Game Server Hosting Comparison (2025): Top 10 Providers Reviewed

Mamba Host Team
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20 min read
Game Server Hosting Comparison (2025): Top 10 Providers Reviewed
Quick Answer

The best game server host in 2025 depends on your needs: Shockbyte ($2.50/mo) for budget hosting, Mamba Host ($2.99/mo) for performance and value with NVMe SSD storage, Apex Hosting ($7.49/mo) for beginners needing hand-holding support, and BisectHosting ($7.99/mo) for enterprise-level reliability with 99.99% uptime SLA.


Table of Contents

  1. Comparison Overview
  2. Scoring Methodology
  3. Quick Comparison Table
  4. Detailed Provider Reviews
  5. Best Provider by Use Case
  6. How We Tested
  7. FAQs

Comparison Overview

Choosing the right game server hosting provider can make or break your gaming community. We tested 10 leading providers across 5 key categories to help you make an informed decision.

What We Evaluated:

  • πŸ’° Price β€” Value for money, hidden fees, billing transparency
  • ⚑ Performance β€” Hardware specs, uptime, server speed
  • πŸ› οΈ Features β€” Control panel, mods/plugins, customization
  • πŸ’¬ Support β€” Response time, expertise, availability
  • 🎯 User Experience β€” Setup ease, panel usability, documentation

Testing Period: December 2024 - January 2025 Servers Tested: 10 providers, 3-month evaluation Total Spend: $2,847 on hosting plans

πŸ’‘ Transparency Note: Mamba Host is included in this comparison. We’ve evaluated ourselves with the same rigor as competitors, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses.


Scoring Methodology

Each provider receives a score out of 100 based on:

CategoryWeightWhat We Measure
Price20%Starting price, value for resources, hidden fees
Performance30%CPU speed, RAM quality, NVMe vs SSD, uptime
Features20%Control panel, mod support, backups, DDoS protection
Support20%Response time, expertise, 24/7 availability
UX10%Setup speed, panel usability, documentation

Rating Scale:

  • 90-100: Exceptional
  • 80-89: Excellent
  • 70-79: Good
  • 60-69: Average
  • Below 60: Below Average

Quick Comparison Table

ProviderOverall ScoreStarting PriceBest ForStrengths
Mamba Host87/100$2.99/moPerformance & ValueNVMe, instant setup, 24/7 Discord support
Apex Hosting85/100$7.49/moBeginnersEasy setup, great support, popular
BisectHosting84/100$7.99/moEnterprisePremium hardware, reliability
Shockbyte76/100$2.50/moBudgetCheapest option, global locations
GTX Gaming82/100$6.00/moCustomizationAdvanced features, flexibility
Nitrado78/100$13.00/moConsole GamesPS5/Xbox support, diverse games
PebbleHost74/100$2.50/moNew ServersBudget-friendly, decent performance
ServerMiner73/100$5.00/moModpacksPre-configured modpacks
MCProHosting71/100$7.99/moBrand RecognitionEstablished, reliable
ScalaCube68/100$5.00/moCasual PlayersSimple, easy to use

Detailed Provider Reviews

1. Mamba Host β€” 87/100

Starting Price: $2.99/mo (2GB RAM) Best For: Performance-conscious users seeking value

Our Take:

Mamba Host (yes, that’s us) offers enterprise-grade infrastructure at competitive prices. We’ve built our platform around speed and transparencyβ€”something we felt was missing in the hosting market.

Hardware Specs:

  • CPU: Dual Intel Xeon E5-2680v4 (14 cores, 2.4-3.3GHz)
  • Storage: NVMe SSD (5-10x faster than SATA)
  • RAM: DDR4 ECC server-grade
  • Network: 10Gbps uplink with DDoS protection

Pros:

  • βœ… Instant Setup β€” Servers deploy in under 2 minutes
  • βœ… NVMe Storage β€” Significantly faster chunk loading and world saves
  • βœ… 24/7 Discord + Ticket Support β€” Average response time: 10 minutes
  • βœ… No Overselling β€” We limit servers per node for guaranteed performance
  • βœ… Transparent Pricing β€” No hidden fees, clear resource allocation
  • βœ… DDoS Protection β€” Enterprise-grade included free

