IP & WebRTC Leak Test

An IP leak occurs when your real IP address is exposed despite using a VPN. This can happen through WebRTC protocols in your browser, IPv6 requests that bypass your VPN tunnel, or DNS queries that aren't routed through the encrypted connection. When your IP leaks, websites and trackers can see your true location and identity, undermining the core purpose of your VPN. Common causes include misconfigured VPN clients, browser APIs like WebRTC, and split-tunneling settings that route some traffic outside the VPN.

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is built into most modern browsers to enable video calls, voice chat, and peer-to-peer file sharing. To establish connections, it uses STUN servers to discover your IP address. This process can bypass your VPN entirely, exposing your real local IP (192.168.x.x, 10.x.x) or even your public IP. WebRTC leaks are particularly dangerous because they happen silently in the background, and many users are unaware they're exposed.

The most reliable way to verify your VPN is working is to run a comprehensive leak test like this one. First, check that your visible IP address matches your VPN server's location, not your real location. Second, verify that DNS requests are routed through your VPN's DNS servers. Third, test for WebRTC leaks that might expose your real IP through browser APIs. We recommend running these tests after connecting to your VPN, after switching servers, and periodically to ensure ongoing protection.

The best VPNs include built-in protection against all types of leaks. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark all feature kill switches, DNS leak protection, and WebRTC blocking out of the box. NordVPN's Threat Protection disables WebRTC by default, while ExpressVPN routes all DNS through their private, zero-knowledge DNS servers. Look for VPNs that have been independently audited for leak protection and offer IPv6 leak protection.