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Bright Data vs NetNut: Pricing, Features & Performance 2026

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Table of contents
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Key takeaways:

  • NetNut was taken down on July 2, 2026, by Google and the FBI, which rendered their entire proxy network useless.
  • Bright Data provides a massive IP pool with reliable enterprise-grade infrastructure, but comes at a steeper cost.
  • MarsProxies offers more affordable rates, non-expiring residential traffic for irregular workloads, and unlimited bandwidth on ISP, datacenter, and mobile proxies.

NetNut’s network was found to have ties to the “Popa” botnet, which led to the joint action of the FBI and Google. On July 2, 2026, NetNut was taken down, leaving all its customers stranded. This left customers looking for NetNut alternatives.

NetNut previously held a large share of the enterprise space using millions of residential IP addresses sourced from consumer devices. Bright Data, on the other hand, has a massive infrastructure with hundreds of millions of IPs and enterprise tools.

Bright Data vs NetNut: Quick comparison

NetNut used to provide datacenter, residential, mobile, and ISP proxies at a premium price point. While Bright Data’s pricing is similar, they back it up with a massive 400M+ IP pool built for granular targeting and high concurrent request volumes.

Bright Data vs NetNut: Pricing

Data extraction pipelines consume massive bandwidth, which makes pricing models a deciding factor. NetNut offered bulk bandwidth plans that attracted heavy users, while Bright Data offers both pay-as-you-go and monthly plans.

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Bright Data vs NetNut: Performance

While NetNut claimed its fast response times came from direct ISP connections, Google and the FBI linked its network to compromised consumer devices, such as smart TVs and streaming boxes. Bright Data, by contrast, uses an optimized gateway architecture built to maintain stable connections under high load.

Bright Data vs NetNut vs MarsProxies

To find a proper alternative for a platform that’s no longer operational, you need to look at your needs and pricing. Bright Data, for example, provides massive global reach and advanced APIs for enterprise-scale operations, but comes at a heavy price tag.

Alternatively, MarsProxies offers a highly capable and affordable option for smaller teams. We deliver unlimited bandwidth on our ISP, datacenter, and mobile proxies, while the residential plans use a straightforward pay-per-gigabyte model with non-expiring data.

MarsProxies doesn’t, however, match Bright Data’s enterprise infrastructure, so if your business has enterprise needs, you’d be better off using it. But if you don’t need a massive infrastructure, MarsProxies is the better choice due to its pricing and traffic flexibility.

Final verdict

For former NetNut customers, Bright Data is the better choice if you’re looking for enterprise features, a massive IP pool, and are prepared to pay an enterprise price.

But for casual or irregular users, MarsProxies offers exceptional value for money with unlimited bandwidth and non-expiring traffic on select proxy types.

Frequently asked questions

Is NetNut still operating?

No. The FBI seized NetNut’s domains on July 2, 2026, and its parent company, Alarum, paused NetNut’s services. As of October 2026, netnut.io still shows the FBI seizure notice, so you can’t purchase or access NetNut proxies.

Is Bright Data a good alternative to NetNut?

Yes. It has a pool of 400M+ residential IPs and provides a range of enterprise features, but it no longer sells mobile proxies. If you need mobile proxies, you’ll have to find an additional provider, and MarsProxies may be one of them.

How do I migrate from NetNut to another proxy provider?

Replace the NetNut gateway addresses and credentials with your new provider’s, and test the connection to make sure everything works as intended.

Does Bright Data require KYC?

Yes. It requires manual KYC approval for all new residential proxy service access. They only approve registered businesses with corporate email domains.

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