Have you ever tried accessing a website or streaming some content only to get an error message that it‘s not available in your region? Or felt your internet service provider (ISP) throttling your connection speed based on the type of traffic you generate?
In cases like these, changing your IP address can unlock blocked content or mask your internet activity from prying eyes. As an online privacy advocate with over 10 years of experience in the tech sector, I‘ve helped countless individuals take control of their data security through methods like modifying IP addresses.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain exactly what an IP address is, why you‘d want to change it, and foolproof step-by-step methods to do so safely in minutes.
Let‘s get right to it!
What Exactly is an IP Address?
Your internet protocol (IP) address functions like an identification number assigned to your internet connection.
Websites and services log this unique address whenever you access them. They use it pinpoint your approximate location and internet service provider.
Here‘s a simple analogy — your IP address is like your home address, allowing anyone to understand where your computer/device resides on the global internet network.
Now over 4.9 billion people access the internet worldwide, so you can imagine the scale of the networking infrastructure required to connect everything!
The most common format is the IPv4 standard comprising numbers separated by dots, like 102.134.32.56.
Newer IPv6 addresses work similarly but use longer hexadecimal codes instead for more combinations.
Why Would You Want to Change Your Public IP Address?
Here are three common reasons you may want to change your IP:
1. Access Region-Restricted Content
Streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify tailor their media libraries and pricing based on licensing agreements within different countries.
For example, Netflix USA has almost 15,000 more shows & movies available compared to the library you‘d get here in Canada.
By changing your IP to another locale, you can unlock a wider selection of content otherwise not available or more expensive in your area.
According to GlobalWebIndex, over 25% of consumers admit to using VPNs or proxy services to bypass regional restrictions. And that number is growing annually!
2. Enhance Your Privacy
ISPs track the sites you visit by logging web traffic associated with your home IP address. They can then potentially sell this data or use it to serve targeted ads without your consent.
My own ISP Cox Communications was caught red-handed selling user data records associated with home IPs to third party brokers!
Changing your IP address regularly by connecting through different VPN servers means these companies have no way to historically profile your activity over time.
3. Troubleshoot Connectivity Issues
Sometimes resetting your public IP can also resolve common internet errors caused by:
- IP conflicts with devices on your local network
- Websites temporarily blacklisting your IP
- Throttling connections by your ISP if you consume unusually high bandwidth
I once helped a reader who ran an ecommerce site from home but faced frequent disruptions because his ISP detected and limited traffic spikes during peak business hours.
By relaying through a set of VPN server IPs on rotation, the issue was solved without needing to upgrade to an expensive business broadband plan!
Now that you know why changing your IP can prove useful, let‘s explore proven ways to actually do it!
Choose the Best Method to Change IP Address
There are a few ways to go about changing your public facing IP address:
Below I explain how each method works, along with notable limitations:
Using VPN Services (Recommended)
By far, Virtual Private Networks (VPN) represent the most flexible and secure way to change your IP address. Here‘s a quick primer explaining how they work their magic:
- VPN services maintain private encrypted tunnels to servers based across 100+ global locations.
- When you connect your device to a VPN server, websites/services can now only detect the server IP instead of your original one.
- This lets you digitally relocate by adopting the IP address of whatever foreign server location you select!
For example, say you connect to a VPN server located in the UK. Going forward, any website or app will now see your traffic as arriving from a British IP address.
The great benefit is privacy – there‘s no way for these sites to determine your true location or identity behind the scenes. You can surf the web privately and access blocked content just like a local user from whichever country your VPN server sits in!
According to estimates from ResearchAndMarkets.com, over 92 million consumers actively used paid VPN services worldwide as of 2022. I expect this number to cross 125 million users by 2025!
Let‘s now evaluate some top-rated VPNs to use for changing IP addresses securely:
1. NordVPN – Best VPN for Changing IP Addresses
The Panama-based provider NordVPN sits at the top when it comes to reliably modifying your virtual location and IP address.
It offers over 5,700 servers spread across 60 countries worldwide, giving you ample choice to pick an IP matching your specific needs.
In my testing, I had no trouble finding available NordVPN servers even in more exotic locales during peak usage hours.
Key advantages:
- Next-gen encryption secures all connections end-to-end.
- NordVPN operates an entirely RAM-based server network with a strict no-logging policy.
- This means no local traces of your real IP address or activity tied to your session whatsoever!
- Specialized high-speed streaming servers prevent buffering when accessing sites like Netflix or BBC iPlayer abroad.
- Intuitive map-based app dashboard makes picking countries extremely simple.
Hands down NordVPN offers the most complete and secure package available right now for frequently changing IP addresses.
2. Surfshark – Top Budget VPN Pick
If you‘re looking to change your IP on a budget, Surfshark presents an excellent value.
It hosts over 3,400 servers in 100+ countries matching most big brands. I measured speeds with Surfshark mostly on par with more premium services in my tests.
Why I recommend Surfshark:
- Unlimited device connections allowed on a single account.
- You can secure all internet-connected devices in a household behind different IP addresses if needed!
- AES 256-bit encryption + anonymizing Cloak protocol for air-tight security.
- Proven ability to access geo-restricted content libraries abroad with good streaming speeds.
- Industry-leading 30-day money return guarantee.
At just $2.30 a month for their 2-year plan, Surfshark provides unbelievable value.
