Most people think they’re anonymous online.
Your IP address is like a digital fingerprint. It tells websites where you are, who your internet provider is, and sometimes a lot more.
The good news? You can check it for free. In seconds. No tech skills required.
Here’s how to verify your IP address and make sure your proxy is actually working.
Why checking your IP matters
You set up a proxy. You think you’re hidden.
But are you?
Here’s the truth: not all proxies work the way they claim. Some leak your real IP. Others are so slow they’re useless. And a few are outright scams designed to harvest your data.
I’ve seen people use proxies for months thinking they were protected. They weren’t. Their real IP was visible the entire time.
Checking your IP address lets you:
Verify your proxy is working. If your real IP shows up, your proxy failed. Simple as that.
Confirm your location is masked. A good proxy should show a different city or country. If it still shows your hometown, something’s broken.
Detect DNS leaks. Sometimes your IP is hidden, but your DNS requests expose you anyway. This is more common than people realize.
Test connection speed. Some proxies are technically working but practically useless. If pages take 30 seconds to load, what’s the point?
Identify malicious proxies. Some free proxies intercept your traffic or inject ads. Testing helps you spot these before they cause damage.
Without checking, you’re flying blind. And in the world of online privacy, blind assumptions get you burned.
Step 1: Know your real IP first
Before you test anything, you need a baseline.
This is crucial. You can’t know if something changed unless you know where it started.
Disconnect from any proxy or VPN. Use your regular connection. Then visit one of these free IP checker sites:
- WhatIsMyIPAddress.com
- IPChicken.com
- WhatIsMyIP.og
- IP-API.com
- IPLeak.net
Write down your IP address. This is what you’re trying to hide.
You’ll also see your approximate location and ISP. Take note of these too. If your proxy is working properly, all three should change – the IP, the location, and the internet service provider.
Keep this information somewhere handy. You’ll need it for comparison in a few minutes.
Step 2: Connect to your proxy
Now enable your proxy.
Whether you’re using a browser extension, a web-based proxy, or system-wide settings — turn it on and make sure it’s active.
Common free proxy options include:
- Roundproxies Free Proxy Site
- KProxy
- ProxySite
- CroxyProxy
- Hide.me Proxy
- FilterBypass
- Whoer.net Proxy
Each works slightly differently. Some require you to enter a URL into their website. Others install as browser extensions. A few let you configure them at the system level.
Once connected, don’t assume it’s working. This is the mistake most people make. They connect, see no error message, and assume everything is fine.
It’s not always fine. Test it.
Step 3: Check your IP again
Go back to the same IP checker site you used before.
Consistency matters here. Different sites might show slightly different information. Using the same one gives you an apples-to-apples comparison.
Here’s what you’re looking for:
Different IP address. If it’s the same as before, your proxy isn’t working. Period. No exceptions. This is the most basic test.
Different location. Your city and country should match the proxy server’s location, not yours. If you selected a proxy in Germany but still show up in California, there’s a problem.
Different ISP. Instead of your home internet provider (Comcast, Verizon, AT&T), you should see the proxy provider’s network or a data center name.
If all three changed, congratulations, your proxy is doing its job.
If not? Time to troubleshoot. Try a different proxy server. Try a different proxy service entirely. Something in the chain is broken.
Step 4: Run a DNS leak test
Your IP might be hidden, but your DNS could still betray you.
This is where most people get caught.
DNS (Domain Name System) translates website names into IP addresses. Every time you visit a website, your computer makes a DNS request. If those requests bypass the proxy and go directly to your ISP’s servers, websites can still figure out who you are.
Your IP looks different. But your DNS says “Hey, this is actually John from Denver using Comcast.”
Game over.
Use these free tools to check:
- DNSLeakTest.com
- BrowserLeaks.com
- IPLeak.net
- DNSLeak.com
Run the extended test, not the quick one. The extended test queries multiple servers and gives you a complete picture.
If you see your real ISP in the results, you have a DNS leak. Your proxy is partially working but not fully protecting you.
Fix it: Use a proxy that handles DNS requests internally, or manually configure your DNS to a privacy-focused provider like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), Google (8.8.8.8), or Quad9 (9.9.9.9). This routes your DNS queries away from your ISP.
Step 5: Test for WebRTC leaks
Here’s a sneaky one most people miss completely.
WebRTC is a browser feature that enables real-time communication — video calls, voice chat, file sharing. It’s built into Chrome, Firefox, and most modern browsers.
It’s also notorious for leaking your real IP address. Even when you’re using a proxy. Even when your IP checker shows a different address.
WebRTC can bypass your proxy entirely and expose your actual location.
