The internet is running out of IPv4 addresses, and that simple fact quietly shapes the price and availability of nearly everything you host. Understanding the difference between IPv4 and IPv6 helps you make smarter decisions about your servers, your networking, and your future growth.
The IPv4 Address Shortage
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, which allows for roughly 4.3 billion unique addresses. That seemed limitless in the early days of the internet, but with billions of devices, servers, and services online, the pool has been exhausted for years. Today IPv4 addresses are a finite, traded resource, and that scarcity is why providers often charge extra for additional IPv4 addresses.
How IPv6 Solves It
IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, providing an effectively unlimited supply. The address space is so vast that every device on earth could have countless addresses of its own. Beyond sheer quantity, IPv6 was designed with modern routing and autoconfiguration in mind, simplifying parts of network management that IPv4 made awkward.
Why Both Still Coexist
Despite IPv6 being the long-term answer, IPv4 is not going away soon. Much of the internet still relies on IPv4, so most hosts run a dual-stack setup where servers speak both protocols at once. This ensures your services remain reachable for every visitor, regardless of which protocol their connection uses.
What This Means for Your Hosting
Because IPv4 addresses carry real cost, you should request only as many as you genuinely need and rely on IPv6 wherever possible. Many services can run perfectly well on a single IPv4 address combined with a generous block of IPv6, which keeps your costs down while keeping you reachable everywhere.
Preparing for an IPv6-First Future
Adopting IPv6 now is an investment in resilience. As IPv4 grows scarcer and more expensive, services built to work natively over IPv6 will have a cost and performance advantage. Testing your applications over IPv6 today avoids surprises later and positions you for an internet where IPv6 is the default.
How Noded Can Help
Whether you need additional IPv4 addresses, a full IPv6 allocation, or help designing a dual-stack network, we can set you up with the right addressing for your workload. Tell us how your services are reached today and where you want to grow, and we will help you plan an address strategy that keeps costs sensible.
FAQ
Why do providers charge extra for IPv4 addresses?
IPv4 addresses are a scarce, finite resource that must be bought or leased on a constrained market. That underlying cost is passed along, which is why extra IPv4 addresses usually carry a fee while IPv6 is typically abundant and inexpensive.
Do I need IPv6 if my site already works on IPv4?
You can run on IPv4 alone, but adding IPv6 future-proofs your service and reaches visitors on IPv6-only networks. A dual-stack setup gives you the broadest reach without giving up your existing IPv4 connectivity.
Is IPv6 faster than IPv4?
IPv6 is not inherently faster, but its streamlined routing and lack of address translation can reduce overhead in some networks. The bigger benefit is availability and cost rather than raw speed.
Can I run a server on IPv6 only?
Yes, but be aware that some older networks and clients still cannot reach IPv6-only services. For maximum compatibility, a dual-stack configuration with at least one IPv4 address is usually the safest choice.