What Is a Dedicated Residential IP and Why Use One?

What is a Dedicated Residential IP?

A dedicated residential IP is exclusively accessed by a single VPN user. Unlike shared IP VPNs, no one else will be able to access the same IP address. Other types of VPNs can have dedicated IP addresses as well.

Yet, datacenter IP VPNs, for example, are more often shared since they run on data center servers that can handle more connections with similar performance. Residential VPNs are known for their high legitimacy but might perform slower when shared, so it makes sense to use them for dedicated IPs.

Dedicated IP address residential VPNs often overlap with static IP residential VPNs. In this context, a static IP address means that it doesn't change or rotate, remaining fixed for one user as long as needed.

Most dedicated IP VPNs have such fixed IPs for the users purchasing them, but different dedicated IP VPN setups are possible. For example, when a VPN service user has purchased more than one dedicated IP, they can change it whenever they need to. Another possibility is that a dedicated IP rotates after some duration, say 30 days, but the new one is still dedicated.

Each dedicated IP address is still static in the sense that it belongs to one user, but otherwise can be considered rotating. To use an analogy, purchasing a dedicated IP address is like renting a private parking space in a location of your choice.

No one else can access it or use it once you have a claim for a certain period. You can even purchase multiple parking spaces and rotate between them as needed. For comparison, a shared residential IP VPN is like using a public parking lot.

You pay for the time you park there, but someone else may also use the same spot. While it is a simplification, it helps to understand the pros and cons of owning a dedicated IP address for your residential VPN.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Fewer CAPTCHAs and IP bans. You can keep the same unique IP address for longer with a residential dedicated IP VPN. The fact that there are no other users who might flag your connection on IP-sensitive websites further reduces restrictions as long as you use the IP intelligently.
• Easier access to services that require a fixed IP address. Logging in to important accounts, from social media to banking, might require a consistent dedicated IP address from a residential area.
• Stable performance. Demanding tasks like streaming, web scraping, or gaming benefit from a dedicated IP, as you don't need to share the speed and bandwidth with other users.
• More control. Depending on your use case and setup, a dedicated IP gives more options in various security settings, access points, whitelists, and other advanced customization scenarios.
• Consistent geo targeting. While dedicated IPs themselves don't improve location targeting, the exclusive access allows for connecting from the same exact location multiple times. Dedicated IP residential VPNs are some of the best tools for this.

Drawbacks

• High costs. The combination of residential and dedicated IPs is one of the most expensive for a VPN server.
• Less anonymity in certain scenarios. Websites that use aggressive browser fingerprinting techniques can track you online more easily with the same dedicated IP address all the time.
• Fixed location. If you only purchase one static IP, it can be difficult to quickly change your dedicated VPN server to another country. You’ll have to resort to shared IPs for different locations.

Use Cases for Dedicated Residential IPs

A residential dedicated IP VPN can accomplish anything a VPN server can, often improving the privacy and performance of the task. We'll focus on five common scenarios where dedicated IP residential VPNs excel compared to traditional counterparts.

• Secure remote access. A dedicated IP both shields your identity and ensures needed access. This is especially important in cases where servers allow access only from a particular location, which a dedicated IP VPN ensures.
• Managing multiple social media accounts. Logging in to more than one account from the same IP address risks getting it banned. That's why marketing professionals and agencies use dedicated IP addresses to avoid restrictions and handle their clients' requests seamlessly.
• Accessing geo-restricted content. Traditional VPNs are enough to bypass geo-restrictions in most cases, but a static IP address might be preferable when visiting IP-sensitive websites. They might restrict IPs that are shared, have been used by other users previously, or are known as VPN IPs.
• Web automation. A dedicated IP address enables various automation tasks, like testing, data entry, email processing, web scraping, and others. Using your own IP address risks getting it banned, while a consistent IP identity is still needed.
• Marketing tasks. Ad verification, competitor monitoring, or various SEO tasks, especially when performed at scale, benefit from a dedicated IP VPN. Although far from everyday uses, a static IP VPN can be used for such tasks.

How to Choose the Right VPN Provider

The quality and thus applicability of your dedicated IP can vary depending on the residential VPN provider you choose. While there are many VPN services with seemingly identical offers, a few key features distinguish them.

Key Features to Look For

• IP reputation and uniqueness. If you're going to get a dedicated IP, check whether it's not flagged or pre-banned on sites you'll use it for. Additionally, ensure the IPs are actually from residential providers. The best source for this is past user reviews and documentation.
• Location availability. Look not only at the number of locations, but also whether there are enough dedicated IP addresses there. A dozen dedicated IPs in relevant locations can be more beneficial than one or two static IPs all over the world.
• No-logs policy. This is a non-negotiable part of any credible VPN provider. Look for a dedicated IP service that takes their no-logs pledge seriously and has a track record to prove it.
• Device support. Even the best VPN server is no use if you can't access it from your device. Be sure to double-check whether the VPN you are buying is compatible with the devices you use.

CometVPN ticks all these boxes and much more. Enjoy quality VPN servers with dedicated IP options for affordable prices, a clean track record of user privacy, and wide location coverage. Download CometVPN app for your Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android device.

Setting Up a Dedicated Residential IP VPN

The instructions below are applicable to CometVPN dedicated IP plans, but other VPN providers will have similar steps. Starting to use a dedicated IP VPN is no more difficult than starting out with a regular VPN.

1. Download and register

Getting a dedicated IP VPN, whether residential or traditional, only adds an additional step. First, you must create a VPN account. It takes a couple of minutes with CometVPN, since you can conveniently link it with Apple, Facebook, or Google if you wish.

Then, go to our download page and choose a VPN app for your device - Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices are supported. Once the software is installed, choose a plan with a dedicated IP option.

2. Choose a dedicated IP address option

Log in to your account and choose a VPN plan that suits your needs. Currently, prices start from $1.89 per month. You'll find a dedicated IP VPN option under Additional services, meaning that you can still use regular VPN servers if needed.

Enable the dedicated IP option and choose a Residential VPN dedicated IP for purchase. You'll also need to select the country or one of the US states and a dedicated IP subscription period, which can range from one month to two years.

3. Activate protection

All that is left now is to press the large Tap to connect button in your VPN app. No matter the device you are using, enabling the protection from your dedicated IP VPN will only take a few seconds from now on.

Maintenance tips

It's generally recommended to use a private DNS server with all VPNs, not just ones that use dedicated IPs. It avoids possible DNS leaks when your ISP can still snoop around your online activity based on the DNS requests you send.

A dedicated IP VPN might also require additional maintenance to keep your VPN IP off blacklists. Avoiding long periods of inactivity, gradually increasing dedicated IP usage in high-security sites, and monitoring IP status helps detect and prevent potential issues.

Depending on the setup and importance of your tasks, consider using a VPN kill switch in case the dedicated IP VPN no longer works for your purpose or the IP is banned. With CometVPN, an ordinary VPN access will be available as a backup.

Conclusion

A dedicated residential IP VPN is a premium service that gives you exclusive access to a high-quality residential IP address. It's useful for high-privacy cases where you also need to retain a consistent online identity. CometVPN offers some of the best residential dedicated IP VPN deals on the market.