Rotating IPs vs Static IPs:Differences,Use Cases, Guide
Static IPs stay constant and suit stable tasks, while rotating IPs change regularly. Rotating IPs offering better anonymity and flexibility for frequent IP changes.
This article details their definitions, features, Scenarios, and setup instructions.
Static IP Address: Definition and Features
Definition of Static IPs
A static IP is a fixed IP address assigned to a device. Static IPs remain unchanged every time the device connects to the internet. Stable IPs are suitable for tasks requiring a long-term.
Features of Static IPs
High Stability: Static IPs are consistent over time, making them ideal for account management and server hosting. They are easy to manage for device setup, firewall configuration, and access control. However, frequent access using a static IP can be easily detected, making it unsuitable for large-scale web scraping tasks.
Speed Advantage: Static IPs enable direct data transfers without additional routing, improving both speed and stability.
Security and Cost Trade-off: Static IPs are more prone to tracking and come with higher costs, but they are well-suited for scenarios requiring a stable connection.
Rotating IP Address: Definition and Features
Definition of Rotating IPs
A rotating IP is a technology that assigns a new IP address each time a device connects to the internet. Its dynamic nature makes it difficult to trace, ideal for operations requiring frequent IP changes.
Features of Rotating IPs
High Anonymity: By regularly changing IP addresses, rotating IPs can conceal user identity and location, enhancing privacy protection. They are also effective in bypassing IP blocks and access restrictions.
Automatic Rotation: Rotating IPs automatically change based on network requests or preset intervals, making them ideal for tasks requiring frequent identity changes. They are particularly suitable for large-scale operations such as web scraping, ad verification, and cross-border e-commerce.
Increased Efficiency: Users can leverage proxy tools, scripts, or professional services to implement automatic IP switching, customizing rotation frequency and modes based on requests or time intervals. This reduces the risk of triggering anti-bot mechanisms or being blocked, thereby improving data collection success and ad performance.
Use Cases of Static IPs
Remote Access to Host Services
Static IPs provide a fixed IP address, ensuring that each access is directed to the same host address. This eliminates the impact of IP address changes on connection quality.
Administrators can configure network settings for servers and hosts with a fixed IP. Thus, different static IPs can be assigned to different accounts for stable file and data transmission. Business users often require static IPs. when operating their cloud services, databases, and other critical business functions.
E-Commerce
On e-commerce platforms, using a stable IP for account management can reduce the risk of account bans. To gain more exposure for products, merchants often create multiple accounts. However, if these accounts share the same IP and sell similar products, the platform may flag them as violating rules.
By assigning each account a unique static IP, It can minimize the risk of account suspension. Therefore, stable, long-term, and reliable static IPs are important in the e-commerce field.
Social Media Account Management
Social media platforms closely monitor user activities. Frequently changing IPs is likely to be flagged as abnormal behavior, leading to account suspension.
For account security and to reduce the risk of bans, using a stable and clean static IP is essential. If a business needs to market and promote products on social platforms, it is crucial to assign fixed IPs to multiple accounts.
Use Cases of Rotating IPs
It’s convenient for users to manage many connections from a single device by using rotating IPs
Rotating proxies are used in web scraping, cross-border e-commerce, ad verification, and etc.
Web scraping opeations
When web data scraping operating, target websites may limit access based on request frequency or IP address.
By rotating IPs, you can bypass the limits of anti-scraping mechanisms. Plays an important role in data collection.This improves scraping efficiency. It also increases the success rate. Rotating IPs simulate multiple independent visitors, reducing the chances of triggering anti-scraping rules.
Privacy Protection
Using rotating IPs automatically switches the IP. This protects the user’s real identity and IP address. It prevents tracking or location identification.
As a result, it enhances account security. When visiting third-party websites, rotating IPs can prevent the leakage of the user’s real activity data.
Ad Verification
Rotating IPs help improve the coverage of advertisements, thus gaining more traffic and exposure.
You can use IP addresses from different regions. This simulates visits from the target region. you can conduct A/B testing and optimize ad strategies based on data from different regions. Rotating ips can increase the ROI of ad campaigns.
Differences of Static IPs and Rotating IPs
| Feature | Static IP | Rotating IP |
| IP Rotation | Fixed | Changes Regularly |
| Security | Lower, more prone to attacks | Higher, due to frequent changes |
| Access Speed | Faster | Depends on provider |
| Cost | Higher | Varies with connections |
| Maintenance | Manual | Automated |
| Stability | High | Lower |
| Scalability | Low | High |
Setup Guides on Thordata
Using Thordata to Set up Static IPs
1.Purchase ISP Proxies or Datacenter Proxies.
2.Access the “Dashboard” > “IP Management” to view purchased IPs.
3.Use provided details (IP address, port, username, and password) with a proxy tool to enable it.
4.Renew IPs via the “Renewal” option (7-day or 30-day plans available).
Using Thordata to Set up Rotating IPs
1.Purchase Residential or Unlimited proxies.
2.Go to “Dashboard” > “Port Generator” > “Session Settings.”
3.Choose between Sticky Sessions (static for up to 90 minutes) or Rotating Sessions (changes with each request).
4.Paste generated proxy commands into tools like anti-detect browsers or integrate with Python
Conclusion
Static IPs and rotating IPs serve distinct purposes based on duration, features, and business needs. Rotating IPs excel in web scraping and ad verification, static IPs offer stability for account management and hosting. Choose the proxy type that aligns with your needs, ensuring compliance with usage regulations.
Frequently asked questions
Should I enable rotating IP？
If your business requires frequent IP switching, or if you don’t have high demands for IP stability and consistency, such as in large-scale data scraping, you can consider enabling the rotating IP feature. You can purchase Thordata’s residential proxies or unlimited proxies to enable the rotating IP feature.
What is the difference between rotating proxies and residential proxies？
The biggest difference between rotating IPs and residential proxies lies in the resource type and usage method.
Rotating IPs refer to a proxy setup where multiple IP addresses are used in a rotating manner. It does not distinguish the resource type of the IPs, whether they are residential proxies or data center proxies.
Residential proxies specifically refer to IPs from real home users, providing better anonymity and reliability, but they are typically more expensive.
How do I know if my IP is static or rotating?
Check through any IP detection site. Static IPs remain unchanged, while rotating IPs change frequently.
Is using rotating proxies or static proxies legal?
Yes, for legitimate purposes like privacy protection. Using rotating IPs and static IPs is legal. Users who exploiting the characteristics of rotating and static IPs to engage in illegal activities is illegal.
About the author
Clara is a passionate content editor with a strong interest and enthusiasm for information technology and the internet industry. She approaches her work with optimism and positivity, excelling at transforming complex technical concepts into clear, engaging, and accessible articles that help more people understand how technology is shaping the world.
The thordata Blog offers all its content in its original form and solely for informational intent. We do not offer any guarantees regarding the information found on the thordata Blog or any external sites that it may direct you to. It is essential that you seek legal counsel and thoroughly examine the specific terms of service of any website before engaging in any scraping endeavors, or obtain a scraping permit if required.