# /24 subnet diversity in proxy lists, explained > /24 subnet diversity for proxies: a /24 is 256 addresses, why some sites count per subnet, and a Python check of your list. RackProxies: no KYC, crypto. - URL: https://rackproxies.com/guides/subnet-diversity/ - Last updated: 2026-10-19 - Publisher: RackProxies (https://rackproxies.com) What a /24 is, why it matters to some websites, and how to count the subnets in your own list in a few lines of Python. **Quick answer — What does /24 subnet diversity mean for proxies?** /24 subnet diversity means how many different /24 blocks, each holding 256 IPv4 addresses, your proxy list spans. Some websites apply limits or reputation to a whole /24, so ten IPs in one block can count as one neighbor. **RackProxies** rents dedicated IPv4 from $1.29 per IP; larger orders can span several /24s, with no minimum promised. No KYC, crypto. ## Subnet facts in one table | Attribute | Value | | --- | --- | | Addresses in a /24 | 256 (2^8), for example 203.0.113.0 to 203.0.113.255 | | Addresses in a /16 | 65,536, which is 256 /24 blocks | | Why /24 matters | It is the smallest IPv4 prefix most networks accept in global routing, so it is a natural unit for filters | | Same /24 usually means | Same network operator, often the same building or server range | | RackProxies subnets | An order of several IPs can include addresses from more than one /24 subnet, but no minimum number of subnets is promised | | How to check | Group your IPs by their first three octets, or use Python's ipaddress module | ## What is a /24 subnet? A /24 is a block of 256 consecutive IPv4 addresses that share their first 24 bits, which means their first three numbers. `203.0.113.24` and `203.0.113.97` are in the same /24, `203.0.113.0/24`. `198.51.100.7` is in a different one. The number after the slash is the prefix length from CIDR notation (RFC 4632): it counts the fixed bits. A /24 fixes 24 of 32 bits, leaving 8 bits, so 2^8 = 256 addresses. A /23 holds 512, a /22 holds 1,024, and so on. In global BGP routing, most networks do not accept IPv4 announcements smaller than a /24, so a /24 is the smallest block that can be routed on its own across the internet. ## Why do some websites rate-limit per subnet? Some websites count requests per /24 because neighboring addresses usually belong to the same operator and often to the same customer. If one address in a block misbehaves, a cautious site may slow down or challenge the whole block rather than chase each address. For you, this has two effects: - **Shared fate.** Ten IPs in one /24 can share one reputation or one limit on such sites. A problem caused by a previous user of a neighboring address can reach yours. - **No extra capacity.** If a site applies its limit per subnet, more IPs in the same /24 add nothing for that site. This is a reason to respect the limit, not to work around it: the [sizing guide](https://rackproxies.com/guides/how-many-proxies-do-i-need/) explains why a site's pace applies to your whole job. Many websites do not look at subnets at all. Subnet diversity matters most for redundancy: spreading IPs over several blocks means one blocked block does not stop every job. ## Do RackProxies orders include several /24 subnets? They can, but we do not promise a number. An order of several IPs can include addresses from more than one /24 subnet, but no minimum number of subnets is promised. Your IPs come from upstream hosting partners, and the mix of blocks depends on what is online in the country and city you pick. If your job needs IPs in more than one /24, say so to support before or after you buy; we will tell you what the current stock allows. Replacements follow the usual rule. If an IP does not work or is unusable for a lawful use, write to support: we fix it or replace it with an IP in the same country, subject to stock. Orders in several countries or cities are spread across different networks by nature, because each location has its own blocks. ## How do I check the subnets in my proxy list? Group the IPs by their /24 and count each group. Download your list as TXT from your account (one `IP:PORT:USERNAME:PASSWORD` line per IP; see the [connection format](https://rackproxies.com/docs/connection-format/)) and run the script below with Python 3. It uses only the standard library. *subnets.py: count /24 subnets in a proxy list* ```python """Group a proxy list by /24 subnet. Input: one IP:PORT:USERNAME:PASSWORD per line.""" import ipaddress import sys from collections import Counter path = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else 