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Jump here: 11 Best Minecraft Server Hosting Providers for 2023| Best Modded Minecraft Server Hosting in 2023|Best Free Minecraft Server Hosting Services for 2023| How to Pick a Minecraft Host (Tutorial)|Best Minecraft Server Hosting 2023 FAQ| Conclusion|
It doesn’t matter if you’re running a large online community or just playing Minecraft with your friends, you need an excellent Minecraft server hosting provider.
Equipped with the right Minecraft server hosting you can not only enjoy large multiplayer sessions without any lags whatsoever but also protect all your in-game achievements with regular automatic backups and additional layers of backups and server security.
Have a look at my list of best Minecraft server hosting services for 2023 and pick a hosting that’ll serve(r) 😀 you well, while also being friendly to your pocket (hint: I hunted down the best, cheap, cheapest, modded and free options for you too).
Let’s go!
Table of Contents
How I Chose the Best Third-Party Minecraft Hosts?
I need to say upfront that I didn’t test all the Minecraft hosting providers on this list.
Instead, I compiled a competitive overview based on a variety of factors, including hosting features and independent third-party ratings.
I also considered the rankings of these businesses by TrustPilot and Better Business Bureau.
Points to consider before you begin reading:
- Though I didn’t personally test these Minecraft hosts, I spent over 50h researching other people’s experience with each provider on this list, and I’m lucky enough to have 3 close friends who’re die-hard Minecraft fans, and who each have their own server hosted with a differ host. I made sure to get copious notes from them.
- Chosen Minecraft server host vendors have a rating of A or higher from the nonprofit Better Business Bureau (except in cases when a hosting company is based outside of North America and is thus not included in their ranking system) and a rating of 4.0+ (out of 5) from TrustPilot, which is a trusted Danish consumer review site know for their string process when verifying user reviews.
All of the Trustpilot rankings are based on 1000+ user reviews, and all these hosting vendors have excellent 24/7 support and also excellent modpack support. - I give links to Trustpilot and BBB for every host, so you can independently verify.
- I have an affiliate arrangement with every host on this list, where I get paid if you purchase a hosting plan. This is good for you as it means I’m unbiased and free to cover both the good and bad of any host.
[/wps_note]
As Minecraft’s popularity soars, so does the demand for Minecraft hosting. And plenty of new hosts have cropped up on the market overnight offering “stellar” and “best” Minecraft hosting.
However, the truth is that not all of them are great. In fact, most of them are not even that good.
The good news is that I did my research+ tested a few of the servers and handpicked the top-performing Minecraft server hosting providers for 2023.
Any of the hosts below are an excellent pick, and which one is best for you depends on your budget.
- Best Minecraft Server Hosting of 2023;
- Best Modded Minecraft Server Hosting of 2023;
- Best Free Minecraft Server Hosting of 2023.
11 Best Minecraft Server Hosting Providers for 2023
#1- Hostinger Minecraft Server Hosting
- Name- Hostinger Minecraft server hosting;
- Free Minecraft Server Host? No;
- Free Trial Available? No;
- Refund Available? Yes, 30 days;
- Price- starting from $6.95/mo;
- SLA– https://www.hostinger.com/hosting-agreement
- Trustpilot– 4.3/5.
- G2-/
- BBB Rating- /
- Discount Code– /
Hostinger is one of the best and leading web hosting providers on the market, so it’s no wonder they offer some of the best Minecraft servers you can find.
Their servers are modern, safe, and come with an affordable price tag.
They also come with a full hands-off setup procedure, meaning you don’t have to set up your server yourself, as the Hostinger staff will do it for you, for free.
Pros
- Hostinger has servers across the globe, and this provides a seamless experience for players around the globe, no matter where they’re located.
- There’s a custom Multicraft panel available to aid you in setting up your server and managing it with just a few clicks.
- Hostinger’s Minecraft servers comes with the best-preinstalled mods so you can start playing and having fun right away.
- Hostinger Minecraft servers are secure. They’re 100% protected from DDoS through their advanced automated hardware protection.
- There’s also an enterprise-level backup system so your data is safe and sound at all times.
- 3o-day money-back guarantee.
[/wps_note]
Cons
- No free trial available.
- No free plan available
- No 24/7 live chat support
[/wps_note]
Hostinger Minecraft Server Hosting Pricing
All plans offer all features above, along with at least 2 vCPU Hardware and 2GB RAM.
Prices range from just $6.95/mo to $77.99 a month, with the Wolf (the highest plan) offering 8 vCPU and 16GB RAM.
Finally, all plans come with a 30-day refund guarantee.
| PLAN | RAM | PLAYERS | MONTHLY PRICING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | 2 | Unlimited | $6.95 |
| Villager | 3 | Unlimited | $9.95 |
| Creeper | 4 | Unlimited | $15..95 |
| Herobrine | 6 | Unlimited | $23.95 |
| Enderman | 8 | Unlimited | $29.95 |
| Evoker | 12 | Unlimited | $57.99 |
| Wolf | 16 | Unlimited | $77.79 |
Who is Hostinger Minecraft Server Hosting for?
Hostinger are a robust host that can handle any Minecraft player, from a total noob just learning the ropes to a pro looking to build a thriving community.
Their cheapest plan (Alex) is ~$7/mo and is good value for money because with it you get 2GB of RAM and 2 vCPU + automatic backups, DDoS protection, and full root access. Enough to play your brains out.
Their more expensive plans (Enderman, Evoker, and Wolf) are powerful and suitable for demanding servers, large communities, and those gamers starting with a huge group of friends.
Hostinger is not the cheapest Minecraft host on this list, in fact, they’re the opposite with the most basic plan costing $6.95, but they make it up for by offering a superior server stellar support, and overall high quality of service.
If you can afford them, you won’t go wrong with any of the Hostinger plans. I suggest you start slow and move your way up as your community grows.
Try out Hostinger Minecraft server hosting today!
#2- Shockbyte Minecraft Server Hosting
- Name- Shockbyte Minecraft server hosting;
- Free Minecraft Server Host? No;
- Free Trial Available? No;
- Refund Available? Yes, 72h
- Price- starting from $2.50/mo;
- SLA– https://shockbyte.com/service-level-agreement
- Trustpilot– 4.5/5.
