Question 1

What are proxies and why do I need them?

Accepted Answer

Proxies are intermediary servers that route your internet traffic through a different IP address, masking your real location and identity.

**They are essential for:**
- Privacy protection
- Accessing geo-restricted content
- [Web scraping](/en/use-cases/web-scraping-seo-proxies) without getting blocked
- Managing multiple [social media accounts](/en/use-cases/social-media-proxies) safely
- Running automation tools like [sneaker bots](/en/use-cases/sneaker-proxies)

BirdProxies offers both **residential** and **ISP proxies** to meet different use cases and performance needs.

Question 2

What's the difference between residential and ISP proxies?

Accepted Answer

**Residential Proxies:**
- Use real IP addresses from home internet connections
- Maximum anonymity and trust (appear as regular users)
- Perfect for [web scraping](/en/use-cases/web-scraping-seo-proxies), [social media automation](/en/use-cases/social-media-proxies), and [sneaker bots](/en/use-cases/sneaker-proxies)

**ISP Proxies:**
- Combine datacenter speed with residential legitimacy
- Registered to ISPs but hosted in datacenters
- Faster speeds ideal for [ticketing](/en/use-cases/ticket-proxies), gaming, and [crypto trading](/en/use-cases/crypto-proxies)

**Choose residential for maximum anonymity, ISP for speed and reliability.**

Question 3

How do I choose the right proxy type for my needs?

Accepted Answer

**Choose ISP Proxies for:**
- [Sneaker bots](/en/use-cases/sneaker-proxies)
- [Ticket purchasing](/en/use-cases/ticket-proxies)
- Gaming
- [NFT/crypto activities](/en/use-cases/crypto-proxies)
- Tasks requiring fast, stable connections

**Choose Residential Proxies for:**
- [Web scraping](/en/use-cases/web-scraping-seo-proxies) at scale
- [Social media automation](/en/use-cases/social-media-proxies)
- Accessing geo-restricted content
- [Ad verification](/en/use-cases/ad-verification-proxies)
- Maximum anonymity

**Quick Guide:**
- Need both speed and anonymity? Start with **ISP proxies**
- Stealth is your priority? Go with **residential**
- Not sure? Contact our support team for help!

Question 4

How do I set up my first proxy?

Accepted Answer

Setting up your first proxy is simple:

1. Purchase a proxy plan from our dashboard
2. Navigate to the **Residential** or **ISP Proxies** section
3. For residential proxies: generate credentials with your desired location
4. For ISP proxies: your proxies are delivered immediately after purchase
5. Copy the proxy details in `host:port:username:password` format
6. Configure your application or browser with these credentials

Detailed setup guides for popular tools are available in our [documentation](/en/docs/getting-started).

Question 5

What authentication methods do you support?

Accepted Answer

We support two authentication methods:

**1. Username & Password Authentication** (default)
- Use credentials in format: `username:password@host:port`
- Most common method, works with all tools
- Flexible and easy to use

**2. IP Whitelisting**
- Add your IP address to the whitelist in dashboard
- Connect without credentials
- Faster but requires a static IP

Most users prefer username/password authentication for its flexibility.

Question 6

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept multiple payment methods for your convenience: Credit/debit cards via Stripe (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), cryptocurrency payments via NOWPayments (Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and 50+ other cryptocurrencies). All payments are processed securely. Refunds are available within 24 hours of purchase if the proxies have not been used and meet our refund policy conditions. For questions about billing, contact our support team.

Question 7

How does residential proxy pricing work?

Accepted Answer

Residential proxies are priced based on data usage, not time. You purchase data in GB (gigabyte) packages, and only pay for what you use. Pricing tiers: Small volumes (1-10GB) at standard rates, medium volumes (10-50GB) with volume discounts, large volumes (50GB+) with maximum savings. Unused data rolls over to the next month - your data never expires as long as your account is active. The more data you purchase at once, the lower your per-GB cost. Check our pricing page for current rates and volume discounts.

Question 8

What are the ISP proxy subscription intervals?

