OnionVPS vs UpCloud
OnionVPS vs UpCloud: which VPS host should you choose?
A performance-focused EU cloud with strong storage benchmarks and GDPR compliance; OnionVPS differs on no-KYC signup, crypto/Monero payment and non-EU offshore jurisdiction.
UpCloud and OnionVPS both run KVM, but they optimise for different things. UpCloud is a Finnish, EU-based cloud known for very fast MaxIOPS storage, GDPR compliance and card or bank billing. OnionVPS asks only for an email, bills solely in cryptocurrency including Monero, is incorporated offshore in Seychelles outside EU and Eyes-alliance reach, and includes DDoS scrubbing on every plan.
Last updated 2026-08-13 · Competitor facts are approximate and may change — verify on upcloud.com.
| Dimension | OnionVPS | UpCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Identity verification | None — email address only | Account + card verification |
| Payment methods | Cryptocurrency only (20+ coins) | Card, PayPal, bank transfer |
| Accepts Monero | Yes | No |
| Virtualisation | KVM, full root | KVM |
| Entry price | $4/month | ~$5/mo |
| Primary jurisdiction | Seychelles + 138 locations (offshore options) | Finland (EU; not an Eyes member) |
| IPv6 | /64 routed, included | /64 available |
| DDoS mitigation | Up to 12 Tbps, included | Basic only |
| Connection logs | None generated (0-day retention) | Standard (GDPR) |
Where OnionVPS wins
- No KYC: signup requires only an email, versus UpCloud's account and card verification.
- Crypto-only billing across 20+ coins including Monero; UpCloud takes cards, PayPal and bank transfer but no crypto.
- Offshore Seychelles jurisdiction outside the EU; UpCloud is EU-based in Finland.
- Up to 12 Tbps DDoS scrubbing included on every tier.
- 0-day retention of netflow, connection and DNS-query logs, versus GDPR-governed retention.
Where UpCloud wins
- Class-leading storage performance through its MaxIOPS block storage, a genuine benchmark advantage.
- EU data residency and GDPR compliance, which many European businesses require.
- Strong API, Terraform support, private networking and managed load balancers.
- Published 100% uptime SLA and a solid performance reputation.
Which should you choose?
UpCloud is the better choice if raw storage IOPS, EU data residency and GDPR compliance are priorities and card billing is fine. OnionVPS is the better choice if you want no-KYC signup, crypto/Monero payment and jurisdiction outside the EU and the Eyes alliances.
Choose UpCloud if: European businesses that need GDPR compliance, EU data residency and top-tier storage performance, with no requirement for anonymous signup or crypto payment.
Frequently asked questions
Does UpCloud accept cryptocurrency?
No. UpCloud bills by card, PayPal and bank transfer and does not accept cryptocurrency. OnionVPS is crypto-only across 20+ coins including Monero, with no fiat option.
Is UpCloud subject to the GDPR?
Yes — UpCloud is a Finnish, EU-based provider and operates under the GDPR. OnionVPS is incorporated offshore in Seychelles, outside the EU, and keeps 0-day logs.
Is UpCloud faster than OnionVPS?
UpCloud's MaxIOPS storage is a genuine performance leader for disk-heavy workloads. OnionVPS uses NVMe storage and includes DDoS scrubbing; for pure storage IOPS benchmarks UpCloud often leads.