Datacenter IP vs Residential IP: Complete Comparison & Guide

For a long time, the way VPNs are used has hardly changed:

One device, connecting to one VPN, all traffic goes through the same exit.

This model is very effective in scenarios with a single account and single task. However, as multi-account operations, cross-border business, and remote collaboration gradually become the norm, more and more users are beginning to realize a problem:

The "whole device connection method" of traditional VPNs has become difficult to meet the real needs of multi-tasking.

It is against this backdrop that the function of VPN Containers has been proposed and gradually become a new idea to solve the needs for multiple sessions and multiple exits.

Starting with traditional VPNs: What problems do they excel at solving?

The design goal of traditional VPNs is very clear: to provide a unified and stable network exit for the entire device or operating system.

Once the VPN connection is established, all network traffic on the device will access the outside through the same encrypted channel and the same IP address. This model is very mature and reliable in the following scenarios:

• Long-term use of a single account
• Need for a fixed network exit or encrypted communication
• Desire to minimize network configuration complexity

But the problem is that the "whole device effectiveness" feature of VPNs also limits their flexibility in complex scenarios.

Why is "one VPN connection" insufficient in multi-account scenarios?

In actual use, more and more users encounter the following situations:

• Need to log in and operate multiple accounts simultaneously
• Different accounts are not suitable for sharing the same IP exit
• Frequent disconnections from the VPN and switching nodes disrupt the workflow
• Desire for accounts to be isolated from each other at the network level
• Some applications wish to use the VPN, while others prefer to connect directly to the local network
  

In the traditional VPN model, these needs are almost impossible to meet simultaneously. The reason is not complicated:

The target of traditional VPNs is "the entire device," not "individual sessions."

This means:

• All browser windows share the same network exit
• Different accounts are visible to each other at the network level
• An anomaly in any account may affect the overall environment

This is not a flaw of traditional VPNs, but rather that they were not originally designed for "multi-session, multi-identity parallel use."

What are VPN Containers? What is the core idea?

The core idea of VPN Containers is to shift the control granularity of the VPN from the "device level" down to the "session level."

In simple terms:

VPN Containers do not connect one device to one VPN,
but allow different browsing sessions on the same device to use different VPN connections.

Taking Surflare's VPN Container feature as an example, it allows you to create multiple isolated browsing session environments on the same device and assign independent VPN connections and IP addresses for each session.

In other words:

VPN Containers do not connect one device to one VPN,

but allow different browsing sessions on the same device to each have their own network exit.

In this model, each container can be understood as a relatively independent "online space."

How do VPN Containers work?

In practical use, VPN Containers typically follow this logic:

1. First, enable the VPN Container feature in the VPN client
2. Create independent browsing sessions for different containers
3. Select VPN nodes and routing methods for each container
4. Each container maintains independent cookies, sessions, and browsing history

The final effect is:

• Multiple IP exits can exist simultaneously on the same device
• Different sessions will not share login states or network environments
• No need to frequently disconnect the VPN or switch system-level connections

This design transforms the VPN from a "on or off" tool into a network capability that can be finely managed.

VPN Containers are not "multiple VPNs"; what is the essential difference?

At first glance, VPN Containers seem to simply "connect multiple VPNs simultaneously," but there are clear differences in essence.

The problem with traditional multiple VPNs is:

• VPN connections are still device-level
• There is no clear binding relationship between browsers and accounts
• High management costs and complex switching

In contrast, VPN Containers emphasize:

• One container = one stable network identity
• Strong binding of network exit and browsing session
• No need for frequent switching or reconnecting during use

The goal is not to increase complexity but to reduce human intervention, allowing each account to remain in a consistent network environment for a long time.

What real-world problems do VPN Containers solve?

VPN Containers are not meant to replace all tools but are targeted at a very specific type of need:

1️⃣ Multiple accounts online simultaneously, but do not wish to share IPs

In scenarios like cross-border e-commerce and social media operations, multiple accounts often should not appear under the same network exit.

VPN Containers allow you to:

• Assign one exit for account A
• Assign another exit for account B
• Be online simultaneously without interference

No need to repeatedly switch VPNs or split devices.

2️⃣ Hope to reduce "human operation traces"

In actual work, you may wish to:

• Have business-related browsing sessions go through the VPN
• Keep local applications, tools, or domestic services connected directly

VPN Containers support selecting different routing strategies for different sessions, achieving more flexible network allocation without affecting the overall experience.

3️⃣ Need clearer account environment management

When each account has a clearly corresponding container:

• Network exits are clearer
• Session data is not mixed up
• Usage habits are more stable

This is often more important for long-term operational users than "how many functions" there are.

Typical application scenarios

Summary of the advantages of VPN Containers

Compared to traditional VPNs, VPN Containers have advantages in the following areas:

• Multiple IPs online simultaneously, rather than switching in turns
• Session-level isolation, avoiding mixed account environments
• More flexible routing control, balancing local and remote needs
• More stable long-term usage experience, reducing human operation traces

These advantages are not meant to be "more advanced," but to be closer to real usage patterns.

