Why Your Proxy Got Blocked, in Plain English
The short version: when a website turns away a request that came through your proxy, it's rarely random. Sites limit how many requests they'll accept (rate limits) and judge how trustworthy an IP looks (its reputation). When a proxy does get blocked, it's usually because requests went out too quickly, the kind of IP didn't suit the site, or the site's rules weren't followed. The good news is that each one has a simple, fair fix.
Below we take each reason in turn, with the setup that keeps legitimate data collection running while you stay inside the site's terms of service and the law. A proxy can't promise access to any site, and the site's terms always take priority.
Written and kept up to date by the people who run Budget Proxies. If a step no longer matches what you see on your screen, let us know through the contact page.
What this guide walks you through
- Were your requests going out too fast?
- Was it the wrong kind of IP for that site?
- Did the IP have a poor reputation, or the wrong location?
- Or does the site simply not allow it?
- Starting off on the right foot
Were your requests going out too fast?
Speed is the usual culprit. Lots of requests in a short time from one IP look like a single, very busy visitor and run into rate limits. What helps is slowing down and spreading out: add random pauses, limit how many requests run at once, and use rotation, which swaps your IP automatically, so no single IP handles more than a small share of the requests. That one change sorts out most blocks.
Was it the wrong kind of IP for that site?
Some websites look at who an IP address belongs to: a home internet provider, a mobile network or a hosting firm. A datacenter IP, which comes from a server company, works well on lightly protected sites, but on a well-protected one it's trusted less than a residential IP from a real home connection. Pick the type to suit each site, and save Residential Premium, our curated pool, for the hardest cases; more of your requests should then get through.
Did the IP have a poor reputation, or the wrong location?
If an IP's network has sent abusive traffic in the past, sites trust it less, and an IP in a different place from the content you're asking for can look out of place too. Two things help here: IPs from a clean, ethically sourced pool, and an IP location that matches the content. The table lists each common cause next to its fair fix.
| Cause | What you notice | Fair fix |
|---|---|---|
| Going too fast | Errors soon after a flurry of requests | Slow down, add random pauses, rotate IPs |
| Wrong kind of IP | Server IPs turned away by a well-protected site | Try a residential or premium IP on that site |
| Poor IP reputation | Lots of challenges or refusals | Pick a clean, consent-based pool |
| Location mismatch | The wrong regional page, or nothing at all | Choose an IP in the content's country |
| Site rules | Access restricted by the terms | Accept the answer; look for an official API |
Or does the site simply not allow it?
Not every block is a technical problem. Sometimes the site is just applying its own terms. Switching IPs doesn't free you from those rules, and it shouldn't be used to try. Fair collection means:
- Stay with public data, and check the site's terms of service and robots.txt (the file telling automated visitors what's off limits).
- Keep your request rate reasonable and the number of parallel requests low.
- If there's an official API or data feed, use that instead.
- If a site restricts access, take that as a no and don't push against it.
Used this way, proxies help legitimate data collection run reliably and grow with your project.
Starting off on the right foot
No setup is block-proof, and good habits matter more than any product. Still, it helps to start with sound parts. Here's what you start with: ethically sourced pools, 99.9% uptime and instant delivery. Plans connect over HTTP/HTTPS or SOCKS5, you log in with a username and password or by whitelisting your own IP, and you can choose from 55+ countries. Work out your likely data on the proxy calculator, look at the pricing page, or buy now. Related reading: our guide to seeing fewer CAPTCHAs.
Questions beginners ask
Not sure what to buy? Start at step 1
Here are our four types, from the lowest price per GB upwards. Try a small amount of the first one that could work for your project, and only move up a step if a quick test lets you down.
Sites without bot protection, big batches of public pages, automation and SEO tools
Protected sites, ad checks, market research and seeing what one place really sees
Apps and platforms built for phones, plus testing your own mobile app
Well-guarded sites, where a better success rate is worth the higher price
Small first order? Datacenter from $2.49/GB · billed on the data you actually move · ready straight away · 30 days to use it · no traffic logs.
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Read the guide →Got a particular job in mind?
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