Side by side
| Rayobyte | Webshare | |
|---|---|---|
| Country, state, city | Yes | Yes |
| ZIP and ASN | Yes | Yes |
| Device OS | Yes | No |
| Mobile carriers | US mobile plans | None |
| Residential at volume | Cheaper from about 50 GB | Monthly plans |
At the time of writing. See Rayobyte for ad verification and Webshare for ad verification.
Targeting
Both cover the location targeting most campaigns need, including ZIP and ASN. Rayobyte adds device OS targeting and mobile proxies, which matter for platform-specific and mobile campaigns.
Costs
Ad checks are browser-heavy (2 to 5 MB). At small volumes the two cost about the same; above about 50 GB a month, Rayobyte's tiers are cheaper. Block video autoplay on either.
A real-world example
An agency verifies 2,000 ad placements a month across 25 US metro areas and a few ZIP-targeted campaigns. Both providers' residential networks cover the city and ZIP targeting it needs, and costs are similar at its roughly 6 GB a month. It chooses Rayobyte for two campaigns aimed at iOS users, using device OS targeting, and for a mobile app install campaign, using a small mobile allowance. Everything else could run on either.
Residential tip: Both sides of this comparison can be tested at no cost: Rayobyte has a free trial with no card, and Webshare has a permanent free plan with 10 datacenter proxies. See Rayobyte for ad verification.
Evidence to capture
- A screenshot of the placement.
- The ad creative.
- The final landing URL and full redirect chain.
- Exit IP, location and timestamp.
Avoiding detection
Rotate IPs between checks, vary timing, match browser locale and time zone to the IP, and avoid hitting the same placement from the same IP repeatedly. Fraudsters who cloak ads learn verification IPs quickly, so treat every IP as single-use for suspicious placements.
Pros and cons for ad verification
Rayobyte
- Device OS targeting for platform-specific campaigns.
- US mobile for app campaigns.
- Cheaper residential at scale.
Webshare
- City, ZIP and ASN targeting at similar small-volume cost.
- No mobile.
Budget tip: If the job only needs a fixed list of IPs, Webshare sells datacenter and static residential proxies by the IP, often for less than a per-GB plan would cost. More in Webshare for ad verification.
Bottom line
Either covers standard geo campaigns; Rayobyte covers device-specific and mobile campaigns too.
Not sure this is the right proxy type for the job? The best proxies in 2026 guide compares residential, ISP, datacenter and mobile options, and our cheap proxies guide covers budget picks that still work. To understand the IP type behind this, read our residential proxies guide.
Proxy tip: For a second opinion on hard targets, run the same test through Geonode residential proxies, which support sticky sessions up to 24 hours and ASN targeting. We compare the two in Geonode for ad verification.
Key takeaways
- Both offer ZIP and ASN targeting.
- Rayobyte adds device OS targeting and mobile proxies.
- Costs are similar at small volumes; Rayobyte is cheaper at scale.
- Rotate IPs between checks.
FAQ
Which is better for mobile ad verification?
Rayobyte, which sells mobile proxies.
Do both support ZIP-level checks?
Yes.
Which is cheaper?
Similar at small volume; Rayobyte at scale.
How many checks per placement?
At least one per targeted location; more for high-spend campaigns.
Can I verify ads without a browser?
Rarely; ads usually load through JavaScript, so a browser is needed.
Do I need screenshots for ad verification?
For evidence, yes; capture the creative, landing URL and redirects too.
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.
- Autonomous system (Internet) (Wikipedia): What an autonomous system (ASN) is, the network label sites use to tell datacenter IPs from home ones.
- 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.