CloakMyIPAddress

How to Hide Your IP Address: 6 Methods Compared (2026 Guide)

Six real ways to hide your IP address — VPN, Tor, proxy, iCloud Private Relay, mobile data and public Wi-Fi — what each hides, what it doesn't, and step-by-step setup.

By CloakMyIPAddress Privacy Desk Published

Disclosure: Some links go to VPN providers via our /go/ links and may earn us a commission in future, at no cost to you. How we research · Disclosure

On this page
  1. Why hide your IP address at all?
  2. The 6 methods at a glance
  3. Method 1: Use a VPN (best for most people)
  4. Method 2: Use the Tor Browser (best for anonymity)
  5. Method 3: Use a proxy
  6. Method 4: iCloud Private Relay (Apple users)
  7. Method 5: Switch networks
  8. Method 6: Restart your router (sometimes)
  9. What doesn’t hide your IP
  10. After you hide your IP: check for leaks
  11. Which method should you choose?
  12. FAQ
  13. Sources

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026 · By the CloakMyIPAddress Privacy Desk

Quick answer: the most practical way to hide your IP address is a reputable VPN: it replaces your IP with the VPN server’s address on every app and encrypts your traffic on the way. For maximum anonymity use the Tor Browser; for a quick, browser-only location change a proxy will do. Incognito mode does not hide your IP.

First, check what your IP address is right now so you can compare before and after.

Why hide your IP address at all?

Your public IP address is visible to every site and app you use. It reveals your approximate location and your internet provider, and because many home connections keep the same address for days or weeks, it helps advertisers and data brokers connect your visits even after you delete cookies. On shared networks such as hotel or café Wi-Fi, your traffic is also visible to whoever runs the network. (More detail: What can someone do with your IP address?)

Common reasons readers hide their IP:

  • Stopping websites and ad networks building a location-based profile.
  • Protecting traffic on public Wi-Fi.
  • Keeping your home IP private in games, forums or peer-to-peer apps.
  • Accessing your home-country services while travelling (check the service’s terms).
  • Reducing what your internet provider can log about the sites you visit.

The 6 methods at a glance

MethodHides IP from sitesEncrypts trafficCovers all appsCostSpeed impact
VPNYesYesYes (system-wide)Free tiers or about €2–€12/monthLow–moderate
Tor BrowserYesYes (3 hops)Browser onlyFreeHigh
Proxy (HTTP/SOCKS)YesUsually noPer appFree or paidVaries
iCloud Private RelayYes (Safari)YesSafari + some trafficIncluded with iCloud+Low
Switch network (mobile data)Changes IP, doesn’t hide itNoYesFreeNone
Restart routerSometimes changes IPNoYesFreeNone

Prices are typical ranges from providers’ public pricing pages in October 2026; see current offers in our sister guides.

Method 1: Use a VPN (best for most people)

A VPN (virtual private network) creates an encrypted tunnel from your device to a server run by the VPN company. Websites see the server’s IP address, not yours. Your internet provider sees only that you are connected to a VPN, not which sites you visit.

What to look for

  1. An independently audited no-logs policy. A promise isn’t enough. NordVPN (Deloitte, sixth engagement covering Nov–Dec 2025), Surfshark (Deloitte, 2023 and 2025), ExpressVPN (KPMG, 2025) and Proton VPN (Securitum, 2025) have all published third-party assessments. [Sources below.]
  2. A kill switch that blocks traffic if the VPN drops, so your real IP isn’t exposed for a few seconds.
  3. DNS and IPv6 leak protection. Without it, the VPN can hide your IP but still leak which sites you visit. Test it with our DNS leak test and IPv6 leak test.
  4. A jurisdiction you are comfortable with. For EU readers, note that Proton is Swiss, Mullvad is Swedish and Surfshark’s operating company is Dutch, while NordVPN operates under Panamanian jurisdiction and ExpressVPN under the British Virgin Islands.

