PacketStreamCompare · Residential proxies
PacketStream vs. Oxylabs
PacketStream sells residential proxy traffic at $1.00/GB from a prepaid balance, with no subscription. Oxylabs sells residential proxies through monthly subscriptions, with listed rates from $6/GB down to $2.5/GB at 1,000+ GB on October 10, 2026. PacketStream’s rate is below Oxylabs’ lowest listed residential rate, needs no commitment, and PacketStream accepts refund requests for the remaining balance within 24 hours of purchase. Oxylabs states that self-service purchases are non-refundable.
Checked against each provider’s public pages on .
At a glance
| Feature | PacketStream | Oxylabs |
|---|---|---|
| Residential price | $1.00/GB, one published rate | $6/GB on the smallest plans, falling to $5, $4, and $2.5/GB at 1,000+ GB |
| Billing model | Prepaid balance. No subscription. | Monthly subscription: Starter $30, Basic $100, Flexible $500. Enterprise from $2,500 a month. |
| Refunds | Request within 24 hours of purchase for the remaining balance | Self-service purchases are non-refundable |
How they differ
Pricing model. PacketStream has no plans. You add funds, with a $50 minimum purchase, and traffic is metered at $1.00/GB until the balance runs out. Oxylabs prices residential traffic by monthly subscription tier, from $6/GB down to $2.5/GB at 1,000+ GB, all above $1.00/GB.
Targeting and sessions. PacketStream targets by country at no extra cost and keeps a sticky session on one exit until 60 minutes pass without a successful new connection.
Scope. PacketStream’s Search API, Fetch API, and MCP server for AI agents bill per successful call from the same balance as proxy traffic, with no subscription.
Why choose PacketStream
- You want to pay for traffic only when you use it, with no monthly plan to keep or cancel.
- Price per GB matters most: $1.00/GB was below Oxylabs’ lowest listed residential rate on October 10, 2026.
- You want country targeting included in the $1.00/GB rate.
- You may want a refund soon after buying. PacketStream accepts refund requests within 24 hours of purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Is PacketStream cheaper than Oxylabs?
Per GB at published rates, yes. On October 10, 2026, Oxylabs listed residential traffic from $6/GB on small plans down to $2.5/GB at 1,000+ GB, on a monthly subscription. PacketStream charges $1.00/GB with no subscription.
Does Oxylabs require a subscription?
Yes. Its residential pricing page lists only monthly subscription plans. PacketStream has no subscription: you add funds, with a $50 minimum purchase, and the balance does not expire.
How do PacketStream sticky sessions work?
With PacketStream, add a session ID to your auth key to keep the same exit. The 60-minute timeout is rolling: each successful new connection in the session restarts it, so an active session can keep its exit for longer than an hour. After 60 minutes without a successful new connection, the next one may get a different exit. The session stays on one household’s IP and never silently switches to a different exit.
Can I get a refund?
PacketStream accepts refund requests for the remaining balance within 24 hours of purchase. Oxylabs states that self-service purchases are non-refundable.
Sources, checked 2026-10-10
- Oxylabs: Residential proxies pricing
- Oxylabs: Residential proxies
- PacketStream: Pricing
- PacketStream: Rotation and sticky sessions
- PacketStream: FAQ
Prices are as listed on the date shown and may have changed since. Oxylabs is a trademark of its owner, used here only to identify its products. PacketStream facts come from our pricing and documentation.
Try PacketStream with a prepaid balance.
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