Difference Between Public IP and Private IP – How They Differ

Published: 24 Nov 2025

The internet uses unique addresses for every device, and IP addresses make that connection possible. To understand your network better, you should know the difference between Public IP and Private IP, because they control how your devices talk inside your home network and with the internet.

In simple terms, a public IP connects your whole network to the internet, while a private IP connects your devices to your router. Once you know how both work, it becomes much easier to manage your network and fix common connection problems.

In this article, we will discuss the difference between Public IP and Private IP in detail. We will also help you understand how they work together in everyday use.

Table of Content

What is Public IP Address?
What is a Private IP Address?
Public IP vs Private IP: Side-by-Side Comparison
How Public and Private IPs Work Together
How to Find Your Public and Private IP
1. Find your public IP
2. Find your private IP
Common Misconceptions
Conclusion
FAQs

What is Public IP Address?

A public IP address is a unique number given to your home or business by your internet provider. It shows your whole network on the internet. Websites and apps use it to know where your requests come from. When you visit sites, watch videos or use online services, they see your public IP.

This address is important because it connects your network to the internet. Without it, your devices cannot talk to websites or get online content. It is the digital identity of your network and helps send data back to the right place.

In simple words, your public IP tells the internet who you are and where to send information.

Important Points

Here are the key features of a public IP address, which help explain how it works and why it is important:

Used for communication over the internet
Assigned by your ISP
Unique across the entire world
Visible to websites, apps and online services
Can be static (never changes) or dynamic (changes from time to time)

Advantages of Public IP Address

A public IP offers several benefits because it works as your network’s online identity. It helps your devices communicate directly with the internet and makes many online activities possible.

Allows devices and servers to be accessible from anywhere
This means you can reach your website, security camera, or any online service from any location without restrictions.
Required for hosting websites, gaming servers or remote access tools
If you want to run a website, set up a game server, or access your home computer while traveling, a public IP is necessary.
Supports advanced networking features
Features like port forwarding, remote monitoring and cloud services rely on a public IP to function properly.
Enables smooth communication between external users and your network
Anyone on the internet can connect to your service or device when it uses a public IP, which is essential for online business operations.

Disadvantages of Public IP Address

A public IP also comes with risks because it is visible online. This exposure can invite unwanted access and privacy concerns.

More exposure to online threats
Since your public IP is visible, hackers can try scanning it for weaknesses.
Easier for attackers to target your network
Attackers can attempt direct attacks, such as DDoS or unauthorized access, through your public IP.
Can reveal approximate location and ISP information
Websites and online tools can use your public IP to guess your city or region and identify your internet provider.
Requires stronger security measures
Firewalls, VPNs and secure router settings become more important when your network uses a public IP.

Common Uses

Public IP addresses have many practical uses that make online communication and remote access possible.

The following are some of the most common uses:

Running a website or online service
Video calling, streaming, gaming
Remote access to systems or cameras
Connecting smart home devices from outside your network
Hosting cloud tools or business applications that need external access

What is a Private IP Address?

A private IP address is used inside your home or office network. It helps identify each device connected to your router. Unlike a public IP, a private IP is not visible on the internet. This keeps your devices safer and hidden from outside networks. Your phone, computer, printer and smart TV all get their own private IP so they can talk to each other easily.

Your router gives out private IPs using a system called DHCP. It automatically gives an address to each device when it connects. These private IPs can be used in many homes or offices without any problem, because they do not need to be unique on the internet.

Important Points

The following are the key points that define a private IP address:

Works only inside a local network
Assigned by your router using DHCP
Not visible on the internet
Can be reused across many different networks

Private IP Address Ranges (IPv4)

These ranges are reserved for private networks only:

10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255
172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255
192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255

Advantages of Private IP Address

A private IP helps devices inside your home or office communicate safely and efficiently. It supports internal networking without exposing your devices to the public internet.

Safer because private IPs are not visible online
This means outside users cannot directly find or attack your devices, which adds an extra layer of protection.
Allows multiple devices to connect to the same network easily
Phones, laptops, TVs and printers can all share the same connection through the router without any conflict.
Saves global IP address space
Millions of networks can reuse the same private IP ranges, which helps reduce the demand for public IPs.
Supports smooth internal communication
Devices like printers, CCTV cameras and file-sharing systems can work together inside the same network without needing internet access.
Cheaper and easier for network management
You don’t need to buy or request extra IPs from your ISP. Your router can assign private IPs automatically.

Disadvantages of Private IP Address

Although private IPs are secure and convenient, they also come with limitations because they cannot talk to the internet directly.

