Every time you go online, your IP address is visible to every website and service you connect to. If you want to browse privately, protect yourself on public Wi-Fi, or simply limit what sites can infer about your location, here are the four methods that actually work — with honest trade-offs for each.
A VPN encrypts all your internet traffic and routes it through a server in a location you choose. Websites see the VPN server's IP address — not yours. Most VPN apps work with a single button press on any device.
How it hides your IP: Your real IP is replaced by the VPN server's IP. If the server is in Germany, sites think you're in Germany.
Limitations: Your VPN provider can technically see your traffic. Choose a provider with a verified no-logs policy (Mullvad, ProtonVPN, and ExpressVPN are well-regarded). Free VPNs often undermine privacy by selling data.
Tor routes your traffic through three encrypted relays operated by volunteers worldwide. No single relay knows both who you are and what you're accessing. Your IP is hidden from the sites you visit.
How it hides your IP: The exit relay (the last hop) is what websites see. Your real IP is only known to the first relay, which doesn't know your destination.
Limitations: Tor is noticeably slow — not suitable for video streaming or large downloads. Some sites block Tor exit nodes. Tor is best for sensitive research, journalism, or situations where strong anonymity matters more than speed.
A proxy acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet. Your requests go through the proxy's IP instead of yours. Unlike a VPN, a proxy typically only handles traffic from your browser, not your entire device.
How it hides your IP: The target website sees the proxy's IP. Your traffic isn't encrypted end-to-end the way a VPN encrypts it.
Limitations: Most free proxies are unreliable, log traffic, or inject ads. They don't protect non-browser traffic. For serious privacy, a VPN is a better choice. Proxies are more useful for bypassing simple geo-restrictions than for genuine privacy.
Cellular carriers assign IPs from large shared pools and rotate them frequently. Switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data immediately changes your IP address and makes location tracking less precise.
How it hides your IP: Mobile IPs are typically tied to a carrier's regional hub, not your specific address or device. They change often and are shared across many users.
Limitations: Your carrier still knows your identity and can link traffic to your account if legally compelled. This method reduces casual tracking but isn't a substitute for a VPN if you need real privacy.
If your ISP assigns you a dynamic IP address (most home connections do), restarting your router may cause your ISP to assign you a new IP. This isn't guaranteed — some ISPs re-assign the same IP — and it provides minimal privacy since your new IP still traces back to your ISP account.
For most people, a reputable VPN running in the background is the right answer. It's fast, easy, and covers all your traffic — not just the browser.