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Best Minecraft Server Hosting in 2026: 12 Providers Ranked

12 providers reviewed · Last updated · How we rank

Top picks

Best Overall

Godlike logo

Godlike

9.8 / 10

Fast provisioning, one-click modpacks and a clean panel with Discord management make it the lowest-hassle way to run a server.

Visit Godlike (opens in a new tab)

Whether you're starting a small survival SMP with friends, running a heavy modpack like RLCraft or All the Mods 10, or hosting a minigame network, your host decides how smooth the world feels. Minecraft leans hard on single-thread CPU speed, fast storage and reliable backups, and those vary a lot between providers.

We ranked 12 popular Minecraft hosts on performance, reliability, support, modded-server tools, ease of use and value. The short version: Godlike is our best overall pick, BisectHosting leads for modpacks, Apex Hosting is the easiest start for beginners and Akliz offers the most hands-on support. On a tight budget, look at PebbleHost and Sparked Host; if a clean control panel matters most, try Nodecraft.

Compare plans, locations and refund terms in the table below and see how we score hosts. Need something narrower? Check our guides to cheap, free and modded Minecraft server hosting.

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12 of 12 shown

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Provider reviews

#1 Godlike logo

Godlike

Best for: Best overall

9.8 / 10

Our top pick for most servers. Godlike pairs bare-metal performance with a panel that keeps admin work to a minimum: one-click installs from a huge modpack library, custom modpack uploads, mod management and automatic backups. Free extras like the Seed Map Viewer and Circle Generator are handy for builders.

Watch out for: unusual requests that need individual attention can take a little longer to resolve.

Starting price
$2.00
Price per GB
$1.00
Refund
3 days
24/7 support
Yes
Min RAM
1 GB
Max RAM
20 GB
Locations
US, CA, UK +8
Java
Yes
Bedrock
Yes
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
Yes
FTP access
Yes
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D / EPYC 9474F
Storage
NVMe

Pros

  • Free Minecraft plan
  • High-clock CPUs
  • One-click modpacks

Cons

  • Free plan has limited resources
Visit Godlike (opens in a new tab)
#2 BisectHosting logo

BisectHosting

Best for: Modpacks

9.4 / 10

The go-to host for modded communities. A massive one-click modpack and plugin library, configurable backups and a panel that makes switching pack versions painless. Support is known for practical technical answers on versions, JVM flags and performance tuning.

Watch out for: premium plans get expensive, and hardware details are not always published.

Starting price
$5.99
Price per GB
$2.99
Refund
3 days
24/7 support
Yes
Min RAM
2 GB
Max RAM
48 GB
Locations
US, CA, FR +9
Java
Yes
Bedrock
Yes
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
Yes
FTP access
Yes
CPU
AMD Ryzen (up to 5.7 GHz)
Storage
NVMe

Pros

  • Huge modpack library
  • Many locations
  • Automatic backups

Cons

  • Premium plans cost more
Visit BisectHosting (opens in a new tab)
#3

Apex Hosting

Best for: Beginners

9.4 / 10

The friendliest start for first-time server owners: guided onboarding, a polished panel, video tutorials and responsive support, with automatic backups switched on by default.

Watch out for: plans sized for bigger community servers are on the expensive side.

Starting price
$3.99
Price per GB
$3.99
Refund
7 days
24/7 support
Yes
Min RAM
1 GB
Max RAM
32 GB
Locations
US, UK, NL +6
Java
Yes
Bedrock
Yes
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
Yes
FTP access
Yes
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (most locations)
Storage
NVMe

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly panel
  • Free subdomain
  • Good documentation

Cons

  • Higher price per GB
Visit Apex Hosting (opens in a new tab)
#4 Akliz logo

Akliz

Best for: Customer support

9.4 / 10

The pick for owners who want real people on the other end. Akliz support is comfortable with complex Forge and Fabric setups, and uptime and connection quality stay consistently stable, which matters for long-running modded worlds.

Watch out for: a small plan lineup, and it costs more than budget hosts.

Starting price
$10.00
Price per GB
$5.00
Refund
7 days
24/7 support
No
Min RAM
2 GB
Max RAM
24 GB
Locations
—
Java
Yes
Bedrock
Yes
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
—
FTP access
Yes
CPU
AMD EPYC / Ryzen 7 / Intel Xeon
Storage
NVMe

Pros

  • Hands-on human support
  • Comfortable with complex Forge and Fabric setups
  • Stable uptime and connection quality
  • Automatic backups every 12 hours

Cons

  • Small choice of plans
  • Higher price per GB than budget hosts
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#5 Nodecraft logo

Nodecraft

Best for: Clean control panel

9.2 / 10

The best-designed control panel in this ranking. NodePanel keeps everything clear, makes switching Minecraft versions quick, handles scheduled backups and still gives advanced admins full control over Java JVM flags.

Watch out for: it gets expensive for casual or weekend servers, and hardware details are thin.

