"Has anyone used the proxyscrape api? How reliable is it for scraping?"
Yo, so I’ve been messing around with the proxyscrape api for a side project, and honestly? It’s *kinda* hit or miss.
Free tier gets you some decent proxies, but they’re not always stable. Like, half the time they’re dead or slow af.
Anyone else had better luck? Or should I just cough up for the paid version?
Also, how’s the rotation? Does it actually work for automation or am I wasting my time here?
Would love to hear some real-world experiences before I commit. Thx!
I've used the proxyscrape api for a few months now, and yeah, the free tier is pretty unreliable. Dead proxies are a pain, especially when you're scraping at scale.
Paid version is *way* better though. Faster rotation, fewer dead IPs, and the uptime is solid. If you're serious about scraping, it's worth the upgrade.
For alternatives, check out Bright Data or Luminati. They’re pricier but rock-solid for automation.
lol same here. free proxies from proxyscrape api are like playing roulette. sometimes they work, sometimes they time out after 2 requests.
i switched to scrapingbee for smaller projects—way less headache. their free tier is decent, and the api is simple af.
if you’re just testing, maybe try that first before dropping cash on proxyscrape’s paid plan.
Proxyscrape api is okay for light scraping, but don’t expect miracles. The rotation *does* work, but it’s not super fast.
For heavy-duty stuff, I’d recommend Smartproxy or Oxylabs. More expensive, but they handle automation way better.
Also, have you tried pairing it with a retry mechanism? Helps a ton with dead proxies.
Honestly, the proxysrape api is mid. Free tier’s a gamble, and even the paid one isn’t perfect.
If you’re scraping something critical, just go with a premium provider like GeoSurf. Yeah, it’s $$$, but you get what you pay for.
Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, roll your own proxy pool with scraped IPs + a checker script. More work, but cheaper long-term.
Proxyscrape api’s rotation is *alright*, but it’s not the fastest. I’ve had better luck with ProxyRack for automation—their pools are bigger and more stable.
That said, if you’re just doing small-scale stuff, the free tier might be enough. Just don’t expect it to handle 1000s of requests without hiccups.
Thanks for all the input, guys! Ended up testing the paid tier of proxyscrape api, and it’s definitely better. Still getting some timeouts though—maybe I need to tweak the retry settings.
Gonna check out Smartproxy and Scrapingbee too, since a few of you recommended them.
Quick Q: anyone know if proxyscrape’s residential proxies are any good? Or should I stick with datacenter ones for speed?
Used proxyscrape api for a web scraper last month. Free proxies were trash, but the premium ones? Night and day difference.
Rotation’s decent, but it’s not instant. If you need *fast* swaps, check out Storm Proxies. Their API is lightning quick for rotating IPs.
Also, +1 to using retries. Saved my butt more times than I can count.
Proxyscrape api is hit or miss, like you said. Free tier’s basically a demo—don’t rely on it.
Paid version is better, but tbh, there are cheaper options with similar reliability. Try Proxy-Now or ScraperAPI if you want something budget-friendly.
Also, what’s your use case? That might help narrow down the best tool.
