Minecraft, the king of all sandbox games, has five game modes: survival, creative, adventure, hardcore, and spectator. Multiplayer gameplay is available by four methods: direct game-to-game multiplayer, LAN play, local split screen, and servers (player-hosted and business-hosted).

Minecraft players can self-host, meaning they run their own servers, rent server space from a third-party web host, or directly linkup to another gamer’s Minecraft came via Xbox Live. Here, we’re going to unpack multiplayer via servers, and reveal the best Minecraft server hosting provider.

Minecraft Multiplayer Servers

All Minecraft hosting plans from Shockbyte support Java Edition and Bedrock Edition and are always up-to-date. We have every possible Minecraft server type available as a one-click install, updated each hour by our automatic system. Choose your minecraft server hosting plan and start playing. Instantly get your Free Minecraft Server hosting on our low latency global locations. MINECRAFT SERVER HOSTING. Budget AMD Ryzen 3600 EU. Intel I9-9900K EU AMD Ryzen 3800X NA Intel I7-7700K ASIA Unmetered NVMe SSD's. 5 Free Databases. Europe North America. Europe North America Asia. Unlimited Slots. DDoS Protection. Order Now Order Now. BISECT hosting is a dedicated Minecraft server hosting provider. Our server fleet utilizes premium hardware, with dual E5-2600 series processors, DDR4 ECC RAM, and Enterprise SSDs running on each server for the ultimate performance! Unlimited Storage Unrestricted access to the disk space and several other resources that your server uses to.

Server Operators (better known as Ops), control and administer Minecraft multiplayer servers. Through server commands, the Op can change game settings such as turning on or off rain/snow in the current world (toggledownfall), add to or set the world time (time <add/set>) or summon entities such as mobs, projectiles, items, vehicles, etc. (summon <EntityName> [x] [y] [z] [dataTag]). With the proper minecraft.command.op permissions, through the (op <player>) command, a player can be turned into a server operator.*

*These Minecraft server commands are based on the CraftBukkit out-of-the-box commands.

Best Minecraft Server Hosting Providers

1. Apex Hosting

Apex Minecraft server hosting truly puts their customers first and has some of the best support around. If you’re new to Minecraft server hosting, or not the most technical of gamers, then I’d recommend you check out Apex for their top-tier setup support. Features and benefits include Java and Bedrock support, 24/7 uptime, one-click mudpack and plugin installs, ultra-low latency, full file and database access, and of course their highly rated live chat support. Automated backups and DDoS protection also come standard.

Apex hosting supports most any Minecraft server setup: Java Edition on Feed The Beast, ATL, Voids Wrath, Technic, Bukkit, Spigot, Vanilla, Sponge, Snapshots, MCPE or Minecraft: Bedrock edition on PocketMine. Changing server versions, adding/removing plugins, and swapping out mods is super easy with the Apex enhanced control panel.

Minecraft

Server locations cover West North America, East North America, Europe, South America, and Australia; a robust global network providing very low ping for global games.

Premium server setups are relatively affordable, beginning at $1.99/month for 512MB RAM and support for 10 players. The most popular plan is $7.99/month for 2GB RAM and up to 44 player support, which is more expensive than the other solutions listed here on a hardware-to-hardware basis, but keep in mind you’re also paying for the best support in the business with Apex Hosting. Quarterly and annual discounts help to save on your server costs, and payments are available in USD, Euro, Pound, and the Australian Dollar, making it convenient for international gamers.

If you’re looking to scale your setup, Apex Hosting does offer setups above 6.5GB, but those are configured on a custom request basis. Keep in mind Apex is recommended to those who may require premium support and setup assistance, not to experts looking to run 100+ player setups. If that’s the case, there are cheaper hosting options on this list to give you more ‘bang for your buck’ for larger setups.

2. MelonCube

If you place a priority on performance, price and uptime, look no further than MelonCub Minecraft servers (or “cubes” as they call them). With top hardware, a lag-free hosting environment, and a ridiculously quick 60-second setup time, you and your players will be up and gaming in no time.

MelonCube features are many, with dedicated RAM, DDoS protection, unlimited SSD storage, phpMyAdmin access, auto-restarts on crash, free MySQL database, full FTP access, managed support, free backups… just to name a few.

Server

MelonCube claims a 100% uptime SLA on all MelonCube services. This is a bit unheard of, as 99.99% is typically the gold standard, but their stats back up their bold ‘perfect uptime’ claims.

Their four distributed server locations include Montreal, Canada; Miami Florida; France; and Los Angeles, California, giving wide network coverage.

