Side by side for scraping
| Rayobyte | Webshare | |
|---|---|---|
| Easy sites | Rotating datacenter from $0.30/GB; static lists | Datacenter lists from $2.99 per 100 IPs |
| Medium sites | Rotating ISP | Static residential lists |
| Protected sites | Premium Residential, $2/GB from 50 GB | Rotating residential, about $2.25/GB at 100 GB |
| Hardest sites | Web Unblocker, Scraping API, rayobrowse | None |
| Free option | No-card trial | Free plan |
At the time of writing. See Rayobyte for web scraping and Webshare for web scraping.
Webshare's case
For lenient targets, Webshare's per-IP lists are astonishingly cheap: 1,000 shared IPs cost about $27 a month, with a bandwidth allowance you choose. If most of your targets accept datacenter IPs, Webshare will be your cheapest base.
Rayobyte's case
For protected targets, Rayobyte's residential tiers get cheaper than Webshare's from around 50 GB, it's pay as you go, and the Web Unblocker and Scraping API handle the targets nothing else gets through. The rotating ISP pool covers the middle ground.
Example: 200 GB a month
- 150 GB to lenient sites: a Webshare datacenter list with an adequate bandwidth allowance, likely tens of dollars; or about $42 on Rayobyte rotating datacenter at $0.28 per GB.
- 50 GB to protected sites: $100 on Rayobyte (at the $2 tier); roughly $115 to $125 on a Webshare plan of that size.
A mixed setup (Webshare lists for easy sites, Rayobyte residential for hard ones) is usually cheapest. See using both.
Residential tip: A common split is Webshare for cheap per-IP lists and Rayobyte for residential traffic, mobile IPs or managed scraping. Our Rayobyte for web scraping covers each Rayobyte product.
Which to choose
| Situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Mostly lenient targets | Webshare |
| Mostly protected targets at volume | Rayobyte |
| Bursty residential needs | Rayobyte |
| A few impossible sites | Rayobyte managed tools |
| Free development environment | Webshare |
Tools: Python, Scrapy, Puppeteer. With Geonode: web scraping across all three. Our Puppeteer proxies guide covers the full setup.
A real-world example
A team scraping job listings from 120 sites classifies them during a week of testing: 95 work on Webshare datacenter IPs, 20 need residential, and 5 need managed unblocking. The 95 easy sites run on a shared list; the 20 residential sites run on Rayobyte's pay-as-you-go residential (about 60 GB a month, $120 at the $2 tier); the 5 hardest go through Rayobyte's Scraping API at about $1.80 per 1,000 pages. The routing table is reviewed monthly.
Habits that cut costs on both
- Use JSON endpoints instead of full pages.
- Prefer HTTP clients over browsers.
- Cap retries.
- Skip unchanged pages.
- Promote domains to pricier proxies only when blocked.
Pros and cons for scraping
Rayobyte
- Datacenter, rotating ISP, residential and managed tools in one account.
- Cheaper residential from about 50 GB.
- Pricier per IP for static lists.
Webshare
- The cheapest base for lenient targets.
- A free plan for development.
- No managed unblocking.
Budget tip: To test the Webshare side of this comparison, start with Webshare's free plan: 10 datacenter proxies and 1 GB a month with no card. See Webshare for web scraping.
Bottom line
Run lenient targets on Webshare and protected ones on Rayobyte; promote a domain only when its block rate demands it.
Before you commit to any provider, it helps to see the wider market: our guide to the best proxies in 2026 compares proxy types by job, and cheap proxies explains how to keep costs down without buying IPs that get blocked.
Proxy tip: If your residential usage goes up and down, compare Geonode: its per-GB residential bandwidth doesn't expire, so you only pay for what you use. See Rayobyte vs Geonode vs Webshare.
Key takeaways
- Webshare is the cheapest base for lenient targets.
- Rayobyte is cheaper for residential from about 50 GB and adds managed tools.
- Mixed setups usually win on cost.
- Route by domain and measure cost per success.
FAQ
Which is better for scraping?
Webshare for lenient sites on a budget; Rayobyte for protected sites at volume and the hardest targets.
Can I scrape JavaScript sites with both?
Yes, with your own browsers; Rayobyte also offers hosted browsers and an API that renders pages.
Do both support rotation?
Yes: Webshare across your list via its backbone, Rayobyte through rotating pools.
Can I scrape logged-in pages?
Only where you're authorized; Rayobyte blocks login pages on residential, so use static IPs for permitted logged-in work.
Which is better for beginners learning to scrape?
Webshare's free plan; add Rayobyte's trial when you meet a site that blocks datacenter IPs.
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.