Whether you are a serious Minecraft player in need of a reliable Minecraft server, or perhaps you are looking to start your own server, to grow an online Minecraft community, or maybe you are looking to build a world, and create a home for people all over the world? We cover all the bases here, helping you make the right choice for you...
Key Takeaways From This Article
  | Hostinger
| See at Hostinger |
  | Shockbyte
| See at Shockbyte |
  | Apex Hosting
| See at Apex Hosting |
Throughout this guide, we’re going to make everything as easy as possible to understand as we break down:
- What to look for in the best Minecraft server hosting provider,
- What terms like bandwidth and RAM mean,
- Why location is important,
- Are automated backups included and so much more.
Minecraft is one of the most beloved and most flexible sandbox games globally. The game first launched out to the world back in 2011 and has exploded over the last decade, currently sitting on around 141 million monthly users worldwide.
While there’s plenty to do in single-player Minecraft with standard survival and creative modes, as well as several story modes that have been released over the years…
There’s no denying that Minecraft is much more fun in a multiplayer environment, be it friends, family, or even strangers from all over the world.
Multiplayer games is really where a good Minecraft server host comes into play.
An Introduction to Minecraft Server Hosting
In the online world, Minecraft server hosting is necessary for:
- Hosting games,
- Their files, and,
- World data...
So players can log in from anywhere and play together in real-time. It’s quite a simple technology but essential for online play.
Of course, Minecraft hosting can be customized indefinitely to suit your own Minecraft server wants and desires, thanks to how easy it is to tweak the core game servers themselves.
If you take a massive game server provider like Hypixel, one of the biggest public Minecraft servers, which currently has around a concurrent player count averaging 100,000 players, there are…
Endless game modes, mini-games, hangout opportunities, and more for players to get involved in.
Then you have modded hosting that takes heavily modified versions of the game that allow multiple people running the same mode packs to play together.
You have public vanilla hosting that anyone can join to meet new people and live in a Minecraft world that’s alive and vibrant, rather unlike the barren singleplayer worlds.
Of course, you then have the opposite end of the spectrum to large public servers when you start looking at private minecraft servers and Minecraft realms. These are small servers that friends would play on together and are relatively inaccessible to other players who don’t have the log-in information and can even be password locked to prevent this from happening.
Within this article, we’re going to explore everything you need to know when it comes to hosting this game, specifically dedicated server hosting.
This way, you’ll be able to figure out what kind of host you need, ultimately creating the top multiplayer Minecraft experience that suits what you’re looking for.
What is Minecraft Server Hosting?
To host Minecraft, you need physical Minecraft server hosting somewhere in the world that’s connected to the internet, allowing players to connect via the internet connection.
While you can technically run Minecraft on your own PC, the specifications for this kind of hosting will only have the resources to allow a few people to join and play, and if your connection isn’t great or your hardware isn’t good enough to support the Minecraft servers processes that make the game run, then the player’s experience won’t be great either.
This is why Minecraft server hosting providers exist.
Hosting providers run technology on dedicated, state-of-the-art hardware that’s capable of supporting worlds with literally thousands of players at the same time, all with a smooth connection that doesn’t lag or crash.
Best Minecraft Server Hosting Providers
If you’re looking to cut to the chase and learn which are the best Minecraft server providers available right now, here are our independent top reviews for the Minecraft Hosting Services you need to be looking out for and considering.
We’ll explore some of the key points on each provider, as well as a lowdown on what each service provides.
#1 - Hostinger - Best All-Round Experience
For many, Hostinger is the top pick when it comes to server hosting for Minecraft.
There are plenty of plans to choose from that allow you to start small and affordably, but ensure you can scale your hosting to more powerful and capable options as and when you need them.
What’s more, these hosting packages are specifically built for Minecraft hosting using VPS server technology.
Hostinger Minecraft Hosting
Best All-Round Experience
- Built Using VPS Server Technology
- Prices start at $6.95 per month
After you make an account, you can have:
Data Center Location?
