Everything you need to know about 4G/5G mobile proxies. Learn why they're the most trusted proxy type, how they work, and when to use them for your automation projects.
Mobile carriers use CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT) to share IP addresses among thousands of users. This means a single mobile IP might be used by 500-5,000 different people throughout the day.
Websites cannot block mobile IP ranges without blocking millions of legitimate mobile users. This makes mobile proxies virtually unblockable.
Mobile proxy traffic originates from real 4G/5G cellular networks, not datacenters. The traffic patterns, headers, and TLS fingerprints match legitimate mobile users.
Anti-bot systems like Cloudflare, PerimeterX, and DataDome give mobile IPs the highest trust scores because they appear indistinguishable from real mobile users.
Thousands of mobile users share the same public IP address simultaneously through CGNAT.
Mobile IPs change frequently as users move between cell towers or reconnect to the network.
Blocking a mobile IP blocks thousands of legitimate users, so sites must allow them.
Understanding when to use each proxy type
Real 4G/5G cellular IPs shared by millions of mobile users. Highest trust scores because websites cannot block mobile IP ranges without blocking legitimate users.
IPs from ISP customers. Good trust but increasingly fingerprinted as proxy traffic due to behavioral patterns.
IPs from cloud providers. Fast and cheap but easily detected and blocked by most protection systems.
Static IPs hosted in datacenters but registered to ISPs. Better trust than datacenter but still detectable.
๐ก Pro Tip: Use mobile proxies when you need the highest success rates on protected sites. They cost more than datacenter proxies but save money by avoiding blocks and CAPTCHAs.
Explore mobile proxy concepts in detail
Understanding how mobile proxies work and why they are trusted by websites
Read guide โCompare 4G and 5G mobile proxies - speed, latency, and use cases
Read guide โWhen to use mobile proxies vs residential proxies for your project
Read guide โMaster IP rotation strategies for different automation tasks
Read guide โAT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile - Choose the right carrier for your use case
Read guide โ| Specification | PROXIES.SX Mobile | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|
| Network Type | Real 4G/5G Cellular | Mixed (some use WiFi) |
| IP Pool | Dynamic (carrier CGNAT) | Static pools |
| Countries | 15+ Key Markets | Varies widely |
| Rotation Options | Rotating + Sticky (up to 24h) | Rotating only or limited sticky |
| Protocol Support | HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 | HTTP/HTTPS only |
| Authentication | User:Pass + IP Whitelist | User:Pass only |
| Concurrent Sessions | Unlimited | Limited (5-100) |
What people use mobile proxies for
Yes, mobile proxies are legal to use. However, what you do with them must comply with applicable laws and website terms of service. Using proxies for legitimate business purposes like market research, ad verification, and competitive analysis is common and legal.
Mobile proxies cost more because they use real cellular data plans from mobile carriers. The infrastructure requires physical SIM cards, modems, and carrier agreements. However, the higher success rates often make them more cost-effective than cheaper alternatives that get blocked.
While advanced fingerprinting can sometimes identify proxy usage, mobile IPs are extremely difficult to block because doing so would affect millions of legitimate mobile users. Websites typically allow mobile IP traffic even when they suspect automation.
5G proxies offer faster speeds (up to 10x faster downloads) and lower latency. However, for most automation tasks, 4G is sufficient. 5G is better for video streaming, large file downloads, or latency-sensitive applications. See our 4G vs 5G comparison.
Use rotating IPs for scraping, data collection, and tasks where you need many different IPs. Use sticky sessions for account management, maintaining login sessions, and multi-step workflows. Learn more in our rotation guide.
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