You’ll want to do your research before choosing a proxy service. Like their more secure cousins, VPNs, proxy services can see what you’re doing online while you use them. That’s why I ask proxy companies questions about data collection and retention policies. You should know what companies are doing with all of the information you entrust to them.
You should also be wary of companies that obtain IP addresses through shady methods. Some companies use third-party botnets for remote IPs, so you may end up sharing a residential proxy with someone without their consent.
According to IPRoyal’s proxy sourcing policy whitepaper, the company obtains IPs from people who are using Pawns, an app owned by the company, where people can fill out surveys or play games to earn money. On the Pawns website, the company states, repeatedly, that customers will share their bandwidth and receive payment for it, which is good.
Enterprise-level proxy service Oxylabs is also very transparent about its IP sourcing. It obtains bandwidth from people using an app called Honeygain. Soax and MarsProxies did not specify which apps the companies are using for proxy sourcing.
Interview With IPRoyal
How does IPRoyal obtain residential proxies?
IPRoyal sources Residential Proxies through our proprietary app, Pawns.app. This approach enables us to maintain a pool of real, active residential IP addresses from genuine devices in a fully transparent way.
For user/residential proxies, does IPRoyal use active and informed consent for endpoints?
Yes, we ensure all participants in our residential proxy network provide active and informed consent. Users are clearly notified about their participation and can opt out at any time through app settings.
Does IPRoyal operate its own proxy networks with servers in various locations?
IPRoyal built its own residential proxy network, which serves as the source of its Residential Proxies. The company operates and manages the entire infrastructure in-house. For Datacenter and ISP Proxies, we use dedicated servers in different locations across the globe to ensure optimal speeds, stability, and coverage for our clients.
Does IPRoyal directly own its datacenter proxies, or does the company use a third-party service to host them?
IPRoyal hosts its Datacenter Proxies through trusted third-party datacenters, but the management is handled in-house. With full control over the infrastructure, we can ensure top performance and reliability for our clients.
Does IPRoyal collect user data?
IPRoyal does collect user data, but only as necessary to provide and improve our services.
What kinds of data does IPRoyal collect?
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IPRoyal collects the following types of data, as outlined in our Privacy Policy:
Personal information, such as name and email address provided during account creation or when communicating with our team.
Usage data, including how users interact with our website and services, such as IP addresses, browser types, and general browsing behavior.
Technical data about devices used to access our services, including device-specific details like operating system and device identifiers.
How is data stored? How long does IPRoyal store user data?
IPRoyal retains user data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected. Log data (including IP addresses, location, and device information) is stored for six months. Once the data is no longer needed, it is either securely deleted or anonymized to prevent identification of the data subject.
If customers have questions or concerns about the service, how can they receive assistance?
Customers can contact IPRoyal’s support team 24/7 via live chat or email. Our dedicated account managers and sales team are also available for custom solutions. Additionally, they can join our Discord community to get help, share feedback, and connect with other users.
Analyzing IPRoyal’s Terms of Service Agreement and Privacy Policy
IPRoyal’s privacy policy language is a little dense in some places, but overall, I didn’t have trouble understanding the terms as written. As I mentioned in the MarsProxies review, the two companies have very similar privacy policies.
Similar statements in privacy documents from IPRoyal and MarsProxies. (Credit: MarsProxies/IPRoyal/PCMag)
Several sections use the exact same language, including the section about logged data, which states that IPRoyal’s logs may include your IP address, location, traffic data, computer or device information, and website interactions. That’s an awful lot of possible data collection. However, proxies are not really privacy tools anymore, so I won’t knock the company for the policy. I’m just pointing out (again) that IPRoyal can see and log what you’re doing online, so take that into account.
IPRoyal is incorporated in the United Arab Emirates with its headquarters in Ajman. Knowing a company’s location is important because data handling and storage laws differ from country to country. The UAE has somewhat unusual data retention regulations for certain types of information. For example, data related to financial institutions must be kept for a minimum of 5 years, and employee records should be kept for at least 7 years after the employee leaves the company. In the interview above, IPRoyal told me the company keeps customer data for as long as necessary, but anonymizes or purges log data after six months. If you want to opt out of personal data processing, email your request to [email protected].
I highly recommend at least skimming the Payments and Refunds section of IPRoyal’s Terms of Service. This section got my attention:
(Credit: IPRoyal/PCMag)
Basically, you may not get your money back if you have unused funds in your account. That’s not a very good policy. Also, if you encounter a service defect, you have 24 hours to request a refund. After that, you’re out of luck. Again, not a very generous refund policy.
Much like Soax, IPRoyal has a Know Your Customer policy to keep the company and its customers safe. The process starts when you sign up for an account. IPRoyal checks your IP address, email, and other identifying information to identify any potential fraud risks. To purchase a proxy plan, customers must verify their identity. IPRoyal also has an automated alert system to inform the company of suspicious customer activity. If you need to report someone for misusing IPRoyal’s services, send an email to [email protected].
