Best Ways to Hide Your IP Address (Free & Paid)

Want to hide your IP address, dodge those pesky ads, and stay anonymous on the internet? Keep reading for our 5 best ways to hide IP address data.

Your IP address says more about you than you think, and hiding it is the first step toward real online privacy.

Without your IP address, websites, ad networks, and even your internet service provider (ISP) can’t trace your online activity or location. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most effective ways—both free and paid—to hide your IP address. It’s a key step toward regaining control over your digital footprint.

So, let’s get right into it!

What is an IP Address?

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique number that identifies your network on the internet. Every time you visit a website, open an app, or stream a video, your IP address is shared with the website, app, or service provider. This allows servers to know where to send the data.

For example, when you play a YouTube video, your IP tells YouTube where the video should be delivered. But it also reveals your general location and can be used to track your activity. We won’t get too deep into the technical side here, but if you want a full breakdown, check out our guides on what an IP address is and what an IP address reveals.

What matters now: your IP address isn’t private, and it can be used by websites, ad networks, and even hackers to monitor or profile you. That’s why one of the most effective ways to protect your online privacy is to hide your IP address.

1. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN is one of the easiest and most effective ways to hide your IP address. It creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, masking your real IP and replacing it with one from the VPN server.

Here’s how a VPN works:

1. You connect to a VPN app on your device.
2. From here on out, your internet traffic is encrypted. No one, not even your ISP, can see what you’re doing.
3. Your data is then routed through the VPN’s server before reaching its destination.

From the outside, websites and services only see the VPN server’s IP address, not yours. This gives you more privacy, protects your personal information, and can even help prevent geo-targeting.

Or, to illustrate this:

VPN Pros & Cons

VPN Pros:

• High Internet Speed. While a VPN isn’t as fast as your regular internet, some providers offer impressive speeds. In many cases, the difference is so small you’ll barely notice it.
• Streaming and Download. A VPN lets you stream videos and download files without anyone tracking your activity.
• Comprehensive Protection. VPNs work at the operating system (OS) level. Once you enable the VPN app, it covers all your internet activity.
• Security. A VPN encrypts your online activity, making it impossible for someone to eavesdrop on you. If you want to learn more about this, check out our article on how VPNs protect you from hackers.

VPN Cons:

• Slight Speed Reduction: Some slowdown is possible, depending on server distance and load.
• Blocked by Some Sites: A few services (like Netflix or banking apps) may block VPN traffic.
• Not Always Free: The best VPNs typically require a subscription.

⚠️ Pro Tip: Be cautious with free VPNs.
While they might sound appealing, free VPNs are typically unsafe.
Many log your data and sell it to advertisers—completely defeating the purpose of using a VPN in the first place. Worse, some shady providers have been caught injecting malware or secretly using your device’s resources for profit. If privacy is a concern for you, consider using a reputable paid VPN vs a free VPN.

2. Use a proxy server

A proxy server acts as a middleman between your device and the internet. When you use a proxy, your requests are routed through that server, so websites and apps see the proxy’s IP address, not your own.

While proxies function similarly to VPNs in how they hide IP address data, they do not encrypt network traffic, which means they offer less security.

Proxy: Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Fast Speeds: Proxies don’t use encryption, which often means faster performance than VPNs.
• Good for Basic Tasks: Handy for streaming, bypassing simple firewalls, or unblocking websites at school and work.

Cons:

• No Encryption: Your data is exposed, making proxies less secure than VPNs.
• Limited Scope: Proxies work on an app-by-app basis (e.g., just your browser), not across your whole device.
• Setup Can Be Tricky: VPN proxy extensions usually offer a quick and easy setup. But manual configurations for proxy servers are sometimes required if you want to use it with a downloader client.
• Free Options Are Unreliable: Most free proxies are slow, unstable, or even unsafe. Some paid VPNs (like IPVanish) include a SOCKS5 proxy, giving you more flexibility in one package.

Proxies are pretty similar to VPNs. They act as a third-party server relaying your data to its final destination. As such, the websites you visit or apps you use see the proxy’s IP address instead of yours.

Unlike VPNs, though, proxies don’t encrypt your traffic, so you won’t receive the benefit of enhanced security.

3. Use Tor

Tor (short for “The Onion Router”) is a free, open-source tool designed to protect your anonymity online. It routes your internet traffic through three separate servers (also called relays or hops), making it extremely difficult to trace any request back to you.

Each relay only knows a portion of your information: one knows where the request came from, another sees the data, and the last one knows where it’s going. This layered encryption system helps keep your identity hidden.

Tor: Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Strong Anonymity: Your traffic is bounced through multiple encrypted relays, making tracking very difficult.
• Completely Free: Anyone can download and use Tor at no cost.

Cons:

• Very Slow Speeds: Due to the multi-hop system, browsing is more than 3x slower than with a VPN or proxy.
• Not Ideal for Streaming or Downloads: Tor can’t support high-bandwidth activities like watching videos or downloading large files.
• Browser-Only Protection: Tor only secures traffic within the Tor browser or browsers equipped with Tor, like Brave. Other apps and services on your device aren’t covered.

Want to see how Tor stacks up to VPNs? Take a look at out our Tor vs VPN comparison guide.

4. Use a cloud browser

A cloud browser, also called a virtual browser, runs in a secure environment on a remote server—not on your actual device. This process, called remote browser isolation (RBI), protects your session from threats like malware, viruses, and browser fingerprinting by design. It also hides IP address data, showing websites only the IP of the remote server location you’re connected to.

RBI tools like IPVanish Secure Browser are designed to give you a browsing session where no local data is stored, and your actual IP address is hidden from the sites you visit.

