Side by side
| Rayobyte | Geonode | Webshare | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local targeting | City, ZIP | City | City, ZIP |
| Agent sites | Rotating datacenter | Rotating datacenter | Lists, cheapest |
| Portals | Residential, Web Unblocker | Residential, cheapest at modest volume | Residential |
| Pagination | Sessions up to 120 minutes | Up to 24 hours | Backbone sessions |
At the time of writing. See Geonode for real estate data and Webshare for real estate data.
Choosing
- Neighborhood or ZIP analytics: Rayobyte or Webshare.
- City-wide snapshots on a budget: Geonode.
- Small agent sites: Webshare lists.
- Heavily protected portals: test all three, then managed tools.
Fetch listing data endpoints, skip images, and paginate in one sticky session.
A city snapshot, step by step
- Find the data endpoint. Most listing portals load results from a JSON endpoint as you pan the map; that endpoint is far lighter than the rendered page.
- Paginate in one session. Use a sticky session per search area so pagination looks like one visitor.
- Target the city for most portals; use ZIP targeting from Rayobyte or Webshare only if results vary by neighborhood.
- Fetch details selectively. Pull full listing pages only for new or changed listings.
- Store raw responses so you can re-parse when the portal changes its format.
Residential tip: You can test all three for little or nothing: Rayobyte has a no-card free trial, Webshare a free plan and Geonode a low-cost residential trial. Run the same script through each. See Rayobyte for market research.
Cost for a weekly city snapshot
30,000 listings a week is about 120,000 fetches a month. At 300 KB per fetch that's 36 GB: around $32 on Geonode at small-volume rates, $100 on Rayobyte if you buy 50 GB, and roughly $85 to $100 on a Webshare plan of that size. Switching to JSON endpoints at 30 KB per request would cut all three by about 90%.
See Geonode for real estate data and Webshare for real estate data.
Strengths and watch-outs
| Provider | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Rayobyte | ZIP studies, unblocker for portals | Small-volume cost |
| Geonode | Cheap city-wide snapshots | No ZIP |
| Webshare | Cheap agency-site crawling, ZIP residential | Pricier residential at volume |
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.
Bottom line
Data endpoints and sensible targeting matter more than the provider; pick by city or ZIP needs.
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.
For head-to-head versions of this comparison, see Rayobyte vs Geonode for Real Estate Data, Rayobyte vs Webshare for Real Estate Data, Webshare vs Geonode for Real Estate Data.
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 real estate data.
Key takeaways
- Rayobyte and Webshare offer ZIP targeting; Geonode is cheapest at city level.
- Webshare lists suit small agent sites.
- Use data endpoints to avoid heavy map pages.
FAQ
Which is best for listing portals?
Test all three; big portals vary.
Do I need ZIP targeting?
For neighborhood-level differences.
How do I handle pagination?
One sticky session per listing search.
Can I collect agent contact details?
Collect only what's publicly listed and needed, follow each portal's terms and data protection law, and avoid building personal profiles.
Which proxies work on small agent websites?
Cheap datacenter lists usually do; small sites rarely block them.
Can I collect sold prices?
Where portals publish them publicly; follow terms and local law.
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.