- Sure bets: VPNs, web hosting, eSIMs and gift cards. These businesses took Monero early and still do.
- Growing: peer-to-peer marketplaces, freelancers and small shops, often with a discount for paying in XMR.
- Do not assume: Bitrefill, Travala, Proton and the EFF do not take Monero, even though they accept other crypto.
We keep a list of businesses that accept Monero, and the question we hear most is not "is it safe?" but "what can I actually buy with it?". The honest answer: much more than a few years ago, but mostly from smaller and privacy-minded businesses rather than household brands. Here is where XMR works today, starting with the categories where you will never struggle.
Monero Friendly currently lists over 600 businesses in ten aisles. Every company named below had Monero on its own payment page when we checked in October 2026.
1. VPNs
This is the most natural fit: the service that hides your traffic should not have your bank details. Mullvad charges a flat €5 a month, gives you a random account number instead of a login, and accepts Monero. IVPN runs its own Monero node to take payments and needs no email. Cryptostorm is cheapest per year at $52. See our VPNs & Proxies aisle for the rest.
2. Web hosting and servers
Hosting was one of the first industries to take Monero. 1984 Hosting in Iceland says it "proudly" accepts Bitcoin and Monero. Njalla takes XMR for domains, VPNs and servers, and smaller hosts such as Servers Guru, IncogNET and Mynymbox start around €4 to €5 a month. We have a separate guide to VPS hosting paid with Monero.
3. eSIMs and phone numbers
Travel data is one of the most useful things to buy with XMR. Silent.link sells data eSIMs with no KYC and no email, from about $0.83 per GB in Europe. Crypton.sh has travel eSIMs from €1.46 and virtual phone numbers. Our eSIM guide compares them.
4. Gift cards and prepaid cards
Gift cards are how most people spend Monero at big retailers. Cake Pay, built into Cake Wallet, sells cards for over 150,000 merchants at face value plus a small fee and can be paid straight from your Monero wallet. Trocador also sells gift cards and prepaid cards for XMR.
One trap: Bitrefill does not accept Monero. Its payment list covers Bitcoin, Lightning, Litecoin, stablecoins and a few others, but not XMR.
5. Marketplaces
XMRBazaar is a peer-to-peer marketplace where everything is priced in Monero, with more than 9,000 listings, from electronics to services. It works like a classifieds site: check each seller's history before you pay.
6. Shopping: electronics, clothes, metals
Our Shopping aisle has the most variety: electronics and computer parts, clothing, Monero merchandise, precious metals and proxy-shopping services that buy from regular stores on your behalf. Many of these are small businesses that give a discount for XMR because it costs them almost nothing to accept.
7. Freelancers and services
Designers, developers, translators, marketers and even a few electricians and locksmiths list themselves under Services. Paying a freelancer in Monero is simple: they send an address, you pay, and both of you can prove the payment later with a transaction key.
8. Crowdfunding and donations
Kuno is a Monero crowdfunding platform that says it has raised over 1,566 XMR for causes. Several well-known organisations take XMR directly:
- The Tor Project, which builds the Tor network and Tor Browser.
- Freedom of the Press Foundation, which supports journalists.
- Privacy Guides, which also suggests giving through MAGIC Grants if you want a tax-deductible receipt.
The EFF, often assumed to take it, does not list Monero among its accepted coins.
9. Food, drink and travel
This is the hardest category. A handful of restaurants, cafés and online food shops accept XMR, listed in our Food & Drink aisle and on the Monero map. Big travel sites are mostly out: Travala does not take Monero, and Trip.com only tests stablecoins in some markets. Smaller agencies in Travel & Stays are the place to look.
Popular services that do not take Monero
| Service | Takes crypto? | Monero? |
|---|---|---|
| Bitrefill | Yes | No |
| Travala | Yes, 100+ coins | No |
| Proton VPN | Bitcoin | No |
| EFF donations | Yes | No |
| OVPN | Yes | Stopped in February 2024 |
How to find more places
- Browse by need on Explore, or filter by your country.
- Look for the green "Checked" mark: it means we tested a Monero payment with that business.
- Read recent reviews from people who paid in XMR, and confirm XMR is still on the checkout page before you send.
- Ask. Many small businesses add Monero when a customer asks. Our For businesses page explains it to them.
New to paying? Read how to pay with Monero first; it takes about two minutes the first time.
Questions people ask
Where can I spend Monero online?
The easiest places are privacy services: VPNs such as Mullvad and IVPN, hosting such as 1984 Hosting and Njalla, eSIMs from Silent.link and Crypton, and gift cards bought through Cake Pay inside Cake Wallet. Monero Friendly lists hundreds more by category.
Can I buy gift cards with Monero?
Yes. Cake Pay, built into Cake Wallet, sells gift cards for many large retailers and can be paid from a Monero wallet. Bitrefill does not accept XMR, so check the payment list before you start an order elsewhere.
Does Travala accept Monero?
No. Travala accepts more than 100 cryptocurrencies but not Monero, and Trip.com only tests stablecoins in some countries. For travel, look at smaller agencies listed under Travel & Stays, or use a Monero-funded prepaid card where it is allowed.
Can I donate Monero to charity?
Yes. The Tor Project, Freedom of the Press Foundation and Privacy Guides all accept XMR. The EFF does not list Monero among its accepted coins.
Is there a list of shops that accept Monero?
Yes. Monero Friendly lists businesses that accept XMR by category and country, with reviews from people who paid. The official getmonero.org merchants page also points to Cryptwerk and Monerica.
Sources
- Mullvad pricing and payment methods mullvad.net
- IVPN pricing ivpn.net
- Njalla FAQ (payment methods) njal.la
- 1984 Hosting 1984.hosting
- Silent.link silent.link
- Crypton.sh eSIM crypton.sh
- Cake Pay documentation docs.cakewallet.com
- Bitrefill: accepted payment methods help.bitrefill.com
- Travala payment options travala.com
- XMRBazaar xmrbazaar.com
- Kuno fundraisers kuno.anne.media
- Tor Project: donate cryptocurrency donate.torproject.org
- Freedom of the Press Foundation: donate cryptocurrency freedom.press
- Privacy Guides: donate Monero privacyguides.org
- EFF cryptocurrency donations eff.org
- getmonero.org merchants getmonero.org
Checked October 2026. Prices and payment options change, so confirm with the business before you pay. Found something out of date? Let us know.