IP (Internet Protocol) is used by websites to collect user location information. The two most popular Internet protocols today are IPv4 and IPv6. When we choose an IP proxy, we can see two types: IPv4 and IPv6. What is the difference between them? How to choose? Let's explain it to you below!
In this post, we will examine the specific advantages and disadvantages of these two protocol types.

1. What is IPv4?
IPv4 was introduced in 1981 as the first widely used version of IP and remains the most widely used protocol today.
advantage
- Wide compatibility: Most websites and applications support IPv4, making it a solid choice to avoid accessibility issues.
- Simplified structure: IPv4 addresses consist of concise decimal strings that are easier to read and remember.
shortcoming
- Limited addresses: IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, resulting in only about 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses, which is insufficient to accommodate the growing number of Internet users. In addition, due to the scarcity of IPv4 addresses, obtaining a clean IPv4 proxy can be quite challenging.
- Weak security: IPv4 lacks built-in security features, making it difficult to establish a secure connection from sender to receiver.
2. What is IPv6?
IPv6 was launched in 1998 to solve the problem of IPv4 resource exhaustion and overcome the limitations of IPv4.
advantage
- Abundant addresses: IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, providing more than 17 billion IPv6 addresses, four times that of IPv4.
- Enhanced security: IPv6 includes built-in security features that make it easier to encrypt data end-to-end from sender to receiver.
shortcoming
- Limited accessibility: Due to the large number of IPv6 addresses, controlling traffic can be a challenge, leading to source IP control. As a result, not many websites and applications support IPv6, making it less practical than IPv4.
- Complex structure: IPv6 addresses are represented in hexadecimal format, which is more complex and less intuitive than the decimal structure of IPv4.

3. Should you use IPv4 or IPv6?
Your choice should be based on several factors:
- Accessibility
If you rely on Gleam, Etsy, eBay, or other platforms that do not allow IPv6 access, using IPv4 is essential to access these sites. In this case, IPv4 is preferred.
2. Risk of Account Suspension
While sites like Google and Facebook allow IPv6 access, they often perform additional verification and checks on IPv6 connections, increasing the risk of account suspension. If account security is a top priority, using IPv4 may be a safer option.
3. Pricing
The pricing for IPv4 and IPv6 proxies can vary from provider to provider. Generally speaking, IPv6 proxies tend to be cheaper compared to IPv4 proxies.
Taking all the above factors into consideration, IPv4 is actually more widely practical and more suitable for most cross-border e-commerce users. When choosing, please note that pure and exclusive IPv4 is safer. Kookeey provides high-quality IPv4, IPv6 proxies, dynamic residential traffic packages and free trials. If you don't understand the difference between them, you might as well give it a try to ensure the quality of the proxy and avoid investing in low-quality proxies.
IV. Conclusion
Despite the lower cost of IPv6, IPv4 is still the better and often necessary choice for most scenarios. When shopping for a proxy, consider the limited availability of clean IPv4 proxies. Good luck choosing the right tool for you!
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