A proxy that connects isn't always a proxy that works for you. These five checks take a couple of minutes.
- Compare your address. Look up your IP without the proxy, then with it. They must be different, and the second should be the proxy's.
- Check where it is. The location and network should match what you bought: a US residential proxy should not show as a datacenter in another country.
- Look for WebRTC leaks. A browser can reveal your real address through WebRTC even when a proxy is on. If the leak test shows a different public address from the one websites see, your proxy is being bypassed.
- Compare time zones. Sites can see your browser's time zone. If it says Lagos while your proxy is in Texas, that mismatch can give you away. Match the time zone to the proxy's location.
- Test the real target. A proxy can work on a test page and still be blocked by the site you care about. Try a few requests there before you scale up.
Note: A tool can only guess whether an address belongs to a datacenter, from the name of its network. Treat that label as a hint, not proof.
The IP & Leak Checker covers the first four checks in one page.
Try it: IP & Leak Checker — See the IP, location and network websites see, and test whether WebRTC leaks your real address.