How to hide your IP address

Your IP address reveals your approximate location and ISP to every website you visit. If you want to browse more privately, access geo-restricted content, or prevent tracking, you need to mask your real IP. Here are the four main methods, compared honestly.

1. VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through a server in a location you choose. Websites see the VPN server's IP instead of yours.

Pros

Easy to set up and use
Encrypts all traffic
Choose your location
Good speeds (5-15% loss)
Works on all devices

Cons

Monthly cost ($3-12/mo)
VPN provider can see traffic
Some sites block VPN IPs
Slight speed reduction

Best for: Most people. A reputable VPN (look for no-logs policies, independent audits, and open-source clients) provides the best balance of privacy, speed, and usability.

2. Tor Browser

Tor routes your traffic through three random volunteer-operated relays worldwide, making it nearly impossible to trace back to you. Each relay only knows the previous and next hop, never the full path.

Pros

Strongest anonymity available
Free and open source
No single point of trust
Decentralized network

Cons

Very slow (50-80% speed loss)
Many sites block Tor exits
Only protects browser traffic
Not suitable for streaming

Best for: People who need strong anonymity (journalists, activists, researchers). Overkill for casual browsing.

3. Proxy server

A proxy acts as an intermediary — your request goes to the proxy, which forwards it to the website. The website sees the proxy's IP. Unlike a VPN, most proxies do not encrypt your traffic.

Pros

Simple to configure
Can be free (SOCKS5, HTTP)
Per-application setup

Cons

Usually no encryption
Free proxies often log data
Slower and less reliable
Only works per-app, not system-wide

Best for: Quick, one-off tasks where encryption is not critical (e.g., bypassing a simple geo-block). Not recommended for privacy.

4. Public Wi-Fi

Connecting to a coffee shop, library, or hotel Wi-Fi gives you that network's public IP instead of your home IP.

Pros

Free
Different IP from home
No software needed

Cons

Insecure (others can sniff traffic)
No encryption by default
Network operator sees everything
Not practical as a daily solution

Best for: Nothing, honestly. It hides your home IP but introduces far worse security risks. If you must use public Wi-Fi, always use a VPN on top of it.

Comparison summary

Method	Privacy	Speed	Cost	Encryption
VPN	High	Good	$3-12/mo	Yes
Tor	Very high	Slow	Free	Yes
Proxy	Low	Varies	Free-paid	Rarely
Public Wi-Fi	Very low	Varies	Free	No

How to verify your IP is hidden

After enabling a VPN, proxy, or Tor, visit heresmyip.com and check that the IP, location, and ISP shown match the service you are using — not your real connection. If you still see your real IP, there may be a DNS or WebRTC leak.