One of the most common questions we get is whether a VPN service could hide my IP address. The answer is YES — because VPNs route traffic through other (their own) servers, they provide users with a new IP address which can come from the user’s own country or some other part of the world. This is why many users rely on VPNs to access content that is otherwise unavailable in the places they live (think: Netflix and other video streaming services).
So if you want an easy way to hide your IP address, get a VPN service, start it up – and you’ll immediately get a different IP. Moreover, a good VPN will also encrypt all the traffic coming to and from your computer, further protecting your privacy.
For getting the best VPN to hide your IP address, we suggest checking the list below. It has been compiled after testing a few dozen different VPN services; for the best possible experience, go for the top VPN pick, install the app and let it do its magic in the background. Yes, it’s actually that easy. 😉
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
Summary
Its network includes more than 6,200 servers spread across 111 countries, which directly translates into faster speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — whether it's accessing a banned site from some country that filters out the internet, torrenting, accessing streaming services, or just wanting to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.
We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for reliable service.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
ExpressVPN has great desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps and browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others.
However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. We can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust.
Pros
Cons
- It's super fast!
- Works with Netflix, BBC and others
- Easy to use apps, browser extensions
- You can try it for free!
- Some advanced features are not configurable
- Not the best for high-censorship countries
Summary
Furthermore, thanks to the availability of browser extensions - Hotspot Shield is also one of our top choices for Chrome and Firefox VPNs.
Your privacy is equally well protected, with the software only collecting some anonymized that help continually improve its service.
There is one caveat though - it won't work in high-censorship countries like China. If you don't need that in the first place, we highly recommend Hotspot Shield.
As that's typically the case with most VPN services out there, the longer you commit - the better deal you get. However, what makes Hotspot Shield even better is the fact that it offers a 7-day free trial of its service. A few other top VPN providers do the same. Plus, its money-back guarantee lasts for 45 days, making for a risk-free purchase. Cause, you can always get your money back. Sweet and just the way we like it.
Pros
Cons
- Reliable download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Lets you use it on unlimited number of devices
- Low number of servers in Africa and Australia
Summary
You can rely on it for streaming and torrenting, with included extra features like CleanWeb and MultiHop, delivering a that much better — and more secure — experience.
Surfshark, the company, is based in the British Virgin Islands and with its zero-logs policy makes for a powerful combo to anyone looking to keep its web whereabouts under the radar.
The service is easy to use and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
Cons
- One the best VPNs for torrenting
- Works well with Netflix
- Simple setup on all popular devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Doesn't work with BBC iPlayer
- Doesn't work in China
Summary
Its desktop apps are not among the prettiest ones, but they get the job done. The important thing is that installation is easy and straightforward, and that no logs are kept by the company.
When it comes to pricing, IPVanish is somewhere in the middle — it's not the most affordable option but also not the most expensive one. As noted, it will be most appreciated by heavy BitTorrent users, and — related — Kodi fans.
Why hide your IP address?
We think this is the wrong question; the right one should be – why wouldn’t you hide your IP address? Why would you want tech giants — as well as various government agencies — to know about your web whereabouts? Cause they are tracking you online, with their code (those of Google and Facebook, primarily) being placed across millions of websites across the Internet.
With your IP address hidden (changed to a different one), no company or agency could know exactly where you are at any given moment. After all, it is your privacy we’re talking about here and you shouldn’t take it for granted.
On the other hand, you may want to hide your IP address so that the rest of the Internet thinks you are somewhere else…
Use a different IP address for different needs
Access to some website and services may not be available from everywhere, and by changing your IP address – you get to access those sites that could otherwise be out of your reach.
For example, if you’re an American traveling abroad – you will lose access to your Netflix account in another country. With a VPN, you can connect to a US-based server and get its IP address for continued access to your favorite streaming platform (which doesn’t have to be Netflix, but Disney+, Hulu, HBO, and so on).
Similarly, if access to websites such as YouTube and Facebook is not allowed on your current premises (i.e. high-censorship countries, a workplace, a school, etc) — by connecting to a VPN server in a different country, you will get a new IP address alongside a secure tunnel that will provide you with access to the Internet in its entirety. Your original IP address will remain hidden.
Look beyond hiding your IP address
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with getting a VPN to hide your IP address — that is a perfectly suitable case for a VPN. But a VPN can be used for many other things, including (as we’ve mentioned above) for:
- Accessing content that could otherwise be restricted in your physical location.
- Preventing tracking and minimizing your digital footprint so that no one can track you online (at least not that easily).
- Avoiding throttling from your ISP – which is known to happen when you’re torrenting or accessing video streaming services.
- Bypassing firewalls in a workplace, university, school and so on.
- Bypassing censorship in places like China, North Korea, countries in the Middle East, and even Turkey and Russia.
- Securely connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots – with a VPN encrypting all the traffic coming to and from your devices.
The bottom line is – don’t get a VPN just to hide your IP address, but the one that fits all your needs. The top contenders include the following:
