Bright Data vs Shifter
We put Bright Data and Shifter side by side on price, pool depth, coverage and reliability. We benchmark each option on the metrics that decide success: anonymity, uptime, geo-coverage, and cost per GB.
Bright Data (Residential & ISP, $8.40/GB) and Shifter (Residential (Rotating), $12.99/5 IPs/mo) both target serious proxy users, but they win on different axes. Bright Data is cheaper ($8.40/GB vs $12.99/5 IPs/mo) — roughly 2× the gap.
Bright Data operates the world's largest disclosed residential proxy network. Their compliance infrastructure makes them the default for regulated industries. At $8.40/GB they are 12x more expensive than Cheapest-Proxies.
Shifter has pivoted to residential backconnect proxies with good rotation quality. However the per-IP monthly pricing model becomes very expensive at scale compared to Cheapest-Proxies.
Bright Data vs Shifter: the numbers
Spec-by-spec
| Price | $8.40/GB vs $12.99/5 IPs/mo |
|---|---|
| Pool size | 72M+ IPs vs 31M+ IPs |
| Countries | 195 vs 195 |
| Uptime | 99.8% vs 99.0% |
| Speed | Fast vs Moderate |
| Support | Business Hours + Enterprise vs Live Chat |
| Anonymity | High vs High |
| Rating | 4.7★ vs 4★ |
Bright Data wins on
- Largest disclosed residential pool (72M+ IPs)
- Strict ethical sourcing and compliance
- Excellent developer tooling and APIs
- Dedicated enterprise support
Shifter wins on
- 31M+ residential IPs
- 195 countries covered
- Good rotation speeds
- Backconnect architecture
Verdict
Our pick: Bright Data. It edges ahead on our rating (4.7★ vs 4★) and is cheaper at $8.40/GB. That said, choose Shifter if you specifically need 31m+ residential ips.
Our take: match the proxy type to the target, keep sessions sticky where you need continuity, and never overpay for capacity you won't use.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bright Data or Shifter cheaper?
Which is better, Bright Data or Shifter?
What pool sizes do they offer?
How much should this cost?
For most buyers, the winning move is to start on the lowest verified price with a large pool, then scale once success rates hold.