How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
IPQualityScore is the best VPN detection API for most ecommerce platforms because it scores the IP, email, phone, and device in one call and gives 1,000 free lookups a month to test with. Stores that want a full fraud platform with custom rules should look at SEON instead.
- A VPN flag should trigger a step up check, not an automatic decline, because many genuine buyers use VPNs.
- Prices run from pay per query to $699 a month, so match the plan to your order count.
- Several entry plans in this guide do not include VPN detection, so read the plan detail before you buy.
- Free tiers suit testing, but most cap out well below the volume of a live store.
- The strongest setups pair a VPN check with email, device, and velocity signals.
A VPN detection API answers one question at checkout: is the buyer hiding behind a VPN, proxy, Tor exit node, or hosting range? Fraudsters use VPNs to mask their location, test stolen cards, and open multiple accounts. A store that spots a masked IP early can ask for extra verification before the order ships, which cuts chargebacks. The tools below expose VPN and proxy signals through a documented API that a platform can call in real time. Every price below was checked against the vendor pricing page on 12 November 2026.
What does a VPN detection API actually check at checkout?
A VPN detection API checks the IP address behind an order and returns flags for VPN use, open proxies, Tor exit nodes, hosting ranges, and residential proxies. Most also return country, region, city, ISP, and connection type, plus a risk score. The API call usually takes well under a second, so it can run inside the checkout flow before payment is captured. The flags are booleans, so a typical rule sends an order to manual review when the IP is flagged as a VPN and the billing country does not match the card country. No single flag proves fraud, so combine signals and decide in advance what each combination triggers. Accuracy varies because VPN exit nodes change constantly, so ask how often the lists update and whether residential proxies, datacenter proxies, and Tor are separated.
How much does VPN detection cost at real checkout volume?
VPN detection costs between a fraction of a cent per query and $699 a month, so compare plans by cost per 1,000 checks at your order volume. MaxMind minFraud Score costs $0.005 per query, or $5 per 1,000 checks, so 2,000 orders a month costs about $10. A $49 flat plan costs more at that volume, but wins once volume rises, since 20,000 orders costs $100 on MaxMind Score while a $49 flat plan with 150,000 included queries covers it for less. The catch is that many flat plans gate VPN detection behind a higher tier. Abstract API starts at $17 a month, but its security flags only appear on the $39 a month Professional plan. IP2Location starts at $49 a month, but VPN detection starts at $249 a month on Plus. ipdata starts at $50 a month, but VPN detection starts at $120 a month on Business.
How do you add a VPN check without blocking genuine buyers?
Add a VPN check as a risk signal that routes orders to review, not as a rule that declines orders on its own. Many genuine buyers use a VPN for work or privacy, or because their mobile carrier routes traffic through one. Declining every VPN order will cost you real sales, so treat the flag as a reason to look closer. A practical setup scores every order at checkout and acts on combinations. An order from a VPN with a matching billing address and a known device can go through. An order from a VPN with a brand new account, a high value basket, and a card from a different country goes to manual review or to a one time passcode check. Start in monitor mode for two to four weeks, log the flags and scores, then set your review threshold from the combinations that appeared on orders that later charged back.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 IPQualityScore | Stores that want IP, email, phone, and device scoring in one call | quote (paid prices are not published on the vendor pricing page; third-party reports put the entry plan at $99 per month) | 1,000 lookups per month free |
 SEON | Mid market stores that want a full fraud platform with custom rules | $699 per month (Starter plan, 2,500 fraud checks per month) | No permanent free plan; a free trial is available |
 MaxMind minFraud | High volume stores that prefer pay per query pricing with no monthly minimum | $0.005 per query (minFraud Score; Insights $0.015, Factors $0.020 per query) | Free trial with complimentary service credits; no permanent free plan |
 IPinfo | Developers who want clean IP data with VPN, proxy, and Tor flags on a flat plan | $49 per month (Core plan; $41 per month on annual billing according to a third-party read of the vendor page) | Lite tier free, country level data with unlimited requests |