How to set one up (any device)

  1. Choose a provider and create an account — for example Proton VPN (has a free plan), Mullvad (flat €5/month), Surfshark or NordVPN.
  2. Download the official app from the provider’s site or your device’s app store. Avoid unofficial “VPN” apps with no company behind them.
  3. Sign in and turn on the kill switch in settings (sometimes called “network lock” or “always-on VPN”).
  4. Connect to a server — the nearest one is usually fastest.
  5. Reload our IP checker. It should now show the VPN’s IP and location, and run the WebRTC leak test.

Downsides: you shift trust from your internet provider to the VPN company; some sites block VPN IP ranges; streaming services may restrict access; free plans are limited.

Method 2: Use the Tor Browser (best for anonymity)

Tor routes your traffic through three volunteer-run relays, each of which only knows the previous and next hop. The website sees the exit relay’s IP. The Tor Project’s free Tor Browser is based on Firefox and is configured to resist tracking and fingerprinting.

Steps

  1. Download the Tor Browser only from the official site, torproject.org.
  2. Install and click Connect.
  3. Browse normally; avoid logging in to personal accounts if your goal is anonymity.

Downsides: noticeably slower; many sites show CAPTCHAs or block Tor exit nodes; it only protects traffic inside the Tor Browser, not your other apps. Using Tor is legal in the EU, but some networks block it.

Method 3: Use a proxy

A proxy server forwards requests for one app or browser. Websites see the proxy’s IP. Most web proxies and HTTP proxies do not encrypt traffic between you and the proxy, so they don’t protect you on public Wi-Fi.

When it makes sense: a quick, low-stakes location change, or configuring a single app. When to avoid: anything with logins or payments, and especially free “anonymous proxy” lists — you have no idea who runs them or what they record.

Comparison in depth: Proxy vs VPN vs Tor (planned guide).

Method 4: iCloud Private Relay (Apple users)

If you pay for iCloud+, Apple’s Private Relay sends Safari traffic through two separate relays — one operated by Apple and one by a partner — so no single party sees both who you are and what you visit. Turn it on in Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Private Relay.

Limits: it covers Safari and some unencrypted app traffic only, keeps you in your general region by default, and isn’t available in every country.

Method 5: Switch networks

Switching from home Wi-Fi to mobile data gives you a different IP address — your mobile operator’s. Mobile operators often share one public IP across many customers (carrier-grade NAT), which makes you harder to single out. It doesn’t encrypt anything or stop your operator seeing your traffic, so treat it as a quick change, not privacy protection.

Method 6: Restart your router (sometimes)

Many home providers assign dynamic IP addresses. Unplugging your router for a few minutes, or longer, may give you a new one. Some providers keep the same address for weeks, and fibre connections often have effectively static IPs. Check our IP tool before and after. This changes your IP but doesn’t hide it.

What doesn’t hide your IP

  • Incognito / private browsing – stops local history, not IP visibility.
  • Clearing cookies – helps against cookie tracking, not IP tracking.
  • “IP hider” browser extensions with no company behind them – many are proxies of unknown origin; some have been caught selling browsing data.

After you hide your IP: check for leaks

Even with a VPN, your real IP or browsing can leak in three ways:

  1. WebRTC in your browser → WebRTC leak test
  2. DNS requests to your normal provider → DNS leak test
  3. IPv6 traffic bypassing the tunnel → IPv6 leak test

Run all three from the homepage with your VPN connected.

Which method should you choose?

  • Everyday privacy, public Wi-Fi, travel: VPN.
  • High-risk anonymity (journalism, activism): Tor Browser, ideally with expert guidance such as EFF’s Surveillance Self-Defense.
  • One-off location change for a single site: reputable proxy or VPN.
  • Apple user who mainly uses Safari: iCloud Private Relay is a good free-with-iCloud+ start.

FAQ

Is it legal to hide your IP address? In the EU and UK, yes. A few countries restrict VPNs; check before travelling.

Can I hide my IP for free? Yes: Tor Browser, Proton VPN’s free plan, or iCloud Private Relay if you already pay for iCloud+.

Does incognito mode hide my IP? No.

Does a VPN make me anonymous? No — logins, cookies and browser fingerprinting can still identify you.

Sources