The prime server for this Minecraft hosting provider is located in Singapore.
Why Choose Hostinger?
If you’re looking for the greatest all-rounded experience to play Minecraft, Hostinger is ideal. The prices are affordable, the service is scalable to whatever size you want, their control panel is super cool, and the entire server hosting process has been made easy.
>> Read Our Full Review Here <<
#2 - Shockbyte - Best Affordable Servers
Shockbyte is an incredibly popular server provider, and at the time of writing, supports over 400,000 game servers.
Their reputation among server providers is also one of the highest, with their hosting plans averaging 4.5/5 stars across 4,500+ reviews on Trustpilot.
Shockbyte
Best Affordable Servers
- https://shockbyte.com/billing/aff.php?aff=3794
- Prices start at $2.50 per month
However, by far, the biggest draw to Shockbyte is how affordable the Minecraft hosting plans are.
Plus they come with loads of excellent guarantees...
Shockbyte is definitely a game server hosting provider well worth thinking about.
Data Center Location?
Shockbyte has worldwide server locations in North America, along with Europe, and in Southeast Asia in, Singapore and also in (APAC) Australia.
Why Choose Shockbyte?
The sub-domain feature included with every order is just fantastic. IP addresses are how players will find and log onto your server, and having a custom one (like iplayminecraft.com) makes the overall experience so much more fulfilling and streamlined for players, one of the great minecraft server hosting services supplied by Shockbyte.
>> Read Our Full Review Here <<
#3 - Apex Hosting - Best For Flexibility
The first server I ever made was set up with Apex Hosting, and I still run part of my Minecraft server hosting business with them to this day.
The setup with Apex's Minecraft hosting plan is just phenomenal, and you can literally have their hosting service up and running in minutes, plus mods and a loaded world, now that's an instant setup!
Apex Hosting
Apex has options for both server types with Minecraft Java and Bedrock versions of the game and offers full FTP and MYSQL access, and you can pretty much use any Jar you want as they provide many a different server version.
Data Center Location?
Apex has eight server locations globally, in USA, and London, in Asia, in Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, and also for the Asia Pacific region, Australia.
Why Choose Apex?
If you have a specific idea for the kind of Minecraft server you want to create, Apex is the provider that will help you make it happen. You can set up plain Vanilla Minecraft hosting or Modded web servers with the one-click setup, you can also load up plugins (Spigot, Bukkit, and more) directly from the dashboard without having to manually load them, and there is even a tonne of mini-game options you can load in with just a click.
These are one of the cheapest modded minecraft server hosting around, plus...
It comes with such cool features as standard across all their packages including easy ftp file access, unlimited player slots, Mysql databases and free server transfers, to name but a few things… They really are an awesome Minecraft server hosting provider.
>> Read Our Full Review Here <<
Second Tier Hosting Companies For Minecraft Servers
Now while the three dedicated servers are killer, the following are second tier, but, all of them are still good and have their own unique attributes, which you will find out...
#4 - HostHavoc - Great For Beginners
HostHavoc is a hosting provider that focuses on a user-friendly experience and ease of use. If you’re a small-time server owner, such as one who just wants to play with friends, or you’re starting your community, this is a great provider to get started with. You’ll have access to reliable service with a few wizards that make complex tasks simple and a decent level of customer support.
HostHavoc
There are a few little downsides compared with the other service providers we’ve looked into.
These include not giving partial refunds for subscriptions that are canceled (such as canceling a 3-month service subscription after a month and not getting the two months back), and the plans can feel a little limited when scaling.
Data Center Location?
They have servers all over the USA and also have data centers in Sydney, Australia.
Why Choose HostHavoc?
HostHavoc is not only great if you’re starting out small but also if you want easy to control. This beginner-friendly provider is ideal if you’re looking for custom hosting thanks to the ability to work with literally every mod pack there is, plus full FTP access, and the fact it’s powered by Multicraft control panels for simple setting control.
#5 - BisectHosting - Best For Extras
BisectHosting is one of the old-school Minecraft server providers and has built up a very sturdy reputation during this time, averaging around a 4.5-star rating across 3,500 + reviews. This service is known for being really good value for money, offering very high-end connections, as well as having servers all over the world, meaning your player base can enjoy a seamless connection, no matter where your community is in the world.
BisectHosting
There are some downsides to be aware of. The control panel can feel a little slow and sluggish compared with other providers, but the server speed itself is very fluid.
However, there are no real issues with performance or stability, making these an ideal choice.
Data Center Location?
Their servers are located globally in places like USA, in Singapore and Sydney Australia.
Why Choose BisectHosting?
The highlight selling point of BisectHosting has to be the extras that the service provides. With each purchase, even the most affordable ones, you’ll find everything from modpack support and DDoS protection to a dedicated IP address and free daily backups. This is one complete service.
#6 - Sparked Host - Best For Support
Sparked has created a service that makes everything as simple as possible, perfect for new server owners, and has server locations all over the world, allowing for supreme connections.
Sparked Host
All the features you’ll love are here, including DDoS protection, state-of-the-art server hardware, plenty of affordable and premium packages to choose from, and a proactive support team that ensures every problem is dealt with quickly and professionally, giving you everything you need for a responsive server your Minecraft players are going to love.
Data Center Locations?
Sparked Host has two hosting data centres located in Singapore and Australia.
Why Choose Sparked Host?
The response time from the support team over at Sparked is pretty groundbreaking. The average response time for a support ticket sits around the 24-minute mark, with 93% of all tickets responded to in under an hour.
#7 - ScalaCube - Best For Mobile Gameplay
ScalaCube offers a tonne of the standard features you should have come to expect from a typical server provider. DDoS protection, over 1,000 Minecraft mod packs available for one-click installation, affordable pricing scales, and instant setup.
ScalaCube
Best For Mobile Gameplay
- Prices start at $0 per month
- An excellent Minecraft Free Option
However, perhaps the biggest draw for server owners is the fact that there’s a free Minecraft server hosting option to get you started.
This means that even if you have no budget, you can get set up and running and then think about scaling later.
While it’s not the leading server, it’s enough for a few players to get started and a foundation for your community to start growing.
Data Center Location?
Like many of the other hosting companies on this list, they have servers North America Europe, the UK, Singapore, and also in APAC, Australia.
Why Choose ScalaCube?
ScalaCube is pretty good in the sense that it offers server platforms for both PC Java and Bedrock Minecraft, as well as Pocket Edition. Mobile gaming is huge right now, and if you were looking to break your server out onto mobile devices only, this could be the ideal service provider to help you make it happen. But the biggest draw is them as a free Minecraft server host, that's why they get the signups...
#8 - GG Servers - Best Functionality
GG Servers is another of the good Minecraft server hosting services that offers pretty much everything you need to a decent yet affordable quality.
GG Servers
With Minecraft server locations all over the world, you can easily choose the top server connection for you and your player base, and with 24/7 customer support, you never have to worry about experiencing a problem because there are always opportunities to get it resolved quickly.
You’ll also have access to a traditional Multicraft panel for controlling your server and all its settings, as well as full FTP access and access to both the server console and chat, right from your web browser.
Data Center Location?
If you are looking to grow your business in Central America or Central Europe, GG Servers have this covered for you.
Why Choose GG Servers?
GG Servers is an award-winning service for the functionality and performance that it provides Minecraft server owners around the world. Most recently, they won the WHATIFGAMING Best Minecraft Server Hosting Award in 2021, just going to show what kind of experience this Minecraft hosting server provider can bring to the table.
How Does a Minecraft Server Work?
A Minecraft server works via a computer or piece of specialist hardware that runs hosting software.
This software is dedicated to the Minecraft game that enables players to play the game of Minecraft together over the internet.
