Best Minecraft Server Hosting

· 28 min read
Best Minecraft Server Hosting


Hosting a Minecraft server can be a fun, educational, exciting, and even profitable endeavor. First things first, unless you plan to actually install a giant server in your basement and have somebody sitting next to it 24/7, then you'll want to rent that Minecraft server from a professional, which frees you up to actually manage it and play the game and do all that fun stuff.



This guide is not about how to set-up a Minecraft server or how you can monetize it. Instead, we are looking at the best Minecraft servers hosting options to help users choose where to start.



Enough talk, let's take a look at our top 10 Minecraft server hosting companies in 2022:



Here's our list of the best Minecraft server hosting companies on the market and below them, you'll find a quick description of their pros and cons, as well as some pricing information too.



Apex Hosting - Exceptional hosting services at a good price. Shockbyte - Best overall Minecraft hosting service with great pricing.


Hostinger - Mainstream hosting provider with powerful Minecraft servers.


BisectHosting - Fantastic customer support and location coverage.


Nodecraft – A great option to host multiple Minecraft servers.


ScalaCube - A cheaper Minecraft host but still a very reliable one.


MCProHosting - Expensive but a good host for your Minecraft server.


Anvilnode - Best hosting for Minecraft servers with 15+ Players.


ServerMiner - Great Minecraft server hosting at an affordable price.


Nitrous Networks - Excellent game hosting provider.


 Any one of these hosts is a great pick, so find the one that has what you want and fits in your budget, even if it is ranked #5 or #7. We are not including any sub-par hosts on this list, there are all excellent choices with GameServers on-top.



1. Apex Hosting: Best Minecraft Hosting for the Price ($1.49 for the first month)



Apex Hosting is our top choice because of multiple reasons. They have a familiar setup, very low latency, and the ability to install modpacks in just a click or two, which is handy for people who are newer to running Minecraft servers or just don't want to spend time mucking around when things could be done much more easily.



They have free subdomains at YourServer.ApexMC.co. It only takes a matter of seconds to get your server set up so you can get playing ASAP.



Their ultra-low latency servers will keep your game running smoothly. The panel is customizable so it might not look like what you are used too. However, it was created to make managing Minecraft servers easy. Setup takes a matter of seconds, DDoS protection is included, they have support staff around the clock to help you, dozens of software versions to choose from when setting up your server, and plans to fit any budget, even if you have hundreds of players online at a time.



They support so many different packs and versions, here it is in their own words: "We support all Modpacks and Game versions of Minecraft and are the official host of the Technic Platform. Whether you want to play FTB, ATL, Voidswrath, Technic, Bukkit, Spigot, Vanilla, a Snapshot, MCPE or more we have what you need. You can also easily change the server version at any time."



Here's a look at their server packages, based on USD and monthly plans. You can also pay an additional $5 per month for premium support which allows the support to do more for you - we'll cover that in a second. Also, for $4 per month, you can get a dedicated IP address, which is quite a bit more expensive than other Minecraft hosts, who charge just under $3 for it.



It's not uncommon that you'd have to pay more for a higher tier of support, however, some hosts seem to bake that into their prices, whereas others keep it as an option just for the people who want/need it. In the case of Apex Hosting, they offer premium support for an additional $5 per month with allows them to upload new plugins, worlds, and mods for you, rather than you having to do it yourself. It's up to you to decide whether this is worth an extra $60 per year or not.



Apex Hosting Breakdown



The low entry price for the first month and the inclusion of many useful features make Apex Hosting a very appealing option to consider. One of the best features comes in the form of automatic backups, which makes it very simple to restore your server in case something goes wrong. Even though we're not big fans of premium support, in this case, it seems to be worth the extra $5 per month.



- Automatic backups; - A customized Multicraft panel; - Around-the-clock customer support; - Free DDoS protection.



- Limited number of server slots; - Extra charge for premium support.



Apex Hosting Discounts



They offer 50% off your first payment, so here is a host where it is really worthwhile to pay annually in advance since you will save half the price. Their most basic server, for the first year, will cost you $22.50 instead of $44.99, and it is the same all the way up to their Bedrock 6GB server for 200 players, where you will literally save hundreds of dollars in your first year.