- G2-/
- BBB Rating-/
- Discount Code– KNOWLEDGE (10% off the first month).
[/wps_note]
Shockbyte is one of the most trustworthy affordable Minecraft server hosting providers.
Ever since 2013, Shockbyte has been offering various plans with a wide array of server RAM sizes, just enough to accommodate any player’s budget and game requirements. They currently host over 400 000 Minecraft servers and are one of the most popular Minecraft hosts in the world.
Shockbyte Pros
- Instant server activation upon subscription.
- 100% uptime guarantee as per Shockbyte SLA, (AKA uninterrupted gaming).
- Server subdomains with custom IP’s available for you to attract more people to join your game.
- 24/7 support all year long.
- Free backups;
- 100% DDoS protection and hacking protection.
Shockbyte Cons
- No free trial available;
- No free plan available.
Shockbyte Minecraft Server Hosting Pricing
Shockbyte are known in the Minecraft community as a super affordable Minecraft host that caters to everyone. Their rates start as low as $2.50/month for their cheapest plan (Dirt, 1GB RAM, 8 slots), and $40/month for the premium “Titan” (16GB, unlimited slots) plan.
All Shockbyte plans come with a 72h money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with server performance.
Who is Shockbyte Minecraft Hosting for?
Shockbyte Minecraft hosting can accommodate pretty much any player, from beginners to pros. Their beginner plan (Dirt) is dirt cheap (pun intend) and meant to be a gentle introduction to the exciting world of Minecraft, for you and your small group of friends.
And if you’re a seasoned Minecraft veteran looking to build a large and thriving community, then their 3 elite plans (Spartan, Zeus, and Titan) will serve you well.
Shockybyte is a reputable, 10-year-old host with excellent support, and hosting your game with them will not be a mistake.
Finally, there’s a 72h refund guarantee in place for your complete peace of mind.
Try Shockbyte today!
#3- Nodecraft Minecraft Server Hosting
- Name- Nodecraft Minecraft server hosting;
- Free Minecraft Server Host? No;
- Free Trial Available? yes, no credit card needed;
- Refund Available? Yes, 7 days;
- Price- starting from $14./mo;
- SLA– https://nodecraft.com/legal/service-level-agreement
- Trustpilot– 4.3/5.
- BBB Rating- C+
- Discount Code– KNOWLEDGE (10% off the first month);
Nodecraft gives you a free trial to try out their excellent Minecraft hosting service. Their custom NodePanel 2 interface makes it super easy to get started. You can host any of their vanilla and modded supported games and there’re no limits on player slots!
This is a big deal if you want to play with more than a few people at a time.
Using NodePanel, your Minecraft server hosting will be installed in seconds and you’ll immediately be able to create modded servers, install plugins and modpacks, install plugins, change configurations…
Nodecraft is excellent and affordable Minecraft hosting, and best of all, it’s free to get started. You don’t even need a credit card.
Pros
- Free trial, no credit card required! (while supplies last);
- One-click installs for modded and vanilla installations;
- No limits on player slots;
- Zero lag with high-performance hardware;
- Easily switch among 29 other game servers at any time;
- Managed hosting from your mobile phone;
- Cancel anytime.
Cons
- not a free Minecraft host
- Occasional bad experience hosting with them. Namely, this person complains on Reddit they had a terrible time hosting a Minecraft server with them. They experienced lots of server crashes and downtime, had a low amount of SSD space (only 40 GB), and encountered a DDoS attack that Nodecraft support was unable to handle and was basically told to wait it out. This type of negative Nodcraft experience is rare and most reviews I found online were either positive or enthusiastic. And there are too many of them to be fake. In any case, there’s a 7-day refund guarantee for your peace of mind.
Nodecraft Minecraft Server Hosting Pricing
The price for all plans ranges from $9.98/month to $39.98/month. They possess the same feature and even host unlimited Minecraft player slots. The difference lies in the hardware – the higher the plan, the better the specs are.
| PLAN | RAM | PLAYERS | MONTHLY PRICING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nano | 2 | Unlimited | $9.98 |
| Keelo | 4 | Unlimited | $19.98 |
| Megs | 6 | Unlimited | $29.98 |
| Omega | 8 | Unlimited | $39.98 |
Try Nodecarft today!
#4- Sparked Host Minecraft Server Hosting
- Name- Sparked Host Minecraft server hosting;
- Free Minecraft Server Host? yes 🙂 ;
- Free Trial Available? yes;
- Refund Available? yes, 24h;
- Price- starting from $1/mo;
- SLA– https://sparkedhost.com/service-level-agreement
- Trustpilot– 4.7/5;
- BBB Rating- A+
- Discount Code-/
Sparked Host is one of the best and most affordable Minecraft hosting providers out there.
As mentioned, they’re ultra-affordable, (starting from just $1/mo) and when you buy from them your server is automatically set up for you and you can start playing almost immediately.
Their servers use industry-leading hardware which means your Minecraft community that you built with tremendous effort will run flawlessly on their servers and will at all times be protected from DDoS attacks, hacking attempts, malware…
Their site is also very user-friendly with a huge FAQ section answering any questions you might have about this Minecraft hosting provider.
If you need more convincing let me just mention they boast a 4.7 Trustpilot score, which competes with the best in the industry, and also they guarantee 99.99% network uptime for your server and uninterrupted play.
- 8 servers across the globe (US, Europe, Australia, Singapore);
- Up-to-date hardware;
- Unlimited player slots;
- 24/7 DDoS protection;
- 24/7 customer support;
- Subdomain creator;
- Free MySQL databases;
- SFTP access;
- Resource usage monitoring;
- Auto allocation creator;
- Cancel anytime.
Cons
- not a free Minecfrat host;
- No discount codes;
Sparked Host Minecraft Server Hosting Pricing
Sparked Host has 13 Minecraft server hosting plans to offer. They range from the cheapest (Asteroid $1.50/mo, 512mb RAM) plan to the most expensive one (Milky Way $52/mo, 32GB RAM).
As such, they can accommodate both the novice Minecraft player and the pro who wants to host huge games comfortably with zero lagging and absolute protection.
