Rotating vs sticky proxy sessions

Comparisons·5 min read·Updated 2026-06-27

Rotating and sticky describe how long you keep an exit IP. A rotating session hands you a fresh IP on every request; a sticky session pins one IP for a set window. Both run on the same gateway — you choose per request — and picking right is the difference between getting blocked and staying logged in.

Rotating sessions

By default the gateway rotates: each request exits through a new IP. That spreads traffic across the pool, so no single address accumulates suspicious volume — ideal for crawling many pages, checking SERPs, or sampling prices, where each request stands alone.

Rotation is the safest mode for high-volume reads. The downside is that anything requiring continuity — a login, a cart, a multi-step form — breaks when the IP changes mid-flow.

Sticky sessions

A sticky session holds one exit IP for up to 30 minutes, so a sequence of requests shares a single identity. Use it for logins, checkouts, account actions and any workflow where the target expects the same visitor across steps.

On this network you create one by adding a session id to your username (sessid) and optionally a time-to-live (sessttl) in minutes; the gateway keeps returning the same IP until the window expires. Pull a new session id when you want a fresh sticky IP.

Key takeaways
  • Rotating = fresh IP per request; best for high-volume, stateless reads.
  • Sticky = one IP held for up to 30 minutes; best for logins, carts and multi-step flows.
  • Same gateway — switch by adding sessid / sessttl to your username.
  • Use the shortest sticky window that keeps your workflow intact.
FAQ

Frequently asked

How long can a sticky session last?

Up to 30 minutes per IP. For longer continuity, start a new sticky session and carry your cookies over, or design the workflow to tolerate a rotation.

Does rotating cost more than sticky?

No — billing is by bandwidth either way. The session mode only changes which IP you get, not the price per gigabyte.

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