If you are one of greater than 126 million players of Minecraft, the world-building sandbox recreation, and wish to host giant multiplayer video games on-line, you would possibly want a private devoted server. Using a Minecraft server host is actually like utilizing a web host — you pay a month-to-month charge to make use of a vendor’s servers, which might get you higher performance, security and freedom to make use of modpacks for distinctive multiplayer experiences. But with so many Minecraft-hosting server choices in the marketplace, it’s your decision some assist selecting which is finest for you.
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But which hosting service will finest optimize your Minecraft gameplay? There’s at all times Minecraft Realms, Mojang’s official server subscription service (accessible for each Java and Bedrock editions). But possibly you need extra back-end management over your server — or modpacks and maps that are not accessible in Realms. In that case, it’s your decision a third-party server host that may present you and your folks the required bandwidth and management over your Minecraft world seed’s configuration and settings.
Here we check out some of the most effective third-party Minecraft server hosting distributors accessible, together with Hostinger, Shockbyte and GGServers. We centered on companies that supply 24/7 assist and a spread of plan choices.
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How we selected the most effective third-party Minecraft server hosts
Angela Lang/CNET
It’s essential to notice that we did not explicitly “check” the Minecraft hosting supplier choices on this checklist. Instead, we compiled a aggressive overview based mostly on a spread of components, together with third-party rankings and options provided by every hosting firm. We’ve additionally weighted the rankings of these companies by the Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot. With that information in hand, we cut up them into two tiers:
Best Minecraft hosting suppliers (high tier): These Minecraft host distributors all have a ranking of A or increased from the nonprofit Better Business Bureau (besides in instances when the businesses are based mostly outdoors of North America and never included within the BBB rating system) and a ranking of 4.0 or increased out of 5 from TrustPilot, a Danish shopper assessment website. All of the TrustPilot rankings are based mostly on a minimum of 1,000 person opinions. All of the distributors listed in our high picks additionally say they provide 24/7 assist and modpack assist.
Other Minecraft hosting choices to think about (second tier): All of these Minecraft host distributors have TrustPilot rankings of 4.0 or above; nonetheless, these rankings are based mostly on fewer than 1,000 person opinions. One — Nodecraft — has a D+ ranking from the BBB. The others have both As or increased, or no BBB web page as a result of their location.
Important caveats: The Better Business Bureau just isn’t affiliated with any authorities company and doesn’t charge firms outdoors of North America. To be BBB Accredited, firms pay a charge to the group. TrustPilot, in the meantime, additionally affords a paid tier that gives firms extra interplay with their person rankings. It additionally removed 2.2 million fake reviews in 2020.
A notice on pricing: We’ve made each effort to confirm that the costs listed right here had been correct on the time of final publication. However, costs on this class are topic to frequent fluctuations and are additionally constantly topic to particular affords and restricted offers. Furthermore, many of the costs listed right here mirror the month-to-month charges in case you prepay for 12 months of service — or are limited-time introductory costs. Please test the distributors in query to confirm pricing at any given time.
Best Minecraft server hosting companies
Hostinger
One of our high web hosting provider picks, Hostinger affords 5 totally different Minecraft server hosting plans. All of its plans embrace mod assist, full root entry, DDoS safety, free MySQL, automated off-site backups and 99.99% uptime. The variations in pricing are as a result of totally different RAM and vCPU {hardware} choices, beginning at 2GB RAM and two vCPU Hardware for $9 a month and rising to 8GB RAM and eight vCPU Hardware for $30 a month.
Hostinger relies in Lithuania, so it doesn’t have a BBB web page (that group solely focuses on US-based companies). However, it does have a TrustPilot rating of 4.4 out of 5 with greater than 2,000 opinions.
MCProHosting
MCProHosting affords 9 Minecraft server hosting plans, starting from $8 a month for 1GB RAM and 25 participant slots to $100 a month for 32GB RAM and limitless slots. Every plan consists of limitless space for storing, worldwide server areas and DDoS safety. You’ll additionally discover six plan choices for server hosting for Minecraft: Bedrock version, operating from $1.49 a month for 10 slots to $15 a month for limitless slots.
A giant profit of MCProHosting: You can check out six of its Java and Bedrock plans free for seven days.
MCProHosting has an A- rating from the BBB, and a TrustPilot ranking of 4.8 out of 5 with greater than 5,000 opinions.
ShockByte
Shockbyte is a recreation server supplier, providing 12 totally different Minecraft server hosting plan choices, together with the flexibility to design a customized plan. Options vary from $2.50 a month for 1GB RAM and 20 slots (the quantity of areas on a recreation server accessible to gamers) to $40 a month for 16GB RAM and limitless slots. All plans embrace 100% uptime, DDoS safety, immediate setup and a free subdomain title.