2. Shockbyte: Overall Cheapest Minecraft Server Hosting in 2022 (only $1.87 with discount)



Established back in 2013, Shockbyte is one of the longest-running Minecraft hosting providers around. The company originates from Australia but nowadays its services are popular with gamers all over the world. Shockbyte's mission is to offer premium quality servers at rock-bottom prices, and they seem to be well on their way towards achieving that goal.



Shockbyte offers a very impressive array of features, including instant setup, support for all mod packs, and 100% uptime guarantee. Users have full FTP access, benefit from a free subdomain, and receive a free MySQL database. The company also includes features like task scheduling, unlimited SSD storage and bandwidth, snapshot support, DDoS protection, a Multicraft control panel, Java version switcher, and more. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that all plans can support an unlimited number of slots. There is a recommended number of players for every package but that's more of a guideline than an actual limitation. The only area where Shockbyte falls a little short is in the location coverage as the company only has four locations to choose from at the moment.



Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that all plans can support an unlimited number of slots. There is a recommended number of players for every package but that's more of a guideline than an actual limitation. The only area where Shockbyte falls a little short is in the location coverage as the company only has four locations to choose from at the moment.



Shockbyte is quite a bit cheaper than many of its competitors, in spite of the fact that it offers superior services. The basic plan only costs $2.50 per month and comes with 1 GB of RAM. The recommended number of slots for the entry tier is 20, but again, Shockbyte doesn't limit the number of players that can join a particular server. In addition to the nine standard plans, you can also choose between three premium packages known as Spartan, Zeus, and Titan. These plans cost between $25 and $40 per month but come with a lot more resources. One little drawback worth mentioning is that the Asia Pacific servers are twice as expensive as their NA and EU counterparts.



Shockbyte has a solid customer support team that can be contacted 24/7 via ticket or live chat. If you need additional assistance, you can also check out the knowledge base and FAQ section on the official website. Moreover, the company has a YouTube channel where it regularly posts tutorials and other useful videos related to Minecraft.



Shockbyte Breakdown



Few other Minecraft hosting services managed to impress us as much as Shockbyte. You've got great performance, plenty of neat features, unlimited slots, and more, all for a very affordable price. Meanwhile, none of the cons can be considered deal-breakers, especially if you're looking for US-based servers.



- Great performance at an affordable price; - Very impressive range of features; - Unlimited slots with all plans; - Custom control panel.



- Only 24-hour money-back guarantee; - Price difference between Asia and NA/EU servers; - Underwhelming location coverage; - Customer support that's slow to answer.



Shockbyte Discounts



Shockbyte is currently offering an out of this world deal, to take advantage of it, click here. If you buy hosting for 1 year, you get 25% off with this coupon code: MAMBOSERVER; this means you can get 1 year of Minecraft hosting for only $22.44, which's less than $1.87 per month. Truly a bargain you can't miss, and if you wanna commit to an everlasting Minecraft world then you should know that coupon code INTERSTELLAR gives you a huge 25% discount for life on all Semi-Annual and Annual hosting plans.



3. Hostinger: Robust Minecraft Server Hosting at a Good Price



Hostinger is a bit unusual in that it's one of the few mainstream hosting providers that offers game servers. The company is primarily known for its cheap shared hosting services along with its VPS and cloud hosting solutions. But despite the fact that Hostinger doesn't specialize exclusively in Minecraft servers, it can easily get the job done just as well as any other company of this list, perhaps even better in some cases.



Hostinger is an absolute haven for those who value powerful features. All plans come with fast SSD storage, advanced DDoS protection, cloud-based server backups, MySQL databases, full root access, incredible mod support, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee.

Getting your server up and running is easy as pie thanks to the Multicraft panel, there are 5 data centers to choose from, and Hostinger is even throwing in a 30-day money-back guarantee for good measure. While this isn't listed as a feature per se, the fact that you can get a shared hosting plan for only $0.99 per month at Hosting is important to note for those who are thinking about creating a Minecraft blog to complement their server.


Unlike with many other Minecraft server providers, there's no need to worry about slots here because Hostinger doesn't impose any sort of limitations on that front. Instead, you pay for high-end servers and get to use them as you see fit. The only drawback is that Hostinger is a bit more expensive than your typical Minecraft hosting provider. On the lower end of things, you can get a dual-core machine with 2GB of RAM for $8.95 per month. Meanwhile, the most expensive one will set you back $29.95 per month, but you'll get more than enough resources to work with, namely, 8GB of RAM, and an octa-core CPU. Storage is unlimited with all plans.