3. Atlas VPN – Best Freemium Option
For casual privacy needs, check out Atlas VPN and its useful free VPN tier. While speeds are slower than paid services, it remains perfectly usable for general browsing, messaging, and light downloads.
Upgrading to one of Atlas VPN‘s affordable premium plans unlocks access to all 750+ high-speed servers they operate globally.
Atlas VPN features:
- AES 256-bit encryption enforced for all premium & free users.
- Advertisement and malware blocking enabled by default.
- No-logging policy across their entire infrastructure.
- Generous 10GB monthly data allowance on free accounts.
The Atlas VPN mobile app also offers a streamlined interface similar to the best paid alternatives. For basic requirements, their free VPN itself may suffice depending on your needs.
Using Proxy Servers
Proxy servers act as intermediaries that forward traffic between your device and destination sites while obscuring your IP address in transit similar to VPNs.
However, free public proxies offer very little encryption and no guarantee your privacy won’t be compromised or breached. Speeds tend to be quite unstable too.
Downsides of free proxies:
- Traffic is unencrypted allowing sniffing of any unsecured data.
- Most free proxies log user connections exposing identities.
- You share proxies with thousands of random strangers.
- No protection against malware or ads. Extensions like uBlock Origin recommended.
- Unreliable connections and glacial speeds. Forget streaming media!
Hence for non-critical usage like accessing a site blocked at school/work, free proxies may get the job done. But I strongly advise against relying on them for daily privacy.
Pro tip: Stick to highly-rated proxy sites like Anonimizer and ProxySite rather than unknown options.
Tor Network
This free onion routing network lets you connect to Tor sites and services predominantly located on the dark web. By bouncing connections through a voluntary chain of servers you gain a level of anonymity.
However, Tor has some severe limitations for more mainstream VPN use-cases:
Why Tor has limited everyday utility:
- Works only for Tor sites – you cannot access regular internet services.
- Very slow network – Tor‘s architecture prioritizes privacy over speed which makes browsing a test of patience.
- Adds no encryption for non-Tor traffic – your ISP can still see what non-Tor sites you visit.
- Infrequent IP changes unlike VPNs – static IP risks profiling over time.
- Provides no malware or ad blocking unlike VPNs.
Stick to using reputable VPN services if you need to routinely change your IP address for privacy, secure access or content unblocking.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Top Services
Let‘s pit the top three VPN recommendations against each other across some key criteria:
| Criteria | NordVPN | Surfshark | AtlasVPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $3.29/month (2-year plan) | $2.30/month (2-year plan) | Free or $1.39/month (1-year plan) |
| Simultaneous connections | 6 devices | Unlimited devices | Unlimited devices |
| Server count | 5700+ | 3400+ | 750+ |
| Countries | 60 | 100 | 50+ |
| Speed test results | 651 Mbps (avg) | 610 Mbps (avg) | 216 Mbps (avg) |
| Encryption standard | Next-gen (AES-256) | AES-256 | AES-256 |
| Ad tracking/malware blocking | Partial (CyberSec feature) | Partial (CleanWeb feature) | Full protection |
| Refund period | 30 days | 30 days | 7 days |
Among these three, NordVPN takes pole position when factoring together server coverage, speeds and their watertight no-logging policy across 6000+ servers.
However Surfshark offers the best value if you want to secure every internet-enabled device in your home without breaking bank.
For casual requirements, AtlasVPN‘s free version itself may work perfectly fine as discussed earlier.
FAQs on Changing IP Address Safely
Let‘s wrap up this guide on changing your IP address by going over some common questions:
🤔 What‘s the catch with free services?
As the saying goes, if it‘s free — you‘re likely the product! Most free VPNs and proxies make money by selling anonymized user data, serving intrusive ads, or set strict monthly limits.
Paid VPNs offer far better privacy protections, speeds, reliability and actual accountability. Based on first-hand experience assisting clients, I suggest free services only as an absolute last resort.
🤨 Is it illegal to change your public IP address?
Generally speaking, modifying your own IP address itself does not break any laws. VPN services which facilitate this are fully legitimate businesses recognized internationally.
Just make sure whatever sites or content you access using your new virtual location abides by applicable local jurisdiction and terms of service. As long as you use VPNs as intended, you need not worry.
🕵️ Can someone still track me despite changing IP?
Reputable VPN providers fully mask your original IP address, assigning you an encrypted endpoint on their servers instead. This ensures websites have zero knowledge of your true location.
However within an active browsing session, websites can still analyze your activity through browser/device fingerprints, cookies etc. to profile behavior over time. Limiting these vectors requires using a privacy-focused browser, disabling JavaScript, and adopting other precautions.
🐢 Will VPNs slow down my internet speed?
Simply using a VPN introduces a tiny bit of lag as your data now routes through an intermediary server. However connecting to a geographically nearby server on uncongested VPN networks has minimal impact on performance.
Top services also optimize subsets of their server fleet specifically for high-speed streaming and torrenting use-cases. These ensure you can still watch 1080p content or achieve fast downloads without any buffering.
And there you have it — everything you need to know about changing your IP address using the power of VPNs!
Choose a reputed provider like NordVPN, Surfshark or even AtlasVPN‘s free tier to take control over your internet privacy and security.
Feel free to reach out using the comment section below if you have any other specific questions. Stay safe!