IPRoyal vs SOAX: Which Proxy Provider Is Better in 2026?

Key takeaways

• IPRoyal is easier to start with for smaller or irregular workloads. It offers residential pay-as-you-go traffic that does not expire.

• SOAX has a lower entry-level per-GB rate, but its paid plans require monthly subscriptions. Its free Sandbox plan still requires at least $25 in prepaid credits before using the proxies.

• IPRoyal gives you session persistence of up to 7 days. SOAX can use the same IP across multiple requests, but a session expires after 60 seconds of inactivity.

• Both providers offer country, city, and state-level targeting. SOAX also offers ISP targeting on its Sandbox and standard paid plans, with ASN and ZIP code targeting available under the Scale and Enterprise plans.

IPRoyal and SOAX are excellent choices for most proxy use cases. However, the better option depends on the trade-offs your workload can accommodate. IPRoyal gives you more flexibility in proxy types, session duration, and pricing, while SOAX focuses heavily on residential and mobile proxies, granular targeting, and web scraping.

This comparison puts the two providers side by side so you can see how their features and pricing compare before choosing the best fit for your workflow.

IPRoyal vs SOAX: Proxy comparison

The following table compares IPRoyal vs SOAX products and features, so you can see which one is best suited for your workflow:

Network size and proxy types

IPRoyal is the better option when you need stable IPs that look residential to the target site, since it offers standalone ISP proxies. It also fits the bill when you need static datacenter IPs since SOAX does not list datacenter proxies among its available products.

If you need residential or mobile IPs, then the choice becomes more nuanced.

SOAX is the better choice when the target website is aggressive about blocking datacenter proxies, and your workflow demands a large pool of IPs, thanks to its pool of 155M+ residential IPs.

SOAX also offers a larger IP pool and greater documented location support for mobile proxies, with 30M+ IPs across 195+ geolocations. That makes it a good choice when you need access to a diverse set of locations, and your target expects mobile traffic.

Targeting options

Both IPRoyal and SOAX cover the standard geographic targeting most workflows need: country, state/region, and city. If you need to take it a step further and target a particular ISP or ASN, both providers can still work, but at different levels.

SOAX offers ISP targeting on all standard plans, with ASN and ZIP targeting available on Scale and Enterprise plans. IPRoyal’s targeting varies by proxy type. Its rotating mobile proxies support country and city/region targeting, plus preferred mobile carrier selection.

Dedicated mobile proxies offer country-level targeting, with city targeting only in the US. ISP and datacenter proxies offer additional targeting through IPRoyal’s ‘Extra Requirements’ option.

Rotation and sticky sessions

If your task requires a fresh IP on each request, such as when scraping data or monitoring ads, both IPRoyal and SOAX support per-request rotation on their rotating residential and mobile proxies.

Both providers also support timed IP rotation, although the intervals differ. IPRoyal lets you rotate every 1, 10, or 30 minutes, while SOAX offers rotation intervals from 10 seconds to one week.

The bigger difference is sticky sessions. IPRoyal allows you to keep the same IP from one second to seven days, while SOAX sessions end if you send no requests for 60 seconds.

Naturally, IPRoyal is the stronger choice for irregular tasks that need a persistent IP for longer. If rotation control is one of your main priorities, see our guide to the best rotating proxies for a broader comparison of providers.

IPRoyal vs SOAX performance and reliability

Note: success rate, uptime, and speed figures come from each provider's own published data.

IPRoyal vs SOAX pricing

Here is how IPRoyal and SOAX compare on pricing, so you can see which plan best fits your needs.

IPRoyal pricing

IPRoyal prices each proxy product differently. Here is how the prices compare:

A few key things to keep in mind:

• Residential pay-as-you-go traffic does not expire, which is important if your usage is irregular

• IPRoyal offers a 5% discount on residential subscriptions

• Larger commitments and purchases include higher discounts

SOAX pricing

SOAX uses a credit-based pricing system. You can choose between Sandbox, which has no subscription fee or credits, and four monthly plans that come with credits.