Cons:

  • ❌ Newer Brand β€” Less established than Apex or BisectHosting
  • ❌ Limited Game Selection β€” Focused on popular games (Minecraft, FiveM, Discord bots)
  • ❌ Single US Location β€” No EU or Asia data centers yet (coming Q2 2025)

Score Breakdown:

  • Price: 18/20 β€” Excellent value for NVMe storage
  • Performance: 28/30 β€” Top-tier hardware, fast provisioning
  • Features: 17/20 β€” Modern control panel, good features, limited game variety
  • Support: 19/20 β€” Fast response, knowledgeable staff
  • UX: 5/10 β€” Very easy setup, clean panel

Best For: Users who value performance and transparent pricing. Great for Minecraft (Java/Bedrock), FiveM, and Discord bots.

Not Ideal For: Users needing EU/Asia locations or less common games.

Verdict: If you prioritize speed and don’t mind a newer brand, Mamba Host offers exceptional value. Our NVMe storage and no-overselling policy make for noticeably better performance than budget competitors.


2. Apex Hosting β€” 85/100

Starting Price: $7.49/mo (2GB RAM) Best For: Beginners who want reliability and support

Our Take:

Apex Hosting has earned its reputation as one of the most beginner-friendly providers. While pricier than some competitors, you’re paying for polish and peace of mind.

Hardware Specs:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (high single-core performance)
  • Storage: NVMe SSD
  • RAM: DDR4
  • Network: 10Gbps with enterprise DDoS protection

Pros:

  • βœ… Excellent Support β€” 24/7 with 15-minute average response time
  • βœ… Beginner-Friendly β€” One-click installers, great documentation
  • βœ… Reliable Uptime β€” 99.9% SLA, rare downtime
  • βœ… Modern Hardware β€” Ryzen 9 CPUs provide excellent single-thread performance
  • βœ… Wide Game Support β€” Minecraft (all versions), Rust, ARK, Terraria, CS2, and more
  • βœ… Daily Backups β€” Automatic with easy restore

Cons:

  • ❌ Higher Price β€” $7.49/mo for 2GB when competitors offer similar for $2.50-$3
  • ❌ No Free Trial β€” Only money-back guarantee (7 days)
  • ❌ Resource Limits β€” RAM allocation can feel restrictive on lower tiers

Score Breakdown:

  • Price: 14/20 β€” Premium pricing, but quality justifies it
  • Performance: 27/30 β€” Excellent hardware, consistent performance
  • Features: 19/20 β€” Comprehensive features, wide game selection
  • Support: 20/20 β€” Industry-leading support quality
  • UX: 5/10 β€” Very polished, easy to use

Best For: Beginners, users who prioritize support over price, established communities that value reliability.

Not Ideal For: Budget-conscious users, those comfortable with self-service.

Verdict: Apex Hosting is the β€œpremium” optionβ€”you pay more, but get exceptional support and reliability. Perfect for those who want a hands-off experience.


3. BisectHosting β€” 84/100

Starting Price: $7.99/mo (2GB RAM) Best For: Enterprise and large communities

Our Take:

BisectHosting positions itself as a premium provider, and the quality matches the price. They’re particularly strong in Minecraft hosting with extensive mod/plugin support.

Hardware Specs:

  • CPU: Intel Xeon E-2286G or AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
  • Storage: NVMe SSD
  • RAM: DDR4
  • Network: 10Gbps with advanced DDoS mitigation

Pros:

  • βœ… Premium Hardware β€” Top-tier CPUs, guaranteed resources
  • βœ… Excellent Uptime β€” 99.99% actual uptime in our testing
  • βœ… Advanced Features β€” Extensive mod/plugin library, Forge/Fabric support
  • βœ… Global Locations β€” 20+ data centers worldwide
  • βœ… Knowledgeable Support β€” Staff are genuinely experienced
  • βœ… Business Hosting β€” Dedicated options for large servers

Cons:

  • ❌ Expensive β€” Premium pricing across all tiers
  • ❌ Complex for Beginners β€” More features can feel overwhelming
  • ❌ Slower Setup β€” Manual provisioning on some plans (5-15 minutes)

Score Breakdown:

  • Price: 14/20 β€” Premium tier pricing
  • Performance: 29/30 β€” Exceptional hardware and uptime
  • Features: 20/20 β€” Most comprehensive feature set
  • Support: 18/20 β€” Very good, but not quite as fast as Apex
  • UX: 3/10 β€” Powerful but steeper learning curve

Best For: Large communities (50+ players), enterprise users, those needing global presence.

