Accurate IP Lookup: How to Find a Reliable IP Info Website

You may have encountered this situation while browsing the internet: you go to a certain website for IP lookup, and the city displayed is far from your actual location! Clearly, you are in Shanghai, but it says you are in Nanjing.

Or maybe after just changing to a new broadband connection, the IP location has drifted to another province. In fact, it is quite common for IP query results to be inaccurate.

Many times, it's not the website's problem, but rather related to your current network operator, proxy node, or even the privacy settings of your browser. Today, let's talk about how to find a reliable IP information query website.

WhyIP queryOften inaccurate?

Everyone needs to clarify one fact: the accuracy of IP address lookup is hierarchical. Some websites can locate to the provincial or city level, but it is difficult to pinpoint to the street or community level. The main reasons include the following aspects:

1. IP database updates are not timely.

Many IP information databases (such as MaxMind and IP2Location) need to be updated continuously.
However, many free IP lookup websites have a low data update frequency and may not refresh for months, resulting in inaccuracies.

2. Shared IP of the operator

Many broadband users actually share a single public IP address. The system can only identify that "this IP belongs to a certain branch," but cannot pinpoint your specific neighborhood.

3. Use IP tools, proxies, or CDN nodes

If you have opened an IP tool or are using a cloud server IP, it will naturally show "drift."
At this time, what you see on the IP address query website is actually the IP of that proxy node, not your local real IP.

2. How to choose a reliable IP information query website?

There are many IP lookup websites now.
Some pages are flashy, have too many ads, and load slowly; while others, although simple, have outdated data sources.
Choose a reliable IP information lookup tool and remember these useful tips:

1. Check the data source.

Reliable IP websites usually indicate their data sources, such as MaxMind, IPinfo, Tencent Location Services, etc.
This indicates that their data is relatively authoritative and updated frequently.

2. Support multi-dimensional information queries

In addition to basic information such as IP, city, and operator, some websites also provide ASN number, IP type (residential/datacenter), and risk level.
This is very valuable for security practitioners or website administrators.

3. Fast query speed, clean interface.

A good IP address lookup tool should not take forever to load, nor should it be filled with ad pop-ups.
For example, I have tested some small sites, and after entering the IP, it takes 5 seconds to get a result, which affects the experience a bit.

3. Measurement Sharing:ToDetect browser fingerprint detection

After opening the ToDetect website, it will automatically detect your IP address, location, and network type (residential IP, data center IP, etc.).
It can also display your browser fingerprint information, such as Canvas fingerprint, WebGL fingerprint, screen resolution, system language, and so on.

If you are usually worried about being tracked by websites and want to know how much of your privacy information is exposed by your device, this feature is really practical.

Moreover, the interface of ToDetect is very clean, without messy advertisements, and it's very fast, with results almost instantly appearing upon refreshing the page.

✦ Featured Function Highlights:

1. IP query + browser fingerprint detection integration

At the same time, you can see the IP address, geographic location, and device information for a one-stop detection.

2. IP Information Quality Detection

It is especially important for enterprise users to know whether the IP is dynamic or static and whether it is listed in a risk database.

3. High data update frequency

According to the official website, their data sources are updated weekly, which is much more frequent than typical free IP websites.

I tried measuring once with the company network, home broadband, and mobile data, and the results showed that the geographical positioning of all three was quite accurate.
Even with a mobile 4G network, it can be accurately pinpointed to the city level, with a high degree of accuracy.

IV. Suggestions and Summary for Using IP Query Tools

If you just want to check "where your current IP is" occasionally, then websites like ip138 and ipip.net are fine.

But if you want to gain a deeper understanding of IP information quality, or if you want to test whether a website can recognize your real device information,
I still recommend ToDetect browser fingerprint detection.

It is not only an IP lookup website, but also a network identity verification tool.
It is worth keeping for cross-border e-commerce, security researchers, or anyone who wants to improve their online privacy.

Finally, let me say this:

The inaccuracy of IP queries is not due to your network issues, but rather the tools being insufficiently professional.

If you want accurate, detailed, and secure information, choose websites that offer real-time updates and comprehensive features.

Tools like ToDetect that combine "IP address lookup + browser fingerprint detection" are undoubtedly one of the more reliable options available today.