Bright Data vs Smartproxy
Detailed comparison between Bright Data and Smartproxy (Now Decodo). Analyze features, pricing, performance, and user feedback to make the best choice for your needs.
Quick Overview
Compare key features and metrics at a glance
Bright Data
Residential
Bright Data (formerly Luminati) is the industry leader in residential proxy services, trusted by 20,000+ customers worldwide. With 150M+ ethically-sourced IPs from 195 countries and a 99.99% uptime SLA, Bright Data sets the gold standard for enterprise-grade proxy solutions.
Key Features
Smartproxy (Now Decodo)
Residential
Smartproxy offers fast, reliable residential proxies trusted by 85K+ clients worldwide. With 115M+ ethically-sourced IPs and the fastest response times in the industry (<0.6s), Smartproxy delivers exceptional value for businesses of all sizes.
Key Features
Head-to-Head Metrics
| Metric | Bright Data | Smartproxy (Now Decodo) | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
User Rating | 4.9 (2850+ reviews) | 4.8 (1250+ reviews) | Bright Data |
Starting Price | $4.20/GB Premium | $2.00/GB Residential | Smartproxy (Now Decodo) |
Performance | ~0.7s Response | <0.6s Response | Use Case Dependent |
IP Pool Size | 150M+ IPs | 125M+ IPs | Bright Data |
Geographic Coverage | 195+ Countries | 195+ Countries | Smartproxy (Now Decodo) |
Key Features Breakdown
1Bright Data
150M+ Ethically-sourced IPs
Largest residential IP pool in the industry
99.99% Uptime SLA
Industry-leading reliability guarantee
ISO 27001 Certified
Enterprise-grade security standards
HTTP/3 & QUIC Support
Latest protocol technology
Free Proxy Manager
Advanced management tools included
24/7 Human Support
Expert assistance when you need it
2Smartproxy (Now Decodo)
115M+ Ethically-sourced IPs
Large residential IP pool for reliable rotation
99.99% Uptime
Consistent service availability
<0.6s Response Time
Industry-leading speed performance
Unlimited Sessions
No restrictions on concurrent connections
Free Geo-targeting
Target specific countries and cities
24/7 Support
Round-the-clock customer assistance
What Users Say
Bright Data - Positive Feedback
"We've been using its proxies and so far we've faced no issues."
Robust data structuring, smooth geo-location switching, high availability
"LinkedIn dataset very well structured" (Indian School of Business)
Smartproxy (Now Decodo) - Positive Feedback
"Fast speeds. Good customer service. Reliable proxy performance."
Intuitive dashboard and seamless setup (per G2's Reddit mentions)
"Incredibly impressed!" – easy integration praised
Bright Data - User Concerns
Strict KYC and complex onboarding ("requires users to justify their use cases")
Occasional Cloudflare bypass issues despite Web Unlocker
Interface complexity can overwhelm beginners
Smartproxy (Now Decodo) - User Concerns
Questions about the rebrand's motivation
Pricing slightly higher than some competitors
Fewer advanced enterprise features
1Bright Data Overall Sentiment
Respected as industry-leading but can be overkill for smaller projects. Recommended for enterprise-level scraping, with a learning curve to consider.
2Smartproxy (Now Decodo) Overall Sentiment
Solid mid-range choice offering best-value for most users. Excellent support, with rebrand and pricing as minor caveats.
1Choose Bright Data
Bright Data (formerly Luminati) is the industry leader in residential proxy services, trusted by 20,000+ customers worldwide. With 150M+ ethically-sourced IPs from 195 countries and a 99.99% uptime SLA, Bright Data sets the gold standard for enterprise-grade proxy solutions.
2Choose Smartproxy (Now Decodo)
Smartproxy offers fast, reliable residential proxies trusted by 85K+ clients worldwide. With 115M+ ethically-sourced IPs and the fastest response times in the industry (<0.6s), Smartproxy delivers exceptional value for businesses of all sizes.
Bright Data vs Smartproxy (Now Decodo): Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper: Bright Data or Smartproxy (Now Decodo)?
Smartproxy (Now Decodo) has the lower entry price at $2.00/GB, compared to Bright Data at $4.20/GB. Note that the cheapest tier is not always the best value — compare per-GB costs at your expected monthly volume.
Which has the larger IP pool: Bright Data or Smartproxy (Now Decodo)?
Bright Data advertises the larger pool (150M+ IPs), versus Smartproxy (Now Decodo) with 125M+ IPs. A larger pool generally means better IP rotation and lower block rates on protected targets.
Is Bright Data or Smartproxy (Now Decodo) better for web scraping?
Both providers support web scraping. Bright Data (Residential) reports ~0.7s response with coverage in 195+ countries, while Smartproxy (Now Decodo) (Residential) reports <0.2s avg speed across 195+ locations. For heavily protected targets, prioritize residential pool size and success rate; for high-volume scraping of simpler sites, datacenter speed and bandwidth pricing matter more.
Which provider has better user ratings: Bright Data or Smartproxy (Now Decodo)?
Bright Data holds the higher rating at 4.9/5 from 2850+ reviews, versus Smartproxy (Now Decodo) at 4.8/5 from 1250+ reviews.
Should I choose Bright Data or Smartproxy (Now Decodo)?
Choose Bright Data if you need 150m+ ethically-sourced ips — it leads with its "Editor's Choice" positioning. Choose Smartproxy (Now Decodo) if 125m+ ips matters more to your workflow. Both offer entry plans ($4.20/GB vs $2.00/GB), so testing each against your real targets is the most reliable way to decide.
Data points are based on provider-published specifications and our independent review process. Read how we test and review proxy providers.
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