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Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about IP addresses, geolocation and online privacy.
What is my IP address?
Your public IP address is the unique number your ISP assigns to your internet connection. Visit our home page to see it detected automatically.
What is the difference between a public and private IP?
A public IP is visible to the whole internet and assigned by your ISP. A private IP is used only within your local network (home or office) and is not reachable directly from the internet.
Does my IP address reveal my identity?
Not by itself. An IP address can be used to estimate your city and identify your ISP, but it does not expose your name, address or personal details without a legal request to your provider.
Why does my IP address keep changing?
Most home connections use dynamic IP addresses, which your ISP reassigns periodically or when you restart your router. Static addresses, which never change, are usually a paid option.
How accurate is IP geolocation?
Geolocation is typically accurate to the city or region level. It maps your IP to your ISP's registered location, which can differ from your actual position by tens of kilometres.
Can I be tracked with my IP address?
Websites can log your IP and use it for approximate location and analytics. Using a VPN, proxy or Tor makes this much harder. See our hide my IP guide.
What is an IPv6 address?
IPv6 is the newer addressing standard using 128-bit hexadecimal addresses, created because the world ran out of the ~4.3 billion IPv4 addresses.
Is this IP checker free?
Yes. All tools on this site are completely free to use, with no sign-up required.