Best VPS for Tor Relay and Exit Node 2026
Why Running a Tor Relay Matters
The Tor network relies entirely on volunteers who donate bandwidth by running relays. Every relay you run strengthens the network — making it faster, more resilient, and harder to censor for the hundreds of thousands of people worldwide who depend on Tor for safe communication.
But not every VPS provider will let you run one.
Types of Tor Nodes
Before choosing a host, understand what you want to run:
Guard / Middle Relay
Handles traffic from Tor clients and passes it along the circuit. Low risk — your IP only appears as a relay in the Tor consensus, not as the source of any outbound traffic.
Exit Relay
The last hop in the Tor circuit. Traffic exits the Tor network from your server's IP address. Higher risk — abuse complaints and DMCA notices will arrive at your hosting provider from your exit IP.
Bridge
An unlisted relay that helps users in censored regions access Tor. Low bandwidth requirements, very low abuse exposure.
Most hosting providers that object to Tor specifically object to exit relays, not middle relays or bridges.
What to Look for in a VPS for Tor
1. Explicit AUP Permission
The most important factor. Your provider's Acceptable Use Policy must allow Tor relays. Many large providers explicitly prohibit exit nodes — including Hetzner, OVHcloud (in some regions), and DigitalOcean.
VMHeaven's AUP explicitly permits Tor relay operation. Exit nodes are allowed on a case-by-case basis for users who contact support first.
2. Unmetered or High-Cap Bandwidth
A well-configured Tor relay will use significant bandwidth — easily 1-5 TB per month for a middle relay, more for an exit. Look for:
- Unmetered ports: 1 Gbit/s port with no monthly cap
- Or: High monthly allowance (10 TB+)
- VMHeaven Standard KVM and Hi-CPU plans include up to 10 Gbit/s ports
3. IPv4 + IPv6 Support
The Tor network prefers operators to run both IPv4 and IPv6. More reachable addresses = more useful to the network. VMHeaven provides IPv4 and IPv6 with all VPS plans.
4. DMCA-Lenient or Abuse-Tolerant Policy
Exit relay IPs will receive DMCA complaints. A good provider:
- Has a clear process for handling abuse notices
- Does not immediately terminate for DMCA without a warning
- Understands the nature of relay operation
Offshore providers (outside US/EU strict enforcement zones) are often better suited to exit relay operation.
5. Anonymous Payment
If you're running a Tor relay for privacy reasons, it makes sense to also pay anonymously. Use Monero (XMR) for the most private payment option.
Recommended Configuration
# /etc/tor/torrc — Example middle relay configuration
Nickname MyMiddleRelay
ContactInfo [email protected]
ORPort 9001
ExitPolicy reject *:*
RelayBandwidthRate 50 MB
RelayBandwidthBurst 100 MB
For an exit relay, replace ExitPolicy reject *:* with a reduced exit policy:
ExitPolicy accept *:80
ExitPolicy accept *:443
ExitPolicy reject *:*
This allows only web traffic (ports 80/443) to exit, which dramatically reduces abuse complaints while still providing value to the network.
Providers That Allow Tor Relays
| Provider | Middle Relay | Exit Node | Crypto Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VMHeaven | ✅ | ✅ (approval) | ✅ XMR, BTC | Privacy-first, offshore |
| Hetzner | ✅ | ❌ Prohibited | ❌ | Terminates exit nodes |
| Contabo | ⚠️ | ❌ | ⚠️ BTC only | Inconsistent enforcement |
| OVHcloud | ⚠️ | ❌ (most regions) | ❌ | Depends on datacenter |
| Frantech/BuyVM | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Tor-friendly, US |
Getting Started
- Sign up at VMHeaven — no KYC required, pay with Monero
- Deploy a Standard KVM or Hi-CPU VPS (Netherlands datacenter recommended for Tor)
- Install Tor:
apt install tor - Configure
/etc/tor/torrcwith your relay settings - Enable and start:
systemctl enable --now tor - Verify your relay appears in the Tor Relay Search
Running a relay is one of the best contributions you can make to internet freedom. VMHeaven makes it easy to do so on a private, anonymous, and bandwidth-rich platform.