Hostinger is one of the best hosting providers on the market and has a huge team of agents that are always ready to help you with any issue you may have. Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat and phone throughout the year and you can also take advantage of the help center for extra assistance. Granted, most of the articles found there are not strictly aimed at Minecraft hosting, which isn't surprising given the generalist nature of the company.



Hostinger Breakdown



Hostinger is one of the most popular hosting providers in the industry and has a very solid track record. The fact that it doesn't focus exclusively on Minecraft servers can be considered a downside by some, but others may see it as an advantage thanks to the many other types of services offered by the company. Aside from that, the only major con here is the cost. With prices starting at $8.95 per month, Hostinger is better suited for medium to large Minecraft communities rather than just a couple of players. If you want to learn more about Hostinger check out our full review right here.



- Wide variety of hosting services to choose from; - Unlimited slots with all plans; - Powerful hardware.



- High renewal costs; - Not a great choice for small servers.



4. BisectHosting: Great Entry-level Minecraft Hosting Plans



BisectHosting is one of those "by gamers for gamers" types of companies. Established in February 2012 by a group of Minecraft enthusiasts who were unhappy with the state of the market at the time, BisectHosting quickly grew into a force to be reckoned with. These days the company also offers servers for other games like Terraria, Rust, and even the recently released Valheim, however, Minecraft remains its top priority.



There's quite a lot to look forward to if you're thinking about joining BisectHosting. The features differ a bit depending on whether you're going with the Bedrock/mobile or one of the many modded versions of the game but the highlights are similar. These include instant setup, full FTP access, daily server backups, and the Pterodactyl control panel. If you're going for one of the Premium packages, on the other hand, there are many more goodies included, such as a free dedicated IP, DDoS protection, custom JAR support, free sub-domain, unlimited slots, Multicraft control panel, and more. As far as the location coverage is concerned, there are no less than 18 data centers to choose from.



The prices at BisectHosting are very reasonable all things considered. $2.99/mo will buy you a basic server that comes with 1 GB of RAM and support for up to 12 slots. Nothing too crazy but enough to get you started. Other standard packages cost anywhere between $5.98 per month and $23.92 per month and can net you up to 96 slots. As mentioned, if you opt for a premium package instead, the slots will always be unlimited, as will the NVMe SSD storage. Premium plans start at $7.99 per month so a bit expensive but definitely worth considering if you don't want to have to worry about resources.



BisectHosting is known to have a very reliable customer support team, which operates primarily via tickets. A couple of other options are available as well, including Discord and live chat, but tickets are usually your best bet if you have an issue that needs to be fixed quickly. Customer support is available 24/7 and the average response time you can expect is about 20 minutes, which isn't too shabby. Aside from that, there's also a fairly solid knowledgebase with over 100 articles on everything from server customization to modding.



BisectHosting Breakdown



With a solid set of features, reasonable prices and very impressive location coverage, BisectHosting is easily one of the top Minecraft hosting providers available today. There are few drawbacks to worry about, for the most part, if you're opting for a premium hosting package. If you're going with standard, you're definitely getting the shorter end of the stick in some areas, but that's to be expected given the low price.



- Very good prices; - Great customer support; - Excellent location coverage.



- High discrepancy between standard and premium plans; - Some of the best features are locked behind an additional pay wall.



5. Nodecraft: Free Minecraft Server Hosting to Start Off



Nodecraft if a fairly typical jack-of-all-trades game server provider that supports a wide variety of titles. At the moment there are 29 games to choose from, including of course Minecraft. What's great about the service is that you can host servers for multiple games and can freely switch between them at any time. As far as the Minecraft servers, in particular, are concerned, they can be a bit expensive but Nodecraft offers a number of incentives to sweeten the pot.



Possibly the most important feature offered by Nodecraft is the ability to start off for free thanks to a limited-time trial. Even better, you can sign up for the trial without giving out any credit card information, which makes it very easy to cancel after, should you wish to do so. Should you wish to stay, expect instant setup, unlimited slots, a custom control panel known as NodePanel that's available on both desktop and mobile devices, DDoS protection, dedicated IP, debranding, 14 data centers, and a 7-day money-back guarantee. To name just some of the main features.



