Side by side
| Protocol | Rayobyte | Webshare |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP and HTTPS tunneling | Yes | Yes |
| SOCKS5 | Yes | Yes |
| SOCKS5 UDP | Yes, on Premium Residential | Not listed |
| HTTP/3 (QUIC) | Yes, HTTP/3 proxies on residential | Not listed |
At the time of writing. See Rayobyte SOCKS5, UDP and protocol support and SOCKS5 proxies.
The common ground
HTTP and SOCKS5 cover virtually every scraper, browser automation library, antidetect browser and command-line tool. Webshare supports both on its proxies, as does Rayobyte.
Rayobyte's extras
- SOCKS5 UDP for games, voice and video apps, custom DNS and QUIC traffic.
- HTTP/3 proxies so browsers can use QUIC through the proxy instead of falling back, removing one fingerprint difference on modern sites. See Rayobyte HTTP/3 proxies.
Avoiding problems on either
- Use
socks5h://so DNS resolves through the proxy. - Chromium can't send SOCKS5 credentials; use HTTP or IP authorization in browsers. See Webshare IP authorization.
- Use the right port for each protocol.
Residential tip: Both sides of this comparison can be tested at no cost: Rayobyte has a free trial with no card, and Webshare has a permanent free plan with 10 datacenter proxies. See Rayobyte SOCKS5, UDP and protocol support.
Which to choose
| Need | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Standard scraping and automation | Either |
| UDP apps and games | Rayobyte |
| HTTP/3 realism in browsers | Rayobyte |
With Geonode: protocols across all three.
A real-world example
A developer builds a monitoring tool that checks a mobile game's matchmaking servers from several countries. The game uses UDP, so a standard HTTP or SOCKS5 proxy can't carry its traffic. Rayobyte's residential SOCKS5 UDP support makes the test possible, provided the tool's networking library supports SOCKS5 UDP ASSOCIATE. For the same developer's web dashboard checks, a Webshare HTTP proxy is simpler and cheaper.
Debugging checklist
- Test the proxy with cURL over HTTP first.
- If SOCKS5 fails, confirm the port and your client's SOCKS support.
- If the location is wrong on SOCKS5, switch to
socks5h://so DNS resolves remotely. - In browsers, use HTTP or IP-based access instead of SOCKS5 with credentials.
- For UDP, confirm both the proxy and your client support it.
See common proxy errors.
Pros and cons for protocols
Rayobyte
- SOCKS5 UDP and HTTP/3 on residential.
- HTTP(S) and SOCKS on static IPs.
Webshare
- HTTP and SOCKS5 across products.
- Code samples in seven languages.
Budget tip: If the job only needs a fixed list of IPs, Webshare sells datacenter and static residential proxies by the IP, often for less than a per-GB plan would cost. More in Webshare authentication options.
Bottom line
For web scraping and automation, protocols are a tie. For UDP apps or HTTP/3 realism, Rayobyte is the one to use.
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.
Proxy tip: For a second opinion on hard targets, run the same test through Geonode residential proxies, which support sticky sessions up to 24 hours and ASN targeting. We compare the two in Rayobyte vs Geonode vs Webshare.
Key takeaways
- Both support HTTP and SOCKS5.
- Rayobyte adds SOCKS5 UDP and HTTP/3 on residential.
- Those extras matter for UDP apps and browser realism, not most scraping.
- Resolve DNS through the proxy on either.
FAQ
Does Webshare support SOCKS5?
Yes.
Which supports UDP?
Rayobyte, through SOCKS5 UDP on residential.
Do I need HTTP/3 for scraping?
Rarely. It helps browsers on heavily protected modern sites.
Is HTTP or SOCKS5 faster?
For web scraping the difference is negligible; choose what your tool supports.
Do I need HTTP/3 support?
Only for browser realism on modern sites or apps that use QUIC; Rayobyte offers HTTP/3 proxies.
Which ports should I use?
Use the ports shown in each dashboard for your product and protocol; they can differ.
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.