Shockbyte relies in Australia, so it doesn’t have a BBB web page. However, it does have a TrustPilot rating of 4.4 out of 5 with greater than 3,000 opinions.
GGServers
GGServers affords eight totally different Minecraft server hosting plans, every of which include the choice for traditional or premium (which doubles the value).
Standard plans provide DDR4 2133 MHz RAM, 3.2-4GHz CPU, and 400MBps learn/write SSD. It additionally prices an additional $2 a month so as to add on a MySQL database, or limitless slots. You do not get entry to all 9 server areas, both. Premium plans provide DDR4 2400 MHz RAM, 4.4-5GHz CPU, 2,500-plus MBps learn/write SSD, and embrace the MySQL database, limitless slots and all 9 server areas worldwide. Both plan sorts embrace a free subdomain, DDoS safety and immediate activation. Standard plans vary from $3 a month for 1024 MB RAM and 12 participant slots normal (or $6 a month premium) to $36 a month for 12,288MB RAM normal (or $72 a month premium).
GGServers relies in Canada and doesn’t have a BBB web page. However, it does have a TrustPilot rating of 4.5 out of 5 with greater than 2,000 opinions.
ScalaCube
ScalaCube is one other game-specific server hosting vendor. But not like the others on this checklist, it affords a free tier, granting entry to primary servers, 3GB of RAM, 2×3.4GHz CPU, 30GB SSD storage and one recreation server. However, we’re at all times hesitant to recommend a free service, because it normally means your information goes to be shared with third-party advertisers. Make positive you look over ScalaCube’s privacy policy to see in case you’re OK with what they share.
There are additionally 9 paid plan choices starting from $2.50 a month for 768MB RAM, 3.4GHz CPU, 10GB SSD storage, 10 participant slots and limitless servers to $96 a month for 32 GB RAM, 8×3.4GHz CPU, 320GB SSD storage, 600 participant slots and limitless servers. You’ll additionally discover Minecraft Bedrock Edition server hosting choices, starting from $5 a month for 30 gamers to $96 a month for 300 gamers. All Minecraft and Minecraft Pocket Edition plans embrace a number of servers, backup, DDoS assist, and free internet hosting, area and MySQL.
ScalaCube relies in Estonia and doesn’t have a BBB web page. However, it does have a TrustPilot rating of 4.2 out of 5 with greater than 1,000 opinions.
Other unofficial Minecraft hosting choices to think about
The following Minecraft server hosts have barely decrease or fewer TrustPilot and/or BBB rankings than those above.
Hostwinds
Another of our top web hosting site picks, Hostwinds additionally affords Minecraft server hosting beginning at $5 a month. It has an A rating from the BBB and is BBB Accredited, and its TrustPilot rating is 4.0 out of 5, although it has fewer than 500 opinions.
BisectHosting
BisectHosting affords 20 totally different plans, every with an choice for a price range or premium package deal. Budget packages begin at $3 a month for 1,024MB RAM, limitless NVMe SSD and as much as 12 slots, and go as much as $95.68 a month for 32,768MB RAM and 150 slots. Premium plans vary from $8 a month to $159.68 a month, with the identical quantities of RAM as their price range counterparts however with extra areas, and free every day backups, modpack updates, sponge set up, devoted IP handle and limitless slots. BisectHosting has a C+ rating from the BBB. However, it additionally has a TrustPilot rating of 4.6 out of 5 with greater than 2,000 opinions.
Apex Hosting
Apex Hosting affords Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition servers beginning at $4.49 a month. It additionally features a seven-day money-back assure. Apex Hosting has an A+ rating from the BBB, and its TrustPilot Rating is 4.6 out of 5, although it has fewer than 500 opinions.
Nodecraft
Nodecraft additionally affords Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition server hosting, beginning at $6.49 a month. Nodecraft has a D+ rating from the BBB however a 4.2 out of 5 TrustPilot rating, although it has fewer than 1,000 opinions.
Sparked Host
Sparked Host affords recreation and cloud hosting, with 13 totally different Minecraft server hosting plan choices, beginning at $1.50 a month. Though it is based mostly within the US, Sparked Host doesn’t seem to have a BBB web page. It does have a TrustPilot rating of 4.6 out of 5, however with fewer than 1,000 opinions.
PebbleHost
PebbleHost is dwelling to each Minecraft and different gaming and devoted servers. It affords price range, premium or excessive plans relying in your wants, beginning at $4 a month. PebbleHost relies within the UK and doesn’t have a BBB web page, however it has a TrustPilot rating of 4.3 out of 5, although with fewer than 1,000 opinions.
RAMShard
RAMShard affords 9 Minecraft server hosting plans, beginning at $3 a month. It has an A+ BBB rating and is BBB accredited, and has a TrustPilot rating of 4.7 out of 5, although with fewer than 1,000 opinions.
CNET’s Dawnthea Price Lisco contributed to this report.
