A VPN detection API takes an IP address and tells you whether it belongs to a VPN, a proxy, a Tor exit node or a hosting network, usually with a confidence score. To pick one, test six things on your own traffic: the score, residential proxy coverage, data freshness, typed results, latency and the free tier. The free tiers and entry prices of six APIs are in the table below.
1. Accuracy with a confidence score
A verdict alone isn't enough. You want a 0–100 confidence score so you can set thresholds and avoid blunt blocking; see how VPN detection works. An API that returns only true/false forces you into false positives.
Test verdict + score on a known VPN IP
2. Coverage of the hard cases
Anyone can flag obvious datacenter VPNs. The differentiators are:
- Residential proxies: the hardest and most abused; see what is a residential proxy.
- Tor exit nodes and datacenter proxies reported as distinct types.
- New/stealth VPN servers caught quickly.
If an API misses residential proxies, it misses the traffic behind modern credential stuffing.
3. Data freshness
VPN and proxy infrastructure churns daily. Ask how often the data updates: continuous beats a monthly refresh by a wide margin.
4. Typed results
A good API tells you what it found (VPN, proxy, Tor or hosting) so you can weight each differently. The VPN detection API and proxy detection API report types separately.
5. Speed and reliability
Detection runs inline on signups and logins, so latency matters. Look for sub-second, edge-served lookups and a sensible failure mode (fail open).
6. Sensible pricing and a free tier
You should be able to test on real traffic before paying. IPScanner's Free plan is 30,000 requests a month (1,000 a day), enough to check accuracy and latency first.
Free tiers and entry prices compared
| API | Free plan | Lowest paid plan |
|---|---|---|
| IPScanner | 30,000 requests a month (1,000 a day) | $19 a month, 150,000 requests a month |
| IPinfo | Lite: country-level data, no VPN detection | Core: $26 a month billed yearly, 150,000 requests a month, flags VPN, proxy and Tor |
| IPQualityScore | 1,000 trial lookups | No public price, plans go through sales |
| proxycheck.io | 1,000 queries a day | $4.99 a month, 10,000 queries a day |
| vpnapi.io | 1,000 requests a day | $19 a month, 10,000 requests a day |
| ipapi.is | 1,000 requests a day | $20 a month, 20,000 requests a day |
Figures from each vendor's public pricing page, checked 12 October 2026.
A quick evaluation checklist
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Confidence score | 0–100, not just yes/no |
| Residential proxies | Detected, not ignored |
| Freshness | Continuous updates |
| Typed verdicts | VPN / proxy / Tor / hosting separated |
| Latency | Sub-second, global |
| Free tier | Test before you buy |
How to test
Run your own known VPN, proxy, Tor and clean residential IPs through the free tier. Check that verdicts and scores match reality and measure latency under load. Vendor claims are a starting point; your own traffic is the proof.
Bottom line
Choose a VPN detection API on accuracy-with-a-score, residential-proxy coverage, freshness, typed results, speed and a free tier to test. Don't settle for a binary verdict or a vendor that ignores residential proxies: that's where the costly traffic hides.
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