Cannot access the internet without NAT (Network Address Translation)
Your router must convert private IPs to a public IP before sending data outside your network.
Limited to internal use only
Devices with private IPs cannot be reached directly from the internet unless you set up port forwarding or a VPN.
May cause conflicts if not managed properly
If two devices accidentally get the same private IP, they won’t connect correctly until the conflict is fixed.
Not suitable for hosting public services
You cannot run a public website or online server using only a private IP. A public IP is required for that.

Common uses

Private IP addresses let your devices connect and share resources safely within your home or office network.

The following are some of the most common uses of private IP addresses:

Sharing printers or files on the same network
Connecting phones, laptops and smart devices at home
Internal communication between devices
Setting up local servers for games or media streaming
Connecting smart home devices within the network

Public IP vs Private IP: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of public IP and private IP to help you understand their differences clearly:

Feature	Public IP	Private IP
Visibility	Seen on the internet	Visible only within the local network
Assignment	ISP	Router (DHCP)
Uniqueness	Globally unique	Can be reused in different networks
Security	Less secure	More secure
Access	Used for external communication	Used for internal communication
Cost	May require extra payment for static IP	Free
Requirement	Needed for hosting, remote access	Needed for device-to-device communication

How Public and Private IPs Work Together

Whenever you open a website, your device uses a private IP inside your home network. Your router then converts it into a public IP using Network Address Translation (NAT).

This lets many devices share a single public IP.
For example:

Your phone might be 192.168.1.10
Your laptop might be 192.168.1.11
But both use the same public IP outside the network

This setup keeps your internal devices hidden from the internet, which reduces security risks.

How to Find Your Public and Private IP

Finding your public and private IP addresses is easy and helps you know how your devices connect to the internet and your local network. Knowing your IP can also help troubleshoot network issues. Here’s how you can check them:

Find your public IP

You can check it easily by searching “What is my IP” on Google.
You can also use websites like:

WhatIsMyIPAddress
IPinfo
Any IP checker page

Find your private IP

Use these simple steps to check your private IP on any device:

Windows:

Follow these steps to see your private IP address on a Windows PC:

Open Settings
Go to Network & Internet
Select Wi-Fi or Ethernet
View “Properties”

Mac:

Here’s how to locate your private IP address on a Mac computer:

Open System Settings
Select Network
Choose your active connection
Find “IP Address” under detail

Common Misconceptions

Here are some common misconceptions about public and private IP addresses that often cause confusion:

1. “A private IP is fake.”
It’s not fake. It’s valid, but only inside your local network.

2. “A public IP always stays the same.”
Most public IPs are dynamic unless you pay for a static IP.

3. “Only one network can use private IP ranges.”
Millions of networks worldwide use the same private IP ranges.

4. “Devices with private IPs can’t access the internet.”
They can, but only through NAT.

Conclusion

So, in this article, we’ve covered the difference between public IP and private IP in detail. Public and private IP addresses both have important roles. Public IPs connect your network to the outside world, while private IPs manage communication inside your home or business.

I personally recommend keeping track of your IP settings and using tools like VPNs to improve your privacy and security. If you want to manage your network better or improve your online privacy, start by understanding which IP you’re using and how it works.

Have questions or tips? Drop a comment and join the discussion. We’d love to hear your experiences and ideas!

FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions to help you understand the difference between Public IP and Private IP even better.

What is the main purpose of a public IP?

A public IP lets your network connect to the internet by acting as your unique online address. It’s how websites, apps, and online services identify you, send data back to you, and allow you to access anything on the web. In simple words, without a public IP, your device wouldn’t be able to communicate with the outside internet at all.

Why do we need private IPs at home?

Private IPs help devices inside your Wi-Fi network talk to each other. They keep internal communication organized, secure, and separate from the public internet. They also ensure that multiple devices can run smoothly on the same network without interfering with one another.

Can two devices have the same public IP?

Yes,multiple devices can share one public IP when connected to the same router. Inside the network, each device still gets its own private IP so data goes to the right place. This setup makes it easy for many devices to access the internet at the same time without any conflict.

Is a public IP more risky than a private IP?

Yes because a public IP is exposed to the internet.
A private IP sits safely behind your router’s firewall.
Here’s why public IPs are more vulnerable:

They can be scanned or targeted by attackers
They’re accessible from outside your network

Can I change my public or private IP?

Private IPs can be changed manually from your router or device. Public IPs depend on your ISP, but you might get a new one by restarting the router. In some cases, ISPs change public IPs automatically over time, especially if you’re using a dynamic connection.

Do public and private IPs affect internet speed?

They don’t directly control your speed.
However, slowdowns can happen due to:

Too many connected devices
Weak Wi-Fi signals
ISP bandwidth limits