Supported Jars include: CraftBukkit, Spigot, Vanilla, BungeeCord. With custom jar functionality, MelonCube hosting allows for Snapshots, jars and modbacks like: Technic Platform, FTB (Feed The Beast), ATLauncher, Resonant Rise, Voidswrath, and more!

MelonCube support is great, available when you need help, with expert advice from fellow enthusiasts (not just from IT nerds).

Their pricing is straight forward with no “budget” & “premium” tier segments to choose from. All plans enjoy the same benefits across the board, plain and simple. USA pricing begins at just $2/month for 512MB RAM, unlimited player slots, and unlimited SSD storage, and all USA plans are based on a simple $4.00 per GB of RAM model (France and Canada are $3/GB).

Scaling with MelonCube will never be a problem, as their plans go all the way up to a whopping 46GB DDR4 RAM plan with “unlimited” player slots and unlimited SSD storage. If you end up running a Minecraft server of that size, let me know – I’d love to jump into a slot on that ridiculously massive hardware allocation!

3. GameServers

A big name in the gaming community, GameServers hosts a variety of popular games, including: 7 Days To Die, ARK: Survival Evolved, Call of Duty: Blackops III, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rust, Space Engineers, Team Fortress 2, The Forest, Unturned, and of course, Minecraft. They offer a variety of worldwide server locations so you can host locally in your region and avoid lag. They also offer low latency voice servers, and a variety of other services including dedicated servers, enterprise hosting, and more.

GameServers Minecraft servers include McMyAdmin control panel, which offers daily backups, Bukkit, one-click plugin installs, a static IP address, and the option for a free website with MySQL database management. The control panel comes pre-loaded with Tekkit, ChestShop, CommandBook, iConomy, Essentials, GodPowers, Factions, McMMO, WorldGuard, WorldEdit – just to name a few! And, users now have the option to upload their own custom plugins, giving admins even more control over their Minecraft server. One nice benefit to GameServers is that the memory allocation is guaranteed, unlike most other gaming hosts that will virtually redistribute RAM on their shared servers as needed.

Upon GameServer setup, they’ll automatically recommend the best Minecraft server hosting location, based on your geo-ping distance from their server network. Have additional questions? GameServer offers 24/7 support.

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Get your own server from GameServers and create a custom gameplay by utilizing the power of the McMyAdmin control panel for Minecraft servers.

Pro Tip: Based on my testing, 512MB of RAM is sufficient for most multiplayer Minecraft setups. If you’re running a lot of plugins, however, then increased RAM is recommended.

The 512MB plan is suitable for 1-8 players and will run you $3.99/month. Plans scale up in tiers to a large 6GB RAM setup suitable for up to 96 players.

4. BeastNode

BeastNode is, well, a Beast! (And aptly named at that.) Their California based high-performance platform is built for enthusiasts with the latest Intel Xenon CPUs, datacenter-grade SSDs, 99.9% uptime, unmetered gigabit connection speeds, a top-tier network and the most popular Minecraft server admin control panel, Multicraft.

Server locations include Chicago, IL; Phoenix, AZ; and Amsterdam, NLD (great for players in Germany, UK, France, and greater Europe). The Chicago, IL location is most central, and is personally recommended for your initial server setup. The Amsterdam location retains low-latency for US players, and the Phoenix, AZ location performs well in South America, Asia and even Australia.

Pricing options are flexible, starting at just $2.99/month for the initial Budget Minecraft Plan which includes 1GB of RAM, suitable for up to 15 simultaneous players. Plans scale from there, with the most popular budget plan coming in at $11.99/month with 4GB RAM (suitable for up to 60 players).

The Premium Minecraft Plans showcase some added benefits including: unlimited disk space, technical support included, and up to a 15% discount with longer billing cycles. These premium plans begin at $5/month for 512MB RAM (up to 10 players), with the most popular plan at $20/month for 2GB RAM (suitable for up to 40 players). A 4GB+ plan is recommended for mods across both plan types.

For scaling, BeastNode plans run up to 12GB in RAM allocation, for those wishing to host over 100 players.

BestNode also offers SSD-powered cloud VPS solutions, with instant upgrade/downgrade scaling capabilities, starting at just $5/month for the VPS-512 plan (1 core, 512 MB RAM, 25 GB disc space, 1TB bandwidth), with the most popular VPS-1024 plan at $10/month (2 cores, 1GB RAM, 35 GB disc space, 2TB bandwidth).

5. AnvilNode

AnvilNode servers are reliable, up to date, secure, affordable, and blazingly fast. They boast the latest gen hardware (Intel Xenon or i7 CPUs and fast SSDs), robust DDoS protection and 24/7 multi-lingual support in English, Dutch and Spanish. Other perks include daily server backups with 1-month data retention, and a super-fast gigabit connection to make lag a non-issue.

