What is Webshare?
Webshare is a California-based proxy provider founded in 2018, offering affordable proxy solutions for developers and businesses. In 2022, Oxylabs acquired Webshare to expand their market presence in the budget-conscious segment.
The platform provides datacenter, ISP, and residential proxies with a unique free tier offering 10 proxies without requiring a credit card. With 80 million residential IPs across 195 countries, Webshare positions itself as a “bang for buck” option for proxy users.
Webshare vs CorsProxy.io
While both services offer free tiers, they solve different problems:
Purpose: Webshare provides traditional HTTP proxies for routing traffic through different IPs. CorsProxy.io specifically bypasses browser CORS restrictions, allowing frontend applications to access cross-origin resources.
Browser Compatibility: Webshare proxies require server-side or browser extension configuration. CorsProxy.io works natively in any browser with a simple URL change:
// Webshare requires proxy configuration
// Cannot be used directly in browser JavaScript
// CorsProxy.io works in any browser
const response = await fetch(
`https://corsproxy.io/?url=${encodeURIComponent('https://api.example.com/data')}`
);
const data = await response.json();Pricing Model: Webshare charges per GB ($1.40-$3.50/GB for residential). CorsProxy.io charges per request with predictable monthly pricing starting at $9/month.
Free Tier Comparison
| Feature | Webshare Free | CorsProxy.io Free |
|---|---|---|
| What You Get | 10 static proxies | 10,000 requests/month |
| Use Case | Server-side proxying | Browser CORS bypass |
| Rate Limits | Per proxy limits | 60 requests/minute |
| Browser Support | Needs extension | Native support |
When to Use Each
Choose Webshare if:
- You need static proxy IPs for server-side work
- You’re building web scrapers or bots
- You need to mask your server’s IP address
- Budget is your primary concern
Choose CorsProxy.io if:
- You’re fixing CORS errors in frontend apps
- You need a browser-native solution
- You want predictable monthly costs
- You need production-ready reliability