Guides, Tutorials & Insights
Learn about residential proxies, web scraping, data collection strategies, and industry best practices from the Shifter team.
Google Image Search APIs: Collecting Visual Search Data at Scale
Image results drive product discovery and expose copied photos. How teams collect Google Images and reverse image data at scale, and what they do with it.
Daniel Okafor · October 17, 2026 API vs Web Scraping: Which Data Collection Method Is Right for Your Project?
Official APIs are stable but limited; web scraping covers the rest. How to choose between them, when to combine them, and the trade-offs that decide it.
James Meadow · October 16, 2026 Free vs. Paid Web Proxies: Which Option Offers More Flexibility?
Free web proxy or paid proxy? Compare limits, locations, sessions and where each one works, and learn the signs that it is time to upgrade.
James Meadow · October 16, 2026 How Google Shopping APIs Power Modern E-Commerce Intelligence
Google Shopping shows which sellers offer a product, at what price, in each market. How e-commerce teams turn that data into pricing and assortment decisions.
Priya Nair · October 14, 2026 Alternative Data for Investment Research: The Compliance Layer Nobody Documents
Web data can give investors an edge, and a compliance problem. What funds ask of alternative data, why it matters, and how to build datasets that pass review.
Sofia Marin · October 14, 2026 How to Buy ISP Proxies Without Wasting Money on the Wrong Provider
ISP proxies are sold per IP, so mistakes cost money every month. What to decide before you buy, what to check during a trial, and the traps to avoid.
James Meadow · October 13, 2026 Free Web Proxy Explained: How Can You Browse the Web Without Installing Anything?
How a free web proxy works inside your browser tab, what websites see, what loads well and what does not, and how to choose one without installing anything.
Chris Collins · October 13, 2026 Localisation QA at Scale: Catching What Only Breaks in One Market
Localised sites break in ways no one in head office ever sees. How to test every market as a local visitor would, and the checks that catch the bugs.
Daniel Okafor · October 13, 2026 The Best ISP Proxy Setup for Long Sessions and Persistent Logins
How to set up ISP proxies for hours-long sessions and logins that stay logged in: one IP per account, a persistent profile and an exit check first.
Matt Brown · October 12, 2026