Starting price
$5.96
Price per GB
$2.98
Refund
7 days
24/7 support
No
Min RAM
2 GB
Max RAM
32 GB
Locations
US, MX, CA +14
Java
Yes
Bedrock
Yes
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
Yes
FTP access
Yes
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 / EPYC
Storage
SSD

Pros

  • Clean, easy NodePanel
  • Quick Minecraft version switching
  • Full access to Java JVM flags
  • Free trial without a card

Cons

  • Expensive for casual or weekend servers
  • Support is not available 24/7
  • Few hardware details published
Visit Nodecraft (opens in a new tab)
#6 Host Havoc logo

Host Havoc

Best for: Instant setup

9.0 / 10

Low-friction hosting that gets you playing fast: instant setup, a straightforward panel and easy mod, plugin and config management, with automated backups handled for you.

Watch out for: larger plans get pricey.

Starting price
$5.00
Price per GB
$5.00
Refund
3 days
24/7 support
Yes
Min RAM
1 GB
Max RAM
32 GB
Locations
CA, US, UK +4
Java
Yes
Bedrock
No
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
Yes
FTP access
Yes
CPU
AMD Ryzen / Intel Xeon
Storage
NVMe

Pros

  • Instant setup
  • Straightforward control panel
  • One-click modpacks from CurseForge, Modrinth and FTB
  • Daily automatic backups

Cons

  • Bedrock players only via the Geyser plugin
  • Larger plans get expensive
  • Ticket-only support
Visit Host Havoc (opens in a new tab)
#7 ScalaCube logo

ScalaCube

Best for: Budget Java + Bedrock

9.0 / 10

A budget-friendly host with a simple toggle-based panel, advanced server management tools and low latency. A sensible choice if you want to keep costs down without giving up control.

Watch out for: support can be slow to respond, and hardware specs are vague.

Starting price
$5.00
Price per GB
$3.33
Refund
7 days
24/7 support
Yes
Min RAM
1 GB
Max RAM
64 GB
Locations
US, CA, AU +8
Java
Yes
Bedrock
Yes
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
Yes
FTP access
Yes
CPU
Intel Xeon
Storage
SSD

Pros

  • Free website builder add-on
  • Unlimited player slots

Cons

  • Support response times vary
Visit ScalaCube (opens in a new tab)
#8 PebbleHost logo

PebbleHost

Best for: Budget servers

8.8 / 10

Strong value for money: a streamlined panel, easy access to mods, plugins and configs, quick support and upgrades without recreating your world.

Watch out for: budget plans run on older hardware and skip some extras, so pick Premium for bigger servers.

Starting price
$1.00
Price per GB
$1.00
Refund
3 days
24/7 support
Yes
Min RAM
1 GB
Max RAM
36 GB
Locations
CA, UK, AU +3
Java
Yes
Bedrock
Yes
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
Yes
FTP access
Yes
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X / Ryzen 9 (Premium)
Storage
NVMe

Pros

  • Very low price per GB
  • Premium tier available

Cons

  • Budget tier has shared resources
Visit PebbleHost (opens in a new tab)
#9 Sparked Host logo

Sparked Host

Best for: Budget servers

8.8 / 10

One of the most affordable ways to get a server online, with the pleasant Apollo panel, quick support and upgrades that keep your world intact. A huge number of servers already run on it.

Watch out for: budget plans are more limited, and paid add-ons can add up.

Starting price
$1.00
Price per GB
$1.00
Refund
No refund window
24/7 support
Yes
Min RAM
1 GB
Max RAM
26 GB
Locations
US, FR, FI +5
Java
Yes
Bedrock
Yes
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
Yes
FTP access
Yes
CPU
Ryzen 9
Storage
NVMe

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Enterprise tier with dedicated cores

Cons

  • Fewer locations than competitors
Visit Sparked Host (opens in a new tab)
#10

Shockbyte

Best for: Wide plan range

8.4 / 10

A long ladder of plans makes it easy to start small and scale up as your community grows. A good fit if you already know how much power your server needs.

Watch out for: the control panel can feel overwhelming, and costs climb for large communities.

Starting price
$1.99
Price per GB
$1.99
Refund
3 days
24/7 support
Yes
Min RAM
1 GB
Max RAM
32 GB
Locations
US, CA, BR +9
Java
Yes
Bedrock
Yes
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
Yes
FTP access
Yes
CPU
AMD EPYC / Ryzen 9
Storage
NVMe

Pros

  • Low entry price
  • Instant setup
  • Many locations

Cons

  • Basic hardware on cheapest plans
Visit Shockbyte (opens in a new tab)
#11 GGServers logo

GGServers

Best for: Gentle learning curve

8.4 / 10

A gentle learning curve for new admins: quick setup, chat-first support, an approachable panel, simple mod and plugin handling and role-based permissions for your staff.

Watch out for: modded and larger servers get pricey, and support can be slow at busy times.

Starting price
$3.00
Price per GB
$3.00
Refund
1 days
24/7 support
Yes
Min RAM
1 GB
Max RAM
32 GB
Locations
CA, FR, UK +5
Java
Yes
Bedrock
Yes
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
Yes
FTP access
Yes
CPU
AMD Ryzen / Intel i7
Storage
SSD / NVMe

Pros

  • Quick setup
  • Approachable control panel
  • Role-based permissions for staff
  • Scheduled automatic backups

Cons

  • Higher prices for modded and larger servers
  • Support can be slow at busy times
  • Standard plans have only two locations
Visit GGServers (opens in a new tab)
#12 ServerMiner logo

ServerMiner

Best for: Small SMPs

8.2 / 10

Built around SMP admins: streamlined version switching, world management and config editing, scheduled backups and sensible security defaults out of the box.