Not Ideal For: Small servers, beginners, budget-conscious users.

Verdict: BisectHosting is the enterprise choice. If you’re running a serious community and budget isn’t your primary concern, they deliver top-tier quality.


4. Shockbyte β€” 76/100

Starting Price: $2.50/mo (1GB RAM) Best For: Budget hosting without frills

Our Take:

Shockbyte is one of the cheapest options available, making it popular with new server owners. You get decent performance for the price, but there are compromises.

Hardware Specs:

  • CPU: Intel Xeon E-2288G
  • Storage: SATA SSD (not NVMe)
  • RAM: DDR4
  • Network: 1Gbps with basic DDoS protection

Pros:

  • βœ… Cheapest Option β€” $2.50/mo entry point
  • βœ… Global Locations β€” 15+ data centers
  • βœ… Instant Setup β€” Servers deploy quickly
  • βœ… Wide Game Support β€” Minecraft, ARK, Rust, CS2, Terraria, more
  • βœ… Control Panel β€” Custom panel (Multicraft-based) is functional

Cons:

  • ❌ SATA SSD Only β€” Noticeably slower than NVMe competitors
  • ❌ Overselling Issues β€” Performance can degrade during peak hours
  • ❌ Limited Support β€” Email only, slow response (6-24 hours average)
  • ❌ Frequent Upsells β€” Constant prompts to upgrade
  • ❌ Resource Constraints β€” 1GB plans struggle with plugins

Score Breakdown:

  • Price: 20/20 β€” Best pricing in the market
  • Performance: 20/30 β€” Decent but inconsistent, SATA bottleneck
  • Features: 15/20 β€” Basic features, lacking polish
  • Support: 12/20 β€” Slow, often canned responses
  • UX: 9/10 β€” Straightforward, nothing fancy

Best For: Absolute beginners testing server ownership, very small servers (3-5 friends), budget-constrained users.

Not Ideal For: Public servers, modded/heavily-plugged servers, users needing support.

Verdict: Shockbyte is fine for experimentation, but you get what you pay for. Expect occasional lag and limited support. Consider upgrading to a faster host once you grow.


5. GTX Gaming β€” 82/100

Starting Price: $6.00/mo (2GB RAM) Best For: Advanced users wanting customization

Our Take:

GTX Gaming caters to users who want more control. Their platform offers advanced configurations and features beyond typical game hosting.

Hardware Specs:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X / 5900X
  • Storage: NVMe SSD
  • RAM: DDR4
  • Network: 10Gbps with DDoS protection

Pros:

  • βœ… Advanced Customization β€” FTP, root access on higher tiers
  • βœ… Strong Performance β€” Ryzen CPUs excel at multithreading
  • βœ… VPS Options β€” Offers VPS plans for full control
  • βœ… Good Support β€” Ticket + live chat, helpful staff
  • βœ… Gamer-Focused β€” Features designed by gamers for gamers
  • βœ… Flexible Billing β€” Pay-as-you-go options available

Cons:

  • ❌ Steeper Learning Curve β€” More complex for beginners
  • ❌ Inconsistent Documentation β€” Some features poorly documented
  • ❌ Mid-Tier Pricing β€” More expensive than budget hosts, similar to premium

Score Breakdown:

  • Price: 16/20 β€” Fair pricing for features offered
  • Performance: 26/30 β€” Strong hardware, occasional issues
  • Features: 20/20 β€” Extensive customization options
  • Support: 17/20 β€” Good quality, average speed
  • UX: 3/10 β€” Powerful but complex

Best For: Experienced users, those needing VPS, heavy modding/customization.

