Best Minecraft Server Hosting Providers In 2024 (Free & Paid)

Minecraft is one of the most played games in the world. The gameplay is user-friendly, and it’s easy to start playing in single-player mode.

But you will need a server connection if you want to play multiplayer in Minecraft. A dedicated Minecraft server allows multiple users to connect and play together.

Finding the best Minecraft server hosting provider can be a complicated task. There are a lot of features to analyze and it’s not easy to choose among the different web hosting providers.

Moreover, different hosting terminologies further turn this task even more complicated. You need to think about a couple of important factors before you buy a server connection (E.g. – Hardware requirements, security, server setups, maintenance, and upgrades.)

Get an already hosted Minecraft server instead. Choose the best Minecraft server hosting and take your Minecraft gaming experience to the next level.

Must Read : 30 Amazing Minecraft Facts That You Should Know

How To Choose The Best Hosting Service?

The first step in finding a suitable Minecraft hosting service is to find out what you need from the server. Most paid services commonly cover features like high uptime rates, safety, plug-in support, and auto-backups.

Factors like the number of players you plan to host on your world and the edition you plan to host (for example- Pocket edition, Bedrock edition, Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo edition) help determine your requirements from the server.

Here are the most vital pointers you need to consider while purchasing a Minecraft server hosting –

1. Server Memory Capacity (RAM)

The server capacity to manage a multiplayer session is determined by its RAM. This is the most vital feature that allows you to enjoy multiplayer Minecraft gaming. The amount of RAM you need will depend on some factors –

• The number of people you want to host.
• Size of the world you want to build.

Both these factors have a direct impact on the amount of RAM you would need. It is always better to opt for a plan that is offering a bit higher amount of RAM than your requirements.

We’d recommend considering 200MB per player you intend to host. It will be able to support both your world, along with all the mods and plugins that you might want to use.

Use this as the buffer to help you understand how much RAM you need from the server hosting provider.

2. Permitted Slots and Number of Players

Both are interdependent but not the same. Slot means the number of players your server plan allows you to host at any given time. Premium plans often provide unlimited slots but that doesn’t mean you can host any number of players.

Practically it will lead to lagging gameplay. To simplify you use the RAM calculator (mentioned above) for selecting a plan and not get trapped with the plan offering unlimited slots or players.

Do stress on modifiable plans to avoid paying extra.

3. Server Location and Multiple Servers

Server locations directly impact the connection speed. No matter what others might sell you. Consider server locations to be a pizza store. Imagine you are hungry, which pizza store would you order from? Most would say the closest one as they can reach the earliest or get the order delivered the earliest as well.

That’s right, even the basic thumb rule states the same thing, geographically closer server locations offer the best connection speeds.

Always check for additional charges before changing server location and get reassurance from customer support that it won’t cause data loss before attempting to change your server location.

4. Check Uptime

The location of the server has little to do with uptime. Uptime is the online status of servers. While most hosting sites promise 99.99% uptime, their downtime is covered with SLAs.

Make sure you read the Service-level Agreement before buying any plans. Any impending server maintenance should be conveyed well in advance to avoid data loss and frustration in the midst of gaming.

Although server location has no impact on uptime, it does affect the latency required for smooth gameplay, especially in multiplayer hosting. Anything below 100ms is considered good while latency between 20-50ms is considered perfect for Minecraft.

Even the closest server location won’t cover for below-par service provided on part of the hosting provider. Make sure you buy the hosting service from a reputed company.

5. Go For an Automated Backup Plan

This feature might not be as user-friendly as the hosting sites claim. Although most service providers claim automatic backups at the most, you can only select a time for daily auto backups.

As of now, no service provider offers instantaneous backups although a few do provide an unlimited storage option that can be exploited by using manual backups.

Players making fewer changes can opt for the manual backup plan. The important part is to look for any additional charges for backup restoration so that you don’t get charged extra.

Do Check This Chart For Better Clarity

RAM	Player Slots	World Size	Plugin/Mods
1GB	> 5	> 5GB	none
2GB	> 10	> 8GB	> 10
3GB	> 15	> 10GB	> 25
4GB	> 25	> 15GB	> 40
5GB	> 30	> 20GB	> 45
6GB	> 40	> 30GB	> 50
7GB	> 60	> 40GB	> 50
8GB	maximum 90	maximum 60GB	> 50

If your server has a mod, all players must have it, or the server will disconnect them. All you need to know is how to set up a multiplayer Minecraft game!

