What Is a Dedicated IP Address, and Do You Need One?

A dedicated IP address is a VPN address that is given to one customer only, instead of being shared by many people at the same time. It keeps your connection encrypted like any VPN, but websites see the same address every time you connect, and that address is not used by strangers.

Checked on 2 November 2026.

What is the difference between a shared IP and a dedicated IP?

On most VPN servers, many people use the same shared IP address at once. Websites see one address for all of them, which mixes your traffic in with everyone else's. With a dedicated IP, only you use that address. You still get the VPN's encryption on public Wi-Fi, but the address stays the same each time and its reputation depends only on how you use it.

When is a dedicated IP worth it?

A dedicated IP helps in a few common situations:

Work tools that only allow known addresses. Some company systems, servers and admin panels let in only addresses on an allowlist. A shared VPN address changes and cannot be added; a dedicated one can.

Fewer security checks. Banks, email providers and online stores sometimes show extra checks or block sign-ins from busy shared VPN addresses. One steady address used only by you triggers these less often.

Fewer "are you a robot" puzzles. Sites show more CAPTCHA checks to addresses with heavy traffic from many people.

Running or reaching your own services, such as a home camera system or a remote desktop that you lock to one address.

When do you not need a dedicated IP?

If you use a VPN mainly to protect your connection on café, hotel or airport Wi-Fi, a shared address does that job well. A shared address also blends you in with other users, which gives a little more privacy from websites, because a dedicated address is linked to one customer over time. Choose a dedicated IP for convenience and access, not for extra privacy.

How do you get a dedicated IP on iPhone?

Open your VPN app and look for a Dedicated IP option or add-on.

Choose the location you need, if the app offers more than one.

Connect, then open a site such as an IP checker in Safari and note the address.

Disconnect and connect again, and check that the address is the same.

Frequently asked questions

Is a dedicated IP the same as a static IP?

Mostly yes. A static IP is any address that does not change. A dedicated IP from a VPN is a static address that only you use, reached through the VPN's encrypted connection.

Does a dedicated IP make me easier to track?

Websites can recognize the same address on each visit, the same way they recognize your home address. For more privacy from websites, use a shared address; for allowlists and fewer sign-in blocks, use a dedicated one.

Can I use a dedicated IP on more than one device?

That depends on the VPN service. Check its terms before you buy.

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CasperVPN encrypts your internet connection with WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 and CasperCloak, our own protocol, on iPhone and iPad (Mac app coming). Learn more in Is a VPN safe? or Download CasperVPN →