Why the type of IP matters
Every public IP address belongs to a network, and IP databases record what kind of network it is. Websites look this up on every visit. A shopping site, bank, streaming service or social network will usually trust a home connection, while an address from a cloud server suggests a bot, a VPN or a proxy, and gets CAPTCHAs, extra verification or a block.
The four types of IP address
| Type | Where it comes from | How websites treat it |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | Home broadband from a consumer provider (cable, DSL, fiber) | Most trusted |
| Mobile | Phone carriers, often shared by many users through carrier-grade NAT | Highly trusted; rarely blocked because blocking one would block many people |
| ISP (static residential) | Registered to a consumer provider but hosted in a data center | Usually trusted, if the range isn't known for proxies |
| Datacenter | Cloud and hosting companies such as AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean or OVH | Often flagged, CAPTCHAs and blocks are common |
Most VPN servers run in data centers, which is why VPN IPs are flagged so often, even when nobody has abused them.
What makes an IP "clean"?
A clean IP is one that websites have no reason to distrust:
- It belongs to a residential or mobile provider, not a hosting company.
- It isn't on lists of public proxies, VPN ranges or Tor exit nodes.
- It isn't on blacklists for spam, attacks or scanning.
- Its hostname (reverse DNS) looks like a normal customer line, not
vps-123.host.example. - Its location agrees with your other signals, such as your browser's time zone and language.
The IP fraud score checks all of these and shows the result as a score from 0 to 100, with every point explained.
Native IP vs broadcast IP
You may also hear the term native IP. It means the address is registered in the same country where it's used. Some VPN and proxy providers sell addresses that are registered in one country but "broadcast" (announced) from another. IP databases may then show different countries for the same address, and services such as streaming platforms can treat it as suspicious. You can see the registered location and network of any address with the IP lookup.
Datacenter IPs aren't bad
Datacenter IPs are fast, cheap and stable. They're the right choice for servers, APIs, scraping public data and most VPN use. They only cause trouble on sites that treat every non-residential visitor as a risk, such as some banks, ticket shops, streaming services and social networks.
How to get a more trusted IP
- Turn off your VPN or proxy for sites that keep blocking you. Your own home or mobile connection is usually the cleanest IP you have.
- Use a VPN with dedicated IPs. A dedicated IP is only used by you, so it doesn't inherit others' abuse.
- Use residential or ISP proxies from a reputable provider when you need a trusted IP in another location. Avoid free proxies; most are already blacklisted.
- Get a new IP from your provider if your home address is blacklisted. See how to change your IP address.
After any change, check the new address on the IP fraud score page.
FAQ
How do I know if my IP is residential or datacenter?
Open the My IP page: the IP type row shows whether your address is from a home, mobile, business or hosting network. The IP fraud score shows whether it's in a known datacenter or VPN range.
Why does my home IP show as a proxy?
Someone who used the address before you, or an infected device on your network, may have run a proxy. Many providers rotate addresses between customers. Restart your router to get a new one, and scan your devices for malware.
Is a static residential IP the same as an ISP proxy?
Usually, yes. Both terms describe a fixed address registered to a consumer provider, but hosted on fast data center servers. They combine the trust of a residential IP with the stability of a datacenter one.
Are mobile IPs better than residential IPs?
For avoiding blocks, often yes. Mobile carriers share each address between many users, so websites rarely block them. But they change often and are slower and more expensive for proxies.