Webshare

Webshare operates two routing models for its proxy network. In direct mode, requests exit through the specific proxy assigned in the proxy list. In backbone mode, requests are routed through p.webshare.io as a backconnect gateway, assigning a new IP per request from the full proxy list. The mode is selectable via the mode parameter in the proxy list API — both modes are available without a plan change. A rotating proxy endpoint assigns a new IP per request. Sticky sessions and per-request rotation are both configurable via the proxy configuration API.

Authentication supports username/password in the proxy string and IP whitelist authentication — nominated IPs bypass credential requirements entirely. API token authentication is available for REST API access. Session and idle timeout configuration is documented in the proxy configuration API, but specific configurable TTL values are not published in the public API documentation. Country and city targeting are available via API parameters for residential proxies — ZIP and ASN targeting are not documented in the proxy list API.

The REST API at apidocs.webshare.io covers proxy list retrieval, proxy configuration, proxy activity logs, and usage statistics. Country filtering, mode selection, and plan targeting are all API-driven. Code examples in Python, JavaScript, and cURL are documented. A Chrome extension for proxy management is available. Sub-user or team account management is not documented in the proxy configuration API.

Webshare's model is access without gates. The permanent free tier is the clearest expression of this: a team can run datacenter proxies against real targets indefinitely at no cost before deciding whether to spend. Pricing is fully self-serve — all standard plan rates are listed on the pricing page without a sales call requirement. This is a US-based provider with a Compliance Policy that enforces use case restrictions and triggers KYC when suspicious activity is detected, rather than requiring upfront identity verification from every customer.

The residential sourcing philosophy is documented on a dedicated ethical sourcing page. Webshare uses a tiered grading system: Tier A proxies come from consenting and rewarded individuals via carefully selected compliant partners. The provider states that the majority of the residential proxy network is composed of Tier A proxies. No independent audit of those sourcing practices has been found in public documentation. GDPR compliance is not explicitly stated on the compliance page — the documentation has a US-jurisdiction focus.

Webshare does not serve teams whose targets require mobile network IPs. Mobile proxies are not a product. For targets that respond differently to datacenter versus residential IP types, the residential pool serves that gap — but the absence of mobile means carrier-targeting use cases cannot be served from this network.

The residential pool contains 80M+ IPs across 195 countries — self-reported, no independent audit of this figure exists. Country and city targeting are confirmed via API parameters for rotating residential proxies. ZIP and ASN targeting are not documented in the proxy list API. ISP static proxies are available in a limited set of countries — the full list is not enumerated in public documentation. Named ISP partners for static proxies include AT&T, Sprint, and Lumen. Mobile proxies are not offered.

Datacenter proxies are available in shared, private, and dedicated sub-types hosted on Tier-1 datacenter infrastructure with dedicated bandwidth. Dedicated sub-type provides exclusive IP assignment. Subnet and ASN diversity count is not published on the datacenter product page. Both rotating and sticky sessions are documented. Specific sticky session TTL values are not published — session and idle timeout configuration is documented but concrete limits are absent from the API reference. Automatic IP replacement for proxies experiencing downtime is documented in the API. HTTP(S) and SOCKS5 protocol support is documented.

The provider states a 99.97% success rate on the FAQ page — this is a self-reported marketing claim, and no contractual SLA with financial penalty for that rate has been found. Authentication includes username/password, IP whitelist, and API token. Real-time spend counter is not confirmed in public product documentation. Usage statistics and proxy list management are accessible through the dashboard and the REST API.

Datacenter proxies start at $0.05/IP. Residential proxies start at $1.40/GB. ISP static proxies start at $0.30/IP. Unlimited bandwidth plans are available for all three proxy types. All standard plan rates are listed on the pricing page without requiring a sales call. The free tier — 10 datacenter proxies with 1 GB per month — is permanent and requires no credit card. Refund within 2 days of payment is available if usage is below the documented threshold.

Subscription commitment is required for paid plans — PAYG without a subscription commitment is not documented on the pricing page. Unlimited bandwidth plans carry a Fair Usage Policy, but specific throttling thresholds for those plans are not enumerated on the pricing page. The free tier covers datacenter proxies only — residential and ISP static proxies require a paid plan. No free trial for residential proxies is documented on the FAQ page.

You gain a permanent free tier for datacenter proxies without a credit card and without a trial expiration. The REST API is fully documented with proxy activity logs, usage statistics, and mode-selection parameters. Pricing transparency is complete for all proxy types on a single self-serve page. The backbone rotation mode provides request-level IP reassignment through a backconnect gateway. ISP static proxies are available from named US carriers.

You give up mobile proxies entirely — carrier-targeting use cases cannot be served from Webshare. ZIP and ASN targeting are absent from the documented API. PAYG without subscription commitment is not documented — paid plans require a commitment structure. The sourcing audit for residential proxies is not independently verified. GDPR compliance is not explicitly documented for EU-based procurement reviews. Sub-user management is absent from the proxy configuration API. Fair Usage Policy thresholds on unlimited plans are not published, which creates cost uncertainty for high-volume unlimited subscribers.

• You're starting with datacenter proxies and need to validate network quality against real targets before committing budget — the permanent free tier eliminates the trial expiration pressure
• Your scraping pipeline is API-first and benefits from programmatic proxy list management, activity logging, and mode-selection without dashboard dependency
• Your targets respond to datacenter IPs without blocking — you don't need residential or mobile network quality
• You need ISP static proxies from named US carriers (AT&T, Sprint, Lumen) with unlimited bandwidth at sub-dollar per-IP pricing
• Your compliance review is US-jurisdiction focused and does not require GDPR documentation or an independent sourcing audit

Webshare's constraints are structural, not incidental:

• You need mobile proxies for carrier-targeting or TikTok-adjacent use cases — mobile IPs are not a product on Webshare
• Your scraping targets require ZIP or ASN-level residential targeting — those parameters are not documented in the proxy list API
• Your legal review requires explicit GDPR compliance documentation — Webshare's compliance page has a US-jurisdiction focus without explicit GDPR coverage
• You need a PAYG option without subscription commitment — the pricing page does not document PAYG as an option outside subscription plans
• Your procurement requires an independently audited residential sourcing report beyond the published Tier A classification system

If Webshare's mobile gap or targeting depth doesn't match what you need:

• IPRoyal — adds mobile proxies (4.5M+ IPs), city and ZIP targeting, and non-expiring PAYG residential traffic; fits teams whose targets require residential IP quality that Webshare's datacenter pool doesn't provide
• Geonode — similar entry-level positioning with bandwidth rollover and a $5 trial; fits if you need a low-commitment residential entry point with different billing mechanics
• ProxyEmpire — adds ASN targeting on residential, dedicated mobile proxies, and a $1.97 trial with data that never expires; fits if targeting depth and mobile are both required without a large upfront commitment

Use Webshare if your pipeline targets respond to datacenter IP quality, you're starting from zero budget, or you need a clean REST API for programmatic proxy management without upfront spend. Skip it if mobile proxies are required for any part of your use case, if ZIP or ASN residential targeting is a hard requirement, or if your compliance review requires GDPR documentation or an independently audited sourcing report.