industry average. They have an entry point that gives you access to the IP pool. With each request, the intermediary will replace your IP address with one from the pool. You are free to get a random IP or an IP from a specific country or city depending on your needs. If you want, you can keep one IP address for a longer time by choosing the sticky session instead of a rotation. 

Rotating proxies provide a higher level of security and anonymity when performing the same type of actions. They are used to:

scrape web

scale your marketing

access local data

automate anything

These intermediaries open up new opportunities for mass work and help avoid IP bans when promoting social media accounts.

Residential proxies

A residential proxy is a server created by a real Internet provider that has a certain location. When used correctly, requests from such addresses are similar to requests from a real user. They work stably, without interruptions. Such intermediaries enjoy a high level of trust among Internet resources. Accordingly, the chances of getting into their blacklist are negligible.

Most sites do not identify residential smart proxies as intermediaries. They are considered the safest option to use since they are always issued strictly on one hand.

They are used to:

verify ads

scale your marketing

automate anything

circumvent bans

The use of SmartProxy’s residential proxies makes it possible to access the necessary content on the Internet. They suit better for data collection and task analysis. It is a great solution for companies that need to collect data from various sources and bypass possible blockages.

Backconnect proxies

A backconnect proxy does not open the service port but performs a reverse connection to the client. It transfers your connection to a residential proxy pool and allows you to connect to the proxy network as much as you like.

Overcoming blocks, the backconnect smart proxy sends your requests through a single node to the proxy pool. Then, the request gets to the target website. With such an intermediate, you can use the whole IP pool without creating a separate server.

Backconnect proxies rotate your IP address automatically with each request you send. You can keep the same IP for up to 30 minutes by using a sticky session if you want to. 

They are used to:

make many requests 

scrap data

circumvent blocks

The advantage of this approach is the ability to bypass the firewall which by default prohibits incoming connections. It allows users to automate tasks and make connections instantly. Also, it strengthens the security of your IP address and protects anonymity.

Datacenter proxies

Datacenter smart proxy provides IP addresses of virtual and physical servers located in data centers. They ensure reliable and extremely fast connections to the sites you request.

They are used to 

hide the real IP address 

bypass geo-based content blocking

encrypt traffic.

These intermediaries are easy to use and can solve their main task – to mask the real IP address and open access to blocked content.

Besides, SmartProxy offers an advanced version of datacenter proxies called dedicated datacenter proxies.

Using a dedicated datacenter proxy issued by SmartProxy means no one will have the same IP address as yours. It reduces the chances to get banned and gives you 100% control of the server and browsing history. 

By getting a dedicated datacenter proxy, you become the only owner of IP addresses provided by the server. You are free to change addresses as many times as you wish. The speed of connection is fast and stable. Besides, it is very simple in navigation, especially if you use a SmartProxy dashboard.

What is more pleasant, is that you get unlimited gigabytes of traffic and unlimited threads. It makes the website usage more comfortable. 

Anonymous proxies

This type of proxy will never give out your data. It does use any data connected with your identity or proxy. That’s why the website you are requesting will never know who makes a connection. It will look like a real device, but not a proxy. So, you can be sure your IP address, location, and other private information are safe.

They are used to:

keep data secret

circumvent blocks

optimize connection rate

Anonymous proxies provided by SmartProxy are rotating, but you can always use a sticky session to keep your IP for longer.

Shared proxies

A Smartproxy’s shared proxy is a private IP address used by a limited group of people. The main advantage of shared proxies is the cost – they cost 2 or even 3 times cheaper. They are used to:

parse

collecting data

work in social networks

visiting blocked sites

The only drawback is speed. Owners of such a proxy are free to use it in the way they like it. For instance, one of the owners can use a proxy in several services at once. The bandwidth is low down and the work will not be as convenient as it used to be. Plus, it is not recommended to use this type of proxy for social media marketing as they increase the risk of being blocked due to suspicious activities of other users.

HTTP proxies

HTTP smart proxy uses only the HTTP protocol – a data transfer protocol based on the “request-response” principle. It is widely used in the global network. With an HTTP connection, the client sends a request to the server, and the server processes it and returns a response. 

HTTP proxies are mainly used for web surfing and are the most common type. These intermediaries work with a set of programs or browsers that support HTTP.

With this intermediary, the browser does not send requests directly. All requests go first to the proxy server, after which they are forwarded to the destination node, but on behalf of the proxy server. The received response returns to the client.

No subnets

Most IP addresses offered by other proxy providers are virtual since they are created in data centers. They are hosted on the same server issued by the same provider. Hence, they have personal IPs in subnetworks. Websites identify such proxies as shared and block them. 

Smart proxies are undetectable because they do not share a subnetwork and have unique IP addresses. So, you can use smart proxies without subnets and not get banned at the same time. 

IPv4

IPv4 smart proxies have real addresses set on real devices. They use the protocol of the same name to transmit information. The protocol is based on the unique IP address assigned to each device, network.

They are used to:

Bypass blocks set by telecom operators

Access resources with IP address restrictions 

Promote websites and social networks 

Chrome extension

With a Chrome proxy extension offered by SmartProxy, you can access the intermediary instantly. Custom sessions are operated in 2 clicks and supported on different types of devices. It is a good plugin for large-scale projects making the working process several times easier. 

Unlimited threads

SmartProxy provides residential and datacenter proxies that have backconnect nodes for unlimited connections. In other words, you can send as many connections as you like. Since smart proxies are rotating, you will get a new IP address for each of your requests. If needed, use a sticky session to keep one IP address for a longer time. 

