# Proxies

Proxies are one of the most valuable resources for expanding your botting setup. They allow you to **run multiple tasks efficiently**, reduce bans, and increase your chances of successful checkouts.

This guide will cover:

* **What proxies are and why they matter**
* **Different types of proxies (Residential vs. ISP)**
* **How to choose the right proxies**
* **Pricing differences & purchasing methods**
* **How to use them effectively with bots**
* **Best practices for maximizing success**

***

## **What Are Proxies?**

A **proxy** acts as an **intermediary** between your computer and the internet. Instead of connecting directly to a website, your request first goes through a **proxy server**, which then forwards it to the website. This process **masks your real IP address** and makes it appear as if your request is coming from a different location.

***

## **How Proxies Work in Botting**

1️⃣ **You send a request** (e.g., trying to purchase a product).\
2️⃣ **The request goes through the proxy server.**\
3️⃣ **The proxy assigns a different IP address** to your request.\
4️⃣ **The website sees the proxy’s IP** instead of your own.

✅ **Prevents bans**\
✅ **Allows multiple tasks**\
✅ **Reduces detection risks** by making each bot request appear unique

***

## **Refract Sites vs. Non-Refract Sites**

Some sites require different proxy strategies depending on their **anti-bot measures** and detection methods.

### **Supported Sites for Refract**

Refract currently supports botting on the following sites:

🔹 **Walmart**\
🔹 **Amazon (Worldwide)**\
🔹 **Amazon Freebies**\
🔹 **Best Buy US**\
🔹 **Target**\
🔹 **Apple (Global)**

📌 **Pro Tip:**\
Make sure you are using the **correct type of proxies for each site** to avoid unnecessary bans or checkout failures.

***

## **Choosing the Right Proxies**

### **1. Types of Proxies & Why They Matter**

Different proxies serve different purposes. Using the right type will **significantly impact your botting success**, but they also differ in **how they handle bans and detection**.

### **📌 Residential (Resi) Proxies**

🏠 **Uses Real Home IPs** – Harder to detect since they come from actual ISPs.\
♻   **Constantly Cycles IPs** – Since residential proxies pull from a **huge pool of real IPs**, they can **rotate frequently**, making them harder to ban.\
🐢 **Slightly Slower** – More secure but can be slower than ISP proxies.\
💰 **Pricing:** **Metered (Pay per GB of bandwidth).**\
✅ **Best For:** Walmart, Target (if Shape is very bad), and sites with **aggressive anti-bot measures**.

🔹 **Why You Would Use Resi Proxies:**\
✔ **Lower Ban Risk:** Since they rotate frequently, it’s harder for sites to detect and ban them.\
✔ **Good for Sites with Strong Anti-Bot Detection (e.g., Walmart, Target).**

### **📌 ISP Proxies**

🚀 **Fast & Reliable** – Hosted in **data centers** but can still appear as a home connection.\
🔒 **Fixed IPs (Non-Rotating)** – Unlike residential proxies, ISP proxies **do not change**. This means once a site flags an ISP proxy, it **remains banned** unless the provider replaces it.\
💰 **Pricing:** **Cheaper than resi, bought per IP.**\
✅ **Best For:** Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, & Target.

🔹 **Why You Would Use ISP Proxies:**\
✔ **Faster Speeds:** ISP proxies are **much faster than residential** since they don’t constantly rotate.\
✔ **Good for Sites Without Heavy Anti-Bot Detection (e.g., Target, Amazon).**\
✔ **Cheaper Per IP:** Since they are static, they are often **cheaper than resi proxies** on a per-IP basis.

***

## **How Proxies Are Sold: Bandwidth vs. IP Count**

When purchasing proxies, **residential and ISP proxies are priced differently**:

| **Proxy Type**         | **How They Are Sold**             | **Pricing Model**                   |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| **Residential (Resi)** | Pay per **GB of bandwidth used**  | More expensive but harder to detect |
| **ISP**                | Pay per **IP count (static IPs)** | Cheaper, but can get flagged faster |

📌 **Which One to Buy?**

* If a site has aggressive anti-bot protection (Walmart) → **Use Residential (Resi) Proxies**.
* If speed matters and the site doesn’t aggressively ban static IPs (Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Target) → **Use ISP Proxies**.

***

## **Best Practices for Using Proxies in Botting**

🔄 **Regularly Rotate Proxies** – Many retailers track repeated requests from the same IP. Rotating proxies helps avoid bans.

📊 **Monitor Proxy Performance** – Check speed, reliability, and ban rates. Slow or flagged proxies should be replaced.

⚡ **Use High-Quality Proxies** – Poor proxies can lead to **payment declines, soft bans, or failed checkouts**. Stick to **trusted providers**.

🛑 **Avoid Free Proxies** – Free proxies are often **blacklisted, unreliable, and slow**.

***

## **Summary**

✔ **Proxies are essential for botting** – They allow you to run multiple tasks, avoid bans, and bypass restrictions.\
✔ **Residential vs. ISP:**

* **Resi Proxies:** Better for avoiding bans, but more expensive.
* **ISP Proxies:** Faster, but easier to flag if overused.

  * **How they are sold:**
    * **Residential:** **Pay per GB of data used.**
    * **ISP:** **Pay per number of IPs.**

  ✔ **Monitor proxy performance** – Regularly check speed, uptime, and ban rates to optimize success.

By setting up **quality proxies**, choosing the right type for each site, and **monitoring ban risks**, you’ll maximize efficiency and **increase your chances of securing limited releases** when botting with Refract.