Although you can start off for free at Nodecraft, the regular prices are pretty steep compared to those of other companies. The cheapest package comes in at $9.98 per month and will give you a standard 1GB of RAM along with 5GB of SSD storage. The resources aren't amazing but at least all packages come with unlimited slots. In addition, each of the available plans allows you to create multiple instances of a game server, which comes in handy if you're planning to host multiple games. If you don't, the feature is admittedly not very helpful.



Nodecraft's support is better than most, with live chat, a ticket system, and a toll-free phone number being available 24/7 for all customers. The company also has Discord and YouTube channels, a blog and community forums where you can find additional resources. A knowledgebase is available as well but doesn't feature an awful lot of helpful articles. Then again, you probably won't have to rely on the knowledgebase thanks to the multitude of other support channels at your disposal.



Nodecraft Breakdown



Nodecraft is very easy to recommend to those who want to host servers for multiple games. The company also has a great program designed to support content creators, so definitely check them out if you're a YouTuber or a Twitch streamer. For the average user, Nodecraft can be a tough sell due to its high prices and unimpressive resources, however, it is difficult to argue with the free trial. The trial only lasts for 24 hours but that should be enough time for you to get a taste of what the service is all about.



- Great for hosting multiple types of games; - Good location coverage; - Free 24-hour trial with no credit card.



- Very expensive; - Most plans don't give you a lot of resources.



6. ScalaCube: Most Reliable Minecraft Hosting in May 2022



ScalaCube is an Estonian company that started out small back in 2015 but has since become a very popular server provider for games like Rust, Ark: Survival Evolved, and of course, Minecraft. The service is very straightforward and simple to use, which makes it a great choice for beginners. However, don't dismiss ScalaCube if you're an experienced user because there are some interesting advanced features here that you're likely to enjoy.



One of the most interesting features offered by ScalaCube is the ability to create your own Minecraft launcher from the control panel. The launcher can be customized in any number of ways and you can even configure it to automatically open a specific type of server or list of mods every time you boot up the game. Speaking of mods, ScalaCube has great support for all the most popular ones and offers one-click installs for more than 1000 unique modpacks.



Another interesting feature worth noting is the ability to create an unlimited number of servers from the same account. In addition, you also get a free pre-configured website and forum along with a free domain, MySQL database, automatic backups, DDoS protection, and FTP access, among other things. ScalaCube only offers virtual private servers (VPS) so you don't have to worry about sharing your resources with other users.



Prices at ScalaCube start at $5 per month regardless of which version of the game you choose - Java or Pocket Edition.

The prices are a bit higher compared to other providers, however, you get an unlimited number of slots with every package, which is a major advantage. The resources are not unlimited, however, so you'll need to be careful about how many players you invite to your server because things will start slowing down if too many people are playing at once.


The entry package comes with 768 MB of RAM and 10 GB of SSD storage. You can easily accommodate 10 players with those resources, maybe even more than that. If the prices seem a bit steep, don't worry because you can get a 50% discount on any package for your first month. If you want to spend the money you save on something else, ScalaCube offers a couple of optional services like custom domains and dedicated IPs.



ScalaCube's support agents are generally very fast to reply and can be contacted 24/7 via email and live chat. Interestingly enough, the company only processes ticket requests sent via the control panel while the live chat also seems to be reserved primarily for existing customers. As far as self-help resources are concerned, ScalaCube doesn't have too many of them but you can find a few guides and tutorials on the official website that may come in handy.



ScalaCube Breakdown



ScalaCube is one of the most promising companies we've looked at lately. The provider offers unlimited slots with all plans along with a very neat custom game launcher. You also get a free website and forum to go with your server so what's not to love? Scalacube's main drawback is that it only accepts monthly payments on its Minecraft hosting services, however, this shouldn't be a deal-breaker for most people.



- Unlimited server slots with all packages; - Custom game launcher; - Free website and forum; - Great mods support.



- Location coverage could be better; - Only accepts monthly payments; - No money-back guarantee.



7. MCProHosting: Exceptional Minecraft Community and Support



MCProHosting is one of the oldest providers of Minecraft servers on the market. The company was established shortly after the launch of Minecraft in 2011. Its purpose is to provide quality and affordable Minecraft servers to all Minecraft fans. Since then, the company has expanded quite a bit and is currently also offering servers for games like Rust, CS: GO, Conan Exiles, and more. That said, Minecraft continues to be MCProHosting's bread and butter to this day.



