Picking the right proxy service isn’t always easy. With so many options out there, all claiming to be the fastest and most reliable, it can get confusing to decide which one’s actually worth your time and money. And let’s be honest — choosing the wrong one can lead to wasted money, slow connections, or blocked access when you need it most.
Two names you’ll often hear about in this space are Bright Data and Oxylabs. These two are trusted by businesses around the world for their huge proxy networks and solid performance. In fact, recent reports show that both together hold a big share of the premium proxy market, making them go-to choices for marketers, data researchers, and online businesses.
In this article, we’ll compare these two popular proxy services side by side. We’ll look at their features, pricing, performance, and more to help you decide which one’s a better fit for you.
But before we jump into the comparison, let’s quickly go over what proxies actually are and why they matter. In simple terms, proxies are middlemen between you and the internet. They help hide your real IP address, unlock websites blocked by location, and make it easier to manage things like web scraping, data collection, or multiple online accounts.
So, let’s dive in and see which service — Bright Data or Oxylabs — comes out on top!
Bright Data vs Oxylabs: Which Proxy Provider Should I Opt for?
| Category | Bright Data | Oxylabs |
|---|---|---|
| Proxy Types | Residential, Mobile, Datacenter, ISP | Residential, Mobile, Datacenter, ISP |
| IP Pool Size | 72M+ Residential, 7M+ Datacenter | 100M+ Residential, 2M+ Datacenter |
| Targeting Options | Country, City, ASN, Carrier, Mobile | Country, City, ASN, Carrier |
| Rotation & Session Control | Advanced | Advanced |
| Dashboard & API | User-friendly, Detailed analytics | Clean UI, Powerful API |
| Compliance & Ethics | GDPR, CCPA compliant, strict usage monitoring | GDPR, CCPA compliant, audited |
| Support | 24/7 support, Account managers for enterprise | 24/7 support, Dedicated managers |
| Free Trial / Demo | 7-day trial (on request) | 7-day trial (on request) |
Bright Data
Bright Data is one of the most popular web data platforms out there. You might’ve heard of it before as Luminati — it rebranded to Bright Data to focus more on innovation and keeping the internet transparent and ethical.
It’s a powerful proxy network that lets you browse the web anonymously from anywhere. What makes it stand out is that it focuses on responsible and legal data collection, following important privacy laws like CCPA and GDPR.
To keep everything running smoothly and fairly, Bright Data constantly monitors its network through both manual checks and automated systems. It also brings in third-party audits to make sure everything stays above board.
Another good thing about Bright Data is that it cares about how its services are used. It supports projects that benefit society, like improving internet transparency, detecting online threats, and preventing cyberattacks.
Plus, before giving access to sensitive proxies like Residential and Mobile IPs, Bright Data asks customers to explain how they’ll be using them. This way, they can be sure the proxies aren’t being misused for anything harmful. They also keep an eye on network activity, and if someone’s doing something shady or outside their approved use, they’re blocked right away and investigated.
Bright Data is widely used by brands in industries like:
- Market research
- SEO monitoring
- Ad verification
- E-commerce price tracking
- Cybersecurity
- Travel aggregation
Bright Data has a large global coverage and is continuously expanding into new territories and locations. Many companies, small businesses, and institutions rely on its solution to retrieve important public web data in the most reliable, flexible, and efficient form, so that they can analyze data, research, monitor and make decisions smartly.
Why choose Bright Data?
Bright Data has a solid team of experts behind it, working around the clock to provide top-notch support, new features, and a more open, unbiased internet. It’s already trusted by 15,000+ users worldwide from almost every industry you can think of.
People choose Bright Data because it offers a cost-effective, fast, and reliable way to collect public web data at scale. It also turns messy, unorganized data into clean, structured information — all while staying fully legal and transparent.
On top of that, Bright Data’s unique SaaS tools make it easier for businesses to gather market insights and stay ahead of the competition.
Here’s a quick look at what it offers:
- Target any country, city, carrier, or ASN with ease
- 99.99% uptime for super stable connections
- Access to 72+ million ethically-sourced IPs
It’s a powerful, trustworthy option for anyone serious about web data collection.
Oxylabs
Oxylabs has been around since 2015 and has grown into one of the top tech companies for premium proxy services and web scraping tools. It’s trusted by businesses worldwide and has a massive global network, covering over 180 countries.
They offer a wide range of proxy services, including Datacenter Proxies, Residential Proxies, Next-Gen Residential Proxies, and Scraper APIs. Their proxies work with popular protocols like SOCKS5, HTTPS, and HTTP.
