The best proxies for AI web scraping and LLM training data in 2027 are IPRoyal, SOAX, Decodo, ProxyEmpire, Lunaproxy and ASocks — all residential-first providers. Our top overall pick is IPRoyal for its large, non-expiring residential pool and pay-as-you-go pricing, while SOAX is best for precise geo-targeting and ASocks is best for high-volume scraping on a budget.
AI training and retrieval have turned web scraping into one of the largest sources of traffic on the internet. Industry reports estimate that scraping tied to AI training grew roughly 300% between 2024 and 2026, and detection vendors now block datacenter IP ranges almost by default. In 2027 that makes residential and mobile proxies the practical baseline for collecting data at scale without getting blocked.
Best proxies for AI scraping in 2027 (compared)
| Provider | Best for | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|
| IPRoyal | Best overall for AI scraping | Large non-expiring residential pool, pay-as-you-go traffic |
| SOAX | Best for geo-targeted data | Clean, vetted pool with precise city and ASN targeting |
| Decodo (ex-Smartproxy) | Best dashboard for teams | Easy API, clean pool, strong documentation |
| ProxyEmpire | Best for mobile data | Rollover data and a strong mobile IP pool |
| Lunaproxy | Best large-scale value | Huge pool at low per-GB prices |
| ASocks | Cheapest per GB | Very low residential pricing for high-volume jobs |
For deeper, use-case specific picks, see our full guides to the best residential proxies, best rotating proxies and best web scraping proxies.
What makes a proxy good for AI scraping in 2027
- Residential or mobile IPs. They look like real users, so protected targets are far less likely to block them than datacenter ranges.
- A large, clean pool. Fresh, vetted IPs mean fewer already-flagged addresses and higher success rates.
- Precise targeting. Country, city and ASN targeting let you collect geo-specific data — important as AI products roll out region by region.
- High concurrency and success rate. Large scraping jobs need many parallel requests without rate-limit failures.
- Transparent, per-GB pricing. Non-expiring traffic (like IPRoyal and ProxyEmpire offer) avoids wasting paid bandwidth.
- Ethically sourced pools. Enterprise buyers increasingly require documented consent and compliance, so choose providers that can prove it.
How to scrape responsibly
Even with the right proxies, scrape considerately: respect robots directives and rate limits, put a CDN or cache in front of your own targets, and check the terms and local laws for the data you collect. “DMCA-ignored” or anonymous infrastructure does not make unlawful data collection legal — it only changes where your traffic originates. For adjacent setups, our best offshore hosting guide covers crawler-friendly hosting.
Frequently asked questions
Why are residential proxies better than datacenter proxies for AI scraping?
Residential IPs come from real consumer devices, so anti-bot systems treat them as genuine users. Datacenter ranges are now widely blocklisted, which is why residential and mobile proxies have become the baseline for serious scraping in 2027.
How much proxy bandwidth do I need for LLM training data?
It depends on scope, but large text datasets routinely run into terabytes. Providers with non-expiring, pay-as-you-go traffic (such as IPRoyal and ProxyEmpire) are more economical for big, bursty jobs than monthly plans you may not fully use.
Are cheap proxies safe for scraping?
Budget providers like ASocks and Lunaproxy can be excellent value, but verify the pool is ethically sourced and not full of already-flagged IPs. Extremely cheap pools often have lower success rates on protected targets.
Is web scraping for AI legal?
Scraping public data is generally permitted in many jurisdictions, but copyright, terms of service and privacy laws still apply. Using proxies changes where requests originate; it does not make unlawful collection legal. Always check the rules for your data and region.
Which proxy is best for scraping AI search results like ChatGPT or Gemini?
Use a clean residential pool with precise geo-targeting, since AI answer features roll out country by country. SOAX and IPRoyal are strong picks for collecting region-specific AI search data.