Are VPN Containers and fingerprint browsers the same type of tool?

This is a very easy question to confuse.

The answer is: No.

Although both VPN Containers and fingerprint browsers involve "isolation," they focus on different levels of issues.

What does the fingerprint browser focus on?

The core of the fingerprint browser is isolation at the device and browser environment level.
It customizes browser fingerprint parameters so that different accounts appear to come from different devices.

It addresses:

"Will these accounts be recognized as operating from the same device?"

What does the VPN Container focus on?

VPN Containers focus on:
the binding relationship between network exits and sessions.

It does not perform deep fingerprint spoofing but solves:

"Do these accounts share the same network identity?"

An intuitive comparison

Dimension	Fingerprint Browser	VPN Container
Isolation Focus	Device / Browser Environment	Network Exit / Session
Custom Fingerprint	Yes	No
IP Isolation	Requires proxy	Yes
Usage Complexity	Relatively high	Low
Suitable Audience	High-intensity risk control scenarios	Light to moderate multi-account scenarios

This is also why, in actual use, they are often complementary rather than substitutive.

Design philosophy of Surflare VPN Containers

In Surflare VPN Containers, VPN Containers are not launched as a "gimmick feature," but are an extension design based on real usage scenarios.

Its core philosophy can be summarized in three points:

1. Make network isolation more granular
   No longer based on "devices," but on "sessions."
2. Reduce human operational intervention
   Avoid frequent switching, reconnecting, and adjusting configurations.
3. Maintain long-term stability
   Each container corresponds to a stable network environment, rather than a temporary combination.

This design does not pursue complex configurations but emphasizes sustainable and manageable user experience.

Are VPN Containers suitable for you? First, consider your usage method

Whether you need VPN Containers depends on your actual usage scenario, not on whether the tool itself is "advanced."

You can simply judge like this:

• If you only use one account and seek long-term stability → Traditional VPN is sufficient
• If you need to use multiple accounts simultaneously but do not involve complex fingerprint risk control → VPN Containers are a more suitable choice
• If you face high-intensity, multi-platform risk control → Fingerprint browser + VPN / Container combination is more secure

Conclusion: VPN Containers solve not "technical problems," but "usage method problems"

VPN Containers are not meant to replace traditional VPNs but are a natural extension of their usage methods.

When the usage scenario evolves from "one account" to "multiple sessions in parallel,"

from "temporary connections" to "long-term stable use,"

more granular network control capabilities become necessary.

What VPN Containers solve is not a flashy technical issue but rather how network tools can keep up with changes after real work methods change.
VPN Containers are essentially an extension of the traditional VPN usage model.

If you wish to build a more stable, clearer, and long-term controllable multi-account network environment,
then understanding the design logic of VPN Containers is often more important than simply comparing functional parameters.

FAQ

Q1: What is the biggest difference between VPN Containers and traditional VPNs?

A: Traditional VPNs typically provide a unified network exit for the entire device; VPN Containers break the connection granularity down to the session level, allowing different browsing sessions to use different VPN connections and IPs, making them more suitable for simultaneous online multi-account usage.

Q2: Can VPN Containers replace fingerprint browsers?

A: They cannot simply replace each other. Fingerprint browsers address isolation and fingerprint customization at the device/browser environment level; VPN Containers primarily address the isolation needs of network exit and session binding. In light to moderate multi-account scenarios, VPN Containers may be easier to use; in high-intensity risk control scenarios, fingerprint browsers may still be needed in conjunction.

Q3: Why is frequently switching VPN nodes not ideal in multi-account scenarios?

A: Frequent disconnections, switches, and reconnections can create more human operation traces and environmental discontinuity, and multiple accounts under the same network exit can easily cause conflicts. The goal of VPN Containers is to reduce frequent switching and allow accounts to remain in a stable and manageable network environment for a long time.

Q4: Who are VPN Containers more suitable for?

A: They are more suitable for users and teams that need to run multiple accounts simultaneously on the same device, wish to isolate the network exits of different accounts from each other, and do not want to invest in complex fingerprint management costs.

Q5: Do VPN Containers require additional software installation?

A: No. VPN Containers are a built-in feature of the Surflare VPN client and can be enabled on supported platforms.

Q6: Does each container have independent cookies and sessions?

A: Yes. Each container maintains independent browsing sessions and local data, which are not shared with each other.

Q7: Will VPN Containers affect local network speed?

A: When selecting direct connection or local routing mode, local traffic will not go through the VPN and will not affect the original network experience.

Q8: Can VPN Containers be used together with fingerprint browsers?

A: Yes. VPN Containers handle network layer and session layer isolation, while fingerprint browsers manage device and environment layer isolation, making them suitable for use together in more complex scenarios.

When using multiple accounts in parallel, what really needs to be isolated is often not the device, but the session itself.

From "one device one exit" to "one session one exit,"

the way VPNs are used is changing.

Learn more about Surflare VPN Containers