6 Best Proxies for Secure Ethical Web Scraping

Web scraping is the process of automatically extracting data from websites. It is like having a digital assistant that gathers information from websites for you, instead of visiting each website and copying the information manually. It involves using software or scripts to collect and organize information, such as prices, reviews, or other publicly available content, from multiple web pages efficiently. This technique is often used for research, market analysis, or monitoring trends.

Here is our list of the best proxy providers for ethical web scraping:

1. Oxylabs One of the largest and fastest proxy network with strong commitment to ethical web scraping practices.
2. Bright Data One of the most well-established names in the proxy industry.
3. SOAX A globally recognized UK-based web scraping provider.
4. Smartproxy Offers a strong balance of performance, ease of use, competitive pricing, and strong commitment to ethical practices.
5. IPRoyal A newer entrant that has quickly evolved into a popular, trustworthy proxy service.
6. NetNut A great choice for SMBs or startups.

Web scraping can unlock valuable insights for businesses, but ensuring it’s done ethically and securely is essential. Choosing the right proxy service plays a critical role in achieving this. In this article, we explore the top proxies designed to support ethical web scraping. These tools will help you stay on the right side of the law while gathering data effectively.

The Best Proxy Providers for Ethical Web Scraping

1. Oxylabs

Oxylabs is widely recognized as one of the leading proxy providers for secure and ethical web scraping. The company has earned a strong reputation for its commitment to ethical practices, regulatory compliance, strong performance, and a large proxy network that spans over 100M IPs across 195 countries. Oxylabs features a diverse range of proxy options such as Residential, Datacenter, ISP, and Mobile proxies.

Key Features:

• Extensive Proxy Network: Oxylabs provides access to one of the largest proxy pools in the market, This vast network ensures reliability, scalability, and access to geo-restricted data.
• Web Scraper API: Web Scraper API allows you to get highly localized real-time data from any website without IP blocks.
• Ethical Web Data Collection: As a co-founder of the Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative (EWDCI), Oxylabs is deeply committed to promoting responsible web scraping practices.
• Next-Generation Scraping Tools: Oxylabs offers advanced tools like its Web Unblocker and Scraper APIs, which are designed to bypass anti-bot systems while ensuring compliance with website terms of service.
• High-Performance Infrastructure: The company prioritizes speed and reliability, and  it’s a great choice for real-time web scraping needs, including SEO monitoring, price tracking, and market research.

What Makes Oxylabs a Valuable Choice for Ethical Web Scraping?

Oxylabs not only provides secure and efficient proxy services but also emphasizes transparency and accountability. Their automatic KYC (Know Your Customer) checks and strict terms of use ensure that their proxies are not used for illegal or unethical purposes.

Oxylabs utilizes Web Unblocker (an all-in-one web data collection platform that handles every aspect of web scraping, and OxyCopilot (an AI-powered tool that taps into Oxylabs’ extensive proxy network) to automate complex web scraping tasks while respecting website terms of service.

Ideal Use Cases

Oxylabs is particularly well-suited for large-scale businesses and enterprises involved in data-intensive web scraping tasks like:

• SERP Scraping: Monitor search engine rankings and keyword performance for SEO strategies.
• Travel Fares: Aggregate flight, hotel, and rental prices across platforms for competitive analysis.
• E-commerce Pricing: Track competitor prices and product availability to optimize pricing strategies.
• Market Research: Collect data on trends, competitors, and consumer behavior for informed decision-making.
• And more.

Oxylabs is a top-tier proxy provider for businesses and enterprises that seek a secure, ethical, and large-scale web scraping tool. Although it may seem costly and complex, its robust network, advanced tools, and ethical framework make it a standout choice for companies that need a reliable and responsible web scraping solution. For smaller businesses or less technical users, however, the cost and complexity may make other providers a better fit.

2. Bright Data

Bright Data is widely regarded as one of the leading and most reliable and ethical proxy services for web scraping. Its robust infrastructure, extensive IP pool, and strict commitment to compliance make it a top choice for businesses, researchers, and developers aiming to collect data responsibly. Bright Data offers a wide range of proxies and advanced features with over 72M IPs spanning Residential, Mobile, Datacenter, and ISP proxies.

