> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://tools.osintnewsletter.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://tools.osintnewsletter.com/osint-tools/ipinfo.md).

# IPinfo

| **IPinfo**       | **Quick Overview**                                                                                                                                       |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| URL              | <https://ipinfo.io/>                                                                                                                                     |
| What it does     | Turns an IP address into useful intel, including approximate location, ISP, hosting provider, and whether it’s linked to VPNs, proxies, or data centres. |
| How to use it    | Paste an IP into the search bar and instantly view the results dashboard.                                                                                |
| Cost             | Partially free (with paid tiers for deeper data and bulk queries).                                                                                       |
| Account required | No (for basic lookups).                                                                                                                                  |
| Cookies          | Sessions, analytics, and tracking cookies.                                                                                                               |
| Ownership        | Owned and founded by British born Ben Dowling, now residing in Seattle, USA.                                                                             |
| Use in Reporting | Useful for attributing IPs, identifying infrastructure, and supporting network-based findings.                                                           |

### What does the IPinfo Do?

IPinfo helps you quickly understand who’s behind an IP address. It gives you context like geographic location, organisation, ASN (network owner), and flags for hosting or anonymity services.

The lowdown: It’s great for quickly enriching IPs with location and network context, but be careful with over-relying on geolocation or assuming it can identify individuals as it’s only ever approximate.

### How to Use:

1. **Go to**[ **https://ipinfo.io/**](https://ipinfo.io/) **and enter an IP address into the search bar at the top (without the need to create an account).**

<figure><img src="/files/vyasmT9auRhoTflPTaLz" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. **Simply review the results as below (location, ISP, ASN, hostname, etc.)**

<figure><img src="/files/9LPIXcD7LBZRQDf6z0vT" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Cost

* [ ] Free
* [x] Partially Free
* [ ] Paid

Free for basic use. Paid tiers for deeper data and bulk queries.

## Data Processing

### Account Required:

* [x] Yes
* [x] No

No account required for basic lookups. Account needed for more advanced searches.

### Cookies:&#x20;

Cookies on IPinfo mainly handle sessions, analytics, and tracking. They include essential security cookies plus third-party trackers (Google, Bing, analytics tools) used for user identification, behaviour tracking, and ad personalisation across sessions.

### Use in Reporting

IPinfo is useful for:

* Attributing suspicious IP addresses.
* Identifying hosting providers or VPN usage.
* Supporting infrastructure mapping.
* Add credibility to technical findings.

[As reported on IPinfo’s website](https://ipinfo.io/blog/ip-data-for-investigators-and-journalists), SafeTag, a company that provides audits and online security frameworks for low-income at-risk groups, uses a framework that accesses IPinfo’s data to determine which telecommunications networks and ISPs are state owned or operated.

| **Capabilities**                         | **Limitations**                                    |
| ---------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Fast IP lookup.                          | Location data is approximate, not exact.           |
| ASN and ISP identification.              | Limited detail without paid plan.                  |
| Geolocation (city/region/country).       | Cannot identify individuals.                       |
| Detection of hosting, VPNs, and proxies. | Some VPN/proxy detection may not be 100% accurate. |
| API for automation.                      | <p><br></p>                                        |

### Summary

IPinfo is a no-fuss IP lookup tool. It’s quick, reliable, and perfect for building initial context around an IP, most useful in the early stages of an OSINT investigation, especially during initial triage and scoping.

### Ownership

Owned and founded by British born [Ben Dowling](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bendowling/), now residing in Seattle, USA.&#x20;

### Ethical Considerations

* Avoid over-interpreting location data (it’s not precise).
* Don’t attempt to identify individuals from IP data alone.
* Use responsibly within legal and organisational guidelines.
* Be cautious when attributing activity based solely on IP intelligence.

### Related Tools:

* WHOIS lookup tools
* [Shodan](/osint-tools/shodan.md)
* GreyNoise
* AbuseIPDB

#### Sources

<https://ipinfo.io/>

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/bendowling/>&#x20;

<https://ipinfo.io/blog/ip-data-for-investigators-and-journalists> <https://www.reddit.com/r/cybersecurity/comments/1rmggg0/what_osint_ip_address_information_service_you_all/>