Who is Sparked Host Minecraft Hosting For?
Due to the fact that Sparked Host has 3 layers of Minecraft hosting plans (Budget, Enterprise, and Extreme) this hosting provider is suited for anyone.
Their basic plans (Asteroid Pluto and Triton) are best for casual gamers and those with a small group of friends who want to play together. For a player group of less than 20, any of these plans is an excellent choice.
And those players who wish to host extensive and elaborate Minecraft worlds with hundreds of players can benefit from the Extreme hosting tier and the highest plans (Saturn, Jupiter Sun, and Milky Way).
Sparked Host Extreme Minecraft hosting is perfect for large-scale communities which need the best and most powerful hardware to support them.
And at a reasonable price.
| HOTING PLAN | RAM | PLAYERS | MONTHLY PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asteroid | 512MB | Unlimited | $1.50 |
| Pluto | 1GB | Unlimited | $2.20 |
| Triton | 2GB | Unlimited | $4.40 |
| Moon | 3GB | Unlimited | $6.60 |
| Mercury | 4GB | Unlimited | $8.80 |
| Mars | 5GB | Unlimited | $11 |
| Venus | 6GB | Unlimited | $13.20 |
| Earth | 7GB | Unlimited | $15.40 |
| Neptune | 8GB | Unlimited | $17.60 |
| Saturn | 9GB | Unlimited | $19.80 |
| Jupiter | 10GB | Unlimited | $$22 |
| Sun | 12GB | Unlimited | $26.40 |
| Milky Way | 32GB | Unlimited | $52 |
Try Sparkedhost today!
#5- HostHavoc Minecraft Server Hosting
- Name- HostHavoc Minecraft server hosting;
- Free Minecraft Server Host? No;
- Free Trial Available? No;
- Refund Available? yes, 72h;
- Price- starting from $5/mo;
- SLA– https://hosthavoc.com/service-level-agreement
- Trustpilot– 4.8/5.
- BBB Rating-/
- Discount Code-/
HostHavoc Minecraft Server Hosting is a highly recommended host in the Minecraft community with over 750 reviewers on Trustpilot rating it an average of 4.7 stars.
With superb servers across Europe, US and Australia HostHavoc aims to provide premium gaming hosting services without any compromises.
Pros
- Monitors each node on the clock so there are plenty of resources for each server.
- HostHavoc uses NVMe SSDs (7x faster than normal SSD’s) to run their game servers for quicker loading and faster performance.
- Unlimited SSD storage.
- Unlimited players slots.
- Provides full FTP access as well as a web-based file manager for those who prefer to self-manage
- Works with all available modpacks (FTB, Vanilla, Technic, ATLauncher, etc.)
- Guaranteed a real person fast support 24/7 with an average response time of just 15m.
- Guaranteed 24/7 DDoS protection.
Cons
- Not a free Minecraft host;
- No free trial available;
- Unfavorable server distribution (no servers in South America, Africa, and Central and Northern Asia)
- A bit pricier than some other hosts on this list
Host Havoc Minecraft Server Pricing
HostHavoc does not provide Minecraft budget hosting because the company believes in reliability and speed and they chose to cater to those players who need those qualities in their Minecraft server host.
Their cheapest plan (Grass, starting at $5/mo) has 1-4 recommended players with 1GB RAM available, while their most expensive solution (Diamond, starting at $80/mo) comes with 16GB RAM allowing for expanding your multiplayer game to up to 250+ players.
However, this is when you play Minecraft Vanilla mode. If you play modded, this impacts your game and severely cuts down the number of players that can comfortably play. (Pro tip: when you visit the Host Havoc Minecraft pricing page next to each plan there’s a suggested number of players for both Vanilla and Modded),
Each Minecraft hosting plan comes with unlimited storage and all the earlier mentioned perks such as mods, backups, and more.
| MINECRAFT HOSTING PLAN | RAM | PLAYER | MONTHLY PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass | 1GB | Unlimited | $5 |
| Wood | 2GB | Unlimited | $10 |
| Stone | 3GB | Unlimited | $15 |
| Coal | 4GB | Unlimited | $20 |
| Iron | 6GB | Unlimited | $30 |
| Bricks | 8GB | Unlimited | $40 |
| Gold | 12GB | Unlimited | $60 |
| Diamond | 16GB | Unlimited | $80 |
Try HostHavoc today!
Who is Host Havoc Minecraft Server Hosting For?
Host Havoc is a superb Minecraft host and among the top 3 best hosts on this list. Their insistence on absolute quality of service and user satisfaction makes them a favorite among novice and pro gamers alike,
However, due to the fact that their servers are located in Europe, USA, and Australia, they’re an optimal choice for gamers from those geographical areas. This makes Host Havoc a decent, but not a great option for people from other areas, for example, Australia, Africa, Asia and South America.
Nonetheless, they do offer a 72h refund guarantee, so you can try hosting with them risk free, no matter where you’re located in the world.
Try HostHavoc today!
#6- BeastNode Minecraft Server Hosting
- Name- BeastNode Minecraft server hosting;
- Free Minecraft Server Host? No;
- Free Trial Available? No;
- Refund Available? yes, 3-5 days;
- Price- starting from $2.99/mo;
- Trustpilot– 4.1/5.
- BBB Rating- /
- Discount Code-no official coupon code, you can get up to 15% discount with longer billing cycles.
BeastNode is a licensed and registered company from Irvine, California (US). They’re a premium Minecraft host that can accommodate both beginners and advanced Minecraft players.
See the full breakdown below.
Pros
- Mod Support (Feed the Beast, Tekkit, ATLauncher, and more);
- Plugin Support (Spigot, CraftBukkit, and more);
- Unlimited SSD Storage;
- Enterprise-Grade Hardware;
- Intel Xeon Processors;
- Quad Channel DDR4 ECC RAM;
- Hardware DDoS Protection;
- 1000Mbit Port;
- Unlimited Bandwidth;
- Free Subdomains;
- Free MySQL Database;
- Multicraft Game Panel;
- Full FTP Access included;
- 24/7 customer support;
- Website easy to navigate;
- etc.
