Best game server hosting options in 2025

After work, I love to relax with a couple of my buddies by playing online games. It feels magical – you forget all your problems and go on an adventure with your friends. However, occasionally, my gaming sessions get ruined by cheaters and toxic players. That's why I decided to run a dedicated game server instead of playing on public ones. But then I faced a new problem – there are so many hosting providers out there, and it's overwhelming to pick the right one.

To solve this problem, I gathered our Cybernews research team, and together, we identified the 7 best game server hosting providers. We did a lot of research before picking the top ones, so keep reading if you want to find the perfect option for yourself.

7 best game server hosting providers

1. Hostinger - best overall game server hosting provider in 2025
2. Pine Hosting – customizable game server hosting
3. Apex Hosting – best Minecraft server hosting provider
4. Bisect Hosting – best for hosting a game server with mods
5. ShockByte – low-cost game server hosting
6. ScalaCube – game server hosting with easy setup
7. NameHero – universal game server hosting provider

What are the minimum requirements for game server hosting?

You can't generalize the minimum requirements for game server hosting since every game has different resource demands. For example, a Minecraft server requires fewer resources than a large FiveM server. That's why it's crucial to consider the game's complexity before choosing a provider.

Here are some examples of the minimal specifications you need for some popular games:

• Minecraft: 1 CPU core, 2.0GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, 2GB storage
• Palworld: 4 CPU cores, 3.4GHz CPU, 8GB RAM, 40GB storage
• Valheim: 2 CPU cores, 2.8GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, 2GB storage
• Rust: 4 CPU cores, 3.0GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, 20GB storage

Generally, if you want to be on the safe side, start with at least a quad-core CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 100GB of SSD storage. This should be enough for running game servers for many popular games with small to medium-sized player bases.

Best dedicated game server hosting – detailed review

To find the best game server hosting service, together with the Cybernews research team, I reviewed and assessed many hosting providers, looking at resources, features, pricing, flexibility, scalability, and reliability. Let’s check out the ones that made the cut.

1. Hostinger – top game server hosting provider

Starting price:	From $4.99/month
DDoS protections:	✅ Yes
RAM:	Up to 32GB
CPU:	Up to 8 vCPUs
Bandwidth:	Up to 32TB
Money-back guarantee:	✅ Yes, 30 days
Current deal:	Get up to 70% OFF Hostinger VPS

Visit Hostinger

Hostinger is the best game server hosting provider because of its solid performance. It also offers its services at budget-friendly prices and has a 30-day money-back guarantee as a free trial, which makes it perfect for gamers on a budget.

Here are some of Hostinger's key features:

• Hosting with up to 32TB bandwidth for smooth gameplay
• NVMe SSD storage for fast performance and responsiveness
• Full root access for complete control and customization
• Easy-to-use Hostinger Game Panel for quick setup and management
• Supports modding, FTP access, and automatic backups

Hostinger gave me an immaculate experience while I hosted a Minecraft server on it. I used its control panel to set up and manage my server easily. On top of that, I had root access, meaning I could completely control my server and switch the hosted game at any time. Meanwhile, from a performance perspective, neither my friends nor I encountered any lag on my server, thanks to Hostinger's high bandwidth and NVMe storage.

2. Pine Hosting – game server hosting with many customization options

Starting price:	From $2.10/month
DDoS protections:	✅ Yes
RAM:	Up to 32GB
CPU:	Undescribed
Bandwidth:	Unlimited
Money-back guarantee:	✅ Yes, 2 days
Current deal:	Get up to 30% OFF Pine Hosting

Pine Hosting is known for its high customization. It doesn't have pre-set plans and lets you customize your purchase however you want. It also has superb mod support, so you can customize your playthroughs even more.

Here are some of Pine Hosting's key features:

• 99.99% uptime guarantee for minimal downtime
• DDoS protection to keep servers secure
• Built-in scheduling tools for automated server actions
• Reliable backup tools for data protection
• Customizable CPU, RAM, and server location options

Pine Hosting lets you adjust your server however you want. For example, if you're going to host a modded Minecraft server, you can customize your server to have more RAM. Or, if you're into more resource-intensive games like ARK: Survival Evolved, you can boost your server's CPU power. However, it's a bit pricier and less budget-friendly than Hostinger. Also, while its flexibility might be ideal for experienced users, beginners may find the setup process complex.

3. Apex Hosting – Minecraft-focused game server hosting

Starting price:	From $1.88/month
DDoS protections:	✅ Yes
RAM:	Up to 32GB
CPU:	Up to 16 vCPUs
Bandwidth:	Unlimited
Money-back guarantee:	✅ Yes, 7 days
Current deal:	Get up to 30% OFF Pine Hosting

Apex Hosting is a top choice for Minecraft servers. Its user-friendly Multicraft control panel makes managing your server simple. It also offers unlimited player slots and storage, making it excellent for large Minecraft servers.

