Dynamic IP, fixed IP, fixed residential IP and fixed home broadband IP: what’s the difference?
The short answer: what each of the four exit types is for
A dynamic IP suits everyday region switching. A fixed IP suits allowlists and long-term admin consoles. A fixed residential IP emphasizes a residential network profile, and a fixed home broadband IP comes from an ISP’s home broadband network. Which one to choose depends on whether your task needs “flexible switching” or “a network identity that stays the same over the long term.” Settle that question before you compare price or speed.
Start with the table below, which puts the four exit types side by side. The sections after it go through each one.
| Exit type | Main trait | Suited to | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic IP | Switch regions flexibly | Web browsing, office work, AI tools, temporary tasks | The exit isn’t fixed, so it doesn’t suit cases where you need the same address over the long term |
| Fixed IP | Keeps the same exit over the long term | Servers, admin systems, partner allowlists | Changing region means changing to a different fixed IP, and the allowlist has to be registered again |
| Fixed residential IP | Keeps a residential network profile and a stable region | Tasks where the target service explicitly requires a residential profile | Available regions and resources are as shown on your account page |
| Fixed home broadband IP | Comes from an ISP home broadband network | Long-term work environments that explicitly require a home broadband profile | Available regions and resources are as shown on your account page |
Dynamic IP: switch regions flexibly
With a dynamic IP, the exit can be switched by region. When you need the network environment of a particular region, switch to it; when the task is over, switch back. It doesn’t ask you to stay on one address over the long term, so it suits light, temporary use that changes with the task.
Which tasks it suits
Everyday web access, remote work, using AI tools and briefly checking what a page shows in a particular region are all typical uses for a dynamic IP. None of these needs the exit address to stay the same over time, so switching regions causes no extra trouble. AnBo gives you 1 GB of free shared-IP data each month, and using it to try your real workflow first keeps the cost low.
What to watch for
With a dynamic IP, you won’t necessarily get the same address each time. If a system only allows access from one specific address, or you need to stay logged in on the same exit over the long term, a dynamic IP isn’t a fit. Look at a fixed IP for those needs.
Fixed IP: the same exit over the long term
A fixed IP means what it says: the exit address stays the same over the long term. Server admin consoles, the access allowlists a partner sets up for you, and remote systems that need a stable network identity all depend on the address being the same one every time.
Allowlists and admin access
Many systems keep a list of allowed addresses. If the exit changes every time, the allowlist has to be edited again and again, which is a hassle to maintain and sometimes can’t be done at all. A fixed IP pins the exit down, so you register it on the allowlist once, and later access is also easier to troubleshoot.
Three things to confirm before choosing
- Whether the other system actually requires a fixed address, or you only think a more stable one would be nice;
- Whether the region you need is settled, since changing region means changing to a different fixed IP;
- Whether you will use it for long enough to justify buying a separate data balance for a stable network identity.
When the exit needs to change
A fixed IP stays put for the long term, but sometimes it does have to change, for example when your office moves or a partner adjusts their allowlist. Plan for these changes ahead of time: first confirm that the new exit is ready, then ask the other side to update the allowlist, and then switch over, so access isn’t interrupted in between.
Fixed residential IP and fixed home broadband IP: choose them when the requirement is explicit
Both belong to the group of resources where the exit’s profile matters. A fixed residential IP emphasizes a residential network profile and a stable region. A fixed home broadband IP comes from an ISP’s home broadband network and is closer to a long-term home broadband environment.
If your target service doesn’t explicitly say it needs a residential profile or a home broadband connection, you generally don’t need to pay extra for either. They only make sense when the target service itself has a clear requirement on the exit’s profile and you need to keep the same network identity over the long term. The regions you can choose, the resources available and the specific attributes are as shown on your account page, so look at the current resource list before deciding which type you need.
Common misconceptions when choosing
“A fixed IP is better value than a dynamic IP”
A fixed IP is valuable because it stays the same, not because it is “better.” If your task doesn’t need the exit address to stay the same over the long term, a fixed IP only brings a stricter way of using it: changing region means changing to a different fixed IP, and its data can’t be shared with a dynamic IP. For most everyday use, a dynamic IP is more flexible and easier to try out.
“The more residential or home broadband attributes, the safer”
A profile requirement comes from the target service, and having more of them isn’t better in itself. Without a clear requirement, choosing a residential or home broadband IP only adds cost. On the other hand, when the target service does require such a profile, don’t make do with a dynamic IP or an ordinary fixed IP, or you may find halfway through that it doesn’t meet the requirement.
“Buy one type first and sort it out later”
The four types of data are independent of each other. If you buy the wrong type, the balance can’t be moved to another type. Rather than buying first and finding it doesn’t fit, validate your task with the free 1 GB each month, then decide which type to buy.
The four types of data can’t be shared, so decide before you buy
Dynamic IP, fixed IP, fixed residential IP and fixed home broadband IP each use a separate resource pool and have a separate data balance. Data bought for a dynamic IP can’t be used on a fixed IP, and the reverse is also true, so you choose and buy each one separately. All data is valid for 1 month, so stocking up on too much at once isn’t recommended.
A simple order for choosing
- First ask whether the task needs a fixed exit address over the long term. If not, start with a dynamic IP;
- If it does need a fixed address, ask whether the target service has a clear requirement on the exit’s profile. If not, a fixed IP is enough;
- If there is a clear profile requirement, choose between a fixed residential IP and a fixed home broadband IP according to the profile the target service asks for;
- If you aren’t sure, claim the free 1 GB each month, try it with your real devices and workflow, and then decide which type to buy.
Unlimited devices applies to all four exit types: computers, phones and virtual machines can share the same account, but the data balance is shared, so a device that uses data quickly will use it up sooner. If several devices run tasks at the same time, keep an eye on the usage in your account so you don’t run out partway through.
