The right proxy provider can make or break your web scraping, competitive research, or automation projects. Two of the most prominent names in the proxy industry today are Oxylabs Proxy and Webshare Proxy. While both offer residential and datacenter proxies, they serve different markets and excel in distinct areas such as reliability, pricing, support, and scalability.
In this guide, you'll find not just a feature-by-feature comparison, but also responsive, data-driven charts illustrating real-world performance, uptime, speed, IP pool size, and pricing, so you can make an informed decision for your business or project.
What is Oxylabs Proxy?
Oxylabs is a Lithuanian-based company founded in 2015, recognized globally for its enterprise-grade proxy infrastructure. Their network boasts over 100 million residential IPs and tens of thousands of datacenter proxies. Oxylabs is widely used by Fortune 500 companies for:
- Large-scale web scraping
- SEO and SERP tracking
- Brand protection and anti-counterfeit monitoring
- E-commerce price intelligence
Their platform shines in reliability, global IP coverage, and dedicated support, making them a top choice for high-demand business applications.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Oxylabs Proxy | Webshare Proxy |
|---|---|---|
| Proxy Types | Residential, Datacenter, Mobile, Rotating | Residential, Datacenter, Shared, Rotating |
| IP Pool Size (2024) | ~102 million | ~2.8 million |
| Countries Covered | 195+ | 100+ |
| Free Trial | Yes (7 days, business only) | Yes (10 proxies, 1GB/month) |
| Support | 24/7 Live chat, Account Manager | Email, Ticket |
| Entry Price | $180/mo (DC), $300/mo (Residential) | $20/mo (DC), $49/mo (Residential) |
Performance & Uptime
Consistent uptime is critical for automation and data extraction. Based on third-party uptime monitors and customer reviews in , Oxylabs consistently outpaces most competitors, with Webshare trailing behind but still reliable for non-critical projects.
- Oxylabs: 99.92% average uptime over 12 months
- Webshare: 97.7% average uptime
For mission-critical scraping and 24/7 operations, Oxylabs' track record is a clear advantage.
IP Pool Size & Geographic Distribution
The number and spread of IPs directly affect your ability to avoid blocks and access localized content. Here’s how the providers stack up:
- Oxylabs: Over 100 million residential IPs in 195+ countries
- Webshare: 2.8 million IPs in 100+ countries
Oxylabs' extensive pool and country coverage suit global and high-volume operations, while Webshare meets the needs of most regional or smaller projects.
Pricing & Value
Price is a deciding factor for many teams. Webshare is the clear leader for entry-level usage, while Oxylabs is built for enterprises needing robust scale and compliance.
- Webshare Residential: from $49/mo
- Oxylabs Residential: from $300/mo
- Webshare Datacenter: from $20/mo
- Oxylabs Datacenter: from $180/mo
Average Proxy Speed
Speed tests are based on independent benchmarks using 100 connections from North America and Europe.
- Oxylabs Datacenter: 980 Mbps avg, 60ms latency
- Webshare Datacenter: 620 Mbps avg, 80ms latency
- Oxylabs Residential: 42 Mbps avg, 350ms latency
- Webshare Residential: 30 Mbps avg, 440ms latency
For time-sensitive scraping or bulk tasks, Oxylabs provides a significant advantage.
Use Cases
Both providers serve a wide range of scenarios, but scale, compliance, and support differ. Here’s where each shines:
Oxylabs
- Enterprise-scale web scraping and crawling
- SEO, price monitoring, ad verification
- Brand protection, anti-fraud, and compliance
- Custom geo-targeting and city-level proxies
Webshare
- Entry-level scraping
- Academic, small business, or startup research
- Social media and sneaker bots
- Quick prototyping and rotating IPs
Customer Support
Oxylabs is known for their proactive, 24/7 support with live chat and dedicated account managers for large clients. Their support satisfaction rate is over 94% ( survey).
Webshare is focused on efficiency and transparency, offering ticket and email support. Response times are fast for the price point, but not instant.
- Oxylabs: 24/7 live chat, ticket, account manager (enterprise)
- Webshare: Ticket/email; business hours
Related: NordVPN Review
Related: Best Proxy Providers
Conclusion: Which Proxy is Right for You?
If you need scale, global coverage, and premium support, Oxylabs is the clear choice, especially for enterprise or regulated industries. For hobbyists, developers, and teams on a budget, Webshare offers excellent value and ease of use.
Consider your project’s scale, compliance requirements, and how much immediate support you need. For most high-volume or business-critical scraping, Oxylabs leads in every technical metric. For prototyping, small-scale, or affordable proxy access, Webshare is a strong contender.