Get Your Unique IP Address with a VPN & Unlock Safer, Smarter Browsing
With the right VPN, you can get a private, unique IP address located in virtually any corner of the world, all with just a few clicks. Today’s guide shows you everything you need to know to become an IP spoofing pro.
Editor's Pick August 2025
Need a specific Internet Protocol address? Get one securely with these VPN providers:
- NordVPN – 🏆 Best VPN for Unique IPs – NordVPN has more static IP servers than any other provider, making it the best way to get a unique IP anywhere in the world. Military-grade encryption, no logging, stable connections.
- Surfshark – Leak protection, obfuscation, static IP addresses, and more.
- ExpressVPN – Rotating IP addresses makes the need for static IPs a non-issue in most cases.
- IPVanish – Strong encryption, fast network, high security IP spoofing.
- VyprVPN – Has an upgrade option for dedicated IPs, with an exceptionally secure baseline for all.
How to Get a Unique IP Address with a VPN
The internet runs by sending packets of data back and forth between devices. The only way these devices know where to move the packets is by looking at the attached IP address. Internet Protocol (IP) addresses work like an origin and destination tag for everything traveling across the web, and without them we couldn’t check our e-mail or load the latest funny cat videos.
Back when the IP address system was first developed, you didn’t have to worry about things like hackers, or government agencies spying on your activity. Unfortunately, these are now very real threats. Unique IP addresses make it easy for just about anyone to track a packet’s journey, leading them back to your home location like breadcrumbs.
Virtual private networks (VPNs) provide an easy and surprisingly clever method for eliminating this problem. They’re a one-stop solution for protecting your IP from prying eyes. Using a VPN with a unique IP address is the supreme way to stay safe, hidden and anonymous online.
The Best VPNs for Getting a Unique IP Address (Fast, Secure & Reliable)
Before launching into the nitty-gritty of how online identifiers work, we’d like to recommend a few trusted VPN providers as a baseline. No matter how concerned you are with privacy or how useful you’ll find it to bypass geo-restrictions, using a VPN for your daily tasks is a smart idea. VPNs provide a strong level of anonymity by removing most traces of your identity and making it difficult for third parties to watch your activities. It’s the same as locking your car doors when you go into the store. It’s not too likely someone will try to steal it, but why take that chance?
Below are a few of the top VPN services that provide unique IP addresses. Plus, we double-checked that they boast fast servers and strong privacy policies.
1. NordVPN
- SPECIAL OFFER: 2-yr plan (70% off – link below)
- Over 5,400 servers in 61 countries
- Torrenting is explicitly permitted
- Based in Panama
- Live Chat Support.
- Apps can sometime be slow to connect.
NordVPN is known for its huge network of global servers. Users in the US can benefit from faster connections through one of the more than 1970 physical servers located in areas like Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles,and more. Connections are kept safe with incredible 256-bit AES encryption, kill switch and DNS leak protection, and a sturdy zero-logging policy that ensures your data never falls into the wrong hands. You’ll also get to take advantage of unique server features like DDoS protection, double encryption, onion over VPN routing, and more!
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark
- Unblock VoIP in oppressive regimes like WhatsApp, Skype, Discord, and more
- Unlimited server switching
- Bitcoin, Etherium, and other cryptocurrencies accepted as payment
- Independently audited privacy practices
- Support staff manned by actual human beings 24/7.
- Speeds occasionally suffer a noticeable drop
- Relatively young VPN still has to prove itself trustworthy over the long haul.
Surfshark offers spoofers quite a few indispensable tools for getting a unique IP address. First and foremost: among their worldwide servers, there are over 600 servers physically located in the US. Locations include Phoenix, San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Miami, Atlanta, Ashburn (VA), Chicago, Boston. This allows US-based users to stay anonymous while maintaining access to local websites and services. There are also quite a few multi-hop servers that allow you to truly hide your identity online.
To aid spoofing, Surfshark employs only the most modern privacy provisions, including 256-AES-GCM encryption and tunneling via OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard (plus Shadowsocks on Windows apps). Ever server connection has access to the Camouflage obfuscation method, as well as NoBorders for blasting through the harshest internet censorship (even in China).
And with an independently audited no-logging policy, you can trust Surfshark to have your back when anonymity is paramount.
