Skiff 2
$ 7 /month
- vCPU
- 1 × shared
- RAM
- 2 GB
- Storage
- 40 GB NVMe SSD
- Transfer
- 3 TB
- IPv4 / IPv6
- 1 / /64 routed
Solution
VPS for running a Tor relay, bridge or exit node
Skiff 2 · $7/moSkiff 4 · $12/mo
Short answer
A Tor middle relay runs comfortably on one shared core and 1 GB of RAM; the constraint is bandwidth and the provider's tolerance. Relays and bridges are welcome on every OnionVPS instance. Exit nodes are permitted only in specific jurisdictions and only with a published abuse contact, because an exit node will attract complaints about traffic that is not yours.
What you need
| Resource | What you actually need |
|---|---|
| CPU | 1 core per ~100 Mbit/s of relayed traffic (AES is the bottleneck) |
| RAM | 1 GB for a middle relay, 2 GB for a guard |
| Transfer | 4 TB and up — relays consume everything you give them |
| Policy | Bridges and middle relays everywhere; exits in approved regions only |
Recommended plans
Skiff 4
$ 12 /month
- vCPU
- 2 × shared
- RAM
- 4 GB
- Storage
- 60 GB NVMe SSD
- Transfer
- 4 TB
- IPv4 / IPv6
- 1 / /64 routed
Cutter 4
$ 19 /month
- vCPU
- 2 × dedicated
- RAM
- 4 GB
- Storage
- 80 GB NVMe SSD
- Transfer
- 6 TB
- IPv4 / IPv6
- 1 / /64 routed
Recommended locations
Location is usually the decision that matters most for this workload — either because latency dominates, or because jurisdiction does.
Why OnionVPS for this
- Relays and bridges are explicitly permitted, not tolerated until someone complains.
- We publish which locations allow exit relays instead of leaving you to discover it after a suspension.
- No connection logging means a relay here adds no metadata to the network.
- Iceland, Switzerland, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria are our recommended relay jurisdictions.
How to set it up
-
Deploy a Skiff 2 in a relay-friendly location
Iceland and Switzerland are the strongest legal ground.
-
Install Tor from the official repository
The distribution package lags; use deb.torproject.org.
-
Configure torrc as a middle relay first
ORPort 443, ExitRelay 0, and a ContactInfo line you actually read.
-
Set an accounting limit
AccountingMax keeps a relay inside your transfer allowance rather than surprising you.
-
Register the contact and monitor
Watch the relay on Tor Metrics; consensus weight takes several days to build.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a Tor exit node?
In approved jurisdictions, yes, with a published abuse contact and a reduced exit policy. Exits generate complaints about traffic that is not yours, so we require that you are prepared to answer them. Middle relays and bridges are unrestricted everywhere.
Will running a relay get my server suspended?
Not here. Middle relays and bridges carry no exit traffic and generate no complaints; they are a normal workload on this platform.
How much bandwidth does a Tor relay use?
As much as you allow. A relay with 4 TB a month and an AccountingMax setting is a genuinely useful contribution to the network.