6 Best Minecraft Server Hosting Options on a Budget

What to consider when choosing the best Minecraft server hosting

Unlike other types of hosting, Minecraft servers come with specific requirements that generic hosts simply can’t satisfy. Online gaming is more resource-hungry than other web applications, especially if you’re hosting a large number of players. Therefore, it’s essential to consider your own setup before choosing a provider. This will help prevent frustrating latency issues and overall disappointment.

For the basic ‘vanilla’ Minecraft setup, a simple Virtual Private Server (VPS) is usually sufficient. You might be able to accommodate around ten players as long as you have a minimum of 1 GB RAM, 1 CPU core and a MySQL database. The bandwidth isn’t commonly limited with Minecraft hosting.

However, for an optimal gaming experience, you’ll probably want to double your resources. If you’re wondering how to play modded Minecraft with friends, you’ll need to use modpacks. More advanced Minecraft plans will give you access to mod support, and you’ll be able to host dozens of players. All of that on top of getting full FTP file access.

Whether you’re looking for a vanilla or modded setup, you’ll want a consistent set of features to ensure the most enjoyable and hassle-free gaming experience. For instance, it’s best to choose a server strong enough to host multiple users, even if you intend to play with just a couple of people. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection and security are also must-haves while gaming online.

Besides that, it’s also smart to consider the following:

• Easy setup. It’s helpful if the server configuration is straightforward. All of our recommendations offer a one-click setup or wizard to guide you through the process.
• Control panel. If you’re opting for multiple mods and plugins, you should be able to customize your preferences easily via an intuitive interface. Many providers offer Multicraft or custom panels.
• Mods allowed. Some companies include mods and plugins in their packages free of charge. You should also be able to install them easily with one click. A few web hosts will even enable you to set up Minecraft modpacks in only a few additional clicks.
• Multiple server locations. For lower latency and faster connection, it’s best to choose a server close to your geographical location. You should be able to pick from multiple data centers around the world.
• Contract length. Consider your budget and whether you want to commit to a long-term contract.

Finally, look out for advanced hardware specifications such as NVMe storage and high-performance CPUs. There’s nothing more frustrating than losing connection or crashing, so a 99.99% uptime and decent RAM are also necessities. These companies also run different server versions and modpack solutions to help you enjoy the game the way you like it. You’ll commonly find support for Minecraft Forge, Spigot, Snapshots, or CraftBukkit.

Six of the best Minecraft server hosting companies

Now that we’ve discussed the critical requirements, let’s look at six of the best Minecraft server hosting options that are worth your attention. All of our recommendations offer a wide selection of hosting plans to suit all needs.

1. Apex Hosting

Apex Hosting offers dedicated server setups solely for Minecraft, so rest assured you’ll get all the necessary features under one roof. You’ll be able to set up your server and install modpacks in just a few clicks. Also, latency shouldn’t be an issue as you can choose from 16 data centers located across the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America.

In addition, Apex comes packed with a large collection of tutorials and videos to help you learn the game. Plus, you can contact expert customer support at any time to resolve any issues quickly.

Features 🎮

• Unlimited player slots
• Unlimited storage
• Dedicated live chat support
• Full DDoS protection
• Automated backups
• One click pack installers
• Free server transfers
• Free subdomain
• Powerful control panel
• Instant setup
• Preconfigured minigames
• Free MySQL database
• Dedicated IP available
• Seven day money back guarantee

There are also optional add-on features you can add to your plan. These range in cost from $4.99 to $24.99 and include enhanced DDoS protection with MCShield, premium support for technical assistance, custom permission setup, and modpack creation services to build your perfect gaming experience.

Pricing 💰

Pricing starts at $5.40 per month if you buy three months up front, and renews at $7.20 (billed at $21.60 every three months). Alternatively, you can pay month-to-month, with the first payment costing $5.99 and subsequent payments being $7.99.

Whichever way you choose to pay won’t affect what you get, which includes 2 GB RAM, basic servers, and some modpacks. However, there are plenty of higher plans available if you want to install better mods and access more powerful resources. There’s even a unique plan that costs less than the entry-level plan, but requires setting up a Bungeecord network. If that interests you, check it out.