Here are some of Apex Hosting's key features:

• Has a Multicraft control panel for easy server management
• DDoS protection protects your server from network attacks
• Up to 32GB RAM and 16 vCPUs for high performance
• One-click mod pack installer for quick customization
• Unlimited bandwidth and multiple plan options

Apex Hosting gave me a good experience while I hosted a Minecraft server on it. It automatically set up my server right after the purchase, and I could fully customize it using its Multicraft control panel. Also, it allowed me to transfer my server from another provider for free. I found this feature helpful, as sometimes you may want to switch hosting services without losing progress.

4. Bisect Hosting – game server hosting with the best mod support

Starting price:	From $2.35/month
DDoS protections:	✅ Yes
RAM:	Up to 48GB
CPU:	Up to 16 vCPUs
Bandwidth:	Up to 300GB
Money-back guarantee:	✅ Yes, 3 days
Current deal:	Get up to 15% OFF Bisect Hosting

Bisect Hosting is a perfect pick if you want to host a server with mods. It provides high-performing servers and excellent customer support. This means that your server will run flawlessly with mods, and if you encounter a problem, the support team will fix it.

Here are some of Bisect Hosting's key features:

• Strong mod support lets you easily install and manage mods
• High-performance servers with up to 48GB RAM and 16 vCPUs
• Instantly setups and runs your server after the purchase
• Doesn't limit your data usage with unlimited bandwidth
• Simplifies command execution with its Quick Console feature

I tried hosting an Unturned server with mods on Bisect Hosting, and it ran perfectly. The control panel was simple, so I didn't have to spend much time wandering around it to configure my server. Also, I liked that Bisect offers premium plans with high-end hardware. With up to 48GB of RAM and up to 16 vCPUs, you can easily host a resource-intensive game like ARK. In terms of customer support, Bisect has no phone assistance and is limited to live chat and tickets. However, the live chat agent was responsive during my tests and quickly helped me solve some basic issues.

5. ShockByte – affordable game server hosting

Starting price:	From $2.63/month
DDoS protections:	✅ Yes
RAM:	Up to 16GB
CPU:	Up to 6 vCPUs
Bandwidth:	Unlimited
Money-back guarantee:	✅ Yes, 3 days
Current deal:	Get up to 25% OFF Shockbyte

If you don’t want to spend much on server hosting, then ShockByte is a perfect pick. It lets you cheaply host smaller or mid-sized multiplayer games. Also, since it instantly sets your server up and has mod support, it fits well with Minecraft and similar games.

Here are some of Shockbyte's key features:

• Instant setup, with servers activated immediately upon purchase

• Lets you host a server with up to 16GB of RAM and 6 vCPUs
• Flexible pricing, allowing you to pay per player slot for cost-effective scaling
• DDoS protection, keeping servers secure from potential cyber threats
• User-friendly control panel, simplifying server management and configuration

When I purchased ShockByte, it immediately set up and let me access my server. After that, I could customize it with the modified Multicraft control panel. On top of that, if you're playing Rust or some other games, Shockbyte supports frameworks like Oxide and Carbon, giving you even more customization options. However, Shockbyte lacked its support. The response times were slower, especially during peak hours. Also, while customizing plans based on player slots is excellent for flexibility, the high-end performance options were somewhat limited.

6. ScalaCube – beginner friendly game server hosting

Starting price:	From $2/month
DDoS protections:	✅ Yes
RAM:	Up to 32GB
CPU:	Up to 8 vCPUs
Bandwidth:	Unlimited
Money-back guarantee:	✅ Yes, 7 days
Current deal:	Get up to 50% OFF Scalacube

I nominated ScalaCube as the beginner-friendly game server hosting provider for several reasons. Its user-friendly interface makes setting up, customizing, and deploying your server easy.

Here are some of ScalaCube's key features:

• Instantly sets your server up, allowing you and your friends to start playing in minutes
• Suitable for more resource-heavy games with up to 32GB of RAM and support for up to 8 vCPUs
• A user-friendly interface makes server management accessible for beginners
• Has global server locations, reducing latency for players worldwide

After trying out multiple providers, ScalaCube gave me the best server setup experience. It quickly guided me through the configuration by asking me questions. After I picked everything I needed, I paid and joined my server with my friends in just a few minutes. Also, the intuitive control panel simplified server management tasks after that. For example, I could easily install plugins on my Minecraft server. However, while it simplifies everything, its support is limited to only online tickets and a knowledge base, which may not be ideal for live assistance users. Also, once you select and purchase a plan, you can't switch to host other games.

7. NameHero – all-purpose game server hosting provider

Starting price:	From $1.67/month
DDoS protections:	✅ Yes
RAM:	Up to 16GB
CPU:	Up to 4 vCPUs
Bandwidth:	Unlimited
Money-back guarantee:	✅ Yes, 3 days
Current deal:	Get up to 60% OFF Namehero

NameHero earned its nomination due to its balance of performance, scalability, and flexibility. It’s an excellent option for hosting various multiplayer games and for those seeking a powerful cloud hosting solution.

Here are some of NameHero's key features:

• Scalable cloud-based hosting for diverse multiplayer games
• High-performance SSD storage and LiteSpeed servers for fast gameplay
• Customizable server options for unique game setups

NameHero is a reliable choice for tech-savvy people seeking a more universal option. Although it doesn’t focus solely on gaming servers, it still performed excellently when I ran custom game environments. Also, I liked that it gives you a lot of resources for its price – for only $1.67/month, I got a server with 4GB of RAM, 100GB of NVMe Storage, and 2 CPU cores. However, it has a more complex interface, so new users may struggle with the setup.

