Let’s not sugarcoat it—proxies are the backbone of modern web automation. Whether you are scraping thousands of product listings, managing multiple accounts, or testing how a site behaves from different corners of the globe, proxies are the secret sauce that makes it all possible. But here’s the catch: not all proxies work the same way. And if you pick the wrong kind? Things break. Or worse, you get blocked before your script even starts to breathe.
So let’s talk about the big question—sticky or rotating proxies?
Think of rotating proxies like a constantly shifting disguise. Every request you send goes out with a new identity, a fresh IP. That makes them ideal when you are trying to blend in, especially during high-volume scraping or crawling sessions. You stay off the radar, duck under rate limits, and make it harder for websites to trace your moves. If anonymity is your top priority, this is your go-to.
Now, sticky proxies—these work differently. They give you the same IP for a longer stretch of time, usually for a set session or time window. That makes them perfect when you need to maintain state. Think shopping carts, login sessions, or anything where continuity matters. You do not want to add three items to your cart only to have the server forget who you are between clicks. Sticky proxies solve that by keeping you tethered to one identity long enough to get things done.
But which is better?
Well, it depends. If you are trying to scrape at scale without getting blocked—rotating proxies win. If you are doing something that requires a relationship with the server—sticky is your friend. They are not rivals. They are tools. You just need to know when to use which.
Now here’s a little detail most people miss—rotating proxies are not just for scraping. Mobile networks already use them. Every time your phone jumps towers or resets its connection, you are probably getting a new IP. That is natural IP rotation. So yes, rotating IPs are not only normal, they are everywhere. And absolutely safe—if you are not misusing them.
Which brings us to legality. Are rotating proxies legal?
Yes. They are just tools. But how you use them? That is where legality enters the chat. Use them to break into systems, steal personal data, or spam websites—then you have a problem. But for competitive research, public data collection, or region-based testing? You are on solid ground, especially if you are sticking to terms of service and ethical data use.
But wait—what is a proxy really?
It is your digital middleman. It sits between you and the internet. It forwards your requests, filters traffic, adds a layer of protection. Some proxies act like firewalls. Others enforce browsing rules. Many just make you look like someone else. They have no magic powers, but when set up right, they can do a lot more than just reroute traffic.
Rotating proxies, specifically, work by changing the IP address tied to your requests—either by time interval or per request. That rotation makes it tough for sites to track your behavior. One moment you are in Paris, the next, New York. Good luck blocking that pattern.
Still, proxies are not perfect. A major downside? Most of them do not encrypt traffic. That means anyone with the right tools could peek at what you are sending. So no, proxies are not bulletproof. They are just really good decoys. If you need both anonymity and encryption, use a VPN or stack them together for better coverage.
Speaking of VPNs, people often ask: does NordVPN rotate IPs?
Kind of. Every time you connect, you are likely getting a different IP—shared among users on that server. If you want consistency, they offer dedicated IPs too. But for rotating? You are still working within a fixed pool, which limits the randomness compared to a robust residential proxy network.
And yes, NordVPN has systems in place to prevent abusive scraping. They monitor for patterns that look like bots going wild. That does not mean scraping is forbidden—it means if you go overboard, they will notice. Fair, right?
Now let’s get real—can proxies be traced?
Yes. Any proxy that logs activity can be traced. Your original IP might still be sitting in a log file somewhere. The key is using proxies from providers that either do not keep logs or offer transparency about what they store. That’s the difference between privacy theater and actual anonymity.
So where does this leave us?
If you are building a scraper that needs scale, go with rotating proxies. You stay low profile and reduce your chances of getting blacklisted. If your use case depends on persistence—sessions, authentication, or account management—sticky proxies make your life easier. And if you are doing both? Use both. Split traffic. Mix strategies.
The best proxy setup is the one you barely notice. The one that just works. The one that gets you the data without setting off alarms. And that starts by choosing the right kind of proxy for the job in front of you—not just the one that looks shiny on paper.