Accepted Answer

ISP proxies are sold on subscription intervals: 1-month plans (most flexible, month-to-month billing), 2-month plans (5-10% discount compared to monthly), 3-month plans (10-15% discount, best value for long-term use). All subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled. You can cancel anytime from your dashboard - your proxies will remain active until the end of your billing period. Longer subscriptions offer better value and are recommended for consistent use cases like [sneaker bots](/en/use-cases/sneaker-proxies) or [ticketing](/en/use-cases/ticket-proxies).

Question 9

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Accepted Answer

For residential proxies: You can purchase additional data at any time. Unused data rolls over, so there is no downgrade needed - simply buy less next time. For ISP proxies: Contact our support team to upgrade (add more proxies) or downgrade (reduce proxy count). Upgrades take effect immediately with prorated billing. Downgrades take effect at your next renewal date. You can switch between 1-month, 2-month, and 3-month intervals at renewal. Plan changes are easy - just reach out to support and we will handle it.

Question 10

Do unused data or proxies roll over?

Accepted Answer

For residential proxies: YES - All unused data rolls over indefinitely as long as your account remains active. Your data never expires. For ISP proxies: NO - ISP proxies are subscription-based with fixed billing periods (1, 2, or 3 months). You have access to your proxies for the entire subscription period, but they do not roll over. When your subscription renews, you get a fresh allocation. This is why residential is better for variable usage, while ISP is better for consistent, predictable use.

Question 11

Do you offer refunds?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer refunds under the following conditions: Refund requests must be made within 24 hours of purchase, proxies must not have been used or generated (0 data usage), refunds are processed to the original payment method within 5-10 business days. We do not offer refunds for: partially used services, subscription renewals (cancel before renewal instead), purchases older than 24 hours. If you are experiencing technical issues, please contact support first - we can often resolve problems without requiring a refund. For crypto payments, refunds are subject to network fees.

Question 12

How do I authenticate with proxies?

Accepted Answer

Proxy authentication format: username:password@host:port. For example: user123:pass456@proxy.birdproxies.com:8080. Most applications support this format in their proxy settings. For applications that separate credentials: Host: proxy.birdproxies.com, Port: 8080, Username: user123, Password: pass456. If your application does not support authentication, use IP whitelisting instead (add your IP in the dashboard and connect without credentials). All our proxies support both HTTP and SOCKS5 protocols.

Question 13

How do I whitelist my IP address?

Accepted Answer

To whitelist your IP address: 1) Log into your BirdProxies dashboard, 2) Navigate to the Residential or ISP Proxies section, 3) Click "IP Whitelist" or "Whitelist Management", 4) Click "Add IP Address", 5) Your current IP will be auto-detected (or enter manually), 6) Save changes. Your IP is now whitelisted and you can connect to proxies without username/password. Note: IP whitelisting requires a static IP address. If your IP changes (common with home internet), you will need to update the whitelist. Username/password authentication is more flexible for dynamic IPs.

Question 14

What protocols do you support?

Accepted Answer

We support all major proxy protocols: HTTP/HTTPS (port 8080) - Most common, works with web browsers and most applications, supports SSL encryption. SOCKS5 (port 1080) - More versatile, works with any internet traffic (not just HTTP), supports UDP traffic for gaming and VoIP, better for torrenting and P2P applications. Both protocols support authentication via username/password or IP whitelisting. Choose HTTP for web browsing and APIs, choose SOCKS5 for applications that need more flexibility or non-HTTP traffic.

Question 15

How do I configure proxies in my browser?

Accepted Answer

Chrome: Settings → System → Open proxy settings → Manual proxy setup. Firefox: Settings → Network Settings → Manual proxy configuration. Safari: Preferences → Advanced → Proxies → Configure Proxies. Enter proxy details: Server: proxy.birdproxies.com, Port: 8080, Username: your_username, Password: your_password. For easier management, we recommend using browser extensions like FoxyProxy or Proxy SwitchyOmega. These allow you to quickly switch between multiple proxy profiles. You can also use separate browser profiles with different proxies for multi-account management.

