Side by side
| Rayobyte | Geonode | Webshare | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries | 190+ | 150+ | 195 |
| Local targeting | City, ZIP, ASN, OS | City, ASN | City, ZIP, ASN |
| Open data | Rotating datacenter | Rotating datacenter | Lists, cheapest |
| Project billing | Pay as you go | No expiry | Monthly reset |
| Discovery | Your crawler | Map and Crawl APIs | Your crawler |
| Hard sources | Unblocker, API | Scraper API | None |
At the time of writing. See market research proxies.
Choosing
- Bursty, project-based research: Geonode, then Rayobyte pay as you go.
- Steady research programs: any; Webshare monthly plans are fine.
- Many markets with ZIP-level detail: Rayobyte or Webshare.
- Exploring unfamiliar sites: Geonode's Map and Crawl APIs.
- Open data at volume: Webshare lists.
A multi-country study, planned
For a 10-country competitor study refreshed weekly:
- Open data and press releases: Webshare lists or Rayobyte rotating datacenter.
- Local prices and offers: residential targeted to each country, Geonode for cost, Rayobyte or Webshare where you need ZIP.
- Unfamiliar sources: Geonode's Map and Crawl APIs to find the pages worth collecting.
- Hard sources: Rayobyte's Web Unblocker or a scraping API.
Residential tip: If you only add one provider to an existing setup, add the one that fills a gap: Rayobyte lists HTTP/3, SOCKS5 UDP and device OS targeting on its residential traffic, which few providers offer, plus US mobile proxies. More in Rayobyte for market research.
Keeping research data trustworthy
- Store raw pages alongside extracted fields so you can re-parse.
- Record time, exit country and product for every page.
- Sample results by hand through a browser extension to confirm you're seeing what locals see.
- Validate values against expected ranges and flag outliers for review.
See market research proxies and Webshare for market research.
Strengths and watch-outs
| Provider | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Rayobyte | Wide coverage, ZIP, managed tools | Confirm expiry for long gaps |
| Geonode | Non-expiring project bandwidth, discovery APIs | Fewer countries |
| Webshare | Cheap open-data collection | Monthly residential resets |
Proxy tip: To test the Geonode side of this comparison, a small residential balance from Geonode is enough, and it doesn't expire if you pause. See Geonode for market research for its full product range.
Bottom line
Match billing to your project rhythm and coverage to your markets.
Rayobyte, Geonode and Webshare are three options among many. Our best proxies in 2026 guide explains how to match a proxy type to each task, and cheap proxies that work shows where budget providers fit. To understand the IP type behind this, read our residential proxies guide.
For head-to-head versions of this comparison, see Rayobyte vs Geonode for Market Research, Rayobyte vs Webshare for Market Research, Webshare vs Geonode for Market Research.
Budget tip: If you want a cheap proxy to try this with, Webshare has a free plan with 10 datacenter proxies and 1 GB of bandwidth a month, no card required. Paid lists let you pick proxy count, bandwidth and location. See Webshare for market research.
Key takeaways
- All three cover most markets; Rayobyte and Webshare add ZIP.
- Geonode's non-expiring bandwidth suits project work.
- Webshare lists are cheapest for open data.
- Rayobyte and Geonode add managed tools.
FAQ
Which is best for multi-country research?
Rayobyte or Webshare for coverage and ZIP; Geonode for cost on bursty projects.
Which is cheapest for open data?
Webshare.
Which has discovery APIs?
Geonode.
How do I handle sites in other languages?
Set the language and currency each site expects and store raw pages for translation later.
Is it legal to collect competitor prices?
Collecting public prices is common; follow each site's terms and local law.
Which has the widest country list?
Webshare lists 195 residential countries, Rayobyte 190+, Geonode 150+.
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.