Public vs Private IP Address
Every device has an IP address, but there are two kinds. Your public IP is how the internet identifies your household. Your private IP is how your router tells your devices apart inside your home.
Public IP address
Assigned by your internet provider to your router. Every device in your home shares it when talking to the internet. Websites, games, and apps see this address.
It changes periodically unless you pay for a static IP. You can see yours at the top of our homepage.
Private IP address
Assigned by your router to each device (192.168.1.x is the classic range). These addresses work only inside your network and are reused in millions of homes.
Because they are not unique globally, they cannot be reached directly from the internet, which is a built-in layer of protection.
How they work together
Your router translates between the two using NAT (network address translation). When your laptop requests a page, the router sends it out under the public IP, then routes the reply back to the right private IP.
Frequently asked questions
Which IP do websites see?
Your public IP. Your private 192.168.x.x address never leaves your home network.
Can two devices have the same public IP?
Yes. Every device in your home shares one public IP through your router. That is completely normal.
Is my private IP the same as my public IP?
No. Check both: your private IP is in your device's network settings, your public IP is shown on our homepage. They will be different.