ip2proxy vs ipto: Proxy and VPN Detection Compared
Two different designs
IP2Proxy is a commercial database built specifically to identify proxies, VPNs and similar anonymizing services, sold in tiers that add detail such as proxy type and provider. ipto is a free IP intelligence API where threat flags sit alongside geolocation, ASN and other data. The choice is between a specialist and a generalist, and the honest answer depends on how much detection accuracy matters to you.
We have not benchmarked the two against each other, so this article describes design and coverage rather than claiming one catches more than the other. Check the vendor's own documentation for current product tiers and pricing.
What ipto flags
An ipto IP lookup returns these threat-related fields:
is_vpn: the address matches a known VPN endpoint list.is_tor: the address is a Tor exit node.is_abuser: the address appears in abuse sources, scored by how many independent feeds agree.is_datacenter: the address belongs to a hosting provider's network, which is often where VPNs and proxies run.- Bogon status, for private and reserved addresses that should never appear on the public internet.
These come from threat feeds refreshed every six hours and from ASN attribution; see the live threat feeds page. You can test any address with the VPN and proxy checker.
What ipto does not do
ipto does not currently publish a dedicated residential-proxy list or a proxy-type taxonomy. A residential proxy routes traffic through an ordinary home connection, so it looks like a normal ISP address and will not be flagged by hosting or VPN lists. A specialist database that tracks such networks will catch cases ipto misses. That is the main reason to consider a dedicated product.
How to choose
- Use ipto alone if you need context for sign-ups, analytics or soft checks, and a missed proxy costs you little.
- Add a specialist database if you are making a high-stakes decision, such as blocking a payment, and need residential-proxy coverage.
- Use both if you want to compare results: run the specialist feed for hard decisions and ipto for enrichment and explanation.
Combining signals beats any single list
No list is complete, because endpoints are added and rotated faster than any provider can follow. The more reliable approach is to combine signals: the VPN flag, the hosting flag, the abuse score and the account's own behavior. ipto's abuse check and the combined fraud score are built that way, and the false-positive guide explains how to avoid blocking legitimate VPN users.
Bottom line
A specialist will usually give deeper proxy coverage; ipto gives a free, bundled and explainable set of signals. For most applications, start with the bundled flags and add a specialist only if measured misses justify its cost.