Check for WebRTC leaks at:
- BrowserLeaks.com/webrtc
- IPLeak.net
- WebRTC-Leak-Test.com
If your real IP appears anywhere in the results, your browser is exposing you. The proxy is working, but WebRTC is going around it.
Fix it: Disable WebRTC in your browser settings. In Firefox, you can do this by typing “about:config” in the address bar and setting “media.peerconnection.enabled” to false. For Chrome, use an extension like “WebRTC Leak Prevent” or “WebRTC Control.”
This five-second fix closes a major privacy hole.
The best free IP checker sites (ranked)
Not all IP checkers are created equal. Some show you basic information. Others dig deep and expose every possible leak.
Here are the ones I trust:
1. IPLeak.net The most comprehensive option available. Checks your IP, DNS, WebRTC, geolocation, and even torrent address detection — all in one place. If you only use one tool, make it this one.
2. BrowserLeaks.com Goes incredibly deep. Tests for every kind of leak imaginable — IP, DNS, WebRTC, canvas fingerprinting, font detection, and more. Perfect for the privacy-conscious.
3. WhatIsMyIPAddress.com Clean interface. Shows IP, location, and ISP instantly. Also has useful educational content explaining what everything means. Great for beginners.
4. DNSLeakTest.com Specialized for DNS testing. The extended test is thorough and reliable. Use this alongside a general IP checker for complete coverage.
5. IP-API.com Fast and developer-friendly. Great if you want raw data without the fluff. Also offers an API if you want to build your own tools.
6. IPChicken.com Old-school and simple. Just shows your IP. Nothing else. Sometimes that’s all you need. No ads, no clutter, just the number.
Red flags your proxy isn’t working
Watch out for these warning signs:
Same IP address. Obvious, but worth repeating. If your IP didn’t change, the proxy failed completely.
Location mismatch. You selected a US proxy but the checker shows you’re still in Germany? The proxy isn’t routing your traffic correctly.
Slow page loads. Free proxies are often overloaded with users. If pages take forever to load, the proxy might be dying or severely congested.
SSL warnings. If your browser warns you about insecure connections or invalid certificates, the proxy might be intercepting your traffic. This is a security risk, not just an inconvenience.
Checker site is blocked. Some sketchy proxies block IP checker sites so you can’t verify they’re working. That’s a massive red flag. Why would a legitimate service prevent you from testing it?
Inconsistent results. If one checker shows a new IP but another shows your real one, you have a partial failure. Some traffic is proxied, some isn’t.
Free proxies vs. paid: The hard truth
Free proxies are fine for casual browsing. Watching a video that’s blocked in your country. Accessing a basic website. Quick, low-stakes tasks.
But here’s what they won’t tell you:
They’re often slow. Thousands of people are sharing the same server. You’re competing for bandwidth with everyone else.
They log your data. Many free proxies make money by selling your browsing history to advertisers or data brokers. You’re not the customer — you’re the product.
They inject ads. Some modify web pages to insert their own advertisements. Others redirect your searches through affiliate links.
They’re unreliable. Free proxies go offline constantly. The server you used yesterday might not exist tomorrow.
They may be malicious. Some free proxies are set up specifically to harvest passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive data. If you’re not paying, ask yourself how they’re making money.
If privacy actually matters to you, for work, research, journalism, or anything sensitive, consider a paid VPN or premium proxy service. The few dollars per month buys you speed, reliability, and actual privacy backed by a business model that doesn’t involve selling your data.
But for quick, low-risk tasks? Free works. Just verify it first.
Quick checklist before you browse
Before you trust any proxy, run through this:
- [ ] Check your real IP first (without proxy)
- [ ] Connect to proxy
- [ ] Verify IP changed on IPLeak.net or similar
- [ ] Run DNS leak test
- [ ] Check for WebRTC leaks
- [ ] Confirm location matches proxy server
- [ ] Test a few websites to ensure speed is acceptable
- [ ] Check for SSL warnings or strange browser behavior
Takes two minutes. Saves you from false security.
The bottom line
Checking your IP address isn’t paranoid. It’s practical.
Free proxy sites can work but only if you verify them. Trust nothing. Test everything. Assume your proxy is broken until you prove otherwise.
The tools are free. The process takes minutes. And once you know your proxy is actually working, you can browse with real confidence instead of blind hope.
Too many people set up a proxy once, never test it, and assume they’re protected for months. They’re not. Proxies fail. Settings change. Browsers update and break things.
Make testing a habit. Every time you use a new proxy. Every time you update your browser. Every time something feels off.
Stop assuming you’re hidden.
Start knowing.