A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the most effective and widely recommended way to hide your IP address. When connected to a VPN, your traffic is encrypted and routed through a remote server, replacing your real IP address with one from the VPN provider.

Paid VPN (Best Option)

Paid VPN services typically offer unlimited data, strong encryption, no-log policies, and the ability to choose server locations by country or city. These features make paid VPNs suitable for browsing, streaming, remote work, and general privacy protection.

Free VPN

Free VPNs can hide your IP address but often come with limitations such as reduced speeds, capped data usage, fewer locations, or weaker privacy guarantees. They may be sufficient for light, occasional browsing but are not ideal for long-term or sensitive use.

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet. Websites see the proxy’s IP address instead of yours. Proxies are useful for basic IP masking, accessing region-restricted content, or managing multiple IPs for specific tasks.

However, most proxies do not encrypt traffic, making them less secure than VPNs. Free proxies can also be slow or unreliable, while paid proxies are better suited for targeted use cases like web scraping or automation.

The Tor Browser routes your traffic through a network of volunteer-operated nodes, providing a high level of anonymity. It hides your IP address and makes tracking extremely difficult. Tor is free and open-source, but browsing speeds are significantly slower, and some websites restrict access from Tor exit nodes.

Tor is best suited for anonymity-focused use cases rather than everyday browsing or streaming.

Mobile carriers frequently assign dynamic IP addresses, meaning your IP may change each time you reconnect. Using mobile data or a personal hotspot can effectively change your IP address, though your carrier can still track activity at the network level.

Public Wi-Fi assigns a different IP address than your home network, effectively masking your original IP. However, public networks are often unsecured and pose significant security risks. Using a VPN on public Wi-Fi is strongly recommended.