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2. GGServers

GGServers delivers Minecraft hosting suitable for various player needs with locations worldwide to ensure low latency gameplay.

Their hosting comes in two tiers: Standard and Premium. Standard plans come with modest specifications (3.2-4 GHz CPUs, DDR4 2133 MHz RAM), while premium plans deliver superior performance with high-priority 4.4-5 GHz CPUs and ultra-fast NVMe SSDs reaching 2500+ MB/s read/write speeds.

Server management is streamlined through their customized version of the open-source Pterodactyl control panel, making administrative tasks intuitive even for beginners. Beyond hosting, GGServers maintains a comprehensive knowledge base and a regularly updated blog to keep you in the loop on all the happenings of the Minecraft-o-sphere.

Features 🎮

• Unlimited SSD storage
• Global network with 9+ server locations
• Anti-DDoS protection
• Instant activation
• Scalable servers
• Free subdomain
• Pterodactyl control panel
• Manage multiple servers
• Remote console and logs
• Modpacks available starting on the $12.00 per month plan

Pricing 💰

Standard plans are budget-friendly starting at $3.00 per month. Premium plans are double the price across all plans, but deliver superior performance and have the ideal specs for modded gameplay. If you’re curious about any of the plans but aren’t ready to pay, you can submit a ticket and request a free trial.

3. Hostinger

Hostinger is a reliable option if you need a Minecraft server or web hosting in general. It offers a range of affordable services including shared, cloud, and VPS hosting. It also gives you a choice of several Minecraft plans, which deliver all the must-have features, such as DDoS protection and automatic backups.

Hostinger’s Minecraft packages are built on VPS servers, so you’ll have dedicated resources to play the game exactly as you want. While Hostinger offers web hosting all over the world, including in Australia, its Minecraft game servers are based in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Their modding support is particularly impressive, with access to over 2,000 modpacks and compatibility with numerous server types including Official, Forge, Paper, and Bedrock. For configuration help, their AI Assistant provides immediate answers, complemented by comprehensive tutorials.

Features 🎮

• NVMe SSD storage options from 50 GB to 400 GB
• AMD EPYC processors
• Global network with 99.9% server uptime
• Multiple server locations across North America, Europe, South America and Asia
• DDoS protection
• Automatic off-site backups
• Full root access
• Support for 2,000+ modpacks
• Easy-to-use game panel
• Multiple Minecraft server types supported (Forge, Paper, Spigot, etc.)
• AI Assistant for server management help

Pricing 💰

Pricing starts at $4.99 per month for the Game Panel 1 plan, which includes 4 GB of RAM and 1 vCPU. Note that you’ll have to opt for a two-year contract to access this price. It renews at $8.99 per month on another two-year contract. You can also choose to pay by the year or month-to-month, but at higher rates. For example, the month-to-month option costs $9.99 in the first month and renews at $13.99.

4. BisectHosting

BisectHosting is another affordable provider that specializes mainly in Minecraft. It supports the Bedrock edition or Java edition and gives you scalable resources with an impressive range of plans. You can also fully customize your experience by following the signup wizard if you’re not quite sure which package is right for you.

Similar to GGServers, Bisect also splits their plans into a budget series and a premium series. The budget options let you choose from 6 server locations, split between North America and Western Europe, while the premium plans unlock a full 20 locations! These include the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. You also get free server extras such as a subdomain, DDoS protection, and unlimited NVMe SSD storage (subject to fair usage).

If you want to play modded Minecraft with friends, Bisect offers a list of over 2,000 modpacks available to choose from. As a bonus, if they don’t have a particular modpack available, they can install it for you in minutes via a support ticket. Alternatively, because you have full access to your server, you can also create a completely custom modpack with individual mods.

Features 🎮

• NVMe SSD storage offered on all plans
• Instant server setup
• Custom control panel with easy server management
• One-click installation for 2,000+ modpacks
• DDoS protection
• 24/7 support with average response time under 15 minutes
• Manual backups on all plans
• Automated daily backups included free in premium plans (available as paid add-on in budget plans)
• Full file access for complete server control
• Free MySQL database for plugins and mods
• Worldwide server locations (6 on budget plans; 20 on premium plans)

Pricing 💰

Pricing starts at only $2.54 per month if you pay up front for the year, or $2.99 if paying month-to-month. For the premium version of the same plan, it’s $6.79 per month if you buy an annual plan, or $7.99 if you choose to pay monthly.