Question 16

How do I use proxies with Python or Node.js?

Accepted Answer

Python example using requests library:
```python
import requests

proxies = {
  "http": "http://username:password@proxy.birdproxies.com:8080",
  "https": "http://username:password@proxy.birdproxies.com:8080"
}

response = requests.get("https://api.example.com", proxies=proxies)
```

Node.js example:
```javascript
const axios = require('axios');

const proxy = {
  host: 'proxy.birdproxies.com',
  port: 8080,
  auth: { username: 'your_username', password: 'your_password' }
};

axios.get('https://api.example.com', { proxy })
  .then(response => console.log(response.data));
```

For more examples and frameworks, check our [integration guides](/en/docs/integration-guides).

Question 17

What is sticky session vs rotating proxy?

Accepted Answer

Sticky sessions (session-based) maintain the same IP address for a set duration (typically 10-30 minutes). Use sticky sessions for: logging into accounts, maintaining shopping cart sessions, multi-step workflows, any task requiring IP consistency. Rotating proxies change your IP address with each request. Use rotating proxies for: [web scraping](/en/use-cases/web-scraping-seo-proxies) at scale, avoiding rate limits and IP bans, gathering data from multiple sources, tasks where IP consistency is not required. Our residential proxies support both modes - you can specify session length when generating proxies. ISP proxies are typically static (same IP for the entire subscription period) for maximum reliability.

**Learn more:** [Proxy Types Guide](/en/docs/proxy-types)

Question 18

Which proxy type is best for sneaker bots?

Accepted Answer

ISP proxies are HIGHLY recommended for sneaker bots. Here is why: Lightning-fast speeds (crucial for limited releases), clean IP reputation (less likely to be flagged), stable connections (no mid-checkout IP changes), consistent performance during high-traffic drops. Most successful botters use ISP proxies for Nike, Adidas, Footsites, Supreme, and other sneaker sites. Residential proxies can work as a backup but are slower. We recommend 10-25 ISP proxies for small-scale botting, 25-50 for medium operations, and 50+ for advanced setups. Pair our ISP proxies with your favorite bot (Balko, Wrath, Kodai, etc.) for best results.

**Learn more:** [Complete Sneaker Proxy Guide](/en/use-cases/sneaker-proxies)

Question 19

Do your proxies work with Ticketmaster?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our ISP proxies are optimized for Ticketmaster and other ticketing platforms (AXS, Live Nation, SeatGeek). ISP proxies are ideal because: they avoid Ticketmaster anti-bot detection, fast checkout speeds (crucial for high-demand events), stable connections prevent cart timeouts, clean IP reputation avoids bans. Tips for success: Use ISP proxies from the same region as the event (we offer US, UK, DE, FR, HK locations), avoid using the same IP for multiple accounts, pair with quality ticketing tools, test proxies before major sales. Many of our customers successfully cop concert tickets, sports events, and festival passes using our ISP proxies.

**Learn more:** [Complete Ticket Proxy Guide](/en/use-cases/ticket-proxies)

Question 20

Can I use proxies for social media automation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, proxies are ESSENTIAL for safe social media automation and multi-account management. Use cases: managing multiple Instagram/Twitter/TikTok accounts without bans, automating posts and engagement safely, running social media marketing campaigns, account creation and verification. Best practices: Use residential proxies for maximum safety (they appear as real users), assign one dedicated proxy per account (never share IPs between accounts), use sticky sessions (10-30 minute sessions) to maintain login state, avoid aggressive automation (follow platform rate limits). Our residential proxies work great with tools like Jarvee, FollowLiker, and custom automation scripts. Start with 5-10 residential proxies for small operations.

