In the proxy IP market, US residential IPs are widely used in cross-border e-commerce, social media operations, advertising placements, and more due to their high purity and authenticity. Depending on the duration of use, residential IPs can be categorized into long-term and short-term residential IPs. What are the differences between these two types? Which scenarios are they suitable for? This article will provide a detailed analysis.

Long-term residential IPs (Sticky Residential IPs) refer to residential IPs that can be used continuously for extended periods, usually ranging from several hours to days or even longer, depending on the settings provided by the proxy service provider.

High Stability: The IP address does not change frequently, making it ideal for tasks requiring long-term stability.
Suitable for Account Management: These IPs can be used for registering, nurturing, and advertising on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
Reduced Risk of Account Bans: Platforms monitor IP changes; frequent IP switches can trigger security alerts or account bans, which long-term IPs help prevent.

Applicable scenarios include:

• Social Media Operations (such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram): Ensures stable operation of accounts over the long term, avoiding bans caused by frequent IP changes.
• Cross-Border E-Commerce (Amazon, eBay, Etsy): Suitable for store management, backend operations, and ad placements.
• Data Collection: Ideal for tasks requiring prolonged access to specific websites, such as public opinion monitoring and SEO analysis.

Short-term residential IPs (Rotating Residential IPs) refer to IP addresses that automatically switch within short intervals, typically every few minutes to an hour.

Frequent IP Changes: Particularly suited for large-scale network requests within a short period.
Higher Anonymity: Constantly switching IP addresses makes tracking difficult.
Suitable for Short-Term Tasks: Such as web scraping, accessing restricted content, etc.

Applicable scenarios include:

• Data Scraping (Web Scraping): When needing to access many websites without being blocked, short-term IPs are a good choice.
• Ad Verification: Used to check ad placements across different regions, preventing ad fraud.
• Flash Sales/Grabbing: By frequently changing IPs within a short time, the success rate of grabbing limited offers increases.

Comparison Aspects	Long-Term Residential IPs	Short-Term Residential IPs
Stability	High, IP remains unchanged for extended periods	Low, frequent IP changes
IP Change Frequency	Low, suitable for long-term tasks	High, suitable for short-term tasks
Applicable Platforms	Facebook, TikTok, Amazon, etc., requiring stable IPs	Web scraping, ad verification, flash sales, etc.
Anti-Ban Capability	High, avoids detection by frequent IP changes	Moderate, suitable for anonymous access but may face risk controls
Applicable Business Scenarios	Account operations, ad placements, cross-border e-commerce	Data collection, market analysis, batch tasks

If your business requires high stability, such as social media account operations or cross-border e-commerce backend management, long-term residential IPs are recommended. If your business needs high anonymity or frequent IP changes, such as data scraping or ad verification, short-term residential IPs are preferable. For managing multiple account matrices, combining both types can ensure account safety while efficiently executing batch tasks.

Whether using long-term or short-term residential IPs, selecting a reliable proxy service provider is crucial. Considerations should include:

• IP Purity: Avoid using blacklisted IPs; choose high-quality residential proxies, such as those offered by Blurpath.
• Regional Coverage: Ensure IP sources align with target markets to enhance ad placements and social account stability.
• Stability: Low disconnection rates guarantee uninterrupted long-term tasks.
• Supported Protocols: Provide support for HTTP(S) and Socks5 protocols to meet diverse business needs.

Both long-term and short-term residential IPs have their unique advantages and apply to different scenarios. For tasks requiring long-term stability, such as social media operations, cross-border e-commerce, and ad placements, long-term residential IPs are more suitable. For short-term tasks like data scraping, ad verification, and flash sales, short-term residential IPs are more efficient. When choosing a proxy IP, match the type according to your needs and select a trustworthy service provider to ensure smooth business operations.