If you're looking for a server provider that doesn't skimp on the features you're going to love what MCProHosting has to offer. You have 13 worldwide locations to choose from and you can expect your server to be deployed instantaneously once the payment has been processed. Managing everything is very intuitive thanks to the custom control panel that includes a number of premium features.



Meanwhile, all packages come with unlimited storage, a free MySQL database, free subdomain, full FTP access, and DDoS protection, among other things. Most other features like mod/plugin support and automatic backups are also included for free, however, there are a couple of bonus ones that will cost you a monthly fee.



Specs and Price



MCProHosting supports both the Bedrock and Java editions of Minecraft. The entry point for the Bedrock edition is just $1.49 per month but is fairly limited as it only includes 256 MB of RAM and support for up to 10 players. Meanwhile, the Java edition is a bit more expensive, with the starter plan coming in at $7.99 per month. However, you do get 1 GB of RAM and 25 player slots right off the bat.



There are several other plans available for both versions, as well as a number of optional features and services. In the case of Bedrock, you can spend $3 on a dedicated IP or a couple of bucks to add more storage to the automatic backup system. Dedicated IPs are available for the Java edition as well along with unlimited player slots for $2 per month and a couple of server management packages priced between $7.99 and $9.99 per month that include dozens of mods, plugins, and other bonuses.



MCProHosting has a reliable customer support team that can be contacted via ticket or live chat. If you're looking for additional ways of getting in touch with support agents or members of the MCProHosting community you can also try reaching out to them on Discord. If you're in need of guides and tutorials, on the other hand, you can always check out the knowledgebase, though it's worth noting that most of the articles there are about the Java edition of Minecraft.



MCProHosting Breakdown



MCProHosting is a bit of a paradox since it's simultaneously one of the cheapest (Bedrock Edition) and one of the most expensive (Java Edition) providers out there. The fact that the company charges for unlimited slots isn't exactly ideal but at least you get a lot of server locations to choose from, a solid refund policy, and quite a few good features, including automatic backups.



- A very cheap entry point for Minecraft Bedrock Edition; - Excellent location coverage; - 7-day money-back guarantee; - Automatic backups on all plans.



- Java Edition plans are fairly expensive; - You have to pay extra for unlimited slots and RAM.



8. Anvilnode: Quality Minecraft Hosting Services



Anvilnode might not be as well-known as other companies on this list but you shouldn't overlook it just because of that. The provider offers very solid performance thanks to its cutting-edge hardware and its prices aren't too bad either. The company specializes exclusively on Minecraft servers and even offers managed dedicated hosting for those who want to take things to the next level.



The hardware is what stands out the most here as Anvilnode only uses high-end Intel Xeon CPUs and blazing fast SSD drives to power all its servers. The location coverage isn't that great (only 4 regions to choose from) but it's not the worst we've seen either. As far as the other features are concerned, you can expect most of the common ones like DDoS protection, full FTP access and mod support to be included with every package.



Anvilnode also offers a number of other interesting features like multi-user support, a free MySQL database, free daily backups, a one-click plugin installer, and more. You shouldn't have any issues learning how to manage the service thanks to the intuitive and easy to use Multicraft 2.0 control panel. To top it all off, you also get unlimited storage and bandwidth.



At only $4 per month, the starting price at Anvilnode is very good, especially when you consider how much you get in return. The basic plan comes with 1 GB of RAM but you can get a lot more than that by upgrading to a more expensive package. All plans come with unlimited slots and there are no premium tiers here so there's no need to worry about important features being hidden behind a paywall. That said, you can spend a couple of bucks on optional services like dedicated IPs and modpack setup help.



If you want to go for a managed dedicated server, be ready to spend at least $90 per month. Quite expensive, however, you get a lot of resources in return even with the basic package along with priority support. And, of course, everything is fully managed so you can expect Anvilnode to take care of all the heavy lifting for you. One of the main downsides of these servers is that they only allow you to pick between two regions - France and Canada.



The support system here is pretty standard. You can get in touch with an agent via live chat or ticket and you can also reach out to other members of the Anvilnode community on Discord. Meanwhile, the knowledge base is pretty lackluster, though you can still find a few useful articles that may come in handy.



Anvilnode Breakdown



Anvilnode is remarkably cheap considering the quality and speed of its servers. The company is always trying to be a leader in terms of hardware and is also one of the few providers on this list that offers managed dedicated servers. The support isn't always the best but this is something that can easily be improved in the future.



