How to Buy Public IP Address for Your Cloud or Home Setup

Every device connected to the internet needs a public IP address—a unique identifier that enables communication across the global web. As of 2025, the demand for IPv4 addresses has skyrocketed, but availability has become limited due to the exhaustion of address pools. A 2024 ARIN report reveals that fewer than 5% of organizations have a surplus of IPv4 addresses . This scarcity has positioned public IPv4 addresses as digital assets—traded, leased, and priced far above their former nominal value.

But why does this matter to you—whether you're running a small home server, launching a cloud-hosted website, or setting up a VPN? Because a public IP enables secure access, stable hosting, better SEO (in some cases), and true server autonomy. And in a competitive market, knowing how to buy a public IP address can save you stress, headaches, and unnecessary spending.

Whether you’re using a major cloud provider or creating a mini-lab at home, this guide gives you a step-by-step roadmap: from pricing and providers to legal considerations and alternative solutions.

Why You Might Need a Public IP

Let’s explore real-world reasons to invest in one:

Hosting services: Running a personal website, Minecraft server, Plex media server, or VPN from your home or cloud environment.

Remote access and IoT control: Accessing your home NAS, surveillance cameras, or automation systems from anywhere in the world.

Testing and development: Assigning an IP to a cloud server for stress testing, API verification, or global accessibility.

Compliance and port mapping: Some systems (e.g., financial services) require dedicated public IPs for whitelisting and audit trails.

Understanding IPv4 Scarcity and IPv6?

IPv6 adoption is growing—but it isn't universal yet. Many ISPs, enterprise setups, and older software still expect IPv4. Without a public IPv4 address, you can struggle with port forwarding, device linking, and legacy integration—even if IPv6 works fine for your general browsing.

That makes owning or leasing a public IPv4 address still relevant for the foreseeable future, until migration becomes mainstream.

Where to Get a Public IP Address

Whether you're running in the cloud or at home, here are your options:

1. Cloud Providers (AWS, Azure, Google, Cyfuture Cloud)

Most cloud providers let you allocate public IPv4 addresses (often called Elastic IPs or Static Public IPs). Here's a quick overview:

AWS Elastic IP: One free while associated; $0.005/hour if unused.

Google Cloud: $0.004 per hour per static IP ($3/month).

Azure: ~$3–5/month per static IP.

Cyfuture Cloud: Indian cloud provider offering public IPs bundled with server hosting, typically priced around ₹300–400/month (approx. $4–5 USD).

This is the easiest approach—it's quick, officially supported, and integrated into your cloud environment.

2. IP Brokers & Re-sellers

IPv4 addresses are bought and sold through regional internet registries (RIRs) like ARIN (North America), RIPE (Europe), APNIC (Asia–Pacific), and national registries. Brokers—like Hilco, Prefix, and IPv4.Global—facilitate deals that may look like:

/24 block (256 IPs): $6–8/IP (total ~$1,600–2,000)

/25 block (128 IPs): Slight premium

Smaller ranges or single IPs: Rare and expensive

Be ready for legal transfer costs, RIR fees, escrow services, and a months-long transfer process. This option is best for corporations that genuinely need dedicated, legally owned IP space.

3. Leasing or Renting IP Blocks

If permanence isn’t required, you can lease IP ranges through brokers. Leasing offers:

Lower upfront costs (~$100/month for a /24)

Shorter commitments

Still includes registration with RIR and routing from your autonomous system (AS)

That's appealing for website owners, freelance sysadmins, and projects with predictable IP needs.

4. ISP-Supplied Public IP

Many ISPs provide public IPs—either dynamic or static—with their broadband packages. Prices vary:

Home-grade static IP: ₹300–500/month (India) or $10–$20/month (U.S.)

Business-grade ISPs might offer more IPs at negotiated rates.

It's often easy and cost-effective for small setups, but typically comes with asymmetric bandwidth and limited BGP control.

Comparing Pricing & Value

Let’s look at cost comparisons:

For individuals or small dev setups, leasing isn’t practical. If you’re already on the cloud, simply allocate a public IP from your provider. If you're self-hosting at home, get a static IP from your ISP—it's cheap and easy.

Important Considerations When Buying or Leasing

If you're going beyond cloud or ISP-provided IPs, keep these in mind:

RIR Requirements: You must justify usage, maintain WHOIS accuracy, and complete the formal transfer.

Legal & Financial: Contracts, escrow, liability clauses, and transfer fees apply.

Routing and BGP Setup: For leased or bought ranges, you’ll need a routed AS or tunnel provider to announce the IP block.

Subnet Size Matters: /24 is the smallest practical range for resale and routing flexibility. Smaller subnets (like /32) are harder to route and sell.

Security Implications: Public IPs require firewalls, monitoring, and patch management to defend against scanning and exploitation.

Cloud vs Home vs Hybrid Public IP Strategy

To summarize what works best depending on your setup:

A. Cloud-Only Dev/Test

Allocate public IP from your provider

Cheapest and fastest

Integrated into your server and hosting setup

B. Home Lab or Small Office

Get static IP from ISP

Ideal for remote access to NAS, IoT devices, home servers

Easy management—no routing expertise

C. Business or Enterprise Use

Lease or buy a /24 block

Requires routing plan, BGP, and legal compliance

Use with on-prem servers or colocation racks

D. Hybrid Model

Use cloud hosting for production workloads with public IPs from cloud provider

Keep home/office servers on ISP static IP

For advanced users, lease an IP block and announce via both your colocation provider and Cyfuture Cloud setup

Step-by-Step: Get a Public IP from Cyfuture Cloud

Here’s how to allocate a public IPv4 address with Cyfuture Cloud:

Log in to your Cloud Console

Navigate to Networking > IP Addresses

Click Allocate Public IP

Associate it with your server instance

Configure firewall rules for ports and security

Assign reverse DNS (PTR) if needed

Use in your server’s network interface

Monitor usage and insecurities via the Hosting dashboard

Easy, cost-effective, and ideal for developers who want cloud-level infrastructure without complexities of IP ownership or routing.

Conclusion: Public IPs Still Matter—Here’s How to Get Yours

In 2025, owning or leasing public IPv4 space is still a strategic decision—whether you're a home enthusiast or an enterprise architect. With dwindling supply, prices are climbing—but options remain:

Cloud providers offer the fastest and lowest-cost route

ISP static IPs are easy and reliable for home use

Leasing or buying is suited for businesses requiring direct IP ownership and routing

If you're running services or applications in the cloud, simply allocate a public IP in your server or hosting configuration. Providers like Cyfuture Cloud offer seamless, cost-effective public IP allocation—rounded out with robust cloud infrastructure.

And if you need help evaluating whether to lease a block, set up BGP, or configure hybrid public access, just let me know—I’d be happy to guide you through the next steps!