Cons
- No discount codes;
- No free trial;
- Not a free Minecraft server host;
- Full hands-on technical support only for Premium Minecraft server hosting. On Budget hosting plans you get the guidance, but you have to manually fix problems.
BeastNode Minecraft Server Hosting Pricing
BeastNode Minecraft hosting offers 2 types of server hosting,
- Budget Minecraft server hosting;
- Premium Minecraft server hosting;
Budget Hosting
BeastNode budget hosting plans are great for users on a tight budget who still want to have optimal performance for their server and uninterrupted gameplay.
| HOSTING PLAN | PRICE | PLAYERS | RAM | SSD STORAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dirt | $2.99/mo | Unlimited | 1GB | 5GB |
| Stone | $2599/mo | Unlimited | 2GB | 5GB |
| Gold | $8.99/mo | Unlimited | 3GB | 5GB |
| Diamond | $11.99/mo | Unlimited | 4GB | 5GB |
| Lapis | $17.99/mo | Unlimited | 6GB | 5GB |
| Emerald | $23.99/mo | Unlimited | 8GB | 5GB |
| Redstone | $29.99/mo | Unlimited | 10GB | 5GB |
| Netherite | $35.99/mo | Unlimited | 12GB | 5GB |
Try BeastNode budget Minecraft hosting here!
BeastNode Premium Hosting
Premium BeastNode Minecraft hosting is for serious players with large communities, or for those who’re just starting their own servers but plan to make them popular as fast as possible. BeastNode premium plans can support pretty much anything you throw at them, so feel free to go nuts. No lagging and server downtime will be experienced:)
| HOSTING PLAN | PRICE | PLAYERS | RAM | SSD STORAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spider | $8.50/mo | Unlimited | 1GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Zombie | $12.75/mo | Unlimited | 1.5GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Skeleton | $17/mo | Unlimited | 2GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Blaze | $11.99/mo | Unlimited | 2.5GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Creeper | $21.25/mo | Unlimited | 3GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Slime | $25.50/mo | Unlimited | 3.5GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Ghast | $34/mo | Unlimited | 4GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Enderman | $42.5/mo | Unlimited | 5GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Wither | $51.99/mo | Unlimited | 6GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Magma | $68/mo | Unlimited | 8GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Vex | $85/mo | Unlimited | 10GB | Unlimited SSD |
| Bee | $102/mo | Unlimited | 12GB | Unlimited SSD |
Try BeastNode premium Minecraft hosting here!
#7- GTX Minecraft Server Hosting (for PC)
- Name- GTX Minecraft server hosting;
- Free Minecraft Server Host? No;
- Free Trial Available? yes, 24h;
- Refund Available? yes, 3-5 days;
- Price- starting from $5.64/mo;
- Trustpilot– 4.7/5.
- BBB Rating- /
- Discount Code-no official coupon code;
GTX Gaming is a UK-based Minecraft Game Server Hosting for PC. They have been hosting Minecraft ever since Mojang released it and are now one of the leading premium Minecraft hosts capable of accommodating both pro and newbie players.
See the breakdown below.
Pros
- Enterprise hardware:
- Full DDoS protection across all servers;
- Worldwide server coverage (USA, Canada, UK, France, Spain, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia);
- 24/7 support;
- CraftBukkit and Spiggot support- 1-click installs available, other versions can be installed on demand;
- FTP support;
- Game switching;
- 24h refund;
Cons
- No pricing clearly visible on the sales page. You have to initiate the purchasing process in order to see what they offer and for how much;
- added fees for high priority support;
- only have servers for the PC Java version of Minecraft, so you can’t play Minecraft with PS4 and Xbox;
- for Windows 10 and mobile devices you need to use Minecraft Bedrock;
- the best levels of CPU performance costs extra per month;
- not suitable for huge world-building as the highest plan allows up to only 180 players;
- Potentially bad customer support.
GTXGaming Minecraft Server Hosting Pricing
As mentioned in the cons section, you only see their pricing after you’ve decided to pick up a new hosting plan for your server.
Click the image below to see their pricing plans (the image opens in new tab).
Try GTX Minecraft server hosting for PC here!
Best Modded Minecraft Server Hosting in 2023
#8- BisectHosting Minecraft Server Hosting
- Name- BisectHosting modded Minecraft server hosting;
- Free modded Minecraft Server Host? No;
- Free Trial Available? No;
- Refund Available? yes, 72h;
- Price- starting from $2.99/mo;
- Trustpilot– 4.6/5.
- BBB Rating- F
- Discount Code-/
According to the Minecraft community, Bisect Hosting is one of the best and highly recommended, with over 730 people on Trustpilot giving it a 4.7 out of 5.0 rating.
Bisect Hosting aims to provide premium service at an affordable cost by having top-notch servers in various locations across the world. To that end, they offer some of the cheapest plans you can find anywhere.
Pros
- BisectHosting uses SSDs to power their game servers for quicker performance and load times.
- Each server is given enough resources to function at its optimal ensuring no player ever experiences enjoyment-destroying lag.
- Custom JAR support is available.
- Free dedicated IP.
- Each node on the clock is monitored so that there are adequate resources available to each server.
- Upon request, they’ll install your preferred modpack so you can just play the game without any hassle.
- They give you complete FTP access, allowing you to better manage files and plugins on your server.
- They offer lots of free perks, like – daily backups, unlimited slots, subdomains, free MySQL databases, etc.
- Excellent 24/7 support via live chat and email.
- 24/7 DDoS protection.
Cons
- Not a free Minecraft server host;
- No free trial;
- no dedicated IP with budget hosting plans;
- no telephone support;
- No SLA;
- Poor BBB rating;
BisectHosting Minecraft Server Hosting Pricing
Premium and budget versions of BisectHosting are available.
Budget Minecraft hosting packages are really decent and offer a fast setup, a Multicraft Control Panel, round-the-clock assistance, and free subdomains, among other features.
Premium packages enjoy all of the same features as the Budget options. However, they also have additional servers from various locations, free dedicated IP addresses, and more!
You can pay for Bisect Minecraft hosting plans monthly, quarterly (10% discount), semi-annually (6 months, 12.5% discount)) and annually (15% discount).
Try Bisect Modded Minecraft hosting here!