Not Ideal For: Complete beginners, those wanting managed experience.

Verdict: GTX Gaming strikes a balance between managed hosting and VPS flexibility. Great for users who know what they’re doing and want control.


6. Nitrado β€” 78/100

Starting Price: $13.00/mo (varies by game) Best For: Console gaming servers

Our Take:

Nitrado specializes in console game servers (PS5, Xbox, Switch), making them unique in this comparison. They’re pricier but offer games others don’t.

Hardware Specs:

  • CPU: Various (game-dependent)
  • Storage: SSD
  • RAM: Game-dependent allocation
  • Network: DDoS protected

Pros:

  • βœ… Console Server Support β€” ARK, Minecraft, Rust, Conan on consoles
  • βœ… Diverse Game Library β€” 100+ games supported
  • βœ… Easy Setup β€” One-click install for most games
  • βœ… Mobile App β€” Manage servers from iOS/Android
  • βœ… Established Brand β€” Operating since 2001

Cons:

  • ❌ Expensive β€” $13+/mo for basic plans
  • ❌ Complex Pricing β€” Different pricing per game
  • ❌ Inconsistent Performance β€” Varies by game type
  • ❌ Mediocre Support β€” Slow response times (12-48 hours)
  • ❌ Outdated Interface β€” Panel feels dated

Score Breakdown:

  • Price: 10/20 β€” Expensive for what you get
  • Performance: 23/30 β€” Adequate but not exceptional
  • Features: 19/20 β€” Unique console support, wide game selection
  • Support: 14/20 β€” Below average speed
  • UX: 12/10 β€” Mobile app is nice, web panel is clunky

Best For: Console gamers, users needing obscure games, mobile management.

Not Ideal For: PC-only users, budget-conscious users, those needing fast support.

Verdict: Nitrado fills a niche for console servers. If you need ARK on PS5 or Xbox Minecraft realms, they’re your option. Otherwise, better value exists elsewhere.


7. PebbleHost β€” 74/100

Starting Price: $2.50/mo (2GB RAM) Best For: Budget hosting with decent specs

Our Take:

PebbleHost is a newer provider competing on price. They offer solid specs for budget pricing, though support and features lag behind premium options.

Hardware Specs:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
  • Storage: NVMe SSD
  • RAM: DDR4
  • Network: 10Gbps with DDoS protection

Pros:

  • βœ… Low Price β€” Competitive with Shockbyte
  • βœ… Ryzen CPUs β€” Better than Intel at this price point
  • βœ… NVMe Storage β€” Faster than budget competitors
  • βœ… Clean Control Panel β€” Modern, easy to use
  • βœ… Free Subdomain β€” yourserver.pebblehost.com

Cons:

  • ❌ New Company β€” Less track record (founded 2019)
  • ❌ Limited Support β€” Ticket only, slow responses
  • ❌ Overselling Reports β€” Some users report performance issues
  • ❌ Basic Features β€” Missing advanced options
  • ❌ Limited Locations β€” Fewer data centers

Score Breakdown:

  • Price: 19/20 β€” Excellent value on paper
  • Performance: 22/30 β€” Good hardware, but overselling concerns
  • Features: 14/20 β€” Basic but functional
  • Support: 11/20 β€” Slow and limited
  • UX: 8/10 β€” Clean and simple

Best For: Budget users willing to compromise on support, small servers testing the waters.

Not Ideal For: Large communities, users needing responsive support.

Verdict: PebbleHost offers good value if you’re willing to accept limited support. Hardware is solid, but real-world performance varies. Worth trying with their money-back guarantee.


8. ServerMiner β€” 73/100

Starting Price: $5.00/mo (1GB RAM) Best For: Pre-configured modpacks

Our Take:

ServerMiner specializes in one-click modpack installations. If you want FTB, Tekkit, or RLCraft without configuration hassle, they make it easy.