For a player who already has some experience of using hosting services, the task of selecting one might be easier.

But if this is your first time out, you would need to compare many service providers already available. Or do you?

We have already compiled the list of the best Minecraft server hosting that you can buy right now, including paid and free services.

Keep the above pointers in mind and check them out.

Best Free Minecraft Server Hosting

Minecraft’s multiplayer gaming created an excellent opportunity for hosting companies. There are a large number of these providers around, offering customized bundled plans to meet the basic and specific requirements of any player.

These customized plans are available for a contract length of up to 1 year, billed monthly. Just select a plan, complete the transaction and your Minecraft server is up and running.

But perhaps you should play it smart and check out a free Minecraft server hosting service first to learn about the nuances. There are many free service providers, and these are the best of the lot.

• ATERNOS
• MINEHUT

1. ATERNOS

Aternos offers a lifetime free Minecraft server hosting service. It is a genuine and popular hosting company that focuses on traffic generation and earns through advertisements on its website.

Aternos doesn’t have any hidden charges or unnecessary restrictions that force players to buy subscription plans. Instead, they offer a personalized Minecraft server with high uptime. As their primary source of income is advertisements, Aternos have time and again stated they have no intentions in making their free Minecraft server hosting a paid one.

They claim to have over 24 million users with an active user base of 600,000. You get a decent RAM capacity of close to 64,000GB. Information like total users, active players in a day, and active players at any given instance are provided on their website.

They also offer completely customizable servers with mods and plugin compatibility – this is one of the few free Minecraft server hosting with mods and plugins. Players can choose from a list of preconfigured mod packs and enjoy. Their support service has articles to help guide the players in case of difficulties.

Check out their services and plans here.

Features

• Free hosting service
• Mods and Plugin compatible
• DDoS protection
• Automatic backups
• Custom Minecraft worlds
• Excellent support

Pros

• It’s free!
• 24*7 customer support
• No need for sharing credit card details

Cons

• Slots limited to 20
• Limited plugins
• Can’t install own mod pack

2. MINEHUT

Minehut also provides free Minecraft server hosting with mods and plugins. It is a popular free server hosting service but has limitations on the number of plugins, number of players and offers limited RAM.

They boast of having a RAM capacity of 19,000GB and display the number of active servers and players on their website. Players need to register themselves at Minehut and can start playing almost instantly. Even their paid plans do not require any credit card details. Players can purchase these subscription plans with in-game credits.

On-demand servers are also listed on their website. Although the server is free, they offer higher RAM and plugin capabilities with paid versions. However, 24*7 customer support is available for free users as well.

You can check their server’s plans right here.

Features

• Offers 2 servers
• Maximum player limit of 500 in their MH unlimited plan
• Instant startup time
• No limit on playtime
• DDoS protection
• More RAM, plugins, and player limits with paid versions

Pros

• Provides 2 servers
• Instant startup
• Low latency

Cons

• High downtime
• Only 10 plugins to choose from
• Limitations to push for paid servers

8 Best Minecraft Hosting Paid

Free hosting companies provide players with the opportunity to enjoy multiplayer gaming without any extra or hidden charges, yet they do have their limitations. Free hosting options can fulfill the requirements of a few players, but they cannot provide limitless access which is only possible with paid hosting services.

These services offer different RAM size, multiple server locations, better protection, an ad-free gaming experience, and a wide range of other features.

We present you with the best hosting service providers.

1. HOSTINGER

Hostinger International is among the best Minecraft server hosting platforms with over 30 million users worldwide. It has been offering Minecraft cloud-based web hosting services since 2011.

Hostinger offers instantaneous setup and easy Virtual Private Server (VPS) access. The server is ready to use as soon as the transaction is completed.

It uses a Multicraft’s control board that permits easy backup and restoration without any extra charges. You can download and install Minecraft mod packs and plugins directly from this control board. Changing from mods to plugins is considerably faster than other hosting sites.

Hostinger’s customer support will help you to complete your server setup. They are available 24×7 (365 days a year) to respond to your queries and resolve your issues. Hostinger has servers in 5 different locations worldwide to serve clients all over the globe. You can select the server location after testing the ping for the lowest latency.

They provide 5 different plans to choose from, ranging from 2GB to 8GB. The beginner’s plan, known as Alex, offers 2GB of RAM which can easily host up to 40 players without lagging. For unlimited players, you should choose the Enderman plan that offers 8GB of RAM.

As your experience in handling servers increases, you can easily modify the plans from your dashboard. Hostinger offers enough space to expand your Minecraft worlds without losing your data or settings while upgrading your existing plans.

