Static vs rotating proxies: which one to buy

A static proxy gives you one IP address that stays yours for as long as you pay for it. A rotating proxy sends each request, or each few minutes of requests, out through a different address from a large pool. Static proxies are rented by the IP each month; rotating proxies are mostly bought by the gigabyte of traffic. Pick static when a site or a login must see the same address every time; pick rotating when you make many requests across many sites and no address needs to be remembered.

Answer · The live comparison uses prices checked up to Oct 24, 2026; every figure in the text keeps the date it was checked.

What changes between the two

A static IP is reserved for you, or shared with a handful of other customers on a cheaper “shared” plan. A rotating pool is a gateway: you connect to one host name and the provider picks the exit address for you.

The cost works differently

With static proxies the bill grows with the number of addresses. Ten IPs cost the same whether you send 1 GB or 500 GB through them, as long as the plan’s traffic is unlimited or the allowance covers it. With rotating proxies the bill grows with traffic. You can reach a huge number of addresses, but every page you load is metered.

That gives a rule of thumb you can check against your own job:

• A lot of traffic through a few identities (a handful of accounts, a long-running dashboard, a tool that must sit on an allowlisted address) is usually cheaper on static IPs.
• Little traffic per identity across many addresses (collecting public pages from many sites, checking prices or search results in many places) is usually cheaper on rotating traffic.

Work out both from your numbers: the IPs you would need each month, and the GB you would move. The box above prices both at a first purchase; the ISP comparison and the residential comparison take your own amount.

Sticky sessions sit in between

Most rotating pools can hold one address for a while before switching, called a sticky session. Providers state how long a session can last, from a few minutes to a day or more, and the address can still change early if the device behind it goes offline. A sticky session is enough for a checkout flow or a short login; it is not a substitute for an address you keep for weeks. Sticky sessions and rotation explains how each provider states it.

When each one fits

Choose static when the same address must come back: a site or API that only accepts allowlisted IPs, an account you manage day after day, a session that must not drop, or steady heavy traffic through a few connections. Static residential (ISP) addresses belong to home internet providers but run on servers, so they are usually faster and do not go offline with someone’s home device; ISP vs residential proxies compares them with the rotating kind.

Choose rotating when no address needs to be remembered: many requests across many sites, results from many cities or countries, or work that is spread thinly over time. Residential pools give the widest choice of locations; mobile pools cost more per GB (mobile vs residential).

If you are not sure, start small on both: a few static IPs for a month and a small rotating package, both from providers that offer a trial or a refund window, and keep the one that works on your targets for less.