After a service has been set up by following the instructions of a provider, players can then access the server and start playing.
This can be achieved by entering the dedicated and unique IP address of the server, which could look something like;
567.456.322.232:2343
Iplayminecraftdaily.net
That’s the simple premise of a Minecraft server online, and for the standard everyday players, this is all they will need to know. However, as a game server hosting owner, there’s more you need to be aware of, mostly when it comes to Minecraft server hosting performance.
When creating your server, you need to be aware of how the hosting works on a technical level so you’re not only able to offer an experience to your players that they’re going to love but also to ensure you’re able to manage your budget while getting access to the features that ensure your hosting is what you want it to be.
For example, if you don’t have the right resources and enough power, say you’re only using a small hosting account, but you have a lot of Minecraft players, then you’re going to experience a lot of lag, and your players won’t want to play anymore. However, if you have powerful hosting and not a lot of players, you’re basically throwing money away.
What are Dedicated Minecraft Server Resources?
When you are looking to buy Minecraft hosting, the first thing that might come to your mind is how much RAM and bandwidth will I need?
Well, this really depends on what type of server you want – public or private.
If it’s a public server where anyone can play then, it’s ideal to get a hosting package with the most RAM and bandwidth you can get, but it’s worth looking into what options are available.
This is not the smartest option for building a business but it is good to know what this offers, they are a goldmine of information.
With a 1GB Minecraft server hosting package, you’ll have enough power for between 5-10 players, but you could technically have unlimited slots for players, they just wouldn’t be able to play on the server together at the same time, which defeats the point of having multiplayer.
What’s more, due to the way Minecraft works, you need to consider how big the world is. If you have a player at world spawn (0,0) and a player at coordinates, 10,000, 10,000, then your Minecraft hosting servers needs to spend RAM loading in the chunks in that area for both players.
When you have more Minecraft players, all in different areas of the map, possibly warping around to other parts of the map, then you’re going to need even more power.
This might not be so much of a problem on smaller, private servers, but if you’re looking to run professional Minecraft server hosting for lots of players, you’ll need a server that can keep up.
What Resources Do You Need To Run A Minecraft Server?
#1. A high-speed processor with enough RAM
The key ingredient in any successful online multiplayer game is speed. Players are more likely to have a better experience if they don’t have to wait for the server and/or Minecraft gameplay to catch up with their inputs, so it’s important that your hosting service has plenty of RAM and processing power at its disposal – you should look for something like an (1) Intel Xeon or iSeries.
#2. Dedicated IP address
This is a unique number assigned to your server that allows players to connect directly to it without going through a central hosting or lobby. It also ensures that you will have the resources needed for your gameplay and prevents others from using up all the bandwidth or memory.
#3. 24/7 customer support
A good hosting service should have round-the-clock customer support available in case of any problems. Hosting outages or crashes can be frustrating, and it’s always nice to know that you have someone to help you get back up and running as quickly as possible.
#4. Scalability
One of the greatest things about Minecraft hosting is that it’s possible to scale up as your server grows. This means you can start with a few people and add more players later on without having to pay for new servers or upgrade existing ones.
How to use Minecraft Hosting As a Business
It’s possible to use Minecraft hosting services to start your own business. I set up my first hosting back in 2018 and advertised it on Reddit, making around $500 in the first two months through the sale of accessory crates.
Like any other game, Minecraft is a form of entertainment, and there’s always going to be an audience for this kind of entertainment.
Once you have an idea and the drive to build it, there are options available to you.
The issue is that people want something new enough to be unique with nothing else like it that you can’t get anywhere else, but also novel enough that they understand it and the learning curve isn’t too high.
You need to find a server idea in a market that isn’t saturated but is instead exciting. That doesn’t mean you can’t run plain vanilla one. If you have a stellar community where people feel welcomed and enjoy each other’s company, this can be your business selling point.