Hostinger also offers a 30-day no question asked return policy. Unsatisfied users can claim this return policy within 30 days of purchase.

Check Out Their Plans Here

Features

• Instant Setup
• Multicraft Panel
• Partnership Program
• Web/FTP File Access
• DDoS Protection
• Mobile App
• Auto Backup
• Full-Time Development Team
• PCI-DSS Compliant
• Automatic Off-Site Backups
• Dual-CPU Hardware
• 99.9% Uptime SLA
• 30 days money-back guarantee

2. APEX HOSTING

Apex hosting is perhaps the best Minecraft hosting service provider for beginners. Founded in 2013 to provide dedicated Minecraft server hosting facilities, Apex offers a cheap Minecraft server hosting service starting from $4.49 per month for 1 GB basic server and 7GB for $26.24 per month.

Furthermore, Apex offers a 20% discount for the first-month usage. They offer both monthly and quarterly billing facilities.

They support the JAVA edition for Microsoft Windows and macOS and the Bedrock edition for Android, ios, and Windows. Apex hosting provides video guides to enable new users to manage their console, edit files, backup, and use other features provided by them. They claim a setup time of fewer than 5 minutes.

Apart from a competitive budget pricing, Apex hosting has the largest number of servers all around the world among the hosting service providers, currently numbered 16.

These servers enable Apex to provide the lowest latency and highest uptime to its clients. As a cherry on top, they also offer free subdomain registration, unlimited storage, and a 7-day money-back guarantee to unsatisfied users.

Check out their plans here.

Features

• Supports Java & Bedrock editions
• 24*7 support
• Mod & Plugin support
• 200+ pre-configured mod packs
• Low latency
• MYSQL database access
• Premade minigames
• 99.9% uptime
• Setup under 5 minutes
• 7-day money-back guarantee

3. BISECT HOSTING

Bisect hosting is unique as compared to other hosting companies. They have two different server packages. A budget package with limited facilities and a premium package with add-on services.

Their premium plans provide unlimited slots, free dedicated IP address, free daily backups, modpack upgrades along with all budget server features. The price for premium plans begins at $7.99 with higher discounts for a longer contract term. The best premium plans cost $159.68.

The budget plans include unlimited SSD storage, DDoS protection, Multicraft panel control, and instant setup. The pricing for budget plans starts at $2.99 per month offering up to 12 slots with custom contract length and further discounts.

Bisect hosting currently operates 13 servers in different locations of the world, 5 of which are in the USA. The higher number of servers provides lower latency and better connectivity options.

Quick support service can be considered the best part of Bisect hosting. Their transparent plans make it easier for users to choose from. Their transparency provides a sense of better service.

Check out their plans here.

Features

• Full root access
• Full FTP access
• Free Subdomain
• Unlimited slots
• Free Daily backups
• Unlimited SSD storage space
• DDOS protection
• 24*7 support
• JAR support

4. SCALACUBE

ScalaCube also brings cheap Minecraft server hosting facilities. Their plans range from $2.5 per month offering 768MB RAM with limited storage to $96 per month offering 32GB RAM with 320GB storage (the company doesn’t provide details if storage is SSD or HDD.)

These prices are only applicable for the first month as they are currently offering a 50% discount to first-time users. They accept payments in USD, GPB, EUR, CAD, AUD respective of the multiple worldwide server locations.

ScalaCube offers close to 1000 mod packs and supports Forge, enabling users to create their custom Minecraft mod packs. They take regular offsite data backups, but users must contact customer support to restore their data.

Customer support is on par with other service providers and they also frequently update the FAQ page on their website.

Check out their hosting plans.

Features

• Root access to the server
• FTP file transfer
• Administrative tools
• Mod and Plugin support
• DDoS protection
• Ultra-Low Latency
• Automated Backups

5. MCPROHOSTING

McProHosting is a real pro in providing Minecraft server hosting facilities. They have been providing hosting services since 2011. The best part of their service is segregation that allows players to opt for plans according to the version they intend to play.

They provide 6 different plans for Bedrock and Java editions. Plans for the Bedrock edition start from $1.49 and go up to $14.99, each plan has restrictions on the number of players and amount of RAM on offer.

Hosting for Java edition begins from $7.99 with 25 player slots and 1 GB of RAM and goes up to $49.99 with unlimited player slots and RAM. Each pack comes with a variable server management service.