Cloud Browser: Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Hide IP Address & Browser Data: Your actual IP address and browser details never reach the websites you visit.
• Enhanced Security: Runs in a virtual environment, isolating your real device and location.
• No Local Traces: Your session and data are wiped when the browser is closed.

Cons:

• Requires a Subscription: Secure RBI tools are typically part of paid security suites.
• Browser-Only: Like Tor and proxy servers, a virtual browser only protects the activity of your browsing session, no other apps.
• Limited Extension Support: Some browser extensions may not work in a virtualized environment.

5. Use mobile tethering

Need to quickly change your IP address without installing anything? Just turn on your phone’s mobile hotspot and connect your device to it.

When you use mobile data, your IP address comes from your cellular network provider, not your home internet. It’s a simple way to hide IP address data temporarily, especially if you’re dealing with simple IP-based blocks or want a quick change of network identity.

Mobile Tethering: Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Quick & Easy: Just turn on your phone’s hotspot—no setup or download required.
• New IP Address: Your mobile network assigns a different IP than your Wi-Fi.
• Bypass IP Blocks: Great for getting around temporary bans or restrictions on Wi-Fi.

Cons:

• Not Private: Your data isn’t encrypted or hidden, just routed through a different network connection.
• Data Limits: Mobile plans sometimes have bandwidth caps or throttling.
• Temporary Fix: Not ideal for long-term anonymity or consistent use.

What’s the Best Way to Hide Your IP Address?

The best way to hide your IP address is to use a VPN. While not free, a VPN offers the best balance of speed, security, and usability. It’s more secure than a proxy, and much faster than Tor.

But how do all the methods stack up against each other?

Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison:

What’s the best way to hide IP address data? It depends on your goals:

• Go with a VPN if you want all-around protection, fast speeds, and the ability to stream and download securely.
• Use Tor if anonymity is your top priority and you’re willing to accept very slow speeds.
• Pick a proxy only if you want something lightweight and don’t need encryption (though we recommend going with a VPN that also provides a proxy).
• Try a virtual cloud browser if you want a secure, disposable browsing session with no local data stored.
• Use mobile tethering as a quick fix to get a different IP, but not for long-term privacy.

Want to get started with a VPN? It’s as easy as 1-2-3! Here’s what you have to do:

1. Sign up on our website and pick your IPVanish VPN plan.
2. Download and set up the VPN app.
3. Install the application and select ‘Connect,’ then you’re all set!

Why Should You Hide Your IP Address? 3 Essential Reasons

1. Stay Private Online

These days, nearly every website, platform, or ISP is watching what you do. Your internet service provider can log everything—from your search history to the apps you use—often without your knowledge. At the same time, websites and social media platforms use your IP address to link your activity to your real-world identity and location.

By hiding your IP, you add an extra layer of separation between your personal data and those trying to collect it. Although it doesn’t make you completely anonymous, it’s a smart and essential first step in protecting your digital identity.

You won’t truly be anonymous on the internet just by hiding your IP address. Check out our guide to internet anonymity to learn all there is to know!

2. Stop Ad Networks from Following You

Online ads aren’t just annoying—they’re targeted. Most major advertising networks track your activity across the web using a combination of internet cookies, device info, and your IP address. Over time, they build detailed behavioral profiles, sometimes knowing more about your preferences than you do.

When you hide IP address data, you make it harder for those networks to link your behavior across different websites and services. This won’t eliminate ads altogether, but it does reduce how personal they can get.

3. Bypass Censorship and Access a Free Internet

Traveling abroad?

There’s a good chance that some of your favorite websites and apps might be blocked.

In China, for example, many household name websites are banned, including Facebook, Google, and Wikipedia, among others. The USA has also recently considered a TikTok ban.

So, if you want to access these platforms abroad, you’ll need ways to hide IP address data. By hiding your IP, the local ISP can’t see the end destination for your network activity and is unable to restrict which websites you visit.

Ways Your IP Address Can Be Misused

Think your IP address just helps websites load? Think again. It can be used to:

• Track your online activity across sites and apps
• Block you from content based on your location (geo-blocking)
• Trigger fraud alerts when logging into services from “unusual” IPs
• Limit your pricing based on where you’re connecting from

So choosing to hide IP address data isn’t just about staying private; it’s about staying in control of how the internet treats you.

Can You Just Change Your IP Manually?

Well, yes, there are several methods to manually change your IP address, such as

• Restarting your router
• Connecting to a different network
• Contacting your ISP to request a new IP

Here’s the catch: These tricks only replace your assigned IP, they don’t hide IP address data. Your ISP still knows who you are, and websites can still see your identifiable IP address.

If you want to truly hide IP address identifiers (not just assign yourself a new number), tools like VPNs or cloud browsers are the way to go.

Key Takeaways

Now, let’s sum up everything we’ve covered on the best ways to hide your IP address:

• A VPN is your best all-around option to hide IP address data. It encrypts the traffic of your entire system and works seamlessly for streaming, downloading, and everyday browsing.
• Tor offers the highest anonymity but it’s painfully slow. It is great for privacy purists and those who need a free solution, but it is not a good experience for daily use.
• Proxies are fast but lack encryption, so the way you use them matters. If you’re choosing between a proxy and a VPN, usually go VPN or pick a provider that also offers a proxy.
• Virtual browsers isolate your sessions. They keep browsing activity off your device and hide your real IP using a remote server.
• Mobile tethering gives you a temporary IP change. It’s useful in a pinch to hide IP address info, but it’s not built for long-term privacy or security.