What Is an ISP Proxy? Static Residential IPs Explained
What an ISP proxy (static residential) is, how it combines residential trust with datacenter speed, when to use a static IP, and how it differs from rotating residential and datacenter proxies.
An ISP proxy — also called a static residential proxy — is a server-hosted IP that an Internet Service Provider has registered as residential. It combines the high trust of a residential IP with the speed and stability of a datacenter connection, and it stays the same for as long as you hold it, unlike rotating residential proxies.
## How does an ISP proxy work?
ISP proxies live in a data center for speed, but the IP address is registered to a real ISP rather than a hosting ASN. To a target site, the IP looks like an ordinary residential connection, so it carries residential-level trust. Because it sits on server infrastructure, it is far faster and more stable than a rotating residential IP routed through a consumer device — and it does not change between requests.
## ISP vs residential vs datacenter proxies
- **ISP (static residential)** — ISP-registered server IPs. Residential trust + datacenter speed, same IP held long-term. Best for long sessions and account work. - **Residential (rotating)** — real home IPs from consumer devices, huge pool, changes per request. Best for large-scale scraping. See [what is a residential proxy](/blog/what-is-a-residential-proxy). - **Datacenter** — hosting-ASN IPs, fastest and cheapest, easy to detect. See [what is a datacenter proxy](/blog/what-is-a-datacenter-proxy).
## What are ISP proxies used for?
- **Long-lived accounts** that must keep one stable IP - **E-commerce and marketplace** management - **Ad verification** needing a fixed location and fast response - **Multi-step automation** where a changing IP would break the session - **Any workload** that needs residential trust plus high throughput
Every workload must respect the destination site's terms of service, applicable law and our acceptable-use policy.
## When should you use a static ISP proxy?
Choose an ISP proxy when you need the same trusted IP to persist — managing accounts, running long sessions, or any flow where a mid-task IP change would trigger a re-verification or logout. If you instead need thousands of different IPs for high-volume scraping, rotating residential is the better tool. The two complement each other and live on one ProxyGen balance.
## ISP proxy vs sticky residential session
A sticky residential session holds a rotating-pool IP for a limited window (up to 90 minutes on ProxyGen) before it recycles. A static ISP proxy is a dedicated IP you keep indefinitely. Use sticky residential for medium-length flows from the large rotating pool; use static ISP when you need a permanent, predictable address.
## Frequently asked questions
### What is an ISP proxy in simple terms? It is a fast server IP that an ISP has labelled as residential, so sites trust it like a home connection while you keep the same address long-term.
### What is the difference between ISP and residential proxies? Residential (rotating) proxies use real home devices and change IPs frequently from a huge pool. ISP proxies are static, server-hosted IPs registered to an ISP — faster, more stable, and held long-term.
### Are ISP proxies faster than residential proxies? Yes. ISP proxies run on datacenter infrastructure, so they are faster and more stable than rotating residential proxies routed through consumer devices, while keeping residential-level trust.
### When should I use an ISP proxy instead of datacenter? Use ISP proxies when you need residential trust on protected targets but also want speed and a fixed IP — datacenter proxies are cheaper but get blocked by strict sites.
### Do ISP proxies keep the same IP? Yes. A static ISP proxy stays on the same IP for as long as you hold it, which is what makes it suited to long-lived accounts and multi-step sessions.