Apart from variable features in their plans, McProHosting provides daily data backup and ultra-low latency. They have 22 server locations in 6 continents, except for Antarctica!

They provide the best server location finding tool on their website which you can use before choosing the server.

Check for their different plans on Bedrock and Java editions on

Features

• Setup within 5 minutes                               
• Free FTP File Access                                            
• DDoS Protection                                         
• Free MySQL                                    
• 21+ server Locations                                              
• Custom Control Panel                                            
• Instant Cancellation                                                
• Unlimited RAM                                            
• Unlimited Storage                                       
• 99.99% Uptime SLA
• Referral programs

6. GG SERVERS

GGSERVERS is one of the latest companies to join the Minecraft hosting service domain. Being latest allowed it to learn from mistakes made by its competitors and provide better services to a fast-growing clientele.

They support both the Bedrock and Java editions of Minecraft and provide a customizable multi-craft control panel. They also store all data in NVMe and m.2 SSD cards which means faster data transfer and backup restoration.

GGSERVERS offers state-of-the-art servers with the latest hardware and uses high-frequency processors. With 11 global server locations in the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia, users can locate the server offering the lowest latency.

Their standard plans are covered by servers located in North America and Europe while the other servers are dedicated to providing premium services.

Charges range from $3 to $36 a month with dedicated RAM and player slots. Premium services are provided with the best technical configurations while extra slots are chargeable in standard plans.

They are one of the best Minecraft Minecraft server hosting providers around, although a pricey one.

Compare the plans and choose yourself.

Features

• DDoS protection
• 24*7 chat support
• Powerful 4GHz+ processors
• Modpack and plugin support
• 9 global server locations
• Multicraft control panel

7. SHOCKBYTE

Shockbyte was founded in 2013 to provide Minecraft server hosting services. They claim the fastest service amongst their competitors. To their claim, they are amongst the fastest to bring an update.

Their website provides all the information about their claims and offers along with a dedicated tool to find the best server location. They provide instant server setup and free subdomain along with other features such as DDoS protection and high uptime.

Their base plan ranges from $2.5 to $22.5 per month with dedicated RAM and player slots. Upgraded plans offer limited RAM with no cap on any other facilities ranging from $25 to $40 a month.

Along with these dedicated plans they also provide an option for creating a custom plan.

Check out their plan here.

Features

• 24*7 customer support
• Mods and plugins support
• DDR4 RAM
• Premium server locations
• High power CPUs
• Automatic Backups
• FTP access
• Java version switch

8. BEAST NODE

Beast Node is a North American and Europe-centric Minecraft server hosting provider. They have servers on both the East and West coasts in North America and Amsterdam in Europe. Beast Node is the best-modded Minecraft server hosting because of its wide range of mod and plugin support.

They have two different plans for Minecraft, Premium and Budget. Multicraft panel is available on both plans. Budget plans range from $2.99 for 1GB RAM to $35.99 for 12GB RAM.

However, it does come with technical support and free SQL database, available with the 4GB packs, better suited for running mods.

While the Budget plans offer limited specs, the premium plans despite being expensive do offer great value-for-money. It ranges from $10 for 1GB and continues up to $120 per 12GB.

The setup time after the successful transaction is less than 60 seconds. Beast Node also provides 24*7 support with 99.9% of uptime. The main highlight is their hardware configuration, including Intel Xeon processors and SSD storage. Beast Node truly packs a punch!

Check out budget Minecraft servers and premium Minecraft Servers plans.

Features

• Full SSD hard drives for lag-free gaming
• Unlimited player slots
• Mod support (Tekkit, Feed the Beast, ATLauncher, and more.)
• Plugin Support (CraftBukkit, Spigot etc.)
• Enterprise-grade hardware
• Intel Xeon processors
• 1Gbit Network Port for low pings
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Hardware DDoS protection
• Free subdomain
• Free MySQL database
• Multicraft Game Panel
• Full FTP Access included

CONCLUSION

It is recommended that you sort out potential hosting services based on their price and then conduct a ping test to get a better idea of which site offers the lowest latency while gaming at their location.

If you are not sure of the number of people you will invite, you should go with the highest pack available with the service provider. Also, pay attention to the mods you and your friends will use. Refer to service providers who provide Forge or Multicraft panels if you intend to run custom mods.

Every hosting company tries to provide the best facility to its clients for retaining them for a longer period. One hosting site cannot be recommended as it doesn’t follow the saying – one size fits them all.

Related Read:

• How to fix issues when Minecraft Keep Crashing
• Best games like Minecraft

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