Decodo is the rebranded version of Smartproxy, one of the more recognizable names in the residential proxy space. The rebrand kept the same infrastructure and proxy pools but added updated pricing tiers and a heavier push toward bundled scraping tools. It works fine for larger teams that need an all-in-one setup, but the subscription model and higher entry costs make it a tough fit for smaller projects.
In this article, we'll explore what Decodo offers, where it falls short, and why Proxyon is the stronger alternative.
Decodo's Pricing and Plans
Residential proxies start at $3.75/GB on the 3 GB plan and scale down to $2.00/GB at 1,000 GB, all billed monthly. The pay-as-you-go option is limited to one GB at a time at $3.5/GB, making it impractical for real workloads. Pricing also shifts by product: datacenter proxies are billed per IP, mobile proxies start at $4.5/GB, and the Site Unblocker is billed per request. That inconsistency makes it harder than it should be to pick the right plan.
For smaller or intermittent workloads, the entry cost adds up fast. Proxyon keeps it simple at $1.75/GB with no subscription and a $5 minimum deposit.
Decodo's Proxy Types and Features
Decodo covers all four main proxy types: residential, datacenter, ISP, and mobile. The residential network offers city-level geo-targeting with rotating IPs on every request or sticky sessions up to 30 minutes, across a pool of 115M+ IPs in 195+ locations.
Beyond proxies, Decodo bundles a Site Unblocker, SERP Scraping API, eCommerce Scraping API, and Social Media Scraping API. Useful for teams that want everything in one platform, but if you only need proxies, you end up paying for tools you don't use.
Proxyon: A Flexible Alternative to Decodo
Proxyon is built around pay-as-you-go access with no subscription and no balance expiry. Residential proxies start at $1.75/GB, datacenter proxies cover faster and cheaper targets, and IPv6 proxies handle high-volume use cases.
No renewal charges, no tier upgrades to worry about. Proxyon also offers free tools on the platform, such as an IPv6 Tester and a Proxy Formatter, so you can verify and format proxies without a third-party service.
Final Thoughts
Decodo works well for high-volume teams, but the subscription model makes it expensive for smaller workloads. Proxyon gives you residential proxies at $1.75/GB with no subscription and a $5 minimum deposit. Same results, less overhead.
