The topic of sneaker bots is vast, and there’s enough information to get your head spinning. You have to approach it with patience and look for a way to organize the knowledge that is out there. In this short guide, we’ll be covering the basics that you need to learn.
Contents
What are sneaker bots?
Bots are computer software designed to automate online tasks and imitate human activity while doing so. Sneaker bots are a particular kind of scalping bots that aim to automate the process of buying limited edition goods, in this case, sneakers.
Instead of visiting websites automatically, a bot will log in to monitor, select and purchase a wanted pair of sneakers. The process is completed in seconds, and no human can compete with the speed of a bot. That’s why most wanted sneakers are sold out the moment they drop.
However, there are limitations for bots too, especially on sneaker sites. Most of them limit automated activity by changing their layouts, implementing CAPTCHAs and tracking IPs. For this reason, bots must be fine-tuned for working with sneaker sites.
Over time, sneaker bots have evolved in a few different directions, and we can distinguish a few types of them:
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Dedicated sneaker bots
usually work to cop one kind of sneakers. So you can find Nike, Adidas or Supreme bots. They are an excellent place to start if you are new to sneaker botting.
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Shopify bots
are designed to work best on marketplaces made with the Shopify platform. Kith and Bodega are notable examples selling footwear with this eCommerce system.
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Footsites bots
work with all websites under the Footlocker brand. The websites are similar, and they make drops in a matching fashion. One bot can cop Eastbay, Champs, FootAction and others.
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Supplementary bots
are used by some sneakerheads to accomplish other tasks. Usually, they allow monitoring websites, creating accounts or selling sneakers on retail sites.
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AIO bots
aim to work with all websites and even have supplementary functions. All in one bots are hard to use, and it’s doubtful they can actually support every site.
There’s no one guide to cover every aspect of sneaker bots, so you’ll need to read many sources. A guide by Proxydrop is a promising start.
How to get a sneaker bot?
There are three common ways you can acquire a sneaker bot. Creating a bot yourself takes a significant amount of knowledge in coding and the way targeted websites work. Their layouts constantly change, and measures against bots improve, so you will have to keep up by updating your bot constantly.
Creating and maintaining a bot yourself is doable but not for everyone. An industry grew around sneaker bots that provide them. Look for a bot that is easy to use, has an active community, can monitor sneakers sites for drops, and, this is really important, imitates human activity well enough to bypass CAPTCHAs.
Cybersole AIO and Kodai AIO are notable examples fulfilling the mentioned criteria. However, don’t be surprised that most of the bots you encounter will be out of stock. One option is to follow the developers on social media and wait for a restock. A faster alternative is to visit resale marketplaces, such as Tidal or BotBroker.
However, there is a risk of being scammed when purchasing bots online. So, be cautious and check the seller on social media. Also, take your time and use a middleman who can test if the bot is legitimate before you buy.
The third option for obtaining sneaker bots is renting them for a short time. It allows you to try a bot without spending much money. Renting opportunities come up in Discord channels, where the renter will provide you with all the login information and guides for using the bot.
Renting a sneaker bot comes with an even greater risk of scams because you will have to pay before getting access. Fraudsters misuse this and just disappear after getting paid or provide bots that are not working properly. Make sure to find reputable connections or marketplaces before you take action.
Proxies
A bot is not enough as you also need a secure connection for proper copping. Proxies enter here as intermediaries between your sneaker bot and the website. They will route your connection and change the IP address, allowing the bot to avoid bans and CAPTCHAs.
But not all proxies are fit for sneaker copping. The best combination of legitimacy and performance is needed, so only residential proxies can deliver this. They are affiliated with physical devices and ordinary internet service providers (ISPs), so websites will see your bot just like any other user.
Speed and a large pool of rotating residential IPs are also a must. You don’t want any delays with your bot, and changing IPs significantly reduces the possibility of your bot getting banned by the website.
Cook groups
The unfortunate truth is that even the best bot and an excellent proxy won’t guarantee you success. Sneaker copping is an active practice that, at times, can only be achieved collectively by sharing tips and tricks. In addition to mastering bots, you need to know some insider information about drops and sneaker bots to be successful.
You cannot gain this knowledge fast as it takes months or even years for people to get the know-how. The only way is to learn from others, so it’s essential to join cook groups. It will provide you with all the information about sneaker bots and sneaker coping in general.
You can find such groups in Discord or Slack, and they may ask for a monthly joining fee. The price is worth it because users there share release information and various guides on how to use bots. They sometimes even organize events, including group buys or sneaker bots training sessions.
Wrapping up
This guide is not exhaustive but will guide you in the right direction. Keep on researching, join a cook group, and after a while, you’ll stop looking and start cooking.