Guide · Sessions
Rotating vs sticky proxies: which session type to use
A rotating line gives you a new IP for each new connection. A sticky line keeps one IP for a time you choose. Static ISP and datacenter IPs never change. Here is how each works on ZenProxy, and which to use for common jobs.
Facts checked 7 November 2026. Our prices on this page are live.
Session types by product
| Product | Sessions | From (live) |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Lite | Rotating or sticky | $0.36/GB |
| Residential Premium | Rotating or sticky | $1.49/GB |
| Mobile | Rotating or sticky | $2.56/GB |
| Unlimited Residential | Rotating or sticky, unlimited data | $80.15/day |
| Rotating Datacenter | A new datacenter IP on every request | $2.33/day |
| Shared ISP | Static: the same IPs for the whole plan, shared with other users | $0.72/IP a month |
| Private ISP | Static: dedicated IPs, kept when you renew | $2.75/IP for 30 days |
| Static Datacenter | Static: a dedicated list of IPs | $0.02/IP a month |
How rotating proxies work
A rotating line is one address (host, port, username and password) that hands out a different IP from the pool for each new connection. You don’t manage a list of IPs: the gateway picks a fresh one for you.
Rotation happens per connection, not per request. Most HTTP clients keep connections open and reuse them, and requests sent through the same open connection leave from the same IP. To get a new IP for every request, open a new connection each time (for example, a new session or client per request), or turn keep-alive off. Our Python and Node.js guides show how.
How sticky sessions work
A sticky line carries a session ID in its username. Every connection that uses that exact username gets the same IP until the session ends, so a login, a cart or a multi-page journey stays on one address.
You don’t write session IDs yourself. In the generator, set Proxy Type to Sticky, choose a Sticky Duration, and set Sticky Amount to the number of separate sessions you need, up to 1,000 at a time. Each line is its own session with its own IP.
The generator lists only the durations your plan supports: from 1 minute up to 24 hours depending on the plan, and on some plans less when you also target a state or city (the generator says so when that applies).
Residential IPs belong to real devices, so a sticky IP can end early if the device goes offline. When a sticky line stops answering, move that task to a fresh line instead of retrying the same one.
Static IPs: when the address must never change
Shared ISP, Private ISP and Static Datacenter plans give you a fixed list of IPs instead of a rotating gateway. The addresses stay the same for the whole plan, and Private ISP IPs stay yours when you renew.
Use static IPs for accounts you sign into over days or weeks, for allow-lists that need a known IP, and for long-running sessions. They’re priced per IP rather than per GB; see the table above for live prices.
Which session type for which job
| Job | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Listings, search results, product pages | Rotating | Each page is independent, and spreading requests over many IPs avoids per-IP limits. |
| Signed-in collection, carts, multi-step forms | Sticky, 10–30 minutes | The site expects one visitor on one address for the whole flow. |
| Anti-detect browser profiles | One sticky line per profile, or a static ISP IP | A browser opens many connections per page; a rotating line can split one page across IPs. |
| Accounts you return to for weeks | Static ISP | The IP never changes, so the account always sees the same address. |
| Search ranking checks | Rotating, one query per IP | Search engines limit repeated queries from one IP. |
| Ad and redirect checks | Sticky for one journey, then rotate | Follow the whole redirect chain from one IP. |
| Tests from each country | Sticky for each test run | The test sees one consistent location from start to finish. |
Common mistakes
- Using a rotating line in a browser: one page load can come from several IPs, which breaks logins.
- Sharing one sticky line across many threads: they all get the same IP. Generate one line per thread.
- Editing sticky usernames by hand: the session part differs by plan. Generate new lines instead.
- Expecting a new IP per request while the client reuses connections: open a new connection per request.
- Holding a sticky session far longer than the job needs: shorter sessions recover faster when an IP drops.
Questions
How often does a rotating proxy change IP?
On every new connection. Requests sent over one open connection share its IP, so open a new connection for each request if you need a new IP every time.
How long can a sticky session last?
Up to the longest Sticky Duration the generator offers for your plan, from 1 minute up to 24 hours depending on the plan, unless the device behind a residential IP goes offline first.
Can I keep the same IP for a month?
Not with a sticky session. Use Shared ISP or Private ISP: the IPs stay the same for the whole plan, and Private ISP IPs stay yours when you renew.
Do sticky sessions cost more?
No. On per-GB plans you pay for the data you use, whichever session type you pick, and extra lines cost nothing.
How many sticky lines can I make?
Up to 1,000 at a time with Sticky Amount, and more batches if you need them. Each line is a separate session with its own IP.
Is a static residential proxy the same as an ISP proxy?
The two names usually mean the same thing: a static IP registered to an internet provider that keeps one address for the whole plan. Our Shared ISP and Private ISP plans are exactly that.
Rotating and sticky residential proxies
Residential Lite does both from the same plan: switch between rotating and sticky lines in the generator whenever you like.