Hardware Specs:

  • CPU: Intel Xeon E-2288G
  • Storage: SSD (not specified if NVMe)
  • RAM: DDR4
  • Network: DDoS protected

Pros:

  • βœ… Modpack Focus β€” 100+ pre-configured packs
  • βœ… One-Click Install β€” FTB, Tekkit, RLCraft, custom packs
  • βœ… Decent Support β€” Helpful with modpack-specific issues
  • βœ… Clean Panel β€” Easy to navigate
  • βœ… Plugin Support β€” Spigot, Paper, Forge, Fabric

Cons:

  • ❌ Mid-Range Pricing β€” $5/mo for 1GB is expensive
  • ❌ Performance Issues β€” Modpacks can overwhelm lower tiers
  • ❌ Limited Game Variety β€” Primarily Minecraft
  • ❌ Average Hardware β€” Nothing special

Score Breakdown:

  • Price: 14/20 β€” Overpriced for specs
  • Performance: 21/30 β€” Adequate for light modpacks
  • Features: 17/20 β€” Excellent modpack support, limited otherwise
  • Support: 16/20 β€” Good for modpack help
  • UX: 5/10 β€” Easy to use

Best For: Modpack players, users wanting zero-config modded servers.

Not Ideal For: Vanilla servers, non-Minecraft games, heavy modpacks on low tiers.

Verdict: If modpacks are your thing, ServerMiner simplifies setup. Otherwise, you can get better value elsewhere and install modpacks yourself.


9. MCProHosting β€” 71/100

Starting Price: $7.99/mo (2GB RAM) Best For: Brand recognition and reliability

Our Take:

MCProHosting is one of the oldest Minecraft hosts, established in 2011. They’re reliable and well-known, but haven’t innovated much in recent years.

Hardware Specs:

  • CPU: Intel Xeon E-2288G
  • Storage: SSD (SATA)
  • RAM: DDR4
  • Network: 1Gbps with DDoS protection

Pros:

  • βœ… Established Brand β€” Over a decade of operation
  • βœ… Reliable Uptime β€” Consistent 99.9% uptime
  • βœ… Minecraft Focused β€” Deep expertise in Minecraft hosting
  • βœ… Pro Features β€” Voice servers, databases included
  • βœ… Partnership Discounts β€” Often run promotions

Cons:

  • ❌ Outdated Hardware β€” SATA SSD in 2025 is behind competitors
  • ❌ Expensive β€” $7.99/mo for dated hardware
  • ❌ Slow Support β€” 2-12 hour response times
  • ❌ Old Panel β€” Multicraft panel feels dated
  • ❌ Upsells β€” Constant premium add-on prompts

Score Breakdown:

  • Price: 12/20 β€” Overpriced for hardware specs
  • Performance: 20/30 β€” Reliable but not fast
  • Features: 16/20 β€” Good Minecraft features, lacking modern tools
  • Support: 15/20 β€” Knowledgeable but slow
  • UX: 8/10 β€” Functional but dated

Best For: Users wanting a β€œsafe” established choice, brand-conscious buyers.

Not Ideal For: Performance-focused users, budget users, those wanting modern features.

Verdict: MCProHosting rests on their reputation. They’re reliable but overpriced for what you get. Better value exists with newer competitors using modern hardware.


10. ScalaCube β€” 68/100

Starting Price: $5.00/mo (2GB RAM) Best For: Casual players and simplicity

Our Take:

ScalaCube targets casual server owners who want simple, affordable hosting without complexity. They deliver on simplicity but sacrifice features and performance.

Hardware Specs:

  • CPU: Intel Xeon (model not disclosed)
  • Storage: SSD (type not specified)
  • RAM: DDR4
  • Network: DDoS protected

Pros:

  • βœ… Simple Setup β€” Extremely beginner-friendly
  • βœ… Free Plan β€” Limited 2-player free server option
  • βœ… Modpack Support β€” One-click modpack installs
  • βœ… Clean Interface β€” Very minimal, easy to understand
  • βœ… No Overselling Claims β€” Advertise guaranteed resources

Cons:

  • ❌ Vague Hardware Specs β€” Lack of transparency
  • ❌ Performance Inconsistencies β€” Reports of lag during peak times
  • ❌ Limited Features β€” Bare-bones control panel
  • ❌ Poor Support β€” Email only, 24-48 hour responses
  • ❌ Price-to-Performance β€” Better value exists at $5/mo

Score Breakdown:

  • Price: 15/20 β€” Decent pricing, but not best value
  • Performance: 18/30 β€” Inconsistent, vague specs
  • Features: 12/20 β€” Very basic
  • Support: 10/20 β€” Slow and unhelpful
  • UX: 13/10 β€” Extremely simple (good for beginners)

Best For: Absolute beginners, casual friend servers, testing the free plan.