However, you need to remember that Minecraft themselves updated their terms and conditions to state that server owners can’t make money selling items that put other players at a disadvantage, or in other words, serving a pay-to-win platform.
However, running a server and making money from loot or accessory crates isn’t the only way to run a business. Here are a few ways you can use Minecraft hosting, specifically through marketing efforts.
• Customised, in-game advertisements
Players who love playing on a public Minecraft game server will often see your adverts while they’re online. This is the perfect way to get them interested and keep them engaged with your brand! You could run contests or offer discounts to players who visit your website or store. You may be trying to sell something like books or merch (2).
• Live streaming
Twitch, and YouTube have become extremely popular for live streaming gameplay, including Minecraft.
This is a great way to show off your Minecraft game servers and get people interested in playing on them!
You could also do interviews with the players or developers of your server. If you’re looking to grow your Twitch or YouTube channels, you could run a server for your audience to join and interact with you.
• Contests On Your Hosting Servers
These are a great way to engage with the players on your server and promote it at the same time. A popular example of this is by creating competitive mini-games that have prizes for winners or give away keys to new ranks in exchange for tickets sold. People love interacting and having objectives to work towards, and this is a great way to draw people in.
Can I use Cheap Minecraft Hosting?
Yes of course you can use cheap Minecraft hosting, but the real question is, should you use this type of server?
There is a tonne of smaller, more affordable Minecraft providers on the market. Some services even have free Minecraft Server Hosting, so why would you pay for premium service if free ones are available?
Why should you pay for Minecraft Hosting?
The real reason you should pay for Minecraft Server hosting is becasue these free minecraft server hosting services are not feature-rich and are very limited, especially as you grow.
Without a premium package service, that gives your your own Minecraft Server you’ll be limited on bandwidth, RAM, and power and won’t have features like unlimited player slots, automated backups, DDoS protection or a dedicated IP address. It is a better option to rent Minecraft server space, 100%!.
You may also not be able to add your plugin of choice, run modded Minecraft server applications, or get a high level of customer support should you have any questions or experience any problems. Let’s say your hosting crashes, and you can’t get it back up yourself; you need a team on hand to get things sorted quickly. Otherwise, your players are going to leave, especially if it keeps happening.
How to Choose the Best Minecraft Server Hosting Service?
Finally, with all this information fresh in your mind, we’re now left with one last question. How do you choose which Minecraft hosting service provider to invest in? Do you got for super cheap minecraft hosts, or more expensive ones?
It can be quite difficult to decide which one to use, but there are some key considerations to think about that can help pick the right game server.
#1 Location Of Your Minecraft Hosting
Where does your hosting company have data centers located? Are they located in Asia, because this is going to help your business, massively if you are located there. You’ll want to choose a company that has data centres close to you and your player base, as this will ensure good ping times and reduce the chances of lag. Lag-free servers are a must!
#2 Features
What kind of features does your Minecraft server hosting providers offer?
Are they able to accommodate large numbers of players?
Do they have a control panel you can learn to use?
Do they have mods installed already?
Is there a custom control panel?
Can you scale easily?
Does your server hosted offer DDoS protection?
Do you get a free dedicated IP?
Make sure you’re comparing services to see what they offer, especially since providers can change what they’re offering at different times, like when they have a sales event or discounts. Basically, you need to think about everything we’ve spoken about above related to the top minecraft server hosts and how these things affect you.
#3 Price
How much does your minecraft server hosting service charge for their web hosting services? Are they competitively priced? You should always compare plans and read reviews to ensure you’re getting the top deal and that the server you’re investing in suits your budget.
Conclusion For The Best Minecraft Server Hosting Providers
So there you have it, a breakdown of the best Minecraft server hosting providers on the market today. Remember, not all game servers are created equally, a Minecraft server free of charge isn't going to hold the attention of your game players long, especially as it grows…
So make sure the Minecraft Server Hosting service that you choose is awesome, believe me, it is worth it…