**Learn more:** [Complete Social Media Proxy Guide](/en/use-cases/social-media-proxies) | [Sub-Users for Team Management](/en/docs/sub-users)

Question 21

Are your proxies suitable for web scraping?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Our proxies are perfect for web scraping at any scale. Residential proxies are ideal for: bypassing anti-bot systems (Cloudflare, DataDome, PerimeterX), scraping social media platforms, gathering pricing data from [e-commerce sites](/en/use-cases/e-commerce-proxies), [SEO monitoring](/en/use-cases/web-scraping-seo-proxies) and SERP scraping, data collection without IP bans. ISP proxies work well for: high-speed scraping of less protected sites, API rate limit bypass, bulk data extraction. Scraping tips: use rotating sessions to distribute requests across many IPs, respect robots.txt and rate limits to avoid detection, combine with headless browsers (Puppeteer, Playwright) for JavaScript-heavy sites, use residential for maximum stealth, ISP for speed. Both proxy types support Python (requests, Scrapy), Node.js (Axios, Puppeteer), and all major scraping tools.

**Learn more:** [Web Scraping & SEO Proxy Guide](/en/use-cases/web-scraping-seo-proxies) | [Integration Guides](/en/docs/integration-guides)

Question 22

Can I use proxies for crypto and NFT activities?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our proxies are widely used for crypto and NFT activities. Common use cases: airdrop farming (managing multiple wallets safely), NFT minting and flipping (avoid wallet linking), accessing geo-restricted crypto exchanges, running trading bots without IP bans, participating in presales and whitelists. We recommend ISP proxies for crypto because: fast transaction speeds (critical for time-sensitive mints), stable connections (no mid-transaction IP changes), clean IPs avoid exchange security flags, works with MetaMask, Phantom, and all major wallets. Safety tips: use one proxy per wallet address, never share IPs between related wallets, use US/UK proxies for most exchanges, combine with browser fingerprinting for maximum security. Many NFT traders use our ISP proxies for OpenSea, Blur, Magic Eden, and other marketplaces.

**Learn more:** [Complete Crypto & NFT Proxy Guide](/en/use-cases/crypto-proxies)

Question 23

Why is my proxy connection slow?

Accepted Answer

Common causes and fixes for slow proxy speeds: 1) Geographic distance - Choose a proxy location closer to your target server (we offer US, UK, DE, FR, HK locations). 2) High concurrent usage - Reduce the number of simultaneous connections or upgrade to more proxies. 3) Target website throttling - Some sites intentionally slow down proxy traffic; try rotating to a different IP. 4) Protocol choice - Switch from HTTP to SOCKS5 for better performance in some applications. 5) ISP throttling - Your local internet provider may throttle proxy traffic; try a VPN. 6) Residential vs ISP - Residential proxies are slower than ISP by nature; upgrade to ISP proxies if speed is critical. If issues persist, contact support with a speed test and we will investigate.

**Learn more:** [Proxy Types Comparison](/en/docs/proxy-types) | [Troubleshooting Guide](/en/docs/troubleshooting)

Question 24

Why am I getting authentication errors?

Accepted Answer

Authentication error troubleshooting: 1) Verify credentials - Double-check your username and password from the dashboard (no extra spaces). 2) Check IP whitelist - If using IP authentication, ensure your current IP is whitelisted (IPs change frequently on home networks). 3) Format issues - Use the correct format: username:password@host:port (some tools require different formats). 4) Expired credentials - Residential proxy credentials expire; generate new ones if needed. 5) Account status - Ensure your subscription is active and not expired. 6) Protocol mismatch - Some applications require explicit HTTP or SOCKS5 specification. Still having issues? Contact support with the exact error message and we will help troubleshoot.

Question 25

My proxy isn't working, what should I check?

Accepted Answer

Step-by-step troubleshooting checklist: 1) Test connectivity - Visit https://ipinfo.io in your browser with proxy enabled to verify it is working. 2) Verify credentials - Ensure username, password, host, and port are correct. 3) Check subscription status - Ensure your plan is active (not expired). 4) Whitelist your IP - If using IP authentication, update your whitelist if your IP changed. 5) Try different protocol - Switch between HTTP and SOCKS5. 6) Disable conflicting software - Turn off VPNs, firewalls, or antivirus that might block proxies. 7) Test with different application - Try the proxy in a basic tool like cURL to isolate the issue. 8) Generate new credentials - For residential proxies, generate fresh credentials. 9) Contact support - Provide error messages, application details, and what you have already tried.