3. ExpressVPN
- SPECIAL OFFER: 3 months free (49% off – link below)
- 3,000+ super fast servers
- No DNS/IP leaks found
- No logs for personal data
- Great support (24/7 chat).
- Expensive month-to-month plan.
ExpressVPN is extremely easy to use, so much so that it’s the perfect VPN for anyone who isn’t tech-savvy. It’s especially great for users based in the US, with 60+ local servers, located across all 50 states. With ExpressVPN you can sign up, install, and connect in a matter of seconds. Getting a unique IP address is as easy as clicking a single button. You’ll also stay protected with 256-bit AES encryption, a zero-logging policy that covers traffic, DNS requests, and IP addresses, and have both an automatic kill switch and DNS leak protection at your disposal. No matter where you go, you can count on this provider’s extensive network of over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. ExpressVPN also delivers lightning fast speeds around the world, so you can surf, stream, and download without lag.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
4. IPVanish
IPVanish goes to great lengths to ensure you never have to choose between fast servers and a private connection to the internet. With IPVanish you get access to a wide network of over 1,300 servers secured in 75+ locations worldwide, with 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a zero-logging policy on all traffic. Reliable access to unique IP addresses and anonymous downloads, is just a few clicks away. IP Vanish’s infrastructure is mostly self-owned. This includes the hundreds of physical servers located in the US.
Read our full IPVanish review.
5. VyprVPN
Looking for unbeatable online privacy? VyprVPN is the VPN for you. The service is unique in the industry for a number of reasons, the most important of which is the Chameleon protocol. Chameleon wraps each packet’s metadata in an extra layer of encryption, defeating deep packet inspection to help bypass even the toughest censorship blocks. VyprVPN also owns and operates their entire collection of servers (numbering more than 700 nodes in 70 countries – including eight “clusters” located in the US for faster and easier browsing), guaranteeing a higher level of privacy than the competition. Connections are secured with 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch feature, and a zero-logging policy that covers traffic and DNS requests, all of which adds up to amazing privacy and anonymity.
Read our full VyprVPN review.
Want to Be One-of-a-kind Online? It Starts With Your IP Address
You can think of IP addresses almost like your mailing address. Just as each home has its own number and street designation, so too does every internet-connected device. In this case, it is a unique set of identifying numbers. Got a smart TV? It has an IP address. Your cell phone, gaming console, laptop? They all have IP addresses, too. These numbers make it easy for other devices to route information where it needs to go. All they have to do is attach the IP to every packet of data, and it’s ready to hit the ‘net (just like the address on an envelope).
How IPs are Used (and Tracked) Every Day
Unique IP addresses have plenty of legitimate uses beyond simple data transfers. Websites use them for region identification, allowing them to serve different content if you have an IP from a certain country, for example. They can also tie logins and other web activity to your device, which is one way you’ll see customizations appear even after starting a new browser session. Basically, anything that would benefit from a personalized tag, can use an IP. Think of it like one of those friendly “Hello, my name is…” stickers with your name written on the front.
Some important terms to understand
- Public IPs – These are written as a series of numbers separated by decimals, something like 123.45.678.9. The addresses are assigned by internet service providers (ISPs) who act as a middleman between you and the internet.
- Private IPs – Most people connect to the internet through a router hooked up to their modem. Routers make home networking possible by using private IP addresses. Instead of assigning and individual address to your smartphone, your PC, your Nintendo Switch, and your smart fridge, your regular router or VPN router gives them internal, private addresses.
- IPv4 – Version 4 addresses (IPv4) have been around for decades. These are 32 bits in size, which unfortunately limits the number of unique addresses to around 4.3 billion, creating a shortage.
- IPv6 – This forward-looking protocol switched things up from the simplistic number sets we’re used to seeing. Instead of 32 bits of data, we have 128 bits, providing about 340 undecillion unique addresses. v6 addresses look a little different from v4. For example, you might see a number that looks something like: 2141:0DA7:AB11:EF31. They’re also more efficient at routing than v4 and are slowly replacing the older model as the years go by.
How your sensitive information is accessed
All data packets traveling to and from your devices are paired with a public IP. Since your ISP keeps records, including names, home addresses, mailing addresses, credit card information, phone numbers, and more, it’s surprisingly easy to look at a packet’s IP and match it to a subscriber’s account. This turns your seemingly private browsing experience into a public affair.
