Using a French proxy can provide a number of benefits, from accessing geo-restricted content to scraping French websites. Paid proxy services offer fast, reliable connections and easy access to a large number of French IP addresses. In this guide, we’ll compare the top 5 paid proxy providers for accessing French IPs in 2023.
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Why Use a French Proxy?
Here are some of the key reasons you may want to use a proxy service to access a French IP address:
- Access geo-restricted content – Get around geographic blocks to stream content or visit websites only available in France
- Anonymity – Hide your real IP address and location
- Scraping French sites – Scrape data from French websites without getting blocked
- Access better prices – Get French prices and deals on travel, shopping sites, etc.
- Improve security – Add a layer of protection when browsing on public WiFi
While free proxies exist, paid options offer faster speeds, better uptime, and more IP addresses to choose from.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Proxy Service
When comparing French proxy providers, keep the following factors in mind:
- Speed – Faster proxies result in better performance.
- Number of IPs – More IPs gives you more options to rotate between.
- Locations – Proxies distributed in major French cities is ideal.
- Targeting options – Ability to target specific cities or regions.
- Reliability – Choose services with proven uptime and connection success rates.
- Ease of use – Look for easy setup and intuitive interfaces.
- Customer support – Responsive support in case issues arise.
- Pricing – Compare plans to find features and IPs within your budget.
Keeping these factors in mind, let’s look at the top paid France proxy services available in 2023:
1. Smartproxy
Smartproxy is known for having one of the largest pools of residential IP addresses available, with over 40 million IPs spanning 195 locations globally.
Some key features include:
- Over 5 million French IPs available
- Proxies located in major cities like Paris, Lyon, Nice, etc.
- Target proxies by city or regional IPs
- Fast residential proxy speeds up to 1Gbps
- 99.9% uptime
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Starting at $75/month for 1GB of traffic
- 7 day free trial
Smartproxy makes it easy to get started with French proxies quickly. The desktop app and browser extensions simplify setup across devices. With responsive 24/7 customer support and frequent speed upgrades to their network, Smartproxy is a reliable choice.
2. Oxylabs
Oxylabs offers over 100 million residential IPs worldwide, including a sizable pool of French IPs.
Highlights include:
- 2+ million French IPs
- Target major cities or custom regions
- 1Gbps network speed
- 99.99% uptime
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Starting at €500/month
- 3 day free trial
Oxylabs IPs are optimized for web scraping and automation. With features tailored to developers like REST API access, Oxylabs is ideal for large scraping projects. The prices are higher but include more features and customization options for large scale usage.
3. Luminati
Luminati operates one of the largest paid proxy networks with over 35 million residential IPs available.
Key features of Luminati include:
- 1+ million French IPs
- Target major French cities
- Fast residential proxy speeds
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Starting at $500/month
- 7 day free trial for enterprise plans
Luminati focuses on targeting options, allowing you to filter proxies by ASN, mobile carrier, connection type, and more. The network boasts high success rates for web scraping thanks to frequent IP rotation and residential IPs from major French ISPs.
4. GeoSurf
Although smaller than some providers, GeoSurf offers reliable residential IPs optimized specifically for geo-targeting.
GeoSurf’s French proxies include:
- Over 300,000 French IPs
- Target IPs by city or region
- Fast proxy speeds up to 1Gbps
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Starting at $290/month for 5GB
GeoSurf excels at targeting niche locations within France. Pricing is on the higher side but may be worthwhile if you need to target specific French cities.
5. Storm Proxies
Storm Proxies provides access to over 20 million residential IPs, including French addresses.
Key features include:
- Hundreds of thousands of French IPs
- Target major cities like Paris, Marseilles, etc.
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Fast speeds up to 10Gbps
- Starting at $39/month for 5GB
Storm Proxies offers a nice balance of targeting options, good speeds, and affordable pricing. While the network is smaller than some competitors, it remains a solid choice for French IPs.
Comparing the Top France Proxy Providers
| Provider | Number of French IPs | Pricing | Main Locations | Targeting Options | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartproxy | 5+ million | Starts at $75/mo | All major cities | By city/region | 1Gbps |
| Oxylabs | 2+ million | Starts at €500/mo | All major cities | By city/region | 1Gbps |
| Luminati | 1+ million | Starts at $500/mo | All major cities | By city/region | Residential |
| GeoSurf | 300,000+ | Starts at $290/mo | All major cities + niche locations | By city/region | 1Gbps |
| Storm Proxies | Hundreds of thousands | Starts at $39/mo | Major cities | By city | Up to 10Gbps |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to use a French proxy?
In most regions, it is legal to route your internet traffic through a French server to mask your IP address and location. However, how you use that proxy could be illegal. You should always comply with local laws when accessing content or websites using a proxy.
Can I access French geo-restricted content?
Yes, a French proxy will allow you to bypass geographic restrictions and access content like Netflix France, MyTF1, and other sites limited to users in France. Just connect to the proxy before accessing the site.
Will a French proxy work for web scraping?
Absolutely. Scrapebox and other web scrapers will work seamlessly with a French IP address. Proxies rotate to provide you with fresh IPs, helping avoid blocks while scraping French sites.
How do I set up a proxy service?
The process differs slightly depending on the provider. Most will give you a host, username, password, and port to enter into your browser or scraping tool. Browser extensions also make it easy to quickly switch IPs and locations.
Can I target a specific French city?
The proxy services on this list allow you to target IPs from specific cities or regions within France for more precise targeting.
The Best French Proxy Providers in 2023
In summary, Smartproxy, Oxylabs, Luminati, GeoSurf, and Storm Proxies are the top paid French residential proxy services as of 2023. Smartproxy and Oxylabs lead in number of IPs and locations available. For targeting niche French cities, GeoSurf is a great choice. Luminati offers robust geo-targeting options, while Storm Proxies provides good speeds at affordable rates.
The best proxy provider for your needs will depend on your budget, desired locations, and how you plan to use the French IPs. Carefully compare features and pricing to choose the right paid proxy network for accessing French IPs.