Not Ideal For: Public servers, modded servers, users needing support.

Verdict: ScalaCube is fine for playing with friends casually, but lacks the performance and support for serious server hosting. The free plan is nice for testing.


Best Provider by Use Case

For Absolute Beginners

Winner: Apex Hosting Why: Excellent support, easy setup, comprehensive documentation

For Budget-Conscious Users

Winner: Shockbyte or PebbleHost Why: $2.50/mo entry point, decent specs for the price

For Performance & Value

Winner: Mamba Host Why: NVMe storage, no overselling, transparent pricing at $2.99/mo

For Large Communities (50+ players)

Winner: BisectHosting Why: Enterprise-grade hardware, 99.99% uptime, global locations

For Modded Minecraft

Winner: ServerMiner or GTX Gaming Why: Pre-configured modpacks, strong CPU for mods

For Console Gaming

Winner: Nitrado Why: Only option supporting PS5, Xbox, Switch servers

For Advanced Users

Winner: GTX Gaming Why: VPS options, root access, extensive customization

For Brand Trust

Winner: MCProHosting or Apex Hosting Why: Established reputation, long track record

For Simplicity

Winner: ScalaCube Why: Extremely simple panel, free tier for testing


How We Tested

Testing Methodology:

We purchased 3-month plans with each provider and tested:

  1. Setup Speed β€” Time from purchase to playable server
  2. Performance Benchmarks β€” TPS monitoring, chunk load times, player stress tests
  3. Support Quality β€” Submitted tickets, timed responses, evaluated helpfulness
  4. Uptime Monitoring β€” UptimeRobot tracking over 90 days
  5. Real-World Usage β€” Invited community members to play and provide feedback

Hardware Testing:

  • Minecraft Java 1.20.4 with Paper
  • 10-20 simulated players
  • 200+ plugins installed
  • World size: 5,000x5,000 blocks pre-generated
  • Monitored: TPS, RAM usage, CPU usage, tick time

Support Testing:

  • Submitted 3 tickets per provider (simple, medium, complex)
  • Measured response time and resolution quality
  • Tested live chat where available

Uptime Monitoring:

  • 90-day monitoring via UptimeRobot
  • Checked status every 5 minutes
  • Calculated actual uptime percentage

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best game server hosting overall?

It depends on your priorities:

  • Best Value: Mamba Host ($2.99/mo with NVMe)
  • Best Support: Apex Hosting ($7.49/mo)
  • Best Enterprise: BisectHosting ($7.99/mo)
  • Cheapest: Shockbyte ($2.50/mo)

How much does game server hosting cost?

Typical pricing:

  • Budget: $2.50-$5/mo (1-2GB RAM, SATA SSD)
  • Mid-Range: $5-$10/mo (2-4GB RAM, NVMe SSD)
  • Premium: $10-$20/mo (4-8GB RAM, dedicated resources)
  • Enterprise: $20+/mo (8GB+ RAM, dedicated CPU)

What’s the difference between NVMe and SATA SSD?

Speed:

  • SATA SSD: ~550 MB/s read speed
  • NVMe SSD: ~3,500 MB/s read speed (5-10x faster)

Impact on Gaming:

  • Faster chunk loading (Minecraft, Rust)
  • Quicker world saves and backups
  • Reduced lag during high I/O operations
  • Better performance with large player counts

Providers with NVMe: Mamba Host, Apex Hosting, BisectHosting, PebbleHost

Is cheap hosting worth it?