24/7 customer support

The support team works 24/7 and is ready to answer any of your questions within a minute. They reply via live chat as fast as possible. Besides live chat, there is a splendid FAQ section where you can find answers to most of the urgent questions. If it was not enough, contact the support team via email, but the waiting time won’t be short. 

3-day money-back guarantee

The refund policy is quite straightforward. You are eligible to receive a refund if:

You pay for the first time

You did not pay using bitcoin

You did not use up more than 20% of the traffic available

You paid no longer than 3 days ago.

Usability

SmartProxy has a convenient dashboard where you can choose an appropriate proxy type and a regular use plan that suits you better. There you can filter proxies according to their types, cost, location, and session. As you set your requirements and preferences, the dashboard will give out the most appropriate variants. 

Here are the steps of Smartproxy usage:

Go to the dashboard and select the proxy type. 

Then go through the authentication process to confirm your actions.

Choose the location of the proxy servers and the type of session.

Depending on your settings, SmartProxy will generate a list of intermediaries which you can download or copy. To make the proxies work, transfer them to the browser settings that’s all. 

Note, that before you start using a proxy, you need to create sub-users pass authentication. The company supports different ways of authentication depending on the subscription plan you’ve chosen. In the same way, the subscription plan limits sub-users’ creation. 

Customer service

Here are several customer reviews we have seen on Trustpilot that rates SmartProxy at 4,4. 

Dee	“The service is very helpful”
Sebastian Skurs	“I recommend the service. I have just started to use their proxy. In the beginning, I had small difficulties creating it because I’m new to this stuff. Eve from customer service helped me. We resolved a problem effortlessly”
Amaury	“I am very happy with the service. They provide reliable customer service that is fast in usage. 5/5 completely satisfied”
Skanfnf Sjsbdnd	“Amazing service! The technical support is fast”
Marko Campos	“I enjoy the smart proxy service very much! The company cares a lot about its users. People are lovely to work with! They do their best to help”
HdShT	“To my surprise, the support team is willing to give answers. Dolf had helped me greatly”
Arm Mahmoud	“Proxies are fast. The support team is friendly. There are many payment options. Also, there is the possibility of a refund if you do not like the service. I recommend everyone to deal with them”

Performance testing

The platform is simple to use. Smartproxy dashboard is straightforward. There you can find all information about proxies and tools the company provides. 

SmartProxy has a Chrome extension. It allows users to log in to the system and instantly connect any IP address of any country without logging into the dashboard. 

Here you can make use of two types of sessions divided depending on the time you want to use a particular IP address. Here, you can choose either a rotating or a sticky session. 

• A rotating session adjusts you to a new IP address with each request you send. 
• A sticky session keeps a particular IP address for up to 30 minutes and then changes it automatically. 

When testing SmartProxy, we have measured the speed indicator of the service. Here are our results:

Response time – 3.792 seconds. 

Average ping – 73ms

Average download – 27.23 Mbps

Average upload – 15.85 Mbps

Also, we have paid attention to the performance of the current connection:

Test	Success rate, %	Error, %	Timeout, %	Block, %
Craigslist	98	0	2	0
Instagram	94	0	0	6
Booking	92	0	4	4
Bing.com	90	0	1	9
Nike	90	0	2	8

The results clearly show us that SmartProxy is the best variant for scrapping. Most of the blocks appeared due to captchas. To eliminate this problem, you need to install a captchas solver.

Pricing 

Residential plans

Micro	$75 + VAT	Traffic limit – 5 GB Price per GB – $15 Proxy users limit – 1 Whitelist limit – 1
Starter	$200 + VAT	Traffic limit – 20 GB Price per GB – $10 Proxy users limit – 3 Whitelist limit – 3
Regular	$400 + VAT	Traffic limit – 50 GB Price per GB – $8 Proxy users limit – 5  Whitelist limit – 5

Datacenter plans

Clever	$50 + VAT	Traffic limit – 100 GB Extra GB price – $1  Proxy users limit – 1
Smart	$100 + VAT	Traffic limit – 200 GB Extra GB price – $0.8 Proxy users limit –  3
Wise	$200 + VAT	Traffic limit – 400 GB Extra GB price – $0.7 Proxy users limit – 5
Genius	$500 + VAT	Traffic limit – 1000 GBExtra GB price – $0.7 Proxy users limit – 10

Dedicated datacenter plans

Mini	$39 + VAT	Number of IPs – 25 Price per IP – $1.55 Proxy users limit – 5 Traffic limit – Unlimited
Main	$135 + VAT	Number of IPs – 100 Price per IP – $1.35 Proxy users limit – 5 Traffic limit – Unlimited
Classic	$625 + VAT	Number of IPs – 500 Price per IP – $1.25 Proxy users limit – 5 Traffic limit – Unlimited

Final Verdict 

SmartProxy is a proxy provider that offers relatively cheap and reliable resident proxies. Using the platform, you can access a pool of more than 40 million rotating IP addresses in 195 countries.

Among the strongest points of SmartProxy are:

Unlimited number of simultaneous connections and streams;

Unlimited IP addresses that allow you to choose any of the shared pools;

The average response time is 3 seconds;

Multiple authentication methods: username, password, or IP from the whitelist;

Convenient dashboard;

3-day money-back guarantee, except BTC payment;

Excellent technical support, responds within a couple of minutes.

As for the weak point, we have noticed that:

The smart proxy does not support the SOCKS protocol;

SmartProxy pricing is based on bandwidth. You get a pool of 40 million, but you have a limited amount of traffic.

SmartProxy is quite popular with users and has more than 40 million resident IP addresses with high speed. Users appreciate reasonable prices for tariff plans and ease of use. It all makes SmartProxy an excellent tool for those with social networks or websites.

FAQ