#9-Apex Minecraft Server Hosting
- Name- Apex Minecraft modded server hosting;
- Free Minecraft modded Server Host? No;
- Free Trial Available? No;
- Refund Available? Yes, 7 days;
- Price- starting from $7.49/mo;
- SLA– https://apexminecrafthosting.com/sla/
- Trustpilot– 4.8/5.
- G2-/
- BBB Rating- A+
- Discount Code– STUDENT (lifelong 25% discount on Minecraft hosting. You need a valid school email address to claim this discount) Anyone else can you this coupon code and will get 25% off for their first month.
Boasting a superb 4.8 rating on Trustpilot across hundreds of reviewers, Apex Hosting is one of the best Minecraft server hosting platforms around. You choose them and you can’t go wrong, as proved by more than 200,000 high-performing servers they’re currently hosting
If I sound like an Apex Hosting fanboy, that’s because I am 🙂 Actually, my friend whom I mentioned earlier is, as he literally spent an hour explaining to me how good Apex hosting is 🙂
Pros
- Intuitive control panel with integrated video guides.
- Industry-leading 24/7 live chat support. More on support is below.
- Ability to change server version files in a few clicks, or just ask for help from their friendly support team.
- Guaranteed low latency and 24/7 uptime on Bedrock and Java across Apex’s servers around the world.
- 24/7 DDoS server protection.
- Ability to build a site for your server just like Technic Launcher using their free subdomain.
- Apex Minecraft servers support all types of Minecraft maps, mods, mini-games, and plugins.
- Automated offsite backups.
Cons
- No free trial available;
- No free plan available;
Apex Minecraft Server Hosting Pricing
Apex Hosting offers seven hosting plans, ranging from 1-7 GB RAM. They also have a 15GB plan from their EX series, and that plan is meant for serious Minecraft players who wish to build huge and popular communities.
Each hosting plan gives you a lower price for the first month which then increases to its regular price thereafter.
If you want, you can also choose to pay quarterly, and this gives you a 10% discount.
On top of that, you can also get a proxy to hide your IP address for added protection. The price is $2.99/mo, paid in monthly installments.
| RAM | PLAYERS | MONTHLY PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Unlimited | $7.49 |
| 3 | Unlimited | $11.24 |
| 4 | Unlimited | $14.99 |
| 5 | Unlimited | $18.74 |
| 6 | Unlimited | $22.49 |
| 8 | Unlimited | $29.99 |
| 10 | Unlimited | $37.49 |
| 15 | Unlimited | $59.99 |
Who is Apex Minecraft Hosting For?
Apex Minecraft modded hosting is distinguished amount other hosts in that they give you unlimited players on all Minecraft hosting plans, even the cheapest ones. This gives you an opportunity to build a solid community even on a shoestring budget. Ad you get a choice of 200+ 1-Click-Modpack Installs to boot.
Their 15GB EX Series plan is super powerful (4.7 GHz with EX Series servers featuring 4 exclusive vCores of a Ryzen 5800X CPU) and is meant for demanding servers and large communities. With it, smooth and uninterrupted gameplay is guaranteed.
Best Free Minecraft Server Hosting Services for 2023
Free Minecraft server hosting providers are sort of a rarity on the market. No wonder as most companies are trying to make money renting you hosting for your Minecraft server.
However, I’ve managed to find a couple of services that give out excellent hosting for free. This doesn’t mean they don’t offer premium hosting too. It just means their free Minecraft hosting is perfect for hosting smaller communities or playing casually with your friends and family.
#10- Server.pro Free Minecraft Server Hosting
- Name- Server.pro free Minecraft server hosting;
- Free Minecraft Server Host? yes 🙂 ;
- Free Trial Available? no;
- Refund Available? yes, 72h
- Price- starting from $5./mo;
- Trustpilot– 4.6/5.
- BBB Rating- /
- Discount Code– /
Server.pro is a Swedish game hosting company that offers both paid and free Minecraft hosting plans.
They’re an easy-to-use, low-risk, high-reward game hosting platform that lets people host Minecraft servers without drying out their wallets.
Pros
- Server.pro is one of the best Minecraft server hosting providers on the market and a rare one with a forever free plan.
- 8 data centers in eight countries to ensure you have a lag-less experience;
- Use a file manager to seamlessly edit files;
- Regular daily backups for your full peace of mind;
- Ability to create your custom hostnames for your Minecraft server.
- Pick between a dark or light theme for your control panel.
- Change your worlds or maps with just one click.
Cons
Free Minecraft server on Server.pro:
- serves ads;
- doesn’t include daily backups;
- doesn’t have multi-admin capabilities;
- offers no instant setup by their professional team;
Server.pro Minecraft Server Pricing
Both Premium ($5-10/month) and Pro ($20-40/month) plans are ad-free and offer the same functionalities.
The only difference between the two plans is the Pro plan gives you a MySQL server with root access and a dedicated IP address.
For most people reading this, the Premium plan is the way to go as it gives you everything you need to establish a robust Minecraft server, and you won’t be served obtrusive ads that take the joy out of playing.
| HOSTING PLAN | RAM | PLAYERS | MONTHLY PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 1GB | 10 | $0 |
| Basic | 2GB | Unlimited | $5 |
| Medium | 4GB | Unlimited | $10 |
| High | 6GB | Unlimited | $20 |
| Ultra | 12GB | Unlimited | $40 |
Open a free Server.pro account here!
Who is Server.pro Minecraft Hosting For?
Server.pro is a rare Minecraft host that offers a forever free Minecraft hosting plan. Therefore, it’s an excellent pick for those people who want to play Minecraft without paying a cent. You get to play with 9 other people and with 1GB RAM and 2 vCores, your gaming satisfaction is guaranteed.
Server.pro is also a premium Minecraft host and their paid plans are an excellent pick for any serious Minecraft player. Pick based on your communities’ requirements.
Start with the free plan and upgrade later.
#11- Scalacube Minecraft Server Hosting
- Name- Scalecube Minecraft server hosting;
- Free Minecraft Server Host? yes 🙂 ;
- Free Trial Available? yes;
- Refund Available? No;
- Price- starting from $2.50./mo;
- Trustpilot– 4.3/5.