 Abstract API | Small stores and developers who want a simple API with clear per plan pricing | $17 per month (Starter, billed annually; $19 per month billed monthly; VPN security flags start on Professional at $39 per month) | 1,000 requests per month free, no credit card required |
 ipdata | Stores that want threat intelligence and VPN detection with no overage charges | $50 per month (Startup; VPN detection starts on the Business plan at $120 per month) | $0, 1,000 city level lookups a day, then country level without limit |
 IP2Location.io | Stores that want a large free allowance or a locally hosted database alongside the API | $49 per month (Starter; VPN and Tor detection start on the Plus plan at $249 per month) | 50,000 queries per month free, with attribution required |
 FraudLabs Pro | Small ecommerce stores that want order screening with plugins for Shopify and WooCommerce | $29.95 per month (Mini plan, 1,500 queries per month) | Micro plan free, 500 queries per month, for stores with monthly sales under $25,000 |
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Starting pricequote (paid prices are not published on the vendor pricing page; third-party reports put the entry plan at $99 per month)
Free plan1,000 lookups per month free
IPQualityScore is a fraud prevention suite that scores the IP address, email address, phone number, and device behind each order. Its IP lookup returns proxy and VPN detection, Tor detection, bot flags, and a fraud score in one call. The main drawback is pricing transparency: the vendor pricing page currently shows only the free tier and a demo booking, with paid tiers handled through sales. Third party reports put the entry paid plan at $99 a month, but that figure is not vendor published.
What we like- Full fraud suite with IP, email, phone, and device checks
- Generous free tier for testing
- Shopify app available
Watch out for- No published paid prices, so budgeting needs a sales conversation
- Per lookup pricing can climb fast at high volume
#2SEON
Best for: Mid market stores that want a full fraud platform with custom rules4.6/5 on
G2 (394 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit seon.io
Starting price$699 per month (Starter plan, 2,500 fraud checks per month)
Free planNo permanent free plan; a free trial is available
SEON is a fraud prevention and AML platform that combines digital footprint analysis with device intelligence and machine learning. Its API scores email, phone, IP, and device together for a richer picture than an IP only check. The Starter plan costs $699 a month and includes 2,500 fraud checks, 10 user accounts, and 50 custom rules, so a fraud team can write its own accept, review, and block logic. Premium adds case management, AML screening, and unlimited API calls, but it is priced on request.
What we like- Email, phone, IP, and device signals in one platform
- 50 custom rules on Starter
- Case management on Premium
Watch out for- The $699 a month entry price is steep for small stores
- AML compliance and case management are locked behind the custom priced Premium plan
#3
MaxMind minFraud
Best for: High volume stores that prefer pay per query pricing with no monthly minimum
Visit maxmind.com
Starting price$0.005 per query (minFraud Score; Insights $0.015, Factors $0.020 per query)
Free planFree trial with complimentary service credits; no permanent free plan
MaxMind minFraud is a transaction risk API that returns a risk score from 0 to 99 for each order, plus an IP risk score. Score costs $0.005 per query and suits stores that only need a fast pass or fail signal. Insights costs $0.015 per query and adds IP intelligence, email, card, address, phone, and device signals for manual review. Factors costs $0.020 per query and adds the risk reasons behind each score. Pricing is pay as you go from prepaid credits starting at $20, with no monthly minimum, and credits do not expire.
What we like- True pay as you go pricing with no minimums
- Credits never expire
- Three tiers from a simple score to full risk reasons
Watch out for- No flat monthly plan, so monthly spend moves with order volume
- Proxy detection sits in the separate GeoIP Anonymous IP product, which adds cost
#4
IPinfo
Best for: Developers who want clean IP data with VPN, proxy, and Tor flags on a flat plan
Visit ipinfo.io
Starting price$49 per month (Core plan; $41 per month on annual billing according to a third-party read of the vendor page)
Free planLite tier free, country level data with unlimited requests
IPinfo is an IP data service whose API returns geolocation, ASN, and privacy data for any address. Core costs $49 a month and includes 150,000 requests a month, city level location, ASN data, and privacy detection covering VPN, Tor, proxy, and relay flags. Plus at $74 a month adds more fields, and Max adds residential proxy detection. The free Lite tier returns country and continent data with no request limit, but it has no privacy flags, so testing VPN detection needs a paid plan. Overage on Core is $0.000539 per request.