Here is how the plans work:

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• The locations you target affect the final price: Mobile and residential proxies use the same rates. However, Tier 1 locations like the US, Germany, and France cost the most, while Tier 3 locations like Monaco, Nepal, and Lesotho cost the least under the five monthly plans.

• Sandbox has no monthly fee, but using proxies costs credits: You can purchase credits whenever you need them. SOAX credits are consumed using FIFO and last for 60 days from the date of purchase. It’s also worthwhile to note that you pay the highest per-GB rates under Sandbox.

• The higher the plan, the lower the cost per GB: Moving from Builder to Team reduces the cost that you pay per GB.

• Proxy package and team limits increase with each plan: Sandbox allows two packages and one user, Builder three and two, Team five and three, Scale seven and five, and Enterprise 10 and 10, respectively.

• Support improves after Sandbox: Sandbox gets basic support, while Builder and above get 24/7 support.

• Advanced targeting starts with Scale: Scale and Enterprise add ASN and ZIP targeting on top of the standard location and ISP filters.

• Enterprise adds the features for larger operations: The plan includes dedicated IP pools, postpaid overage after business verification, a Customer Success Manager, and a Premium SLA.

Which is cheaper?

IPRoyal and SOAX use different pricing systems and minimum purchases, so advertised per-GB rates do not tell the whole story. To make the comparison practical, we'll look at the minimum amount you need to spend for US residential and mobile proxies.

IPRoyal charges the same residential rate regardless of location, while SOAX groups locations into three pricing tiers. The US is in Tier 1, SOAX's most expensive tier.

For mobile proxies, IPRoyal offers two products: Rotating Mobile proxies and Dedicated Mobile proxies. SOAX, on the other hand, charges the same geographic-tier rate for mobile and residential traffic, with dedicated IPs available under the enterprise plans.

So, which is cheaper? That depends on how much traffic you need and how quickly you will use it.

SOAX is cheaper per GB for US residential and rotating mobile proxies on Sandbox. Its rate is $5/GB for either network, compared with $7.35/GB for IPRoyal Residential PAYG and $6.80/GB for IPRoyal Rotating Mobile Proxies.

However, IPRoyal is cheaper to start with because it requires less upfront spending. SOAX requires at least $25 in prepaid credits under Sandbox, and unused credits expire after 60 days, whereas IPRoyal's Residential PAYG traffic does not expire.

And before paying for either provider, it is worth knowing what happens if you want to test the service or request a refund:

Ease of use and proxy management

The following table will help you understand which provider makes it easier to configure and manage your proxies.

IPRoyal vs SOAX by use case

The better option between IPRoyal and SOAX depends on what you want the proxies to do. IPRoyal is more ideal for smaller and flexible workloads, while SOAX becomes more compelling when targeting and precision matter at scale.

IPRoyal or SOAX: Which should you choose?

Choose IPRoyal if...

• You want to spend less upfront or use proxies irregularly
• You need longer sticky sessions
• You want dedicated mobile proxies
• You need static ISP or datacenter proxies

Choose SOAX if...

• You need to target specific ISPs, ASNs, or ZIP codes

• Your workflow requires a large pool of rotating residential or mobile IPs

• You have sustained high-volume usage

Test both if...

• Your target is difficult to access consistently

• You need a narrow combination of location and network attributes

• You will be sending enough traffic that failed requests materially affect your total cost

Alternatives to IPRoyal and SOAX

If you need more proxy provider options to test for your workflow, here are a few alternatives to consider:

Read our comparison of the best proxy providers for a broader look at your options. And if you’re interested in residential proxies, see our analysis of the 10 best residential proxy providers in 2026.

Final verdict

The simplest way to choose between IPRoyal and SOAX is to consider how you plan to use your proxies and weigh each provider’s pros and cons.

IPRoyal makes more sense when flexibility and lower upfront costs matter, while SOAX is a better option when you need more specific targeting options and scaling is important.

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