- BBB Rating- /
- Discount Code-/
Scalacube provides free Minecraft server hosting with the full functionality of a paid server.
What’s more, your free server will remain free forever and 24/7.
However, if you develop a big Minecraft community you will be able to go on a premium server that can support that growth.
Of course, all your data on the free server will be transferred to a premium one without any loss occurring.
I’m talking about things like:
- installed game servers;
- maps;
- uploaded mods;
- plugins;
- IP addresses.
The point is that you won’t need to buy a new server to transfer data from the free Minecraft server – every bit of data will automatically be transferred for you and at your convenience.
Scalacube operates data centers around the world and their systems are running 24/7 with backups ready to be deployed in case some server suddenly fails.
This ensures maximum, 99.9999% uptime.
Finally, you can install MySQL and TeamSpeak on the hosting via an easy-to-use control panel. You’ll also get a free domain name to connect it to the game server.
Ubuntu 20.04 OS comes pre-installed on all servers, and you get full access to that OS via MySQL, SSH, and FTP.
Try out Scalacube Minecraft server hosting today!
Remember, it’s free forever 24/7!
Scalacube Minecraft Server Hosting Pricing
Scalacube also offers premium plans that are best suited to host larger Minecraft communities.
Besides the free plan, there are 9 paid plans and these all boast the features you need to run your Minecraft community comfortably. The differences among the plans are the amount of RAM you get and the number of CPUs per server.
For example, the $5 plan has 1.5GB RAM and a 3.4 GHz CPU, while the more expensive $36 plan offers 12GB RAM and 5x 3.4GHz CPU.
Obviously, for larger Minecraft communities to be hosted comfortably and with zero lagging and performance issues, higher-end plans are preferable.
| HOSTING PLAN | RAM | PLAYERS | MONTHLY PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft Free | 10 | Free | |
| Minecraft 768 MB | 768MB | 10 | $2.50 |
| Minecraft 1.5GB | 1.5Gb | 20 | $5 |
| Minecraft 3GB | 3GB | 40 | $10 |
| Minecraft 4.5GB | 4.5GB | 70 | $13 |
| Minecraft 6GB | 6GB | 100 | $18 |
| Minecraft 8GB | 8GB | 150 | $24 |
| Minecraft 12GB | 12GB | 225 | $36 |
| Minecraft 16GB | 16GB | 300 | $48 |
| Minecraft 32GB | 32GB | 600 | $96 |
Who is Scalacube Minecraft Server Hosting For?
People who want to play Minecraft for free with their friends will find great joy in Scalcube’s forever-free 24/7 plan.
People who’re looking for a reliable host with excellent performance and superb customer service won’t be disappointed if they go with one of the Scalacbube premium plans.
What you pick depends on your Minecraft hosting needs, but if you’re just starting out, I suggest you pick the free plan and if the need arises for something more,e you can easily upgrade down the line.
What is a Minecraft Server? And What is Minecraft Hosting?
Definition: Minecraft server is a private network that any player can make to experience a multiplayer game, with other people allowed to join and play together.
A server can have a username and IP restrictions to control the players who can access it, as well as setting and commands including, but not limited to, limiting the number of players, rule setting, enabling PvP, etc.
9+ years old, and with over 126 million active players, it seems like there’s no end to Minecraft’s popularity growth.
In other words, Minecraft is one of the most popular and beloved games of all time, and of any genre.
You can play Minecraft in several ways with your friends, but the best way to play is on a Minecraft server that’s hosted online.
Good news! You’re in the right place as my article curates the best Minecraft server hosting that’s also affordable and comes with a free trial (for some of them).
But first…
Professional Minecraft Server Hosting Pros and Cons
Minecraft server is a space of your own that you control and where you can invite your friends to play with you.
It’s possible to set up your own private Minecraft server on an old PC you have lying around, however, that option comes with plenty of difficulties. Since Minecraft is written in Java, your computer will have to be pretty powerful with SSD, plenty of RAM and bandwidth, and a strong internet connection.
You also need to be tech-savvy to set up and maintain your Minecraft server+ and ensure server protection from hackers and malware…
The solution for most people is hosting with a Minecraft host and not going through all that hassle.
This kind of game server hosting is much like hosting a website. In website hosting, a third party manages the website’s file storage including images, videos and the like. The web host rents out the server hardware on which the website is run – and without that hardware, the site obviously wouldn’t exist.
Here are the objective pros and cons to Minecraft server hosting.
PROS
Tighter security and privacy. As you probably know, joining public third-party Minecraft servers run by public IP’s will increase the risk of your data being stolen. But when you run the server, that’s obviously a much safer option. All hosting providers on this list offer strong protection for your game 24/7.
Install multiple modpacks. When you host a private Minecraft server, you can install as many modpacks as you need to make your gaming experience as optimized as you want.
The potential to generate income. Successful Minecraft servers are able to generate income for their owners. Of course, this came after ample promotion of the server, but it’s a possibility nonetheless and something to consider. Hosting a private Minecraft server is an initial expense that for some people turns into a source of income and profit.
Having full control. Running a Minecraft server lets you stay in control at all times. You can configure permissions and restrictions, give commands, set up rules, and so forth. You control your destiny in this scenario.
Building a Community. While it is essential that you go out every day and interact with other people as much as possible, oftentimes that’s not possible. In those days Minecraft can be a wonderful social proxy and a way for you to connect with other people. Humans are social creatures after all and we crave human connection. By playing Minecraft you can build a virtual world for you and your friends to inhabit. Think of it as building a tribe for your online brand, but for Minecraft.
Your House, Your Rules. With large Minecraft communities, there are rules in place meant to cover and benefit the majority of players. But these same rules might be the reason why you’re not enjoying your game to the fullest.
When you host your own Minecraft server, the only rules to worry about are the ones you’ve set. And you can be as lax or strict as you want.
CONS
The inevitable hosting issues. Managing a Minecraft server isn’t all fun and play.
Just because you pick a host with excellent reviews doesn’t mean you won’t have problems with them and that all will be peachy. In fact, chances are high that you’ll have to switch up hosts multiple times until you find the one best suited to host your game. That can be frustrating.