5. ScalaCube

ScalaCube is a feature-rich provider offering hosting services suited for multiple games. Its Minecraft packages let you create your own launcher so that players can connect directly to your server. On top of that, you get a pre-installed website and a forum included in each plan, making it an appealing option for popular game hosts.

If you want more control over what mods to use, ScalaCube enables you to use the forge to put together modpacks that fit your exact needs. ScalaCube also sets up a free subdomain for you, so you can start hosting games without needing to buy a domain. Servers are located across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

In addition, ScalaCube promises 99.99% uptime and support for unlimited slots. Depending on the plugins and mods installed, it’s up to you to distribute the resources, so you can accommodate as many players as you want.

Features 🎮

• One-click installation of 1,000+ unique modpacks
• Unlimited player slots based on your server hardware
• Support for multiple Minecraft server types (Vanilla, Spigot, Paper, Forge, etc.)
• Run unlimited game servers on one VPS
• Full FTP access with Linux Ubuntu servers
• DDoS protection with active monitoring
• Instant setup after payment
• 24/7 customer support
• Automated backups for a one-time fee of $10
• Free subdomains for custom server addresses
• Global server locations across 10+ countries

Pricing 💰

The standard entry-level plan costs $5 for the first month, and increases to $10 per month after that. This plan includes 15 GB of SSD storage and 1.5 GB RAM. If you need additional resources, they offer a wide selection of more advanced plans. There’s also a cheap proxy plan that comes with 768 MB of RAM and costs only $2 for the first month.

6. Nodecraft

Our last recommendation is Nodecraft, a gamer-friendly provider with services that are highly optimized for Minecraft. Similar to some of the other hosts, it also has a two-tier system but with a unique caveat: the premium servers stay on 24/7, but the budget servers “go to sleep” when they’re not used. This minimizes resource use and lets Nodecraft sell these plans at a cheaper price.

Nodecraft’s custom control panel will help you set up your server in seconds, and you’ll also get access to hundreds of modpacks. Additionally, Nodecraft offers modded Minecraft servers, which means you have the option to launch instances with mods ready to go.

Furthermore, with Nodecraft, you get to choose from 28 data centers that are DDoS protected. Server locations include the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. You’ll also enjoy playing with no crashes or interruptions as Nodecraft only allows 12 customers per device on average.

Finally, if you ever get tired of Minecraft, you can easily swap your server’s features to another game like ARK or Rust. Nodecraft enables you to switch back and forth at no additional charge.

Features 🎮

• SSD drives
• 192GB DDR5 RAM for high performance
• One-click mod and plugin installer
• Modded Minecraft servers
• Custom control panel
• Unlimited player slots
• Free DNS hostname
• Web-based file manager
• SFTP file access
• DDoS Protection
• Daily support from 11:30am to 8pm CST every day

Pricing 💰

Pricing starts at $5.96 per month if you pay up front for the year. Otherwise, the month-to-month option is $6.98. This plan includes 2 GB RAM, 10 GB SSD storage, and 20 GB of cloud backup storage. The premium version of that plan costs $7.99 per month on annual contract, or $9.98 if paying monthly. In addition to what the regular plan offers, it also comes with a static dedicated IP, the ability to take manual backups, and weekly automated backups.

Conclusion

A reliable Minecraft server host should offer high performance and low latency so that you can enjoy the game with no interruptions and run your own Minecraft server with no hiccups. Also, having access to pre-built plugins and modpacks is an excellent bonus.

In this article, we’ve discussed the five best Minecraft server hosting companies.

• 🏆 BisectHosting is our top pick for casual players due to the fact that it’s specifically optimized for the game and offers some of the most affordable pricing.
• 💪 For more advanced players looking to host large-scale games, Apex Hosting or Nodecraft may be a better fit.

Here’s the summary table again in case you need it:

Do you have any questions about Minecraft server hosting? Or maybe you’re using another platform, like Shockbyte or MCProHosting? Let us know in the comments section below!

Layout and presentation by Karol K and Chris Fitzgerald.