- Cutting-edge hardware means great performance; - Managed dedicated servers; - Unlimited server slots.



- Underwhelming location coverage; - Slow support.



Anvilnode Discounts



Anvilnode offers Minecraft hosting at decent prices but you can get an even better deal on your hosting plan by using one of our special coupon codes. If you're going for one of the monthly plans, make sure to use the coupon code STEEL to get 50% off your first month. Alternatively, if you're thinking about investing long-term in an Anvilnode server, you can use the coupon code BLACKSMITH to get 33% off any plan that you buy using the quarterly, semi-annual, and annual billing cycles.



9. ServerMiner: Great Hosting Packages for Minecraft at a Cheap Price



ServerMiner is another hosting service that specializes exclusively in Minecraft servers. The company was established back in 2012 and follows a very simple philosophy. According to the company's motto, ServerMiner is "Always here to help even though you'll most likely be fine as our servers are just that good." The company's confidence in its services is admirable and definitely well placed judging by the overwhelmingly positive user reviews found on Trustpilot and elsewhere.



ServerMiner uses a very unique control panel known as SMpicnic. The panel was built with simplicity in mind and can help you manage your server with just a few clicks. In case your Minecraft world ever gets deleted or corrupted, ServerMiner allows you to recover it in its entirety within 7 days, complete with mods, plugins, and everything else.

Another nice feature offered by ServerMine that you don't get to see too often is the ability to track the geographic location and daily habits of your players.


The storage at ServerMiner is unlimited and you get access to one-click installers for a wide variety of plugins and modpacks. In addition, you can also add a few freebies to your package, including a 10-slot Mumble server, 45 days of Buycraft Premium, 45 days of Enjin Advanced, and a free MySQL database. As far as the location coverage is concerned, there are 8 regions to choose from, which is definitely not bad compared to other Minecraft hosting providers.



ServerMiner's prices are fairly high but you do get what you pay for. The entry package will set you back $7.58 per month and comes with 1.5 GB of RAM and support for up to 15 players. If you want to build a large community around your server you can go all out with the $47,74/mo plan, which includes 10 GB of RAM and support for up to 100 players.



In addition to the free add-ons mentioned earlier, there are also a couple of paid ones. The first costs $5 per month and will give you access to your own dedicated port while the other costs $10 per month and is a service that will help you configure plugins and mods for your server. Another thing worth noting about ServerMiner is that the company accepts payments in multiple currencies. Namely, USD, EUR, and GBP.



ServerMiner's customer support is not very impressive, with users being limited to contacting agents via email or ticket. The lack of live chat is a bit disappointing and there is also no Discord channel. On the bright side, you can find a lot of good step-by-step tutorials on the company's website and you can also check out ServerMiner's YouTube channel for instructional videos.



ServerMiner Breakdown



ServerMiner is pretty expensive compared to most other companies on this list but you do get a lot of nice freebies in return. In addition to the good location coverage, the provider also offers a few unique features like player tracking and a fully automatic server backup & restore system. If you don't mind the high price, this is definitely a solid option to consider when it comes to hosting for Minecraft.



- Unique control panel; - Users tracking on any package; - Includes lots of freebies; - Good location coverage.



- A bit pricey; - Lackluster customer support.
Rock It Like A Hurricane



10. Nitrous Networks: Reliable Game Hosting Provider with Excellent Support



Nitrous started out in 2010 as a one-man operation that quickly expanded to include everything from game servers and voice servers to VPS and more. The company offers servers for over two dozen popular games and is constantly expanding its library to include even more titles. Among other games, here you can find servers for both the Java and Pocket editions of Minecraft.



Minecraft servers can be easily managed with the NitroPanel, a custom control panel that was designed to make things as easy as possible for players. The setup process is nearly instant, there's DDoS protection, and you have free access to a good number of modpacks from Vanilla, Spigot, Forge, and a few other types of Minecraft servers. The location coverage is above average, with seven servers to choose from across Europe and North America.



While there aren't many other standout features here, Nitrous Networks does include a few free add-ons to sweeten the deal. Namely, buying any of the available packages will get you a Mumble server with slots equal to those of your server, 1 month of Buycraft premium, and 13 days of Enjin Premium. The features aren't exactly anything to write home about but at least you can expect excellent performance because Nitrous uses high-quality network hardware and includes SSD storage with all plans.



