Static IP vs Dynamic IP: How They Are Assigned, When You Need One, and What They Mean in Proxies

The short answer

A dynamic IP is assigned automatically and can change. A static IP is set by hand and does not change. That is the difference in networking basics. In proxies, the two words are borrowed for something else: whether the exit address changes automatically with each request or after a period of time (dynamic, also called rotating), or stays fixed for the whole lease (static).

Dynamic IP: assigned automatically by DHCP

Home routers and most office networks use DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) to give addresses to devices. RFC 2131 describes three ways DHCP can allocate an address. With automatic allocation, DHCP gives the client a permanent address. With dynamic allocation, DHCP gives the client an address for a limited period of time, or until the client gives it up. With manual allocation, a network administrator chooses the address, and DHCP only passes it on to the client.

RFC 2131 also says that dynamic allocation is the only one of the three that lets the network take back an address that is no longer in use, so it suits devices that join the network for a short time. This is what people usually call a dynamic IP: each time the device connects, it asks a DHCP server for an address, and when the lease ends it may get a different one.

• Sources:
• RFC 2131: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

Static IP: set by hand

A static IP is an address that is not picked up temporarily but is set in advance. The device uses the same address every time it starts, and anyone who needs to reach it can always use that same address. In the words of RFC 2131, this matches "manual allocation": the address is chosen by a network administrator. For how to set it in a router or an operating system, follow the official instructions for your device and system.

Private addresses and public addresses

The address your device gets is not always the address a website sees. RFC 1918 reserves three address ranges for private networks: 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255, and 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255. An organisation can use these addresses internally without asking anyone for permission. The 192.168.x.x addresses common at home are one of these ranges.

These addresses work only inside the local network. What a website sees is the public address of your exit. So "my IP is 192.168.1.5" and "the IP the website sees" are two different things. You can check the address a website sees at https://ipinfo.io/json. Whether your public address is fixed depends on the plan description of your broadband or service.

• Sources:
• RFC 1918: Address Allocation for Private Internets

When you need a static IP

• Remote access: if you need to reach a device or service at home or at work from outside, an address that keeps changing is inconvenient. • Servers: a device that offers a service to others usually needs a fixed address. • Allowlists: when the other side only accepts specific addresses, you need a fixed exit address.

For everyday browsing, watching videos and reading web pages, a dynamic IP is enough.

Dynamic and static in proxies

In proxies, these two words describe how the exit address behaves. It has nothing to do with DHCP. • Dynamic (rotating) proxy: the exit address changes. It is usually billed by traffic and suits a large number of independent requests. • Static proxy: the exit address stays fixed during the lease and does not rotate. It is billed by IP and lease length and suits cases where you need the same address for a long time.

Which one to choose depends on the task. For the difference between residential, ISP and datacenter routes, see Residential vs ISP vs datacenter proxies; it is not repeated here. For the difference in billing, see Pay-per-GB proxies. If you are not sure what a proxy is, start with What is a proxy.

• Residential vs ISP vs datacenter proxies
• Pay-per-GB proxies
• What is a proxy

How this maps to Proxy302

Dynamic residential proxies are billed per GB, and the exit country is set when you generate them; see the dynamic residential page. Static ISP proxies are rented per IP, with lease lengths of 1, 3, 7, 30, 60 and 90 days. A static ISP IP stays fixed during the lease and does not rotate, and a lease of 30 days or more is dedicated; see the static residential page. After you buy one, you can open https://ipinfo.io/json through it to confirm the country and network; see How to check a proxy IP location.

• dynamic residential page
• static residential page
• How to check a proxy IP location

How to do it with Proxy302

A Proxy302 proxy needs only an address, a port, a username and a password. Dynamic residential is billed by traffic, and the exit country is set when you generate the proxy; HTTP is on port 2222 of proxy.proxy302.com, and SOCKS5 is on port 3333. A static ISP IP stays fixed for the whole lease and does not rotate, and a lease of 30 days or more is dedicated. The table below shows the exits in 7 countries from our most recent hourly check; the probe requests ChatGPT, which is only an example target. For details, see the dynamic residential page and the proxy location check guide.

• dynamic residential page
• proxy location check guide

Measured exits: ChatGPT from 7 countries

Hourly check of the Proxy302 probe, 28 October 2026, 14:56 UTC: one request to ChatGPT per country through a dynamic residential exit, using the public Proxy302 entry. Only the first three octets of an IP are public. One sample per country, not an average; later checks will differ.

• Sources:
• Proxy302 hourly connectivity check

How to do it with Proxy302: steps

1. Step 1

   Open the rotating residential page, choose the line, and keep Protocol on HTTP or choose SOCKS5, then click Review cost and generate.

2. Step 2

   Open My assets (the console page that holds everything you bought) and copy HOST, PORT, USERNAME and PASSWORD. The Connect page shows a ready example with your own endpoint.

3. Step 3

   Enter the details in the browser or tool you are setting up.

4. Step 4

   Confirm the exit with https://ipinfo.io/json through the proxy.

5. Step 5

   From mainland China, start the helper tool from the Connect page first and keep it open while you use the proxy.

   • Helper tool guide

Prices and limits

The Budget line costs US$1.50 per GB, US$1.35 per GB in a 100 GB package and US$1.20 per GB at 300 GB. There is no free trial, and the smallest purchase is 1 GB. Which exit locations are available changes daily.

• Sources:
• Proxy302 product facts and price list

FAQ

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