What agents need
AI agents need to read pages (cheaply, in a format the model can use), search the web, and sometimes interact with pages by clicking and typing. Each provider covers these differently.
Side by side
| Agent capability | Rayobyte | Geonode |
|---|---|---|
| Read a page | Scraping API (HTML), $1.80 per 1,000 successes | Scraper API (HTML or Markdown) |
| Search | Scraping API on search URLs | Search API |
| Discover a site's pages | Bring your own | Map API |
| Interact with pages | rayobrowse hosted stealth browsers | Your own browser with proxies |
| Proxies for your own browser | Residential with HTTP/3, sticky up to 120 min | Residential, sticky up to 24 hours |
At the time of writing.
Reading and searching: Geonode is convenient
Agents work best with clean text. Geonode's Scraper API returns Markdown and its Search API returns search results, which map neatly onto agent tools for "read" and "search". See Geonode for AI agents.
Interacting: Rayobyte has hosted browsers
For agents that click, scroll, fill forms and navigate, Rayobyte's rayobrowse provides hosted stealth browsers (48 free browser hours, 5 at a time), so you don't run a browser fleet. HTTP/3 support on its residential network helps browser traffic look natural. See Rayobyte for AI agents and rayobrowse.
Residential tip: The simplest way to settle this comparison is to test both: Rayobyte has a free trial with no card, and Geonode sells a low-cost residential trial. Run the same targets through each. See Rayobyte for AI agents.
Guardrails on either
- Rate-limit per domain.
- Use allow and block lists.
- Require human confirmation for purchases and submissions.
- Don't log in with real credentials without explicit authorization (login pages are blocked on Rayobyte residential).
- Log every action.
Which to choose
| Agent type | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Research agent that reads and searches | Geonode |
| Agent that operates websites | Rayobyte rayobrowse |
| Both | Use both: Geonode for read and search, Rayobyte for browsing |
With Webshare: AI agents across all three.
A real-world example
A team builds a procurement research agent. Its search and read tools call Geonode's Search and Scraper APIs, returning Markdown that fits neatly in the model's context. When the agent must operate a supplier portal (filter a catalog, open product details), a browse tool hands the task to Rayobyte's rayobrowse. Guardrails stop the agent from submitting forms or purchases without human approval.
Proxy tip: If your residential usage comes in bursts, Geonode is worth a look: purchased GB doesn't expire and sticky sessions can last up to 24 hours. More in our complete Geonode guide.
Pros and cons for agents
Rayobyte
- Hosted stealth browsers for interaction.
- Scraping API priced per success.
- HTTP/3 for realistic browser traffic.
Geonode
- Markdown read and Search APIs.
- A recurring free allowance for prototyping.
- No hosted browsers.
If you're still shortlisting, compare these options with the wider market in our best proxies guide, and use our cheap proxies guide to estimate a sensible budget. To understand the IP type behind this, read our residential proxies guide.
Budget tip: For jobs where a fixed IP list is enough, Webshare is one of the cheapest options: shared datacenter proxies are sold by the IP, and static residential (ISP) proxies cost well under a dollar per IP per month at the time of writing. More in Webshare for AI training data.
Key takeaways
- Geonode's Markdown and Search APIs suit reading and searching agents.
- Rayobyte's rayobrowse suits agents that interact with pages.
- Combining both covers every agent capability.
- Build guardrails regardless of provider.
FAQ
Which is better for LLM web access?
Geonode for read and search tools; Rayobyte for interactive browsing.
Do I need proxies if I use their APIs?
No. The APIs handle proxies for you.
Can agents log in to sites?
Only with explicit authorization and within each site's terms; Rayobyte blocks login pages on residential traffic.
Editorial note: Proxy providers change their pools, features and prices often, so treat any figures here as typical ranges at the time of writing and confirm current terms with the provider before you buy.