What verification needs
Ad verification has to look like a real user in the targeted place, on the targeted device and network. Precision targeting and residential or mobile IPs are essential, and rotation keeps networks from learning your checker IPs. See ad verification proxies.
Side by side
| Targeting | Rayobyte | Geonode |
|---|---|---|
| Country, state, city | Yes | Yes |
| ZIP | Yes | No |
| ASN | Yes | Yes |
| Device OS | Yes | No |
| Mobile carriers | US, monthly plans | US, UK, Australia, per GB |
| Residential at 10 GB | About $35 | About $9 |
At the time of writing.
Rayobyte's precision
ZIP and device OS targeting let Rayobyte verify unusually specific campaigns, such as an iOS-only ad in particular ZIP codes. Rayobyte lists ad verification as a core use of its residential and ISP products. See Rayobyte for ad verification.
Geonode's value
Geonode covers city and ASN targeting at a much lower per-GB price, and lists mobile IPs in the UK and Australia. For most city-level campaigns, that's enough. See Geonode for ad verification.
Residential tip: The simplest way to settle this comparison is to test both: Rayobyte has a free trial with no card, and Geonode sells a low-cost residential trial. Run the same targets through each. See Rayobyte for ad verification.
Costs
Ad checks are browser-heavy: 2 to 5 MB per check is common. 5,000 checks at 3 MB is 15 GB: about $52 on Rayobyte's smallest tier and much less on Geonode at list prices. Block video autoplay and unrelated assets on either.
Which to choose
| Campaign type | Better fit |
|---|---|
| City or country campaigns | Geonode (cheaper) |
| ZIP-targeted campaigns | Rayobyte |
| Platform-specific (iOS or Android) web campaigns | Rayobyte |
| UK or Australian mobile campaigns | Geonode |
| Large US mobile verification | Rayobyte |
With Webshare: ad verification across all three.
A real-world example
An ad verification vendor checks 20,000 placements a month for clients. Country and city campaigns, the majority, run on Geonode residential at about 60 GB a month. ZIP-targeted local campaigns and iOS-only campaigns run on Rayobyte, using ZIP and device OS targeting. UK mobile app campaigns use Geonode mobile; large US mobile campaigns use a Rayobyte mobile plan.
Proxy tip: If your residential usage comes in bursts, Geonode is worth a look: purchased GB doesn't expire and sticky sessions can last up to 24 hours. More in Geonode for ad verification.
Pros and cons for ad verification
Rayobyte
- ZIP and device OS targeting.
- Large US mobile plans.
- Higher per-GB residential price at modest volume.
Geonode
- Cheapest city-level checks.
- Mobile in the UK and Australia.
- No ZIP or device OS targeting.
If you're still shortlisting, compare these options with the wider market in our best proxies guide, and use our cheap proxies guide to estimate a sensible budget. To understand the IP type behind this, read our residential proxies guide.
Budget tip: For jobs where a fixed IP list is enough, Webshare is one of the cheapest options: shared datacenter proxies are sold by the IP, and static residential (ISP) proxies cost well under a dollar per IP per month at the time of writing. More in Webshare for ad verification.
Key takeaways
- Both cover country, city and ASN targeting.
- Rayobyte adds ZIP and device OS for very specific campaigns.
- Geonode is cheaper per GB and lists more mobile countries.
- Block heavy assets to control browser bandwidth.
FAQ
Which is better for ad verification?
Geonode for most city-level work on a budget; Rayobyte for ZIP and device-specific campaigns.
Can I verify mobile app ads?
Yes, with mobile proxies on either, or residential plus mobile user agents.
Should I rotate IPs between checks?
Yes, so ad networks can't learn your verification IPs.
Sources and further reading
Independent references that back up the points above, from standards bodies, governments, universities and non-profits. They open in a new tab.
- Number Resources (IANA): How IANA hands IP address blocks to the regional internet registries.
- Bandwidth (computing) (Wikipedia): What bandwidth means, the unit most residential proxies are priced by.
- Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG): The industry body that certifies anti-fraud practices in digital advertising.
- ads.txt (IAB Tech Lab): The ads.txt standard that fights domain spoofing in programmatic ads.
- RFC 9110: HTTP Semantics (IETF / RFC Editor): The HTTP standard that defines how proxies, tunnels and the CONNECT method behave.
Editorial note: Proxy providers change their pools, features and prices often, so treat any figures here as typical ranges at the time of writing and confirm current terms with the provider before you buy.