Two main vulnerabilities arise from the above situation: identity discovery and data tracing. Both are dangerous, and both are tough to avoid, but if you take the right precautions, you can stay safe.
READ ALSO: Stop Your ISP from Seeing Your Browsing History
Another downside to IP addresses is that many companies use them to region lock content. Want to download that shiny new game or watch a video from another country? Or even access your PayPal account without flagging security alerts? This can get tricky.
Enter: The VPN (encryptor extraordinaire)
There are different ways to try and protect your data, but a trusted VPN is certainly one of the best methods. VPNs sit between your home network and your ISP, and also between your ISP and the internet. Every packet of data that leaves your VPN-protected device gets encrypted before leaving, scrambling the information so no one can read it.
After the VPN data hits your ISP, the encrypted package is sent to the VPN’s server network, not the internet itself. This means the information zooms off to these secondary servers. The VPN then decrypts the package, looks at the request inside, and sends it to the internet on your behalf.
That data transmission is stamped with the VPN’s IP address, however, not your own. On the way back, the virtual network then re-encrypts the packet, and sends it to your home device via your ISP. The entire process takes a fraction of a second, but it makes sensitive information difficult (if not impossible) to trace.
Hiding Your Identifier Keeps Your Data Safe, Private & Untraceable
Hiding your IP address, which is functionally the same as changing it to a non-local IP, comes with plenty of benefits. Not only can you switch your IP to be from any country, but you can also use it to keep your activity hidden or to break through censorship blocks. Below are a few of the more useful advantages of hiding your unique online address with a VPN.
- Bypass censored content – Local government or ISP blocking search results or websites? It’s likely they’re using a simple IP filter. VPNs let you identify your device as being from another region, busting through blockades so you can access the open web at any time.
- Prevent tracking – Not a fan of ISPs or other companies following your online activity? Assigning new IP addresses to your requests makes it easy to fly under the radar.
- Stop mass surveillance – If large spying organizations can’t identify your unique activities, they can’t keep tabs on you. Users looking to get around surveillance programs (like PRISM or data-sharing under the Patriot Act in the USA) should be on the lookout for strict no-logs policies and physical US-based servers (for VPN providers) to reduce the likelihood of data being intercepted.
- Access videos blocked in your country – Trying to access UK Netflix from the US? Or, are you trying to access some of your favorite Hulu or HBO Max shows from abroad? The geolocation feature makes it easy for companies to restrict video streams based on location. Just switch out your IP address to start streaming content across borders.
How to Use a VPN to Secure a Unique IP Address in Minutes
VPNs are incredibly easy to use. They take the complicated tasks of encryption and IP address reassignment and do all the hard work for you. The only thing you need to do is sign up and connect, it really is that simple.
Step 1: Choose the Best VPN
There are thousands of VPNs on the market, each one promising fast speeds and top-notch encryption practices. How do you sort through all the noise to find the VPN that’s right for you? We’ve narrowed the list of criteria down to a few of the most important elements. Use these to help you pick between the best options on the market:
- Device compatibility – Ensure the provider you choose offers support for all your favorite devices, including smartphones, iPads, gaming consoles, and more.
- Kill switches and DNS leak protection – These two features help prevent accidental identity reveals. Without them, you might reveal your local or real IP address and not even realize it.
- Logging policy – VPNs can keep traffic data, just like an ISP. To ensure real privacy, always choose a VPN with a strict zero-logging policy.
- Pricing plans – Unpaid VPNs are not always in the business of protecting your privacy. They may encrypt your data and give you a unique IP address, but in all likelihood they’re turning around and selling your information without your knowledge. Go with reliable but low-cost VPNs, it’s worth it every time.
- Server networks – Local servers offer better speeds and stable connections, and servers in other locations may help you to skirt around geographical restrictions. Choose a VPN with a larger network to give yourself more options.
- Unlimited bandwidth – Some VPNs limit how much you can download during a specified window. Unless you want your streams to get cut off mid-movie, always pick a VPN with unlimited bandwidth.
Step 2: Install and connect
Once you’ve chosen a reliable VPN and signed up, you’re ready to get a unique IP address. Depending on which service you’re using, the process will be slightly different, but it won’t take more than a few moments to get things up and running:
- Download the VPN’s software to your device.