**Need more help?** [Troubleshooting Guide](/en/docs/troubleshooting) | [Best Practices](/en/docs/best-practices)

Question 26

How do I contact support?

Accepted Answer

We offer multiple support channels: 1) Support ticket - Available on our website (birdproxies.com) during business hours (9 AM - 6 PM EST). Fastest response for urgent issues. 2) Discord Community - Join our Discord server at discord.com/invite/birdproxies for community support, announcements, and direct contact with our team. Active 24/7 with moderators online. 3) Email Support - Send detailed inquiries to support@birdproxies.com. We respond within 24 hours (usually faster). 4) Dashboard Tickets - Submit a support ticket directly from your dashboard for account-specific issues. Include relevant details: account email, error messages, what you have already tried, screenshots if applicable. Our team is here to help - do not hesitate to reach out!

Question 27

How do I report a bad proxy?

Accepted Answer

If you encounter a non-working proxy: 1) Navigate to your dashboard (Residential or ISP Proxies section). 2) Click "Report Bad Proxy" or "Get Support". 3) Provide details: proxy IP or credentials, what is not working (connection fails, slow speeds, authentication error), target website or application, error messages if any. 4) Our team will investigate immediately. For ISP proxies: we will replace bad proxies within 24 hours or issue credit. For residential proxies: we will blacklist the IP and you can generate a new one instantly. We take proxy quality seriously and continuously monitor our networks. Most issues are resolved within hours. If you experience multiple bad proxies, contact support directly - it may indicate a configuration issue we can help fix.

Question 28

What happens when my subscription expires?

Accepted Answer

Subscription expiry process: For ISP proxies: You will receive email reminders 7 days, 3 days, and 1 day before expiry. On expiry date, proxies will stop working immediately. If auto-renewal is enabled, your subscription will renew automatically (no interruption). If auto-renewal is disabled, you will need to manually renew to restore access. We keep your data for 30 days in case you want to renew. For residential proxies: Unused data rolls over indefinitely - it never expires as long as your account is active. If you have not logged in for 12 months, we may deactivate your account (but your data is preserved). Reactivation is simple - just contact support. To avoid service interruption: enable auto-renewal in your dashboard, add a backup payment method, set calendar reminders before expiry dates.

Question 29

How do I create and manage sub-users?

Accepted Answer

Sub-users allow you to share your residential proxy pool with team members without sharing your main account credentials. To create sub-users: 1) Log into your dashboard, 2) Navigate to Residential Proxies → Sub-Users, 3) Click "Create Sub-User", 4) Set username, password, and data allocation (how much of your pool they can use), 5) Share credentials with your team member. Sub-user benefits: isolated credentials for security, data usage tracking per sub-user, ability to revoke access anytime, independent IP whitelists. Note: Sub-users are only available for residential proxies, not ISP proxies. You can create unlimited sub-users and allocate as much or as little of your data as needed. Perfect for agencies, teams, or resellers.

**Learn more:** [Complete Sub-Users Guide](/en/docs/sub-users)

Question 30

How does the referral program work?

Accepted Answer

Earn 10% commission on every purchase your referrals make! How it works: 1) Get your unique referral link from your dashboard (Referrals section), 2) Share your link with friends, followers, or customers, 3) When someone signs up using your link and makes a purchase, you earn 10% commission, 4) Your referred users get a 15% bonus on their first data purchase. Commission details: paid out monthly via PayPal or account credit, no limit on earnings (refer unlimited users), lifetime commissions (earn from all future purchases, not just the first), track your referrals and earnings in real-time from your dashboard. Perfect for content creators, influencers, agencies, and proxy resellers. Start earning today by sharing BirdProxies with your network!

**Learn more:** [Complete Referral Program Guide](/en/docs/referrals)

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