What is Proxy Farming?
Proxy farming is a legitimate way to earn passive income by sharing your unused mobile internet bandwidth. You set up devices (phones or USB modems with SIM cards) that route internet traffic through your connection, and companies pay you for access to these real mobile IPs.
Quick Summary TLDR
Quick Summary TLDR
- 1Proxy farming lets you earn $15-70+ per device monthly by sharing mobile bandwidth
- 2You need USB modems or phones, SIM cards with data, and a computer to run the setup
- 3Platforms like Coronium handle customer acquisition and pay 54% revenue share
- 4Premium locations (USA, UK, Australia) command higher prices than other regions
- 5It's legal and legitimate - you own the hardware and control your setup
Unlike selling your home WiFi bandwidth (which pays pennies), mobile proxy farming commands premium rates because mobile IPs are trusted by platforms, harder to detect, and in high demand from businesses doing market research, ad verification, and competitive analysis.
Why Mobile Proxies Are Valuable
The mobile proxy market is projected to reach $1.12 billion by 2030, growing at 8%+ annually. This growth is driven by:
Businesses need mobile IPs for legitimate purposes:
- Ad verification - Checking if ads display correctly across regions
- Market research - Gathering pricing data without being blocked
- App testing - Testing mobile apps from real carrier networks
- Brand protection - Monitoring for counterfeit products globally
The 2025 Proxy Market Research by Proxyway shows providers reporting double-digit growth, with AI companies becoming major customers due to their massive data collection needs.
How Much Can You Actually Earn?
Let's be realistic about earnings. They depend on three factors:
- Your location - USA, UK, Canada, and Australia pay the most
- Number of devices - More devices = more income
- Uptime - Devices need to stay online 20+ hours daily
Realistic Monthly Earnings
| Setup Size | Investment | Monthly Profit | ROI Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 devices | $300-500 | $70-330 | 2-4 months |
| 10 devices | $600-900 | $150-650 | 2-3 months |
| 20 devices | $1,200-1,800 | $400-1,400 | 2-3 months |
Location Matters
These numbers assume premium locations. If you're in regions with lower demand, expect 30-50% less. Always check current rates before investing in hardware.
The variance comes from your specific country, carrier, and how the platform prices your proxies to end customers.
Getting Started with Coronium
Coronium runs a marketplace model that's particularly farmer-friendly. Instead of paying you wholesale rates (pennies per GB like bandwidth-sharing apps), they connect you directly with enterprise buyers and split the revenue.
Why Coronium Works for Beginners
- 54% revenue share - You keep more than half of every sale
- They handle sales - No need to find your own customers
- Setup assistance - Remote help getting your farm running
- Hardware available - Pre-configured modems from EUR 59
The Setup Process
- Sign up for the Create Proxies program
- Get hardware - Buy USB modems + SIM cards (or purchase from Coronium)
- Prepare a computer - Install Ubuntu on a desktop or mini PC
- Schedule setup - Book a remote session with their team
- Go live - Your proxies appear on their marketplace
Hardware Requirements
You'll need:
• A computer running Ubuntu (can be an older desktop)
• USB hubs to connect multiple modems
• 4G/5G USB modems (one per proxy)
• SIM cards with data plans that allow tethering
What You'll Need to Invest
Hardware Costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USB Modem (4G) | EUR 59-80 | Pre-configured from Coronium |
| USB Modem (5G) | EUR 169+ | Higher speeds, premium pricing |
| USB Hub | $15-30 | Powered hub for multiple modems |
| Mini PC/Desktop | $100-300 | Can use existing computer |
| SIM Cards | Varies | Local carrier data plans |
Monthly Operating Costs
- Data plans: $10-50 per SIM depending on your country
- Electricity: $5-15 for running devices 24/7
- Internet: Your existing connection (minimal additional usage)
Start Small
Begin with 3-5 devices to learn the process before scaling up. This limits your initial investment while you verify earnings in your specific location.
Is Proxy Farming Legal?
Yes. You own the hardware, you pay for the data plans, and you're selling access to legitimate internet connectivity. It's similar to renting out a room in your house.
However, keep these points in mind:
- Check SIM terms - Some carriers prohibit commercial tethering
- Tax obligations - Report income according to local laws
- No illegal usage - Reputable platforms like Coronium prohibit abuse
The platforms handle compliance on the customer side, ensuring the proxies aren't used for fraud or illegal activities.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't Do This
• Cheap SIMs with data caps — You need unlimited or high-cap plans
• Unstable internet — Downtime kills your earnings
• Wrong carriers — Some carriers throttle or block proxy traffic
• Overinvesting early — Test with few devices before scaling
Frequently Asked Questions
1How much time does proxy farming take?
Initial setup takes a few hours with assistance. After that, it's mostly passive - maybe 30 minutes weekly to check devices and troubleshoot any issues. The platform handles customer management entirely.
2Can I run proxy farming alongside a regular job?
Absolutely. That's the point of passive income. Once set up, the devices run 24/7 without intervention. Most farmers check their dashboard once daily and troubleshoot only when something goes offline.
3What happens if a device goes offline?
You stop earning from that device until it's back online. Good setups include remote access so you can reboot modems without physical access. Platforms don't penalize you for reasonable downtime.
4Is my personal data at risk?
No. Traffic routes through your internet connection but the proxy software isolates it completely. Users can't access your local network or personal data. It's similar to running a VPN server.
5Why not just use bandwidth sharing apps instead?
Bandwidth sharing apps like Honeygain pay fractions of a cent per GB because they're reselling cheap residential IPs. Mobile proxy farming pays 50-100x more because mobile IPs are scarce, trusted, and in high demand from enterprises.
Is Proxy Farming Right for You?
Proxy farming works best if you:
- Live in a high-demand location (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany)
- Can invest $300-500 upfront for initial hardware
- Have stable home internet and power
- Want genuinely passive income after initial setup
- Are comfortable with basic technical setup (or can follow instructions)
It's not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it's one of the few legitimate ways to generate meaningful passive income from hardware you control.
Next Steps
If you're interested in starting:
- Research your location - Check if your country/carrier is in demand
- Calculate costs - Price out SIM plans and hardware locally
- Start small - Begin with 3-5 devices to validate earnings
- Choose a platform - Coronium's Create Proxies program is beginner-friendly with their 54% revenue share and setup assistance
The mobile proxy market is growing, and individual farmers who get in now can build sustainable passive income streams as demand continues to increase.