Specs and Prices



The entry point for a Java edition server comes in at $5.24 per month, which is a bit high. You do get 1.5 GB of RAM to work with, however, the server will only support between 1 and 5 players. The situation is fairly similar in the case of the Pocket Edition. Here, prices start at only $3.28 per month, but again, you are limited to just 5 slots. Naturally, you can get more slots if you buy one of the more expensive packages. It's interesting to note that the Pocket Edition plans actually come with an unlimited amount of RAM.



Although the prices at Nitrous Networks are a bit steep, you can get some pretty good deals by subscribing to the service for the long haul. That's because the company offers discounts for quarterly, semi-annual, and yearly Minecraft host plans. The discounts get progressively better the longer you are willing to pay in advance. Speaking of payments, Nitrous accepts five types of currencies - GBP, USD, EUR, CAD, and DKK.



Support



Nitrous Networks offers 24/7 customer support via ticket and live chat. The live chat can be used by anybody while the ticket system is reserved for existing customers. There's no Discord or any other additional support channels but you can find a good amount of useful articles in the knowledge base.



Nitrous Networks Breakdown



The popularity of Nitrous Network is well deserved in our opinion. This is one of the few Minecraft server providers that can offer solid location coverage and customer support. The performance isn't too shabby either, all things considered. That said, there aren't too many interesting features to look forward to and the prices are a bit high when compared to other providers.



- Good performance; - Good location coverage; - Free voice server.



- A lack of useful features; - More expensive than other options.



Why You Should Run Your Own Minecraft Server



With so many Minecraft servers already available and easy to join (in most cases), why bother running your own server? Well, there are actually quite a few reasons for why you should consider it. Let's take a look at the most important ones.



Avoid Toxicity



Similar to most gaming communities out there, Minecraft players are known to be pretty toxic at times, with grief being all too common on a lot of servers. The last thing you want is to spend countless hours building something only to have another player ruin it in a matter of minutes. Naturally, that's not something you'll have to worry about when hosting your own server because you're the one making the rules. Not only can you decide if something like griefing is even possible on your server, but you can also decide who gets to play on it. That sort of power is particularly useful if you're looking to only play with a small group of friends.



Learn More About the Inner Workings of Minecraft



If you want to learn what makes the game tick, there are few ways better than hosting your own Minecraft server. As a server host, you'll have access to a wide variety of tools that are not usually available to the average player. You'll be free to experiment with all these tools as you see fit and get to know the game better than you would have otherwise. As an added bonus, you would also be learning a lot about the inner workings of servers in general while you're at it.



Customization



Playing the vanilla version of Minecraft can be a lot of fun but we all know that playing with mods is generally a more enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult to find an existing server that's using the exact mods you may want, especially when we're talking about mods that are a bit more obscure. By hosting your own Minecraft server, you can easily install all the mods you're interested in and experiment with them in an environment where you get to make the rules.



Build a Community



If you're an aspiring Minecraft content creator for platforms like Twitch or YouTube, running your own server is pretty much mandatory. In order to create quality content, you'll need full control over a server and the ability to play together with your fans, at least on occasion. Now, you could organize a community on an existing public server but it's much easier and smarter to run the server yourself. Trust us, your audience will definitely appreciate it and admire you for putting in the legwork.



Monetize Your Content



This is somewhat related to the last point but is worth discussing separately because monetization is an important part of running a server. In addition to potentially being able to earn some money by promoting your content on streaming platformers, you can also generate revenue via in-game advertising. Creating a companion blog or website for your server is also a good idea and, of course, you can try to monetize that as well. Earning a living by producing Minecraft content takes some creativity and a sizeable audience, but it can definitely be done with enough time and patience.



What to Look Out for In Minecraft Hosting Providers



If you've made it this far into the article, you should already have a pretty good idea of what to keep an eye out for when choosing a Minecraft hosting provider. But if you skipped over certain parts or simply want a quick summary, don't worry because we've got you covered. Here are the most important things you need:



A Decent Number of Slots



The amount of slots dictates the number of users that can play on the server at the same time. Some hosting services offer unlimited slots with their plans but more often than not this won't be the case. Make sure to get a server with more slots than you actually need at the moment, just in case your community ends up expanding in the future.