Here’s a quick look at what they offer:
- Scraper APIs: These ready-made tools help you collect the data you need at a lower cost while guaranteeing accurate, reliable results.
- Datacenter Proxies: Affordable and reliable, with 2 million+ IPs. Great for tasks like web monitoring and super easy to connect with third-party software.
- Residential Proxies: Known for their impressive 99.2% success rate. They’re stable, let you target by city or state, support unlimited concurrent sessions, and allow you to switch your IP with every request.
- Next-Gen Residential Proxies: Designed for smooth, hassle-free scraping with 100% success rates. No CAPTCHAs, no blocks — just clean, uninterrupted browsing for your business needs.
Why choose Oxylabs?
There are plenty of reasons to choose Oxylabs. First, let’s talk about customer support. No matter how good a product is, it’s nothing without great support, and Oxylabs excels here. They offer top-tier, 24/7 customer service with a team of professionals who are always ready to help whenever you need it. They also provide custom solutions to meet specific needs, making sure clients get the support they require.
Another reason Oxylabs stands out is its global coverage. You can use Oxylabs from virtually anywhere, thanks to its presence in over 180 countries around the world. This wide reach makes it easy for businesses, no matter where they are, to rely on Oxylabs.
Performance-wise, Oxylabs delivers great results for businesses looking to scale quickly. It helps companies gather real-time data and provides enterprise-level support. The service also rotates IPs with every request, so you won’t get blocked or locked out while scraping data.
Additional perks include:
- A 7-day free trial to test the service
- A 3-day refund window
- Access to an impressive pool of 100 M+ ethically-sourced residential IPs
Pricing Comparison: Bright Data vs Oxylabs
When it comes to proxy services, pricing can vary a lot based on the type of proxy you need and the amount of traffic you plan to use. Let’s break down how Bright Data and Oxylabs price their services.
Bright Data Pricing
Bright Data offers different pricing based on proxy type, with both pay-as-you-go and monthly plans. Here’s a quick look:
| Proxy Type | Starting Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Proxies | From $2.94/GB | Minimum $300/month, advanced targeting & rotation |
| Datacenter Proxies | From $0.9/IP per month | Pay per IP or bandwidth |
| Mobile Proxies | From $5.88/GB | Real mobile IPs from devices worldwide |
| ISP Proxies | From $1.3/IP per month | Unlimited bandwidth |
Free Trial:
Bright Data offers a 7-day free trial, but you need to request it through their sales team.
Enterprise Plans:
Custom pricing available for high-traffic or large business needs.
Oxylabs Pricing
Oxylabs also prices their proxies based on type, with flexible monthly plans. Here’s what you can expect:
| Proxy Type | Starting Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Proxies | From $4/GB | Minimum $300/month, simple dashboard |
| Datacenter Proxies | From $1.2/IP per month | Pay per IP, with unlimited bandwidth |
| Mobile Proxies | From $9/GB | Reliable mobile IPs for sensitive tasks |
| ISP Proxies | From $1.6/IP per month | Available via sales inquiry |
Free Trial:
Oxylabs also provides a 7-day free trial for most proxy types, available on request.
Enterprise Plans:
Custom solutions with dedicated account managers and bulk discounts for large businesses.
Security & Compliance Explained
When choosing a proxy provider, it’s important to consider how they handle security and compliance to ensure they protect your data and follow the law. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas to look at:
1. How Both Providers Handle Privacy Laws (GDPR, CCPA)
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) are two key privacy laws that protect user data:
- GDPR is a European Union regulation that ensures personal data is handled with high standards of security, transparency, and accountability.
- CCPA is a law in California that gives consumers control over their personal data, including the right to know what data is being collected and the right to request deletion of their data.
Both Bright Data and Oxylabs are fully GDPR and CCPA compliant, meaning they follow these privacy laws when collecting, storing, and processing data. This ensures that your data is protected, and that you’re not at risk of legal issues or violations.
2. Ethical Data Usage Policies
Ethical data usage is a major concern for proxy providers because it’s important that they don’t misuse data or collect it in unethical ways. Both Bright Data and Oxylabs prioritize ethical data collection by ensuring that:
- They only gather data that’s legal and allowed by applicable laws.
- They don’t use proxies for harmful or malicious activities (e.g., fraud, harassment, or data theft).
- They focus on transparency and making sure their customers use proxies for legitimate purposes, like market research, web scraping, or ad verification.
For example, Bright Data, before giving customers access to certain types of proxies like Residential and Mobile IPs, asks them to confirm their intended use. This helps make sure the proxies are being used in ways that follow ethical guidelines.
