On this page
- Verdict
- Side-by-side comparison
- About Decodo
- About SOAX
- Pricing compared
- Performance compared
- Pool & coverage
- Features face-off
- Trials & support
- Where Decodo wins
- Where SOAX wins
- Decodo pros & cons
- SOAX pros & cons
- Consider the alternative
- Switching between them
- Comparison FAQ
- Related comparisons
- Full reviews
- Related searches
- Make the call
Verdict
Overall: Decodo. Our scoring (value 30%, speed 25%, pool 20%, features 15%, support 10%) puts it ahead at #4 versus #6. Choose SOAX instead when social media managers and mobile-first data work describes you precisely.
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Decodo | SOAX |
|---|---|---|
| Our rank | #4 of 15 | #6 of 15 |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Entry price | $2.20/GB | $3.30/GB |
| IP pool | 55M+ | 8.5M+ |
| Success rate | 98.5% | 97.5% |
| Proxy types | 4 | 3 |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| City targeting | Yes | Yes |
| Support | 24/7 live chat | 24/7 chat |
About Decodo
Decodo is the network most often recommended to first-time buyers, thanks to an interface that makes proxies feel as simple as any consumer SaaS product.
Formerly known as Smartproxy, it rebranded while keeping the same mid-market positioning: serious capability without enterprise friction.
About SOAX
SOAX is a quality-over-quantity network that vets its pool aggressively, making it a favourite for social platforms where IP reputation is everything.
Rather than chase headline pool numbers, it invested in continuous IP hygiene and unusually precise carrier and city filters.
Pricing compared
On paper: $2.20/GB (Decodo) versus $3.30/GB (SOAX). Factor retries at 98.5% and 97.5% success and the cheaper option compounds its advantage — always run both through a pilot before committing volume.
Performance compared
Our latency and throughput testing favoured Decodo (92 vs 88 speed index), while pool depth favours Decodo. Match the strength to your workload’s bottleneck.
Pool & coverage
Coverage: 55M+ (Decodo) vs 8.5M+ (SOAX). For geo-sensitive work note that city targeting is available on both.
Features face-off
Decodo: Solid 55M+ pool with good uptime; 14-day money-back window.
SOAX: Precise city and carrier targeting; Strong on mobile and social use cases.
Trials & support
Decodo support: 24/7 live chat; trial: yes. SOAX support: 24/7 chat; trial: yes. Responsiveness becomes decisive the night a pipeline breaks — weight it accordingly.
Where Decodo wins
- Easiest onboarding of any network we tested.
- You are beginners and SMBs who want a smooth first proxy experience.
- Solid 55M+ pool with good uptime.
Where SOAX wins
- Strong on mobile and social use cases.
- You are social media managers and mobile-first data work.
- Frequently refreshed, clean IP pool.
Decodo pros & cons
- ✅ Easiest onboarding of any network we tested
- ✅ Solid 55M+ pool with good uptime
- ✅ 14-day money-back window
- ⚠️ Mid-tier pricing, not the cheapest
- ⚠️ Mobile pool smaller than specialists
SOAX pros & cons
- ✅ Frequently refreshed, clean IP pool
- ✅ Precise city and carrier targeting
- ✅ Strong on mobile and social use cases
- ⚠️ Smaller pool than the big names
- ⚠️ Premium-leaning pricing
Consider the alternative
Before settling this matchup, price in our overall #1: Cheapest Proxies undercuts both ($0.80/GB) while posting a 99.4% success rate — the highest of the fifteen networks we benchmark.
Check Cheapest Proxies → Read the reviewSwitching between them
Switching between these vendors is low-friction: both expose gateway-plus-credential access, so migration is usually a config change. Run both in parallel for a week, splitting traffic 90/10, before cutting over fully.
Comparison FAQ
Can I use both Decodo and SOAX together?
Yes — multi-vendor setups are common: route easy targets through the cheaper network and reserve the other for its specialty, with automatic failover between them.
Which has the bigger pool, Decodo or SOAX?
Decodo — 55M+ versus 8.5M+. Pool size matters most for high-concurrency rotation.
Which is better, Decodo or SOAX?
Decodo wins our weighted benchmark (#4 vs #6), combining easiest onboarding of any network we tested with stronger value scores. SOAX remains the right call when social media managers and mobile-first data work matches your situation.
Is Decodo cheaper than SOAX?
Entry pricing: $2.20/GB vs $3.30/GB. Yes on stickers — but compare cost per successful request after a pilot on your own targets.
Do Decodo and SOAX offer free trials?
Decodo: yes. SOAX: yes. Trials are the cheapest way to settle this comparison for your specific workload.
Full reviews
Deep-dive both sides: Decodo review · SOAX review — or browse all 15 provider reviews.
Related searches
Make the call
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