Pricier. Hosting a Minecraft server comes with a price, and promoting your server to make it more popular will also take money out of your pocket. This applies of course if you intend to make the server popular so you can monetize it. If that’s not your goal and you just want a stable virtual world to have with your limited group of friends, then the price will be fixed.
Hard to find the time to play? It’s a bit of a paradox, but having too many technical difficulties with your server and having to fix those might drain you so much that you’re unable to play the game.
That is why you need to pick a solid Minecraft host with dedicated 24/7 support.
What are the Minimum Minecraft Server Hosting Requirements?
As you probably know, hosting games is more challenging than hosting websites because elaborate games are more resource-intensive than simple WordPress sites.
Thankfully, Minecraft isn’t so elaborate as to be too expensive to host it.
So you can host it on a cheap dedicated server that meets some pretty basic specifications.
Just to be clear, in my guide I’m covering the basic setup for Minecraft – Minecraft Vanilla as it’s often called in the community.
For such installations and player groups of up to 10 members, simple VPS hosting will do the trick just fine.
Here are the exact requirements for Vanilla Minecraft hosting in numbers:
| MINECRAFT SERVER HOSTING MINIMUM REQUIREMENT | MINECRAFT SERVER HOSTING RECCOMENDED REQUIREMENT |
|---|---|
| 1GB RAM | 2GB RAM |
| 2 CPU | 2 CPU |
I didn’t mention storage space requirements and that’s because the storage requirements are pretty negligible and all Minecraft hosts on this list far exceed what you’ll ever need on even the most basic of hosting plans.
However, if you’re really serious and passionate about Minecraft then you’ll need to get a hosting setup that’ll let you enjoy the game in player groups of 50+.
As a serious player, you might also want to consider possibilities such as the use of custom mods, which will then increase the hosting requirements even further.
In cases such as those, I recommend Hostinger’s VPS hosting plan Minecraft Villager Plan.
This plan includes a generous 3GB of RAM and prices start at $12.95/mo. Ans as your player base expands, the price grows accordingly.
What to Pay Attention to When Looking for the Best Minecraft Server Hosting for You?
Now that you have a master list of the best Minecraft server hosting companies to pick from above, you also need to know how to pick the right host to suit your needs.
You’ll need hardware and bandwidth to run your personal Minecraft server. Now, unless you own a data center, which is doubtful, that means you’ll need to rent space on a server operated by one of the Minecraft hosting companies I covered earlier.
Here are the key factors you need to know when choosing a Minecraft host.
#1- The Right Server Location
If you’re hosting players from all over the world, then there’s nothing you can really do about server location.
But if you’re hosting players from a specific region or country, then make sure you pick a Minecraft server host whose servers are either in, or close to that region or country.
This helps avoid lag for players.
#2- Good Connection Parameters
In order to provide players with a seamless experience, you need a server with excellent latency and superb uptime.
To ensure this, you must pick a host with sufficient processors and RAM.
Also, powerful servers further reduce lagging for players even if they’re far away from the server’s location.
#3- Easy Setup
You need a lot of technical know-how to set up your server yourself. To avoid the hassle, pick a Minecraft host that will set up a server for you, and for free.
#4- Multiple Players Allowed at the Same Time
Because Minecraft is best enjoyed with as many players as possible, you need to go for a server that lets you accommodate at least 10 other players besides yourself.
#5-Mods Allowed and Included
Minecraft mods change the interface and give new tools players can use when playing the game.
Since mods are an important part of boosting the Minecraft playing experience, you need to make sure that the hosting server has the best Minecraft mods installed, or that at least it freely allows you to add the new mods you want.
#6- Contract Length
Some Minecraft hosting companies ask you to pay up for many months in advance.
While this can save you some money over the long run, you also need to pay a lot more upfront.
If that option is not suitable for you, look for hosts that offer a monthly subscription payment model to lighten the pressure on your wallet.
#7- Excellent Security
The last thing you want to do when enjoying Minecraft with your friends is worry about security breaches.
All Minecraft hosts you pick from this master list of best Minecraft server hosting offer tight security so you sleep easily at night.
Don’t settle for anything less.
#8- Processor
In Minecraft hosting, servers are quite often equipped with multiple processors.
Exactly how much processor time you get depends on the plan you picked, which in turn depends on the size of your virtual world, the number of players, mod usage…
In general, the cheapest plans and especially free Minecraft hosts will give you low processing power as they can’t give out premium service for anything. However, that is still usually more than enough for smaller games.
#9- Memory
RAM (Random Access Memory) is fast, volatile storage that’s used to run processes.
When a request is pushed to your server, it loads data into memory for quicker processing. If your server has less memory than is required to play the game seamlessly, then it’s necessary for servers to swap data in and out of RAM more frequently, resulting in sluggish performance and occasional downtime.
Exactly how much RAM you have depends on the plan you picked, with premium Minecraft host offering more RAM memory, and cheaper ones less.
#10- Storage Type and Space
Minecraft is not a storage-heavy game, but still, if you’re running a Minecraft server, having SSD-powered hosting will significantly speed up performance.
Some Minecraft hosts will offer SSD-based server software (such as the web server software and operating system) while storing your data on regular storage.
This is not the same as a genuine SSD solution where everything is stored on SSD.
#11- Minecraft Specific Support
There are 2 types of Minecraft hosts.
Dedicated Minecraft hosts that run Minecraft servers and nothing else. A good example is Shockbyte.
Web hosting providers that specialize in many types of hosting, including Minecraft server hosting. A good example is Hostinger.
Customer support is always going to be better with pure Minecraft hosts because their staff lives and breathes Minecraft and Minecraft hosting
However, the second type of hosting can also come with great support. For example, Hostinger is famous for its lighting speed customer support, including for Minecraft server hosting queries.
Pro tip: Try out a potential host’s service before you buy. For example, go to Hostinger’s Minecraft hosting landing page and ask whether they’ll help you set up your server.
Best Minecraft Server Hosting 2023 FAQ
My goal is to help you pick the best Minecraft server hosting provider for you, and this FAQ section below will help clear out some nagging doubts you probably have.
#1- How to Get a Minecraft Server for Free?
I suggest you go with Server.pro.