- Install the app, launch it, then enter your login credentials.
- Choose a server based on your location needs, or go with the fastest on the network.
- Once the connection resolves, your IP address will automatically change.
Step 3: Verify Your Unique IP Address
Most VPNs will let you switch servers at any time, allowing you to swap unique IP addresses to meet your needs. Once you do, it’s a good idea to visit a third-party website to verify your network address has actually changed. Follow the steps below to make sure your VPN keeps you hidden.
- Run your VPN software and make sure it’s connected.
- Visit ipleak.net in your web browser.
- Wait for the page to load and run your IP lookup.
- Check the box at the top of the page just beneath “Your IP addresses”. If it shows your real location, you don’t have a unique IP from your VPN.
- Check with your VPN provider to resolve any IP leak errors, or try connecting to another server and reloading the test page.
Is a Unique IP Better Than a Shared VPN IP?
VPNs work using shared IP addresses for their servers. This essentially means the IP you’re assigned when you connect isn’t unique to you. Hundreds or even thousands of other people have the same one. Shared IPs are normally good for privacy, but they can have their drawbacks as well. Using a dedicated IP has some strengths that shared IPs don’t, including:
- Access sensitive systems more securely: Having a dedicated IP address is very useful for increasing security when accessing systems that have sensitive data. An example is when a company has a remote network they need to keep secure but still allow entrance to employees. They can choose to only allow access from specific, dedicated IP addresses, called IP whitelisting. This protects you from bots and malicious actors but still gives you the access you need.
- Smoother online experience: They have a significantly lower chance of being blocklisted, as they tend to be seen as more reputable and raise fewer red flags that you’re a bot or malicious actor. This means fewer CAPTCHAs and better access, especially to sites sensitive to changing IPs. It also prevents you from being affected by another user abusing a shared IP that may work its way back around to you. This is also called the “bad neighbor effect,” and you definitely want to avoid it.
Many VPNs offer a dedicated (or “static“) IP address service. This simply assigns you and your devices a single IP, no one else gets access to. Platforms like NordVPN offer both dedicated IPs and static IPs as an add-on to the standard package, so you can enjoy all the anonymity without the uncertainty. SharkVPN offers a middle-of-the-road option for US-based users, in the form of shared static IPs. This will provide you with access to a consistent IP address, which you will have to share with other users. Express VPN’s Zero-knowledge IP allocation, relies on a token-based anonymous key, which is copied to the app and then translated into a dedicated address you can use without it being linked back to your VPN account.
Wrapping Up: The Real Value of a VPN Unique IP Address
IP addresses are the foundation of the online world. They’re not without their vulnerabilities, however, which makes using a good VPN worth your time. Not only will your new, unique network address help you stay safe and protected, but you also get extra benefits that include bypassing censorship walls and the ability to watch movies from all around the world. No matter which VPN you use, grabbing a unique IP address is a pretty nifty way of improving your browsing!
Yes, as long as your browsing activities are not breaking the law using a VPN (even one with a dedicated, unique IP address) is legal in the US. In fact, many individuals and businesses in the US use VPNs daily for sharing documents, doing freelance work, streaming, and generally surfing the world wide web.
Yes, using a reputable VPN to connect to a server located in the United States can help you to get around pesky geoblocks when you are traveling abroad. This means you can access streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, SolarMovie, Amazon Prime, and many more. Leading VPN providers work hard to ensure that their services can bypass any restrictions and provide you with access to the American library of content on these platforms.
Only if your chosen provider offers access to dedicated or static IPs. Most providers will assign you a network identifier at random, but the services we have discussed above ensure the ultimate flexibility and privacy by providing add-on services where you can pick your new address.
No. Once, you have chosen your unique, dedicated network address, it will remain the same each time you connect. The address will not change unless you manually change servers (or accidentally let your subscription lapse). The address is assigned to you and will remain yours for the entire session.
If you need a VPN for a short while when traveling for example, you can get our top ranked VPN free of charge. NordVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will need to pay for the subscription, that’s a fact, but it allows full access for 30 days and then you cancel for a full refund. Their no-questions-asked cancellation policy lives up to its name.
Slightly misleading article. The IP address given to you by your VPN is not really unique as it is being shared by hundreds if not thousands of other users. This has its benefits since it makes it all the harder to trace which user did what.