What we like- Privacy detection included from the Core plan
- Clear API with SDKs in many languages
- Free Lite tier with no request cap
Watch out for- The free Lite tier has no VPN or city data, so testing VPN detection needs a paid plan
- Unused monthly quota is lost at the end of each month
#5
Abstract API
Best for: Small stores and developers who want a simple API with clear per plan pricing
Visit abstractapi.com
Starting price$17 per month (Starter, billed annually; $19 per month billed monthly; VPN security flags start on Professional at $39 per month)
Free plan1,000 requests per month free, no credit card required
Its IP Intelligence API is the one that matters here. One call returns location, ISP, connection type, currency, and seven security booleans: is_vpn, is_proxy, is_tor, is_hosting, is_relay, is_mobile, and is_abuse. The free tier includes 1,000 requests a month with the security fields included. The catch is plan gating: the security block disappears on Starter and Standard and only returns on the Professional plan at $39 a month, so budget for Professional.
What we like- One call returns location, ASN, company, and seven security booleans
- SOC 2 Type II compliant
- No sales call needed to start
Watch out for- Security flags are missing from the Starter and Standard plans, so the real VPN detection price is $39 a month
- Each API is a separate subscription, so costs stack if you add email or phone checks
#6
ipdata
Best for: Stores that want threat intelligence and VPN detection with no overage charges
Visit ipdata.co
Starting price$50 per month (Startup; VPN detection starts on the Business plan at $120 per month)
Free plan$0, 1,000 city level lookups a day, then country level without limit
ipdata is an IP geolocation API that returns location, ASN, time zone, currency, and threat data for any IPv4 or IPv6 address. Startup costs $50 a month for 50,000 requests a day, OSINT blocklists, company data, and a 99.99 percent uptime SLA. Business costs $120 a month and adds 100,000 requests a day plus VPN detection and IP reputation scores. The free tier gives 1,000 city level lookups a day with no API key. Annual billing saves 20 percent, there are no overage charges, and paid plans include a 10 percent quota padding for spikes.
What we like- No overage charges and no surprise bills
- EU endpoint available for GDPR
- Threat intelligence from open source and commercial blocklists
Watch out for- VPN detection is not in the $50 Startup plan, so the effective entry price for this use is $120 a month
- No phone or email validation in the same API
#7
IP2Location.io
Best for: Stores that want a large free allowance or a locally hosted database alongside the API
Visit ip2location.io
Starting price$49 per month (Starter; VPN and Tor detection start on the Plus plan at $249 per month)
Free plan50,000 queries per month free, with attribution required
IP2Location.io is the API arm of IP2Location, a long established vendor that also sells downloadable databases. The free API plan includes 50,000 queries a month, the largest free allowance here, but it requires visible attribution and stops when the quota runs out. Starter costs $49 a month for 150,000 queries and 20 fields including the ISP. Plus costs $249 a month for 300,000 queries and 59 fields, and is the first tier that detects VPN, Tor, and residential proxies. Security costs $499 a month and adds a fraud score, so read the tier table carefully before buying.
What we like- One of the largest free API allowances in this guide
- Downloadable LITE databases for local lookups
- Bulk queries up to 1,000 addresses on paid plans
Watch out for- The $49 Starter plan detects open proxies only, so true VPN detection costs $249 a month
- The fraud score needs the $499 a month Security plan
#8
FraudLabs Pro
Best for: Small ecommerce stores that want order screening with plugins for Shopify and WooCommerce
Visit fraudlabspro.com
Starting price$29.95 per month (Mini plan, 1,500 queries per month)
Free planMicro plan free, 500 queries per month, for stores with monthly sales under $25,000
FraudLabs Pro is built for online merchants, and it screens whole orders rather than just IP addresses. Its engine checks the order IP for proxy and VPN signals, plus billing and shipping details, email, payment data, blacklists, and velocity, then returns a fraud score and an approve, review, or reject result. The free Micro plan includes 500 queries a month and five validation rules for stores with monthly sales under $25,000. Mini costs $29.95 a month for 1,500 queries, Small $99.95 for 5,000, and Medium $249.95 for 25,000, with more rules, sub accounts, and blacklists at each step.
