ipThe exit a website sees
When traffic travels through a VPN tunnel, the destination site usually sees the VPN exit server’s IP. This does not necessarily change the device’s local Wi-Fi address. The access provider and VPN exit are different layers, which explains why a lookup may identify the VPN hosting company.
Applications may take different paths
Split tunneling can leave selected applications outside the VPN. A browser-extension service may not cover the entire device either. Two applications on one device can therefore show different IPs. Confirm that the connection being tested is actually included in the tunnel.
A changed IP is not a privacy guarantee
Compare public addresses before and after connecting, considering IPv4 and IPv6 separately. An address change does not remove cookies, account sessions, or browser identifiers. Services where you sign in can still recognize the account. Do not infer complete anonymity from an IP result alone.
When browser and app results differ
A browser lookup can show a VPN exit while another app uses a different path. Split tunneling or a browser-only extension may explain this. Check which programs the VPN includes. An address change alone is insufficient: verify the particular application follows the expected route, and remember that signed-in accounts can still identify you.
Put it into practice
Inspect one public IP, or compare a list of addresses with the bulk lookup tool. Location results are approximate.
Single lookup ↗ Bulk lookup ↗