Compare best game server hosting

Game server hosting provider	Starting price	Control panel	RAM	Bandwidth	Storage	Money-back guarantee
Hostinger	From $4.99/month	✅ Yes	From 4GB	Unspecified	From 50GB	30 days
Pine Hosting	From $2.10/month	✅ Yes	From 1GB	Unlimited	Unspecified	2 days
Apex Hosting	From $1.88/month	✅ Yes	From 2GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	7 days
Bisect Hosting	From $2.35/month	✅ Yes	From 1GB	Up to 300GB	Unspecified	3 days
ShockByte	From $2.63/month	✅ Yes	From 1GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	3 days
ScalaCube	From $2/month	✅ Yes	From 768MB	Unlimited	From 10GB	7 days
NameHero	From $1.67/month	✅ Yes	From 2GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	3 days

Game server testing methodology and ranking

I teamed up with our research team to find the best game server hosting services. First, we outsourced providers and focused on those, offering affordable and easy game server hosting. Then, our research team tested our top picks based on our hosting provider testing process, and I ranked the best-performing ones based on these aspects:

1. Ease of use (30%). I prioritized hosting providers with easy setup and management. So, if the provider offered automated, game-optimized panels or a user-friendly control panel, it automatically ranked higher.
2. Performance (30%). There's nothing worse than losing a game because of lag. That's why I focused on game server hosting providers that provided good uptime and fast connection speeds.
3. Included features (20%). I ensured that my top picks support modding, have DDoS protection, and offer 24/7 uptime, allowing your player base to hop on the game whenever they want.
4. Price (20%). It's not reasonable to spend hundreds on a basic game server. I considered that and focused on providers that balanced their prices and available resources.

What is game server hosting?

Think of game server hosting as just a simple program. When you run it, it acts as the central hub, storing player data, processing in-game interactions, and synchronizing the game state for all connected players. You can even run a game server on your computer. However, it will consume a lot of your computer's resources, isn't safe, and will require you to keep your computer on if you want your server to be online 24/7.

That's where dedicated game servers come into play. These are large computers that you can access remotely. When you ​rent one, it lets you host your favorite game on it, with complete control and better performance. In addition, you'll enjoy perks like 24/7 uptime, DDoS protection, easy mod installs, and automated backups, ensuring a smooth and secure gaming experience.

What type of hosting is the most suitable for game servers?

Before creating a game server, consider its size. Depending on its scale, the best hosting solution will vary.

For a big community (100+ players), rent a dedicated server. This type of hosting lets you rent an entire, resource-packed computer, which you can access remotely anytime. It will give you perfect performance with consistent bandwidth and processing power.

However, if you want to play with a couple of your friends, you can get a virtual private server (VPS). This way, you rent a virtually partitioned part of a dedicated server on which you can do whatever you want. VPS is more affordable and still offers enough resources for games that don't need high performance.

How much does it cost to host a game server?

Hosting a game server depends on the resources and hosting you choose. If you don't require a big server, you can try out free game server hosting providers. However, they usually provide nearly minimal resources or give out their free services for only a few hours.

Meanwhile, if you choose to host on a dedicated server with a premium provider, the prices mainly depend on the specifications you get. Most of the time, the price ranges from $4.99/month to $100/month. However, if you need top-tier specifications – setups with maximum bandwidth can cost up to $1000/month.

Is it difficult to set up a game server?

Setting up a game server isn't difficult. Most game server hosting providers, such as Hostinger, automatically set up your server right after you make a purchase. This means you don't need to have much knowledge of how to do it. However, you should check a few guides on operating it afterward, as it can get complicated.

If you choose to host it on a platform that isn’t focused on game server hosting, things can get tricky. If you select a provider that doesn't have a gaming-focused control panel, you might have to set everything up using the terminal. This method is more complicated, but manageable if you're tech-savvy.

Is game server hosting profitable?

Hosting a game server can be profitable. If you have a large player base, you can make money by charging for server access, running in-game ads, getting sponsorships, and selling cosmetic items that don't impact gameplay.

However, it's also a slippery slope. Minecraft, for example, has specific rules to ensure fairness while allowing monetization. That's why I recommend checking your game's guidelines to see if it allows monetization before starting.

Conclusion

Choosing the best game server hosting provider mainly depends on your priorities. If you need something affordable, pick ShockByte, which has budget-friendly plans. Or, if you're looking to host a modded server, pick Bisect Hosting, which makes setting up mods on a server very straightforward.

However, my personal top choice is Hostinger. It strikes the perfect balance between affordability, performance, and ease of use. I liked hosting a Minecraft server on it, as the setup was straightforward, and my friends and I experienced no performance issues while playing.

However, remember that the best game server hosting provider is subjective. It depends on your budget, needs, and the game you want to host. So, always consider what matters most and pick the provider that best aligns with your needs.

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