Is a static residential proxy the same as a static IP?

No. A static residential proxy gives your outgoing browser or bot traffic a fixed home-looking address. It cannot receive inbound connections, so it cannot host a server, NAS or cameras.

Can I host a server on a VPN dedicated IP?

Yes, if the VPN forwards ports to you. PureVPN’s port forwarding add-on can open all ports or up to 15 chosen ports on the dedicated IP. VPNs without port forwarding, such as NordVPN, only fix your outgoing address.

Is dynamic DNS a good alternative to a static IP?

Yes for home servers on a line with a real public IP: the name updates when your IP changes. It fails behind CGNAT and for systems that allowlist an exact IP number.

What is the cheapest static IP behind CGNAT?

A VPN dedicated IP with port forwarding or a VPS tunnel. Both bring their own public address, so they work on CGNAT lines, Starlink and 5G home internet where dynamic DNS and router port forwarding cannot.

Back to Blog

Guide

5 min readOct 31, 2026

Cheap Static IP: The Cheapest Ways to Get a Fixed IP Address Compared

The cheapest real static IP for home users: a VPN dedicated IP from $4.45 a month with port forwarding, or a small VPS tunnel. Free dynamic DNS, ISP static IPs, and why static residential proxies cannot host a server.

Quick Answer

For most home users the cheapest real static IP is a VPN dedicated IP on a long plan (PureVPN from $4.45 a month on 2 years) plus port forwarding, or a small VPS tunnelled home with WireGuard. Both cost less than an ISP business plan and work behind CGNAT. If you already have a public IP that rarely changes, dynamic DNS is free. Static residential proxies are not an option for hosting: they cannot accept inbound connections.

Options compared Which fits you Proxies vs static IP

The cheapest real static IP for a home user is usually a VPN dedicated IP on a long plan (PureVPN from $4.45 a month on 2 years) with port forwarding added, or a small VPS you tunnel home with WireGuard. Both cost less than moving to an ISP business plan and both work behind CGNAT.

Dynamic DNS is free, but only if your home line already has a real public IP; on CGNAT, Starlink and most 5G home internet it cannot accept inbound connections at all. Be careful with the “cheap static IP” offers you see from proxy sellers: a static residential proxy is built for browsing from a fixed address, not for hosting a server or reaching your cameras.

Compared

Cheapest Ways to Get a Static IP

Option	Monthly cost	Inbound	Behind CGNAT	Effort	The catch
Dynamic DNS	Free	Yes, if you have a public IP	No	Easy	Not a fixed number; useless behind CGNAT
VPN dedicated IP (PureVPN, 2-year)	$4.45 + port forwarding add-on	With port forwarding	Yes	Easy	One device per IP; adds a VPN hop
Small VPS + WireGuard tunnel	Server price (IPv4 alone ~$3.65 on AWS)	Any port	Yes	Hard	You patch and secure Linux yourself
ISP static IP	Quoted; usually needs a business plan	Yes	Only if moved off CGNAT	Phone call	Plan upgrade and contract cost more than the IP

PureVPN’s dedicated IP is $15.95 billed monthly and $7.73 a month on a 1-year plan, so the long plan is where it gets cheap. Full price breakdown, including ISP quotes, in static IP cost.

Which Cheap Option Fits You

Friends join your game server, or you view cameras remotely: VPN dedicated IP + port forwarding. Easiest, and it works on CGNAT, Starlink and 5G home internet.
A work or school login only allows one IP: a VPN dedicated IP alone; no port forwarding needed.
You run several services and know Linux: a VPS with WireGuard gives any port and your own firewall for a similar price.
You have a public IP and a home server: free dynamic DNS such as DuckDNS. Check you are not on CGNAT first with this test.

Cheapest easy option

PureVPN

Dedicated IP from $4.45/mo on a 2-year plan, with a Dedicated IP + Port Forwarding bundle for hosting and remote access.

$4.45/mo (2-year), $7.73/mo (1-year), $15.95 monthly
10 countries including US, UK, Canada, Germany and Australia
Port forwarding: all ports or up to 15 chosen ports
31-day money-back guarantee

−87%

Black Friday

5-year plan·$1.69/mo ~~$12.95/mo~~

Get the Cheapest Fixed IP

Fixed outgoing IP only

NordVPN

A dedicated IP for work allowlists, banking logins and fewer CAPTCHAs. NordVPN does not forward ports, so it cannot host a server or reach cameras.

Same exit address every time you connect
No inbound port forwarding
30-day money-back guarantee

Up to−78%

Black Friday

2-year plan

+3 months free

Get a Fixed Exit IP With NordVPN

This page contains affiliate links. If you sign up through them, NAT Checker may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Setup guides: PureVPN port forwarding and WireGuard port forwarding through a VPS.

Static Residential Proxies Are Not a Static IP for Hosting

Many “cheap static IP” results sell static residential proxies. They give your browser or scraper a fixed address that looks like a home connection, which is useful for managing accounts or checking ads. They do not accept inbound connections to your devices, so they cannot host a game server, expose a NAS or let you reach cameras. For that you need a VPN with port forwarding, a VPS, or an ISP static IP.

Static IP Guides

➔ How to Get a Static IP Address ➔ How Much Does a Static IP Cost?➔ Starlink Static IP ➔ Is a VPN Dedicated IP Worth It?

Sources (checked October 31, 2026):

• PureVPN: Dedicated IP (prices, countries, one device per IP) and port forwarding
• AWS: VPC pricing (public IPv4 $0.005 per hour)

Cheap Static IP FAQ

A VPN dedicated IP on a long plan, such as PureVPN from $4.45 a month on 2 years, or a small VPS with a WireGuard tunnel. Add port forwarding to the VPN if other people need to connect to you.

Not a real public static IP from big providers. Dynamic DNS is free and gives you a name that follows a changing public IP, which is enough for many home servers, but it does not work behind CGNAT.

Prices are the providers’ published figures on the date checked and change with promotions.

Share this article