The Top IPv4 Brokers Worth Knowing in 2026
Free IPv4 space ran out more than a decade ago, and nothing about that has slowed the demand. AI build-outs, cloud expansion and broadband programmes have pushed it the other way, so buying address space now means going to the secondary market rather than waiting on a registry allocation.
Brokers sit between the organisations holding unused blocks and the ones that need them. A good one handles far more than introductions: due diligence on the seller, pricing guidance, blacklist screening and the registry paperwork that differs at every step.
The differences between firms are wider than the category suggests. Inventory depth varies, so does pricing structure, and so does how much of the transfer a broker will actually run for you.
Below are six worth shortlisting across the major registries.
What to Look for in an IPv4 Broker
Registry rules are the first thing to understand, because they shape how long a transfer takes. ARIN wants needs-based justification and runs a formal Qualified Facilitator programme. RIPE NCC asks for no justification and works on flat membership fees. APNIC sits between the two, with its own transfer policies and a registered broker arrangement.
Any broker worth using should be comfortable in all three. Beyond that, look for inventory that has actually been checked rather than simply listed, pricing you can see before you commit, and a team that stays involved after the invoice is paid.
Address reputation deserves particular attention. Address space that has been in use before frequently carries blocklist history, and a compromised range will damage email deliverability long before anyone traces the cause. Escrow options, geolocation updates and documented blacklist screening are the signals that a broker takes this seriously.
1. IPv4 Connect
IPv4 Connect takes the top position because it removes the two things buyers complain about most: not knowing the price until late in the process, and not knowing what condition the addresses are in. The platform works like a storefront, with published pricing on every listed block and a buy-now option rather than an auction.
Every subnet ships with a free blacklist report checked against more than 100 global blocklists. That is not a marketing line so much as a structural choice, since the team also removes BGP announcements, stale route objects and old DNS records before a block is transferred. Buyers get clean space rather than space that merely looks clean on a listing page.
Coverage runs across ARIN, RIPE and APNIC, with block sizes starting at /24. Transfers are fully managed and typically complete in two to three weeks, including pre-approval assistance for ARIN and APNIC. Payment goes through secure wire or escrow.
A few smaller details matter more in practice than they sound. Registration is free, and subnets can be reserved before any payment changes hands, which suits procurement teams that need internal sign-off before committing funds.
It is operated by Brander Group, a broker active across the ARIN, RIPE and APNIC transfer markets, giving the marketplace an established brokerage behind a self-serve front end.
Best for: buyers who want fixed pricing, verified clean inventory and a managed transfer rather than an auction and a handover.
2. Prefixx
Prefixx was founded in 2018 by a team that has worked in data centre and networking since 2007. The Miami-based firm is a registered broker with ARIN, RIPE NCC and APNIC, and acts as a facilitator rather than a direct broker in LACNIC.
The model is consultative rather than self-serve. Prefixx runs the whole transaction, from qualifying the buyer through drafting contracts and coordinating with the registry, and stays involved afterwards on reputation monitoring for the acquired range.
Its no-win-no-fee arrangement is the distinguishing feature. Seller commission runs 3 to 8% with no upfront costs and no buyer fees, and nothing is owed if nothing transfers. Funds stay in escrow until the registry confirms.Leasing is available for organisations that need space temporarily rather than permanently.
Best for: buyers who want a broker running the process end to end and would rather not pay unless it completes.
3. IPv4 Depot
IPv4 Depot is an ARIN-approved IPv4 address facilitator and handles transfers across the ARIN, RIPE and APNIC regions, covering both purchases and sales.
Screening is where the firm puts its emphasis. It runs a proprietary blacklist detection system that scans each address against more than 100 global blacklists, including Spamhaus, Barracuda and SORBS, which addresses the main risk in this market: acquiring a range with abuse history attached. That diligence sits alongside the wider question of data center security, since address space is only as trustworthy as the infrastructure announcing it.
Short-term and long-term leasing are both available, which helps organisations that are unsure whether they need permanent space. IPv6 services are offered alongside, useful for teams already planning migration.
Best for: organisations weighing a lease against a purchase, or planning an IPv6 transition in parallel.
4. IPv4Market.eu
Run by Voldeta, IPv4Market.eu is the strongest fit for organisations whose activity centres on Europe, though it also supports transactions in ARIN, APNIC and LACNIC.
The process is deliberately compressed into four steps, and escrow is included rather than charged as an extra. For sellers, brokerage is free, which is a reasonable way to build inventory depth and keeps a wider pool of blocks moving through the platform.
The firm also publishes price trend reports covering APNIC, ARIN and RIPE NCC. That market intelligence is genuinely useful if you are timing a purchase rather than buying under pressure.
Best for: European buyers and sellers who want escrow included and published pricing trends to work from.
5. IPv4Mall
IPv4Mall is worth a look if your requirement sits in the APNIC region, where supply is tighter and prices tend to run higher. It also operates in ARIN, RIPE, LACNIC and AFRINIC.
Block sizes span a wide range, from /24 up to /15, so it accommodates both small first purchases and substantial acquisitions. Inventory can be browsed by region and size before you speak to anyone.
Buying, selling and leasing are all supported, with lease terms published from /24 up to /16. IPv4Mall also markets leased space for email marketing, which is a legitimate use but one worth flagging, since the reputation of an address range used that way is harder to control.
Best for: APNIC-focused buyers and anyone needing an unusually large or unusually small block.
6. IPTrading
IPTrading has the longest history of any firm here, having established itself as the first public IPv4 broker by 2010. Its founders were involved from the ARPANET era, and the firm authored ARIN’s interregional transfer policies and brokered the first interregional IPv4 transfer in 2012.
The firm is strongest on complex or contested transfers, where registry policy interpretation decides whether a deal completes. If your transaction involves legacy space, an unusual ownership history or an inter-RIR move, that depth is worth paying for.
The trade-off is that the service is relationship-led rather than instant. There is no browse-and-buy front end, so expect a conversation before you see inventory.
Best for: complicated transfers involving legacy blocks or unclear ownership records.
Final Thoughts
Price per address is the easiest thing to compare and the least useful thing to decide on. What actually determines whether a purchase goes well is registry fluency, whether the inventory has been properly checked, and how much of the process the broker will carry for you.
Every firm here brings something worth having. If your priority is knowing the price upfront, seeing a blacklist report before you buy and having the transfer managed rather than explained, IPv4 Connect is the clearest starting point. Its published pricing, verified inventory and pre-transfer cleaning of route records address the failure points that cost buyers most
Whichever route you take, do not compress the timeline. Confirm the inventory, understand how the pricing is constructed and check that your broker is registered for the specific registry and transfer type you need. Getting that right at the start removes most of the friction later.
