Side by side
| Protocol | Rayobyte (residential) | Geonode |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP | Yes | Yes |
| HTTPS (CONNECT tunneling) | Yes | Yes |
| SOCKS5 (TCP) | Yes | Yes |
| SOCKS5 UDP | Yes | Not listed |
| HTTP/3 (QUIC) | Yes, as HTTP/3 proxies | Not listed |
At the time of writing. Rayobyte's static ISP and datacenter proxies support HTTP(S) and SOCKS. See Rayobyte SOCKS5, UDP and protocol support.
What both cover
HTTP, HTTPS and SOCKS5 over TCP cover nearly every scraping library, browser automation tool, antidetect browser and command-line tool. If that's your world, protocol support isn't a reason to choose between Rayobyte and Geonode. See SOCKS5 proxies.
What only Rayobyte adds
- SOCKS5 UDP: carries UDP traffic, needed by games, voice and video apps, some messaging apps and custom DNS clients.
- HTTP/3: carries QUIC, so browsers can use HTTP/3 through the proxy instead of falling back to HTTP/2, which removes a subtle fingerprint difference on modern sites. See Rayobyte HTTP/3 proxies.
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 SOCKS5, UDP and protocol support.
Avoiding problems on either
- Resolve DNS through the proxy with
socks5h://to avoid leaks. See DNS leaks and proxies. - Chromium can't send SOCKS5 credentials. Use HTTP or IP whitelisting in browsers.
- Use the right port for each protocol and product.
- Don't use
https://for the proxy URL itself unless the provider says so.
Which to choose
| Need | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Standard scraping and automation | Either |
| Games, voice or other UDP apps | Rayobyte |
| HTTP/3 realism in browsers | Rayobyte |
| Simplicity with standard tools | Either |
Webshare supports HTTP and SOCKS5. See protocols across all three.
A real-world example
A company testing its voice-over-IP app from different countries needs to route UDP traffic through residential IPs. Standard SOCKS5 over TCP can't carry it, so Rayobyte's SOCKS5 UDP support is the deciding factor, provided the test client supports SOCKS5 UDP. The same company's web scraping team uses Geonode over HTTP, where protocol support makes no difference and Geonode's residential price is lower.
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 protocols
Rayobyte
- SOCKS5 UDP and HTTP/3 on residential.
- HTTP(S) and SOCKS on static IPs.
- Extras matter only for UDP apps and browser realism.
Geonode
- HTTP, HTTPS and SOCKS5 cover nearly all scraping tools.
- No UDP or HTTP/3 listed.
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 authentication options.
Key takeaways
- Both support HTTP, HTTPS and SOCKS5.
- Rayobyte adds SOCKS5 UDP and HTTP/3 on residential.
- Those matter for UDP apps and browser realism, not for typical scraping.
- Resolve DNS through the proxy and mind browser SOCKS5 limits on both.
FAQ
Does Geonode support SOCKS5?
Yes.
Which supports UDP?
Rayobyte, through SOCKS5 UDP on Premium Residential.
Do I need HTTP/3 proxies?
Rarely for scraping. They help browser automation on heavily protected modern sites.
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.