How to hide your IP address
Your IP address goes out with every request you make. Hiding it means routing your traffic through somebody else’s network so that theirs is the address sites record instead of yours. There are four practical ways to do that, and they are not equivalent.
VPN
Your traffic is encrypted to a server run by the VPN provider and leaves from there. Sites see the server’s address and the data centre it sits in.
Good for everyday use, choosing which country you appear from, and shielding traffic on networks you do not control. Costs you a few euros a month, some speed, and trust — your provider now sees what your ISP used to. A no-logs policy that has survived an audit or a subpoena is worth far more than one that is merely advertised.
Tor
Traffic is relayed through three volunteer-run nodes, each of which knows only its neighbours. No single relay can connect you to your destination.
Good for the strongest practical anonymity available for free. Costs you a lot of speed, frequent CAPTCHAs, and outright blocks from sites that treat exit nodes as suspicious. It is a tool for when anonymity genuinely matters, not a default.
Proxy
A server forwards your requests. Usually there is no encryption, and usually it covers only the browser rather than the whole device.
Good for quick, low-stakes redirection. Costs you any real protection. Free public proxies are frequently run to inspect the traffic passing through them. Treat a proxy as a way to change your visible address, never as a way to protect anything.
Mobile data
Switching off Wi-Fi puts you on your carrier’s network with a completely different address, usually shared with many other subscribers through carrier-grade NAT.
Good for an instant, free change of address. Costs you nothing technically, but it hides nothing from your carrier and the address still resolves to your country.
Comparison
| VPN | Tor | Proxy | Mobile data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hides IP from sites | Yes | Yes | Yes | Different address, same country |
| Encrypts traffic | Yes | Yes | Usually not | Only what is already HTTPS |
| Speed impact | Small | Large | Small | None |
| Cost | Low | Free | Free or low | Included |
| Who can see your traffic | The VPN provider | The exit node, for unencrypted traffic | The proxy operator | Your carrier |
Verify it afterwards
Whichever you choose, check the result rather than assuming it. Open the VPN check page: the provider shown should be the service you are paying for, not your home ISP, and the country should be the exit you selected.
Frequently asked questions
Is hiding my IP address legal?
In most countries, yes — VPNs are ordinary commercial products used daily by businesses. A handful of countries restrict or ban them. What you do through one remains subject to the same laws as anything else.
Does incognito mode hide my IP address?
No. Private browsing clears cookies and history on your own device when you close the window. Your address, provider and location are exactly as visible as before.
Is a free VPN good enough?
Rarely. Running exit servers costs money, and a free service recovers it somehow — usually by logging and selling traffic data, which is the opposite of the point. A cheap paid service is a better trade.
Will a VPN make me anonymous?
No. It changes which network you appear to come from. Accounts you are signed in to, cookies already set, and browser fingerprinting all continue to identify you.