Key Features:

• Extensive Proxy Network: Bright Data boasts an expansive proxy pool spread across the globe. This ensures low latency and a vast reach for accessing geo-restricted or region-specific data.
• Web Scraper APIs: A   cloud-based service with dedicated endpoints for extracting structured web data from over 100 popular domains.
• Advanced Scraping Solutions: The platform offers cutting-edge tools like the Data Collector, which allows users to automate scraping tasks without coding expertise, and the Web Unlocker, which handles complex anti-bot systems while remaining compliant.
• User-Friendly Dashboard: Bright Data’s intuitive dashboard simplifies proxy management with tools for filtering, geotargeting, and session persistence to improve scraping efficiency.
• High Performance and Scalability: Delivers high-speed connections with 99.99% uptime to maintain uninterrupted access for projects of all sizes.
• Ethical IP Sourcing: Bright Data uses a consent-based model to ethically obtain IPs and enforces strict policies against misuse.

What Makes Bright Data a Valuable Choice for Ethical Web Scraping?

Bright Data is a great choice for ethical web scraping because of its extensive proxy infrastructure, ethical practices, and advanced tools. Bright Data provides powerful features tailored for responsible data collection, such as its Proxy Manager for request control, a Web Unlocker for bypassing challenges while respecting website rules, and compliance tools to ensure lawful practices.

From our findings, Bright Data IPs are obtained with explicit consent from participants, and the company enforces strict policies to prevent abuse. Its high-speed proxies, high uptime of 99.99%, and reliability and scalability makes it an excellent tool for ethical web scraping.

Ideal Use Cases

Bright Data’s powerful proxy network and advanced scraping tools cater to a variety of use cases across industries. Its Acceptable Use Policy supports legitimate activities such as:

• Market Research and Business Intelligence: Gather insights on trends, consumer behavior, and competitors from diverse online sources.
• Website Testing and Brand Protection: Simulate user activity to ensure functionality and protect your brand across different regions
• Travel Data aggregation: Collect pricing and availability from travel platforms.
• Retail and Product Data: Extract product info, reviews, and inventory data
• Price Monitoring and Aggregation: Track competitor prices and dynamic changes.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Scrape search results and track keyword rankings.
• And more.

Bright Data’s extensive proxy network, advanced tools, and commitment to ethical practices make it a top choice for secure web scraping. While the platform’s seemingly overloaded features and cost may deter smaller businesses or beginners, its reliability, scalability, and support for a wide range of use cases ensure it remains a valuable option for mid-to-large-scale businesses. They seek efficient and ethical web scraping.

3. SOAX

SOAX is an advanced proxy service that excels in web scraping by offering a comprehensive suite of tools for overcoming the common obstacles faced in data extraction. With over 191M residential IPs spread across multiple countries, SOAX provides an effective and reliable way to bypass blocks, defeat CAPTCHAs, and navigate region-specific restrictions. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses looking to gather large volumes of data from websites that deploy sophisticated anti-bot measures.

Key Features:

• Well-Defined Ethical Guidelines: SOAX adheres to a well-defined ethical framework that ensures that businesses scrape data safely, legally, and responsibly. 
• Advanced Scraping APIs & Proxies: Provides advanced features that bypass blocks, defeats CAPTCHAs, navigates region restrictions without interruption, and supports seamless extraction of structured data from even the toughest websites.
• Automated Web Scraping: The platform’s smart APIs handle all aspects of web scraping—from proxy configurations to bypassing anti-bot measures.
• AI-Powered Data Extraction: SOAX’s AI-driven scraping technology automates data collection and adapts to dynamic content.
• Data Governance & Compliance: Maintains strict compliance with legal standards and ethical data collection practices.

What Makes SOAX a Valuable Choice for Ethical Web Scraping? 

SOAX stands out as a valuable choice for ethical web scraping due to its advanced, AI-powered scraping technologies, which enable seamless data extraction even from the most difficult-to-access websites. The service offers various specialized scraper APIs, including E-commerce, SERP, Social Media, general website crawler, and AI data scraper all optimized to provide accurate, real-time data in structured formats like JSON and CSV.

SOAX follows a strict, clearly defined ethical code to ensure safe, reliable, and transparent proxy services. The company verifies the identity of every client, ensures only verified use cases are allowed, and immediately responds to any suspicious activity. The service operates with full consent from device owners, using only real, white-listed IP addresses while respecting data privacy.

