Is IPv6-Ready VPS Hosting Really Necessary in 2025-2026? Benefits, Risks & Future Needs

Have you noticed hosting companies are all over the place promoting IPv6-ready VPS? I used to ask myself, “Is this a necessity or is it another way to charge more?” If you are asking yourself the same, let's unpack that in simple terms.

What it IPv6 anyway?​

Every device online requires an IP address (like a digital phone number). The old system, IPv4, is running out of numbers because there are too many devices today. IPv6 solves that by giving us almost an unlimited number of addresses.

The significance of IPv6:

• There are more addresses than IPv4 (trillions of them)
• Better traffic handling in today's internet
• Future-proof your site

That all sound important right? But not everyone needs it now.

When IPv6 VPS is Beneficial to You​

You might consider IPv6 hosting if:

• Your visitors or users are coming from countries that have a high rate of IPv6 adoption (e.g., India, China, and Europe)
• You're developing applications for IoT devices (smart home devices, or other sensor devices)
• You want to future-proof your website or application

A friend of mine was running a VPS for his mobile app, and after he enabled IPv6, users located in Asia experienced a smoother connection. So yes, sometimes it actually matters.

When to Skip It​

If you:

• Have a personal blog
• Focus on areas of the world that still rely on IPv4
• Don't have a need for many unique addresses

… then IPv6 is not a requirement for you at this point in time. Most users won't even decipher the difference. IPv4 continues to be fully functional in 2025 and, quite frankly, it isn't going to go away anytime soon. So, why waste your money, if you don't necessarily need it?

What About the Charge?​

Some hosting companies include a sub$5 per month charge for IPv6, while others make it feel like a "premium" upgrade. Before you start flushing money on an upgrade or getting buy with adding IPv6, ask yourself:

• Do I already have it included?
• Does my audience actually need it?
• Can I operate just fine with IPv4 for the next few years?

Chances are yes—you can!

In My Opinion​

When it comes to IPv6-ready VPS, I'm indifferent about having it and think it shouldn't be a necessity. If you really need it, then go there. If you can hold off on needing IPv6-ready VPS, save the money for future upgrades like RAM and Storage. I have run tons of projects successfully with IPv4 only.

Final Thoughts​

So, is it necessary to have IPv6 VPS hosting in 2025-2026? The answer is, "it depends." For huge projects or applications deployed globally, you will probably need it. For small sites, probably not.