Watch out for: it is not the best fit for servers with lots of concurrent players.

Starting price
$7.58
Price per GB
$5.05
Refund
No refund window
24/7 support
No
Min RAM
—
Max RAM
10 GB
Locations
US, AU, CA +3
Java
Yes
Bedrock
—
Modpacks
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Backups
Yes
DDoS protection
—
FTP access
Yes
CPU
Intel / AMD Ryzen (4–5 GHz)
Storage
NVMe

Pros

  • SMP-focused control panel
  • Daily backups with one-click restore
  • One-click modpack and plugin installs
  • Quick version switching

Cons

  • Not ideal for many concurrent players
  • No free trial
  • Higher entry price than budget hosts
Visit ServerMiner (opens in a new tab)

How to choose a Minecraft server host

  • CPU speed beats core count. Minecraft's main game loop runs largely on one thread, so modern high-IPC CPUs matter more than lots of slower cores.
  • NVMe storage. Fast NVMe SSDs load chunks and save worlds far quicker than older drives, which cuts hitching during teleports and dimension changes.
  • Automatic backups. Daily backups, or more frequent ones on busy servers, are essential for long-running worlds.
  • Locations near your players. A data center close to your community means lower ping.
  • Responsive support. Round-the-clock live chat is the gold standard when something breaks at night.
  • Transparent plans. Check whether CPU cores are dedicated or shared and exactly how much RAM and CPU each server gets.
  • Painless upgrades. Your IP and port should stay the same when you move to a bigger plan.

Before you commit, read a few independent reviews to confirm the host's reliability.

Shared vs dedicated CPU: which do you need?

Shared CPU is fine for small servers with a handful of players. Busy SMPs, plugin-heavy servers and large modpacks run noticeably better with dedicated per-server CPU performance. A telltale sign of CPU contention: the server stutters at peak hours even though RAM usage looks normal.

How We Rank Hosting Providers

Each host is scored on six weighted criteria: performance (25%), reliability (20%), support (20%), modded server support (15%), ease of use (10%) and price for quality (10%). We look at uptime, deployment speed and plan range, walk through the control panel (server creation, region and version switching, modpack installs, SFTP uploads, console, backups and restores, staff permissions) and weigh customer reviews from Trustpilot and HostAdvice. Hosts change hardware and plans often, so we re-check them regularly. Read the full methodology.

Read our full methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?

It depends on what you run more than on the host:

  • Vanilla or Paper SMP for a small group: 4–6 GB
  • Medium Forge or Fabric modpacks: 6–8 GB
  • Heavy packs (RLCraft, ATM10 and similar): 10–12 GB or more

Add 1–2 GB for every 10 extra players and keep 20–30% headroom for farms and chunk loaders. If TPS drops or memory stays maxed out, it's time to upgrade.

What is the cheapest reliable Minecraft server hosting?

PebbleHost, Sparked Host and ScalaCube have the lowest entry tiers in this ranking; compare their current plans in the table above. Be realistic, though: modpacks need more RAM and CPU than the cheapest plans offer. See our full list of cheap Minecraft server hosts, or free options if you want to try before paying.

Which host is best for modded Minecraft?

BisectHosting, Akliz, Godlike and Apex Hosting stand out for one-click modpack installers, good documentation and support that understands Forge and Fabric. Our modded Minecraft hosting comparison goes deeper.

Can Java and Bedrock players join the same server?

Yes. Run a Java server (usually Paper) on a host that lets you upload plugins, install Geyser (and optionally Floodgate, so Bedrock players don't need a Java account), then test the connection from a Bedrock client. Crossplay depends on the plugin setup and enough CPU and RAM, not on a special plan.

How do I move my Minecraft world to a new host safely?
  1. Stop the old server and download the full world folder plus your plugin or mod configs.
  2. Upload everything to the new host and start the server.
  3. Check that the world loads and run a short test session before inviting players.
  4. Keep a separate copy of the old world until you're sure everything works.
How often should I back up my Minecraft server?

Daily backups are the minimum for any long-term world, and busy SMPs benefit from incremental backups every 6–12 hours. Whatever the schedule, test a restore from time to time: a backup you can't restore is worthless.

How do I reduce lag on my Minecraft server?

Start with view distance and simulation distance, then look for mob farms, chunk loaders and heavy redstone. On Paper, use the built-in performance tools to find what is eating ticks. If the server stutters at peak hours even though RAM looks fine, the CPU is the bottleneck. Test updates and modpack changes before rolling them out to players.

Are "unlimited player slots" really unlimited?

Not in practice. "Unlimited" means there is no artificial cap, but how many players your server can handle still depends on RAM, CPU and how heavy your plugins and mods are. Size your plan for the number of players you actually expect.