newbie IP lookup accuracy

hey everyone,

i just launched my very first web tool, it's called "What is my City Name". it's super simple, just tells you your city based on your IP address. i'm really new to all this dev stuff, so bare with me please.

• The Big Problem: the IP lookup accuracy is super inconsistent.
  • for some folks, it's spot on.
  • for others, it's totally off, like showing a city in a different state or even country. it's kinda embarrassing, honestly.
  • i've had users from new york showing up in miami, or even canada!
• What I've Tried So Far (and Failed):
  • i started with one free IP lookup API (don't wanna name it, but it was a popular one).
  • when that was dodgy, i switched to another free one, hoping for better geolocation data. same story, maybe even worse.
  • i even tried cross-referencing, like getting data from both and seeing if they agreed. they rarely did on the city level.
  • i've read a few beginner articles about how IP lookup databases work and their limitations, but i'm not sure how to apply that knowledge to improve my tool.
• My Questions for the Pros:
  • is this just how IP lookup accuracy is for city-level data, or am i doing something wrong?
  • are there specific (maybe free or very affordable for a small tool) APIs or databases that are known for much better city geolocation accuracy?
  • any pro tips for a total noob like me to improve this without spending a fortune?
  • am i missing some fundamental concept about how IP lookup is supposed to work reliably?

any advice would be a lifesaver. help a brother out please...