Good Location Coverage



If you're living in the US and your server is located halfway around the world in Asia, for example, you're going to experience a fair amount of latency. That said, if you're building a community-oriented server and the bulk of your audience is in Asia you may want to consider providing a smooth experience for them even if that means taking a performance hit yourself. A good hosting service should allow you to set up your server in one of several locations around the globe. The more locations the better; for you and everyone else playing on the server.



Plenty of Server Resources



Despite being a fairly old game with blocky graphics, Minecraft's procedurally-generated world can take up a surprising amount of system resources. The more players you have inhabiting the game world, the more resources you'll need. RAM and processing power are the two main resources required, so make sure to pick a hosting plan that comes with a good amount of both. Storage is also important but these days most services either offer an unlimited amount of it or are running servers equipped with fast SSD drives, so that's less of a concern.



Billing Cycle



If you're on a tight budget you probably want to pay for your hosting on a monthly basis rather than sign up for a yearly contract. Unfortunately, that's not possible with every hosting provider so make sure to choose one that supports the type of billing cycle you can afford. Sometimes paying for a full year in advance can net you great discounts but that still means dishing out a good chuck of money upfront. Don't overextend by spending more than necessary, especially if you're just experimenting with server hosting.



Mod Support



Most Minecraft server providers support mods but not all of them might support the exact mods you're looking for. Pay close attention to the list of mods supported by the providers you're interested in and don't hesitate to look for alternatives if you can't find what you're looking for on your first try. Of course, this only applies if you intend to play with mods.



DDoS attacks against gaming servers are all too common these days and Minecraft servers are no exception. Luckily, the vast majority of hosting providers offer built-in DDoS protection with their plans, but it's worth double checking if this feature is indeed included before committing to a purchase. Better safe than sorry when it comes to these types of things.



Ease of Use



Hosting your own Minecraft server should be a fun experience, so stay away from services that offer needlessly complicated control panels. Go with a service that has an industry-standard control panel whenever possible because those tend to be easier to use. Certain custom control panels can be a good choice as well but they may have a steeper learning curve, so just keep that in mind.



Final Thoughts about the Best Minecraft Server Hosting in 2022



A lot of people thought Minecraft was a passing fad when it first came out in 2011 but, almost a full decade later, the game is still very much alive and well. If you were thinking about giving it a shot, now would be the perfect time to do so because Minecraft hosting services are better and cheaper than ever in 2022. Sure, you could host your own server locally, but why do that when you can let a team of experts do it for you for just a couple of bucks per month?



As for which hosting provider you should go with, we think all the hosting providers we discussed in this article have their own merits and are very solid choices. However, we did have the best experiences with Shockbyte, Apex Hosting, and Hostinger. We would recommend checking out those three first, but definitely don't dismiss any of the other companies on our list either. After all, it's always a good idea to take your time and carefully weigh your options when it comes to things like this.



Is Hosting a Minecraft Server Expensive?



Generally speaking, no. Minecraft hosting services are fairly affordable, with prices starting at less than $2 per month in some cases. Many server providers also support monthly billing so you don't have to worry about large upfront investments either.



How Fast is it to Set Up a Minecraft Server?



This can vary depending on your service provider but most companies these days let you deploy a new server pretty much instantaneously. In fact, you'll probably spend more time customizing the server with things like mods than waiting for it to go live.



Can I Host a Minecraft Server on My Own Computer?



Yes, you can, and there are plenty of people who choose to host servers locally. However, doing so would require you to dedicate your own computer resources to the server and, ideally, making sure that it runs 24/7. Not to mention provide support for other players using the server. Given the cheap price for professional Minecraft server hosting, it makes more sense to let a third-party company do it for you.



Can I Upload My Own Mods or Maps to the Server?



This won't be possible in every case but there are certain Minecraft server providers that do indeed give you that option. However, keep in mind that they probably won't be able to directly assist you with that task, though they might refer you to tutorials and other helpful resources.



Can You Host a Minecraft Server for Free?



If you're looking to host the server on your own computer, you can do it for free provided you know how to set it up and configure it yourself. Otherwise, there are some companies that will allow you to host it on their servers for a limited time before asking you to pay for the service. You can also find services that let you host a free server indefinitely, however, these usually come with drawbacks, such as very limited resources and number of slots or non-removable in-game ads. Oftentimes both.