What is a residential proxy? Why multi-account users need one, how to choose, and how to check if an IP is clean

One of our warranty rules says bans caused by the buyer's IP are not covered. People often ask what's so special about the IP. Here's the full answer.

Why platforms care about your IP

When Facebook, TikTok or Google decide whether an account is a normal user, where it logs in from is one of the biggest signals.

Picture a US account that has always been used on home internet in the US. One day it logs in from a datacenter IP that hundreds of other accounts are also using. What would you conclude? Most likely a checkpoint, possibly a disabled account.

The types of IP

Datacenter IPs. Cloud servers and most cheap VPNs use them. Fast and cheap, but platforms instantly recognize them as not-a-home-connection. The worst choice for accounts.

Rotating residential IPs. These come from real home broadband, so traffic looks like a normal user. The catch: the address changes every connection or every few minutes. Good for registration and scraping, where you don't need the same IP for long.

Static residential (ISP) IPs. Residential type, but fixed. Best for warming up accounts, running ads and logging into anything important. One account, one IP, the same address for months.

Short version: static residential for long-term accounts, rotating residential when you need lots of fresh IPs, and keep datacenter IPs away from accounts that matter.

How to check if an IP is clean

Connect to the proxy and open an IP lookup site such as ipinfo.io or Scamalytics. Look at three things:

• Type. ISP or Residential is good. Hosting or Data Center means datacenter
• Location. The country and city you expect
• Risk or fraud score. Lower is better. A high score usually means the IP has been abused

A very practical test: open Facebook or Google and see whether you get challenged right away.

Using it properly

One account, one fixed IP. Don't log ten accounts into one IP, and don't move one account between IPs every day.

Match the account's country. Vietnamese accounts on Vietnamese IPs, US accounts on US IPs.

Separate browser environments. With several accounts, give each its own browser profile (an antidetect browser, or at least separate browser profiles). Otherwise cookies and fingerprints link them even if the IPs differ.

Time zone and language. A US proxy with your computer set to another time zone and language looks unnatural too.

How this relates to our warranty

Accounts are covered based on the first login. If that first login happens on a heavily abused datacenter IP, or from a completely different country, and the account gets locked or disabled, that isn't a defect in the account and we can't cover it. Getting the IP right before you log in protects your money.

We sell static and rotating residential proxies in many countries; each listing states the type and duration. Next, read First login on a purchased Facebook account.