| Tool |
Best for |
Starting price |
Free plan |
| IPQualityScore |
IP, email, phone, and device scoring in one call |
Quote (paid prices not published) |
1,000 lookups per month |
| SEON |
Full fraud platform with custom rules |
$699 per month |
Free trial, no free plan |
| MaxMind minFraud |
Pay per query transaction scoring |
$0.005 per query |
Free trial with credits |
| IPinfo |
Clean IP data with privacy flags |
$49 per month |
Lite tier, country level, unlimited |
| Abstract API |
Simple API with published prices |
$17 per month (VPN flags from $39) |
1,000 requests per month |
| ipdata |
Threat intelligence with no overage charges |
$50 per month (VPN detection from $120) |
1,000 city level lookups a day |
| IP2Location.io |
Large free allowance or local database |
$49 per month (VPN detection from $249) |
50,000 queries per month |
| FraudLabs Pro |
Order screening for small stores |
$29.95 per month |
500 queries per month |
What we like- Built for ecommerce order screening with plugins for major platforms
- Published prices with a genuinely free tier
- SMS verification add on available
Watch out for- The free plan caps at 500 queries and carries a monthly sales condition
- Advanced checks and more validation rules need higher tiers
How we picked these VPN detection APIs
We picked tools with a documented API that returns VPN or proxy flags in real time, a working vendor site, and published pricing or a clear statement that pricing is quote only. Each vendor homepage and pricing page was opened or read on 12 November 2026. SEON, IPinfo, and IP2Location prices were confirmed through independent reads of the vendors own pricing pages dated October and November 2026, because parts of those pages render with scripts. We did not run live fraud tests or measure detection accuracy. Last verified: 12 Nov 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does a VPN flag mean an order is fraudulent?
No, a VPN flag on its own does not mean an order is fraudulent. Many genuine buyers use a VPN for work or privacy, or because a mobile carrier routes traffic through one. Treat the flag as a reason to look closer, not as a verdict. Combine it with the billing address, the card country, and the order value before you act, and route flagged orders to review instead of declining them.
Which VPN detection API is cheapest for a small store?
FraudLabs Pro is the cheapest paid starting point here at $29.95 a month for 1,500 queries, with a free tier of 500 queries a month. Abstract API Professional is $39 a month and includes the security flags a small store needs. MaxMind minFraud Score at $0.005 a query can be cheaper still at very low volume, since 1,000 checks cost $5. Compare at your real monthly order count.
Can I use a free VPN detection API for a live store?
You can test with a free tier, but most are too small for a live store. FraudLabs Pro gives 500 free queries a month, IPQualityScore gives 1,000 free lookups, and Abstract API gives 1,000 free requests. IP2Location gives 50,000 free queries a month, the largest free allowance here, but it requires attribution and only detects open proxies on the free plan.
How accurate is VPN detection?
VPN detection accuracy depends on how often the provider refreshes its lists of VPN exit nodes, proxies, and Tor nodes, because those addresses change constantly. Providers that update daily catch new nodes faster than those that update weekly. Some services also distinguish residential proxies from datacenter proxies, which reduces false positives. We did not run live accuracy tests, so ask each vendor about update frequency before you commit.
Should I block VPN users from checkout?
No, blocking all VPN users from checkout will cost you genuine sales, since many buyers use a VPN for work or privacy. Let the order through and add friction only when other signals also look risky, such as a new account or a high value basket. Use step up verification, like a one time passcode, for those orders. Keep the VPN flag as one input to a score.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.ipqualityscore.com/plans
- https://seon.io/pricing/
- https://www.maxmind.com/en/pricing
- https://www.g2.com/products/ip-info-ipinfo/pricing
- https://www.abstractapi.com/api/ip-intelligence
- https://ipdata.co/pricing
- https://www.1lookup.io/compare/ip2location
- https://www.fraudlabspro.com/pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.