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What Is a VPN (Virtual Private Network)?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel from your device to a VPN server and sends all of the device's internet traffic through it. Websites see the VPN server's IP instead of yours, and your local network and ISP see only encrypted traffic to the VPN.

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how it works

How a VPN works

VPN software adds a virtual network interface to your system and routes traffic into it. Each packet is encrypted and sent to the VPN server, which decrypts it and forwards it to the internet from its own IP. Replies take the same path back. Common protocols are WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec.

Because the VPN works at the network level, it covers every app on the device at once. That is its strength for privacy on public Wi-Fi or reaching an office network, and its limit for business tasks that need different IPs for different jobs.

  • VPN

    This term
    Covers
    All traffic on the device
    Encryption
    Encrypts everything to the VPN server
    IPs
    One server IP at a time, shared by many users
    Typical IP type
    Hosting and data-centre ranges
    Built for
    Privacy and secure access for a person

  • Proxy server

    Covers
    Each app or request you point at it
    Encryption
    None of its own; HTTPS stays encrypted end to end
    IPs
    One or many IPs, dedicated or rotating per request
    Typical IP type
    ISP, residential, mobile or datacenter
    Built for
    Automation, scraping, account and geo work at scale
why it matters

Why the difference matters

Consumer VPN servers sit on hosting networks, and thousands of users share each exit IP. IP intelligence services label those ranges as VPN, so many sites challenge or block them, and a VPN gives you no control over rotation or sessions.

CleanProxies static ISP proxies give each task its own dedicated US carrier IP with unlimited bandwidth, from $0.75 per IP, and work alongside a VPN if you use one for personal privacy.

VPN: what it means for you
  • Need privacy for your own browsing on untrusted Wi-Fi: a VPN.
  • Need many IPs, per-request rotation or a dedicated IP per account: a proxy.
  • Need an IP that looks like a home or phone connection: a residential, ISP or mobile proxy.
  • Need to control which apps use which IP: a proxy, configured per app or browser profile.

Static ISP proxies from $0.75/IP

The CleanProxies proxy that fits best here, with a $4.99 trial to test it first.

Static ISP Proxies

Best fit

Dedicated IPs on US carrier ASNs with unlimited bandwidth and threads, never shared.

starting from$0.75/IP

Dedicated static IPs registered to US and Canadian ISPs. The address stays the same for as long as you hold it, with unlimited bandwidth and HTTP(S) or SOCKS5 access.

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Go deeper

Guides from the blog

Setup guides and best practices from the CleanProxies blog.

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Related terms

Terms that come up alongside VPN.

All glossary terms

VPN FAQs

Straight answers about VPN.

A VPN encrypts and routes all of a device's traffic through one server. A proxy routes only the apps or requests you point at it, adds no encryption of its own, and can supply many dedicated or rotating IPs.

Got more questions?All FAQs