3. User Compliance Evaluations and Monitoring Processes
Both Bright Data and Oxylabs go the extra mile to ensure user compliance:
- User compliance evaluations are processes where the provider assesses whether the customer’s intended use aligns with the company’s ethical standards. For example, if you want to use Residential proxies, Bright Data asks you to demonstrate your legitimate use before granting access.
- Monitoring processes are continuously used to track proxy activity and ensure that customers are using proxies responsibly. This is done through automated systems and manual checks. If suspicious behavior is detected (like using proxies for scraping sensitive or illegal data), the provider takes action by blocking the user or launching an investigation.
This system helps prevent abuse and ensures that proxies are only used for lawful and ethical purposes.
4. External Audits and Certifications
To keep everything in check, external audits and certifications play an important role in maintaining trust:
- External audits are conducted by third-party organizations to review a provider’s security measures, privacy practices, and network integrity. This helps ensure that the provider is actually following the best practices for security and compliance.
- Both Bright Data and Oxylabs perform external audits to ensure their networks are secure, and they are following the necessary privacy laws. This external validation is crucial for building trust with customers, especially when handling sensitive data.
Pros and Cons of Bright Data vs Oxylabs
Bright Data
Pros:
- Ethical and Transparent: Complies with privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA, ensuring responsible data collection.
- Diverse Proxy Options: Offers Residential, Mobile, and Data Center proxies with a wide range of targeting options.
- High Compliance: Performs user compliance checks to ensure ethical usage.
- Excellent Data Collection: Known for efficient, large-scale data collection with high-quality IPs.
Cons:
- Pricing: Can be more expensive for certain types of proxies, especially Residential and Mobile IPs.
- No Standard Free Trial: No free trial offered, which might make it harder to test before committing.
- Complex Setup: Some users may find setup and configuration slightly more complex.
Oxylabs
Pros:
- Massive Proxy Pool: Offers 100M+ residential proxies and strong global coverage in 180+ countries.
- Excellent Performance: Known for a 99.99% uptime and 100% success rate with Next-Gen Residential Proxies.
- 24/7 Premium Support: Offers round-the-clock support and tailored solutions.
- Affordable Data Center Proxies: Great value for datacenter proxies, with easy integration.
Cons:
- Pricing: Can be costly for large-scale users, especially with residential proxies.
- Limited Targeting: While its pool is vast, some users may prefer more specific targeting options.
- Free Trial: Limited to a 7-day free trial, which may not be enough for thorough testing.
FAQs
What’s the difference between Bright Data and Oxylabs?
Bright Data offers a wide range of proxies with a focus on ethical data collection. Oxylabs is known for its massive proxy pool and strong global coverage. Bright Data emphasizes compliance, while Oxylabs excels in performance.
Which has better global coverage: Bright Data or Oxylabs?
Oxylabs offers coverage in 180+ countries, providing more global flexibility than Bright Data.
Which has better customer support: Bright Data or Oxylabs?
Oxylabs provides 24/7 premium support with custom solutions, while Bright Data also offers good support but with fewer tailored options.
Are they GDPR-compliant?
Yes, both Bright Data and Oxylabs comply with GDPR and CCPA to protect user privacy.
Which is better for web scraping performance?
Oxylabs is known for its 100% success rate with Next-Gen Residential Proxies, making it better for smooth scraping.
Do they offer free trials?
Oxylabs offers a 7-day free trial, while Bright Data offers custom plans but no standard free trial.
Which has a bigger proxy pool?
Oxylabs has a larger pool with 100M+ residential proxies, compared to Bright Data’s 72M+ IPs.
How secure are their proxies?
Both providers offer encrypted connections and IP rotation for secure and anonymous browsing.
Which is better for businesses?
Oxylabs is better for large-scale businesses with its global proxy pool and enterprise support, but Bright Data is great for targeted, compliant data collection.
Conclusion
Choosing between Bright Data and Oxylabs ultimately depends on your specific needs. If you’re looking for a highly ethical, transparent proxy service with robust compliance and diverse proxy options, Bright Data could be the best fit. Its focus on responsible data collection and global reach makes it ideal for businesses prioritizing privacy and legality.
On the other hand, if you need extensive global coverage, premium customer support, and high-performance proxies for large-scale web scraping, Oxylabs stands out with its impressive proxy pool and reliability.
Both providers offer excellent services, but considering factors like customer support, pricing, and performance will help determine which one aligns better with your goals. Ultimately, the right choice comes down to the specific features and performance you need to power your data-driven projects.
