Octet vs IP geolocation

Last reviewed 20 October 2026

IP geolocation services such as MaxMind and IPinfo estimate where a request came from by looking up its IP address, with nothing needed from the user; Octet measures location on the user’s phone and returns a signed verdict that a VPN does not change and anyone can verify.

What is the difference between Octet and IP geolocation?

IP geolocation looks up where a request entered the network. Octet asks the device itself, on the device, and returns a signed answer about a region that someone else can check.

IP vendors described from their own published material, as of 20 October 2026. Trademarks belong to their owners.

VPN detection is a different product

IP vendors also sell lists of VPN, proxy and hosting addresses. IPinfo’s covers “VPNs, proxies, Tor exit nodes, relays, and hosting providers” (IPinfo). Lists like these catch commercial VPNs, but residential-IP services route traffic through ordinary home connections. See VPN, proxy, residential IP and Private Relay.

Where the device check runs

Octet runs where the location decides something: at sign-up, at the transaction, at withdrawal. It costs one US cent per active user per month, the first 1,000 active users each month are free, and verification is free. See pricing.