IPv4 cost guide
IPv4 /24 lease vs buy: costs and trade-offs
A /24 contains 256 IPv4 addresses. Leasing makes address capacity a recurring operating expense; buying requires significant capital and transfer work. The right choice depends on your network timeline, available capital and exit plan.
What leasing costs
Elisteka publishes a /24 reference lease price of €105 per month, excluding VAT. The equivalent annual recurring amount is €105 × 12; it is a calculation, not a separate annual offer or fixed commitment. All Elisteka IPv4 resources are currently leased, so join the IPv4 waiting list instead of expecting immediate availability.
Hosting and cloud operators can also use this IPv4 /24 preparation guide for route objects, ROA and abuse contacts.
For a small operator choosing between protocols, see IPv4 vs IPv6 for small networks in 2026.
What buying costs
A purchase price varies with seller, address reputation, registry eligibility and market conditions. Request a current documented quote rather than relying on an assumed market price. Include broker or escrow fees, registry transfer requirements, technical preparation and funding costs. Ownership may permit future resale, but resale price and timing are uncertain.
Lease or buy: practical comparison
- Upfront capital: leasing generally needs less initial capital than purchasing; buying ties up cash and may involve financing costs.
- Control: purchase can provide more durable resource control after an eligible transfer; a lease is governed by term, renewal and acceptable-use restrictions.
- Time horizon: compare total paid rent over your expected use period with purchase, operational and eventual disposal costs.
- Exit: a lease ending may require renumbering; selling purchased resources requires buyer due diligence and registry processing.
- Availability: a listed rental price is not proof that a prefix is available; verify genuine stock or a transferable seller offer.
How to decide
Write down the expected number of months, total address count, funding cost, reputation requirements and likely migration cost. Calculate rent as the published monthly price multiplied by the intended months, then compare to a separately verified acquisition quote and likely transaction costs. Do not assume a future resale price or guaranteed transfer date.
See IPv4 buying options, published rental pricing and the broader IPv4 lease-versus-buy guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does leasing an IPv4 /24 cost?
Elisteka's listed /24 rate is €105 per month excluding VAT. All current Elisteka IPv4 blocks are leased; new requests join a waiting list. This is a published reference rate, not an offer of immediately available stock.
Is buying a /24 cheaper?
It depends on the verified purchase price, registry and transfer costs, funding, duration and resale proceeds. A purchase has a larger upfront outlay; a lease has recurring cost. Neither choice is automatically cheaper.
Can I lease a /24 immediately?
No. All current Elisteka IPv4 space is leased. Joining the waitlist does not reserve a prefix or guarantee a start date.
Do I own a leased prefix?
No. The agreement gives you defined use rights for its term, not a sale or transfer of the registered resource.
What happens when a lease ends?
Plan to renumber or negotiate renewal under the contract. Routing, ROAs, and DNS records must be coordinated during exit; there is no automatic replacement guarantee.
What is involved in buying?
Check seller authority, resource status and transfer eligibility, costs, escrow terms, RIPE NCC requirements, reputation and routing readiness. Registry transfer timing is not guaranteed.
For a manual review email sales@elisteka.com.