Few hosting companies take Monero directly. But almost all of them take Visa cards. So you can pay for a VPS with Monero by turning your XMR into a virtual card first. This guide shows you how, for Hetzner, Vultr, Contabo and others.
Key takeaways
- Most hosts don't take Monero, but they do take a virtual Visa card.
- Fill a card with XMR, then add it to your hosting account.
- Hetzner, Vultr, Contabo, Hostinger and AWS are on our list of accepted merchants.
- Keep the card topped up, or your server could be paused.
Why pay with Monero?
- Private by design. Monero keeps who sent a payment, who got it and how much private on its network.
- No bank in the middle. You fill the card with crypto, so your bank never sees what you buy.
- The store sees a normal card. It gets a Visa payment with the card's alias name, not your real name.
- Keep your server spending separate. Use one card just for hosting.
Hosts you can pay this way
- Hetzner for low-cost cloud servers and dedicated servers
- Vultr for cloud servers in many locations
- Contabo for large, cheap VPS plans
- Hostinger for VPS and web hosting
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) for bigger setups
These are all on our list of accepted merchants. Each host and the card issuer still check every payment. Some hosts also check new accounts before they turn on a server. That is up to the host.
How hosts charge you
- Monthly bill. The host charges your card once a month for what you used.
- Prepaid credit. You add credit to your hosting account first, and the host takes from it.
- Yearly plan. You pay for a whole year at once, often for a lower price.
Check which one your host uses, so you know when money leaves the card.
Step by step: pay for a VPS with Monero
- Make an account. Sign up and open your dashboard.
- Deposit Monero. Choose Deposit, then pick Monero (XMR). The invoice shows an address and the exact amount to send. Send that amount from your Monero wallet before the invoice runs out.
- Wait for confirmations. Monero needs 10 network confirmations. This usually takes about 20 minutes. Then the money shows in your wallet.
- Make a card. Go to Cards and make a Shield 3DS Card.
- Put money on the card. Add your monthly server cost plus a buffer.
- Add the card. In your hosting account, open the billing or payment methods page. Type in the card number, expiry date and CVV. For the billing address, copy the one from your card page exactly.
- Enter the security code if asked. Some payments ask for a one-time code (this is called 3D Secure). Go to your card page. You will find the 3DS password and the latest one-time code there. Type the code in before it expires.
- Order your server. Pick a plan and location, then deploy it.
What it costs
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Deposit Monero | Shown on the invoice before you pay |
| Make a new card | $12.50, once |
| Monthly card fee | $10 per card, taken from your wallet |
| Add money to a card | 9.5% + $3 each time |
| Payments under 30 EUR | $0.87 per payment |
| Declined payment | $0.87 |
| Take money off a card | $1 or 1% |
| Limit per payment | Up to $5,000 |
| Daily or monthly limit | No limit |
Example: say you pay $10 for a small VPS. You add $15 to the card. The top-up fee is 9.5% of $15 ($1.43) plus $3, so $4.43. The payment is under 30 EUR, so there is also a $0.87 payment fee. You always see the exact fees before you confirm anything.
How to keep it working
- Deposit early. Monero takes about 20 minutes to confirm. Don't wait until the day a payment is due.
- Keep a little extra on the card. A few dollars more than you plan to spend is enough.
- Know your billing date. If a payment fails, many hosts pause or remove the server after a while. Keep backups.
- Keep money in your wallet for the monthly card fee. If your wallet can't pay the $10 when it's due, the card is closed for good. Any money left on it goes back to your wallet.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Monero deposit take?
Usually about 20 minutes. Monero needs 10 network confirmations before the money shows in your wallet.
What if I send the wrong amount of Monero?
Always send the exact amount the invoice shows. If you send too little, the deposit may not finish. Contact support with your transaction ID and we will help.
Can I pay Hetzner with Monero?
Not directly. Hetzner takes cards. Fill a HideTap virtual card with XMR and add it to your Hetzner account.
Can I pay Vultr or Contabo with Monero?
Yes, with a virtual card. Both are on our list of accepted merchants. Add the card in your account billing page.
What happens if a server payment fails?
Most hosts send a reminder, then pause the server if you don't pay. Add money to the card and pay the open invoice as soon as you can.
Can I pay for a yearly plan?
Yes. Each payment can be up to $5,000. Put the full yearly price plus a little extra on the card first.
Get started
Make a HideTap account, deposit Monero and make a card for your servers. Need a domain too? Read how to buy a domain with Monero. For every Monero guide in one place, read how to buy a virtual card with Monero.