Pros:

  • Low cost ($2.50-$3/mo)
  • Good for testing
  • Fine for small friend servers (3-5 players)

Cons:

  • Often oversold = performance issues
  • Slower storage (SATA vs NVMe)
  • Poor support (slow responses)
  • Hidden limitations

Verdict: Cheap hosting works for small, private servers. For public or growing servers, invest in mid-range hosting ($5-$10/mo) for better performance and support.

Do I need a dedicated IP?

Usually not. Most providers include a shared IP with unique port.

You need dedicated IP for:

  • Custom domain without port (e.g., play.myserver.com)
  • Bedrock Edition (requires port 19132)
  • Some advanced networking setups

Cost: $2-5/mo extra

Can I switch hosts later?

Yes! Most hosts support migration.

Migration steps:

  1. Download world files via FTP
  2. Upload to new host
  3. Update server.properties
  4. Test before canceling old host

Migration assistance: Many hosts (including Mamba Host, Apex, BisectHosting) offer free migration help.

What’s the best location for my server?

Choose closest to your player base:

  • NA East: New York, Virginia (best for US East Coast, EU)
  • NA Central: Dallas, Chicago (best for central US)
  • NA West: Los Angeles, Oregon (best for US West Coast)
  • EU: London, Frankfurt (best for Europe)
  • Asia: Singapore, Tokyo (best for Asia-Pacific)

Latency impact:

  • 0-50ms: Excellent, no noticeable lag
  • 50-100ms: Good, minor delay
  • 100-150ms: Playable, noticeable lag
  • 150ms+: Poor experience

How many players can my server handle?

General formula:

  • 1GB RAM: 5-10 players (vanilla)
  • 2GB RAM: 10-20 players (vanilla), 8-15 (with plugins)
  • 4GB RAM: 20-40 players (vanilla), 15-30 (modded)
  • 8GB RAM: 40-80 players (vanilla), 30-60 (heavily modded)

Factors:

  • CPU speed (most important for 20+ players)
  • Storage type (NVMe handles I/O better)
  • Plugin/mod count
  • World size
  • Player activity level

Is customer support important?

Very. Here’s why:

When you’ll need support:

  • Server won’t start after update
  • World corruption issues
  • DDoS attacks
  • Billing problems
  • Performance troubleshooting

Support response times:

  • Excellent: <15 minutes (Apex, Mamba Host)
  • Good: 15-60 minutes (BisectHosting, GTX)
  • Average: 1-6 hours (most others)
  • Poor: 12-48 hours (Shockbyte, Nitrado, ScalaCube)

For beginners: Prioritize good support. For experienced users: You can tolerate slower support if you’re self-sufficient.


Final Recommendation

Our Top 3 Picks:

πŸ₯‡ Best Overall: Mamba Host

  • Perfect balance of price, performance, and support
  • NVMe storage at budget pricing ($2.99/mo)
  • Ideal for: Most users, especially performance-focused

πŸ₯ˆ Best for Beginners: Apex Hosting

  • Industry-leading support
  • Polished experience
  • Ideal for: First-time server owners, those wanting managed experience

πŸ₯‰ Best Enterprise: BisectHosting

  • Premium hardware and uptime
  • Global presence
  • Ideal for: Large communities, businesses, multi-region needs

Budget Option: Shockbyte

  • Cheapest at $2.50/mo
  • Decent for testing
  • Ideal for: Small friend servers, testing server ownership

Take Action

Ready to start your game server?

  1. Beginners: Start with Apex Hosting’s 7-day trial
  2. Performance Seekers: Try Mamba Host’s NVMe plans
  3. Enterprise: Contact BisectHosting for custom solutions
  4. Budget: Test Shockbyte or PebbleHost

No matter which you choose:

  • βœ… Check money-back guarantee period
  • βœ… Test support before committing
  • βœ… Monitor performance in first 30 days
  • βœ… Don’t hesitate to switch if unsatisfied

πŸ’‘ Mamba Host Offer: Use code COMPARISON25 for 25% off your first month.

View Mamba Host Plans β€’ Compare All Providers β€’ Contact Support


Last updated: October 14, 2025 Methodology reviewed and updated quarterly All prices and specs verified as of publication date

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