Ideal Use Cases

The following are some of the use cases that showcase how SOAX proxies support businesses in collecting valuable public data securely and responsibly:

• E-Commerce Competitive Intelligence: Collect product listings, prices, and reviews from top e-commerce websites for competitive analysis.
• SEO & SERP Monitoring: Track real-time search engine results and rankings for SEO analysis, keyword tracking, brand monitoring, and ads intelligence.
• Social Media Analytics: Scrape social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter (X), Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok to gather insights on audience engagement, sentiment analysis, and campaign performance.
• Market Research: Extract structured data from various websites, such as product catalogs, forums, and blogs, to gain insights on market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activities.
• Data Aggregation for Lead Generation: Collect contact information, business listings, and other public data from directories, websites, and databases to build targeted lead lists for marketing and outreach.
• Real-Time Event & News Scraping: Collect data from news websites, blogs, and event platforms to stay updated on trends, breaking news, and live event coverage for timely analysis or reporting.

Overall, SOAX is a highly capable, ethical web scraping service with extensive support and powerful features, but the pricing and advanced features might not suit every user, especially those with smaller budgets or less technical experience.

4. Smartproxy 

Smartproxy is yet another prominent proxy service provider that caters to businesses that value ethical data collection. With its intuitive platform, affordable pricing, strong commitment to ethical practices, and reliable proxy options, Smartproxy offers a practical solution for organizations of all sizes. The service empowers users to gather publicly accessible data responsibly while adhering to legal and ethical guidelines.

Key Features:

• Advanced Features: Rotating proxies and sticky sessions for efficient and uninterrupted data collection, and API support for integration with custom tools and automation scripts
• Ethical and Responsible Practices: Strict usage policies to prevent illegal or unethical activities like spamming or hacking.
• Reliable Performance: High success rates and minimal downtime for smooth data collection processes.
• Ease of Use: Beginner-friendly setup and tools like a Proxy Address Generator and intuitive dashboard.
• Affordable Pricing: Competitive and flexible pricing plans that cater to businesses of all sizes.

What Makes Smartproxy a Valuable Choice for Ethical Web Scraping?

Smartproxy offers a range of advanced scrapers designed to simplify and enhance ethical data collection for businesses. The eCommerce Scraping API allows users to gather structured eCommerce data with just a single API request—a good solution for monitoring prices, analyzing competitors, or tracking product trends. Meanwhile, the Web Scraping API is built for large-scale data collection with 100% success rate when retrieving large amounts of information from across the web.

For more specialized needs, Smartproxy’s SERP Scraping API provides a comprehensive solution for extracting search engine results to optimize their SEO strategies and track rankings effectively. Finally, the Social Media Scraping API helps collect real-time structured data from various social platforms, with valuable insights into trends, sentiment analysis, and audience behavior. Together, these tools provide a powerful and user-friendly suite of scraping solutions tailored to meet diverse web scraping needs.

Ideal Use Cases

Smartproxy’s web scraping services are ideal for various use cases across industries. Here are some key applications:

• eCommerce Monitoring: Track prices, analyze competitor offerings, monitor product availability, and gather insights to optimize your business strategies in the competitive online retail market.
• SEO and SERP Analysis: Extract search engine results to refine SEO strategies, monitor keyword rankings, and enhance online visibility.
• Social Media Insights: Collect real-time data from social platforms to conduct sentiment analysis, track trends, or analyze audience behavior for marketing campaigns.
• Market Research: Gather publicly available data to analyze industry trends, assess consumer demand, and develop data-driven business strategies.
• Lead Generation: Extract publicly available professional or company data to build high-quality B2B prospect lists for sales and marketing efforts.

Smartproxy co-founded the Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative to demonstrate its commitment to ethical web scraping practices. Although its network may be smaller than some competitors, it distinguishes itself with its strong commitment to responsible use and remains an affordable choice for small and mid-sized businesses and startups.

5. IPRoyal

IPRoyal is a newer entrant, IPRoyal that has rapidly established itself as a reliable and trusted proxy service. It’s a solid option for businesses and individuals in need of secure and ethical web scraping solutions. Their proxy services include Rotating Residential, ISP, Datacenter, and Mobile proxies. IPRoyal’s proxy pool boasts over 32M IP addresses from real household devices, spread across 195+ locations.

Key Features:

• Residential Proxies: Sourced from real household devices with low block and CAPTCHA rates for effective scraping.
• Global Coverage: Access to proxies in over 195+ locations worldwide for seamless bypassing of geo-restrictions.
• User Consent Model: Proxies are sourced ethically through the Pawns.app, where users willingly share their IPs in exchange for compensation.
• Flexible Proxy Options: Offers rotating residential proxies and sticky sessions to suit various scraping needs.
• High Scalability: Millions of IPs available to support both small and large-scale scraping projects.
• Enhanced Privacy: Proxies are designed to ensure secure and anonymous web scraping.

