OnionVPS vs Scaleway
OnionVPS vs Scaleway: which VPS host should you choose?
Scaleway competes as a developer cloud with managed services and card billing; OnionVPS competes on no-KYC signup, crypto-only payment and offshore jurisdictions.
Scaleway and OnionVPS both run KVM, but they aim at different users. Scaleway is a French developer cloud with managed Kubernetes, databases, object storage and serverless, billed by card or SEPA against a verified account that can require identity checks. OnionVPS offers plain KVM with full root, holds no identity beyond an email, takes only cryptocurrency including Monero, and runs offshore outside the Eyes alliances.
Last updated 2026-08-13 · Competitor facts are approximate and may change — verify on scaleway.com.
| Dimension | OnionVPS | Scaleway |
|---|---|---|
| Identity verification | None — email address only | Account + identity/card verification |
| Payment methods | Cryptocurrency only (20+ coins) | Card, SEPA |
| Accepts Monero | Yes | No |
| Virtualisation | KVM, full root | KVM instances; bare metal |
| Entry price | $4/month | ~€4–7/mo (instances) |
| Primary jurisdiction | Seychelles + 138 locations (offshore options) | France (9 Eyes) |
| IPv6 | /64 routed, included | Included (IPv6 on instances) |
| DDoS mitigation | Up to 12 Tbps, included | Included (basic) |
| Connection logs | None generated (0-day retention) | Standard retention (GDPR) |
Where OnionVPS wins
- No identity ever — email only; Scaleway requires a verified account and can request identity or card checks.
- Cryptocurrency only, including Monero; Scaleway bills by card or SEPA with no crypto option.
- Offshore and privacy-tier jurisdictions outside the alliances; Scaleway's regions are France, the Netherlands and Poland, all EU.
- Zero-retention networking — no netflow, connection or DNS logs generated.
- Up to 12 Tbps DDoS scrubbing included at every tier.
Where Scaleway wins
- A full managed-cloud catalogue: Kubernetes Kapsule, managed databases, object storage, serverless functions and containers.
- Bare metal and GPU instances alongside virtual machines, with a clean API and console.
- EU data sovereignty, backed by the financially strong Iliad group.
- Developer-friendly tooling and Infrastructure-as-Code support that a plain KVM host does not match.
Which should you choose?
Scaleway is a capable European developer cloud, and the right choice when you need managed services, GPUs or bare metal under one API. OnionVPS is not a managed cloud; it is a privacy-first KVM host — no KYC, crypto-only payment with Monero, offshore jurisdiction and zero-retention logging. Pick Scaleway for the platform, OnionVPS for anonymity.
Choose Scaleway if: Developers and teams who need managed cloud services — Kubernetes, databases, object storage, serverless or GPUs — with an EU provider and are fine with a verified account and card billing.
Frequently asked questions
Does Scaleway accept cryptocurrency or Monero?
No. Scaleway bills by card or SEPA on a verified account. For crypto-only payment including Monero and no identity requirement, OnionVPS accepts 20+ coins.
Does Scaleway require identity verification?
Scaleway requires a registered account and can request identity or card verification, partly to curb fraud and abuse. OnionVPS never asks for identity — the only identifier it holds is an email address you control.
Scaleway or OnionVPS — which should I choose?
Choose Scaleway if you need managed cloud services like Kubernetes, databases or serverless under one API. Choose OnionVPS if you want a private, no-KYC KVM server paid in crypto and hosted offshore.