They’re one of the rare Minecraft server hosting providers on this list to offer quality Minecraft hosting free of charge. But, as with all things free, you miss out on a lot of essential features.
You get served ads, and you don’t get essentials like daily backups, multi-admin capabilities and instant setup.
#2- How to Start a Minecraft Server?
Here are the steps to starting a Minecraft server.
- Step 1: Get Minecraft Java Edition;
- Step 2: Get the Latest Version of Java;
- Step 3: Download the Minecraft Server;
- Step 4: Commands to Run the Server;
- Step 5: Set up Server Properties;
- Step 6: Port Forward to Play Globally (Optional);
- Step 7: Connect to your Minecraft Server.
If you’re not a geek and super nerdy, I recommend you don’t try and start, your Minecraft server. It’s a bit techy a lot of this can go wrong and you need to do this step right in order to play the game properly.
You can’t beat a professional service and all Minecraft hosts on this list offer automatic server setup, free of charge.
However, if you’re deadset on trying on your own, here’s a free resource that can help you start your Minecraft server:
- https://codakid.com/how-to-make-a-minecraft-server/
#3- How to Host Modded Minecraft Server?
Here are the steps to hosting a modded Minecraft server.
- Step 1: Install Minecraft;
- Step 2: Install Forge Server, Accept EULA;
- Step 3: Gather Your Mods;
- Step 4: Reduce Lag;
- Step 5: port forward the server.
Those are the steps to installing a Modded Minecraft server, but the thorough explanation is beyond this guide.
Here’s a helpful resource:
- https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Setup-a-Modded-Minecraft-Server-1122/
#4- How Much RAM Do I Need for Minecraft Server?
Your Minecraft server will need at least 1 GB of RAM to work comfortably and accommodate 10 players at the same time, The more GB of RAM your server, the more players can you welcome, and they’ll all be able to enjoy the game seamlessly without lagging.
#5- Which is the Best Minecraft Server Hosting Service?
Overall, Hostinger provides the best experience for managing Minecraft servers for all players on all levels. Shockbyte has a reputation as a sturdy and robust Minecraft host with insane performance and reliability + guaranteed uptime and free DDoS protection.
Finally, there’s Apex moded MinecrafHosting who deliver arguably the best customer support on the market, thanks to their live chat feature and helpful and knowledgeable staff.
All the hosts not mentioned here are also excellent picks, that’s why they own places on my list of best Minecraft server hosting providers.
I peeled from the top in this crowded market.
#6- How Much Does it Cost To Host a Minecraft Server?
It doesn’t cost that much to host a Minecraft server. For example, a server for 20 players can cost as little as $2.50/mo.
However, if you require a more robust setup and more players, prices go up steeply.
In this case, the best hosting plan amongst these Minecraft servers hosting providers is Hostinger’s most expensive plan (Wolf) which comes with 16 GB of RAM and 16 vCPU and can host unlimited players.
If Wolf is too expensive for you, a slightly less powerful alternative is Hostinger’s Enderman plan which comes with 8GB RAM, and 8 vCPU Hardware, and can also host unlimited players for maximum enjoyment.
Note: the prices you see below are for 4-year plans where you pay in bulk, but get the largest discount and are able to save a lot of money.
#7- Is Minecraft Server Hosting Worth it?
Whether Minecraft server hosting is going to be worth it depends solely on you, who you are, and what your objectives are.
If you want a simple vanilla game with just a few of your pals, you might be able to get by with hosting the server yourself on an old, but decent PC.
But if you want to have a bunch of people join your game, and you need them all to have a seamless and satisfactory experience, then you will need to invest in buying a hosting plan and there are no two ways about it.
#8- Does Free Minecraft Server Hosting 24/7 Exist?
Yes, free Minecraft server hosting 24/7 does exist.
Server.pro and Scalacube offer free Minecraft server hosting 24/7.
Best Minecraft Server Hosting for 2023 – Conclusion
Look:
if you’re looking for cheap and reliable Minecraft server hosting you’ve come to the right page.
My list of best Minecraft server hosting is researched, the hosts are thoroughly tested, and picking any of them will guarantee you can play Minecraft without any hassles, and with full control over everything.
Which host you pick depends on your budget. Hostinger is the highest quality host on this list, but other hosts on this list are not that far behind, and Server. Pro is even free.
Let me know your choice in the comment section below.
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.
Thank you for the amazing article! I was actually wondering what’s the best Minecraft host provider to host my upcoming server since I want to play with my friends. This definitely helped me narrow my choices. Also, love the detailed explanations and guidance. Keep up the good work!
Here’s a great guide. Nikola. I am not a gamer, but I am aware that Minecraft is one of the most popular. Some of my friends have used some of the firms on this list to rent Minecraft servers, and I know they haven’t been disappointed.
Hi Vashishti,
great to hear your friends had success renting Minecraft servers from these companies. They’re the best and that’s why they’re on this list of best Minecraft servers.
Sensational guide here Nikola. I am not a gamer but know Minecraft is one of the biggies. Some of my friends have rented Minecraft servers from some of the companies on this list and I know they haven’t regretted it.
Thanks Ryan. Out of the hundreds of Minecraft hosts on the market, I included only the very best on my list. Any one of these is an excellent pick.
Hi Nikola,
What a great share! I have been thinking about getting a good Minecraft server hosting myself, and you solved my problem. Thanks a lot, for sharing all of this insightful information with your readers. I think with your help, I will be able to find the best server for my needs. I will be using your free resource as a checklist, and it will help me a lot when choosing the best Minecraft hosting for my needs. I really appreciate you sharing this information, it was a great help.
Hi John,
glad my guide helped you. It pays to take some time and evaluate which host exactly is best to host your Minecraft game. Not all hosts are equal and some are better than others. Plus there are decent free options on this list too, so maybe you don’t even have to pay.
Hi Nikola,
What a great share! I really appreciate you sharing about Minecraft Server hosting. I have been thinking about trying it out for the longest time, and you shared all of the best options in one place. It really helped me compare all of them in real-time and make the best choice for myself. Some of my friends tried this, and they recommended it to me as well. With your help, I will definitely find the best option for myself. Thanks a lot for sharing this resource!