What Makes IPRoyal a Valuable Choice for Ethical Web Scraping?

IPRoyal offers a user-friendly interface, 99.9% uptime, reliable network, and strong commitment to ethical sourcing and usage. Its Residential proxies are sourced from real household devices, resulting in exceptionally low block and CAPTCHA rates, which greatly enhances the efficiency of web scraping.

Our findings show that IPRoyal responsibly sources its proxies with clear user consent that ensures compliance with global data regulations. Through its Pawns.app, individuals can join the network by sharing their IPs in exchange for compensation. This sets it apart from services that use questionable methods to obtain proxies.

Ideal Use Cases

Here are some of the ideal use cases for IPRoyal web scraping proxies:

• Social Media Data Collection: Extract valuable insights from social media platforms.
• SEO Proxies for SERP Scraping: Gather search engine data for SEO optimization.
• Web Scraping Proxies: Efficiently collect data from various websites.
• Privacy Advantages: Enhance online privacy and anonymity.
• Email Protection: Safeguard email accounts and prevent spam or phishing attempts.
• Unblocking Restricted Websites: Access geo-restricted or blocked content effortlessly.
• And more.

IPRoyal’s proxy network is a bit smaller compared to some top competitors and may not offer certain advanced features available elsewhere. However, it continues to be a dependable and a popular budget-friendly choice for ethical web scraping, backed by its strong dedication to responsible practices.

6. NetNut

NetNut is a proxy provider with a suite of proxy solutions and web scraping tools designed to empower businesses with seamless access to public web data. Whether you need Rotating Residential, Static Residential, Datacenter, or Mobile proxies, NetNut delivers high-performance, reliable services that cater to diverse business needs.

Key Features:

• Extensive Proxy Network: NetNut features over 85M Residential IPs across 195 countries, and a powerful rotating proxy service that bypasses CAPTCHAs, reCAPTCHAs.
• Specialized APIs for Scraping: NetNut offers dedicated scraping APIs such as the SERP Scraper API, which enables quick and scalable retrieval of search engine data, and the LinkedIn Scraper API, designed for extracting professional and company profile data efficiently.
• High-Speed Performance: With direct ISP connectivity, NetNut delivers excellent speeds, making it ideal for time-sensitive or large-scale scraping tasks.
• Scalability: Its infrastructure is designed to handle high-demand operations, catering to businesses of all sizes with flexible solutions.

What Makes NetNut  a Valuable Choice for Ethical Web Scraping?

NetNut offers powerful scraping tools designed to simplify and enhance the data collection process while ensuring ethical practices. Its Website Unblocker is a robust solution for bypassing advanced anti-bot systems for smooth access to data from websites that employ strict blocking mechanisms. This tool is particularly valuable for businesses that need reliable and uninterrupted data collection.

The SERP Scraper API allows users to retrieve search engine result page (SERP) data at scale for SEO optimization, keyword tracking, and market analysis. NetNut’s LinkedIn Scraper API is tailored for extracting large-scale LinkedIn data, such as professional profiles and company information. These tools are designed for efficiency and reliability so that businesses can ethically gather the data they require while complying with legal and industry standards.

Ideal Use Cases

The following are some ideal use cases that showcase how NetNut proxies support businesses in collecting valuable public data securely and responsibly:

• Search Engine Data Collection (SERP Scraping): With its SERP Scraper API, NetNut excels at retrieving search engine results quickly and efficiently. Businesses can use this for SEO research, keyword tracking, and competitor analysis.
• LinkedIn Data Extraction: The LinkedIn Scraper API enables scalable collection of professional profiles and company data. It is invaluable for recruitment agencies, market research firms, and B2B marketers looking to build comprehensive databases.
• Market and Competitor Analysis: NetNut proxies allow businesses to monitor competitors’ pricing, product offerings, and trends across eCommerce platforms without detection, ensuring informed strategic decisions.
• Ad Verification: Advertisers can use NetNut to verify how their ads are displayed across regions.
• Retail and eCommerce Intelligence: With its website unblocker, NetNut helps businesses collect product prices, reviews, and availability data to optimize pricing strategies and improve offerings.
• Academic and Research Data Collection: Researchers can use NetNut proxies to access and gather public datasets from restricted or geo-blocked sources while maintaining ethical compliance.

NetNut, like many other proxy service providers, emphasizes responsible and ethical use of its proxy network. However, its stance on ethical practices does not appear to be as strongly defined as some of its competitors. Notwithstanding, its speed, reliability, and powerful tools make it a solid option for businesses needing efficient web scraping.