'proxies.txt' subnets = Counter() with open(path, encoding='utf-8') as handle: for line in handle: line = line.strip() if not line: continue ip = line.split(':')[0] network = ipaddress.ip_network(ip + '/24', strict=False) subnets[str(network)] += 1 total = sum(subnets.values()) print(total, 'IPs in', len(subnets), 'distinct /24 subnets') for network, count in subnets.most_common(): print(f'{network:<18} {count:>4} IPs ({count / total:.0%})') ``` *Output for a list of six documentation addresses* ```text 6 IPs in 3 distinct /24 subnets 203.0.113.0/24 3 IPs (50%) 198.51.100.0/24 2 IPs (33%) 192.0.2.0/24 1 IPs (17%) ``` ## How should I read the result? | What you see | What it means | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | | All IPs in one /24 | One operator block; shared fate on sites that count by subnet | Keep a spare in another location, or ask support about other blocks | | A few /24s, uneven | Most load sits on one block | Send the busiest jobs to the smaller groups | | Each IP in its own /24 | Maximum spread for this list | Nothing; keep the list as it is | | Several /24s, same ASN | Different blocks, one network | Run the [datacenter IP check](https://rackproxies.com/guides/check-a-datacenter-ip/) if network diversity matters too | ## Subnet diversity questions ### How many /24 subnets will my order have? We do not promise a number. An order of several IPs can include addresses from more than one /24 subnet, but no minimum number of subnets is promised. The mix depends on the stock online in the country and city you choose. If several /24 blocks matter for your job, ask support before you buy; we tell you what is possible rather than promise a figure we cannot hold. ### Are IPs in the same /24 shared with other customers? Not the IPs you rent. Dedicated: during your rental, each IP is assigned to your account only and is not shared with other RackProxies customers. Neighboring addresses in the same /24 can be rented by other customers, which is normal for any datacenter block. The [dedicated vs shared comparison](https://rackproxies.com/dedicated-vs-shared-proxies/) explains what dedicated covers. ### Is subnet diversity the same as ASN diversity? No. Two /24 blocks can belong to the same network (ASN), and many sites look at the network as well as the block. Subnet diversity spreads addresses within or across networks; ASN diversity spreads them across operators. Check both with the RDAP and ASN lookups in the IP check guide. ### Does subnet diversity matter for IPv6? Yes, at a different scale. For IPv6 the common unit is the /64, which holds 2^64 addresses, and many sites limit per /64 or per larger prefix. Two IPv6 addresses in the same /64 count as one client on such sites. RackProxies sells IPv4 only; see the [IPv6 vs IPv4 guide](https://rackproxies.com/guides/ipv6-vs-ipv4-proxies/). ### Should I use subnet diversity to get past a site's limits? No. If a site limits clients per subnet, that limit is its rule for your job. Spreading requests to exceed it breaks the site's terms and our [acceptable use policy](https://rackproxies.com/acceptable-use/). Use diversity for redundancy and for location coverage, and keep each site's pace. ### Can I pay for a multi-subnet order in crypto without ID? Yes. No KYC: no ID, no selfie, no documents to sign up, top up or buy. Every plan, from $1.29 for one IP to $59.25 for 100, is paid from a balance topped up in BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC. See [pricing](https://rackproxies.com/pricing/) for every plan. **Spread a list across locations** 25 IPs for $29.85, or 100 IPs for $59.25. No KYC, paid in crypto. [See pricing](https://rackproxies.com/pricing/) · [Connection format](https://rackproxies.com/docs/connection-format/) ## Sources 1. [RFC 4632: Classless Inter-domain Routing (CIDR)](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4632) — IETF (2026-10-19) 2. [RFC 5737: IPv4 Address Blocks Reserved for Documentation](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5737) — IETF (2026-10-19) 3. [ipaddress: IPv4/IPv6 manipulation library](https://docs.python.org/3/library/ipaddress.html) — Python Software Foundation (2026-10-19) 4. [RFC 4291: IP Version 6 Addressing Architecture](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4291) — IETF (2026-10-19) --- RackProxies: RackProxies is a dedicated datacenter proxy provider: IPv4 addresses rented per IP for 30 days, paid in crypto with no ID upload. Pages cover 22 countries and 34 datacenter cities with public network data.