Plans start at $4/month for the 2GB Anvil plan, or the 1GB Gold plan. All plans include other benefits such as Java 8 support, multi-user support, UE & EU server locations, a plugin installer, full FTP access and free MySQL database support. These plans go all the way up to 24GB, making scaling your Minecraft server a breeze. They also have dedicated server options upon request.

AnvilNode is also partnered with some big Minecraft names, offering extended trials of Enjin (hosted platform for creating websites and gaming communities), Buycraft (the best donation plugin for Bukkit and Minecraft servers), and Minetrends (detailed insights and stats on your Mineraft server).

After signup and payment, your Minecraft server is activated instantly, so you can get setup and gaming within minutes.


There are millions of people online, right now, across the world. They’re running Minecraft on their PC, console, or even their phone – connecting to a Minecraft community server. Learn more about Minecraft server hosting with answers to the most common questions below.

What is a Minecraft Server?

A Minecraft server is simply a form of a dedicated gaming sever, specifically designed to host Minecraft online play. Minecraft servers host a huge online world created by community members. If you have your own Minecraft server you can host a game, controlling every element from total users, who gets to play and who is banned, host online parties, and much more!

When you choose to play Minecraft in multiplayer mode, you need to connect your computer or console device to another computer to play against others. The other computer that is hosting the game is a Minecraft server.

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Best Minecraft Server Hosting

When searching for the best Minecraft server hosting you’ll want to focus on a provider that has virtually no lag, a robust dashboard, and great support. Price is obviously a consideration, but the cheapest Minecraft servers often are laggy, causing frustrating gameplay and server administration (as seen here). Consider our top recommendation, Apex Hosting, for the best balance of price-to-features, or any of our 5 best Minecraft servers listed above. If none of those options meets your needs and budget then see the results here for alternative hosting providers.

How do I Connect to a Minecraft Server?

To connect to a Minecraft server, you’ll need launch Minecraft, navigate to the Multiplayer section of the menu, and select “Add Server”. Here you’ll name the server, and add its unique address, which is either a website URL or the IP address of the host. Make sure to select “Done” before returning back to your server list. Once you select the “Join Server” button you’ll be transported to a new Minecraft world ready for new adventures.

How much does it cost to run a Minecraft server?

Hosting a Minecraft server is affordable. Apex Hosting, our #1 recommended hosting provider, begins at $2.99/month for a 1GB plan capable of hosting 25 players. This is a basic server plan, which doesn’t include modpacks. The next-level plan begins at $4.99 for 2GB and 50 player seats, and includes some modpacks. At $9.99/month, you get 4GB, 100 player seats, and all available modpacks. The modpacks include the best from FTB, ATL, Voidswrath, and Technic platforms. They’re all one-click installs, changing the way you play Minecraft with a simple click of a button.

Apex hosting also offers quarterly discounts of 5%, and an annual discount of 10%. Plans with Apex hosting scale up to 16GB, 1,000 player packages. If you’re looking to play Minecraft or Minecraft Java Edition in a hosted environment, Apex hosting is the way to go.

What is a Minecraft Modpack?

A Minecraft modpack is simply a collection of modifications to Minecraft in one installation file, or pack. A modpack changes, or modifies, the way standard Minecraft gameplay is run.

Included in a modpack are the config files that enable the mods to run without issue. The modpack creators, or developers, typically resolve all ID conflicts for blocks and items, and eliminate duplicate worldgen items. Each modpack is styled differently, bringing new rules, designs and adventures to Minecraft. Some of the most popular modpacks include SkyFactory and Stoneblock by CurseForge. See the current CurseForge modpack list sorted by popularity here.

Join the Minecraft Community

Create a world for just you and your friends, accessible 24/7.

The vibrant global community of Minecraft is one thing that makes this game so great. You can connect with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of other Minecraft gamers worldwide.

Looking for an interactive way to play Minecraft, that isn’t as broad as the entire Minecraft ecosystem? Minecraft Realms are a great place to connect with your friends. Realms can host up to 10 friends at the same time. It’s a great way to play Minecraft in a controlled and friendly environment! Realms are always online, so you and your friends can access that world 24/7, any time of day or night. Another cool benefit to Realms is that your friends get to play for free — only the owner of the Realm needs to pay. Get more info on Realms here.

Free

Looking for more ways to connect with the community? See the official Minecraft social profiles below:

Don’t have Minecraft yet? You can learn more about Minecraft from the official website here.

“Minecraft” is a trademark of Mojang Synergies AB. Microsoft® Studios

Playing Minecraft with friends is one of the best ways to enjoy the modern-day classic. Setting up your own Minecraft server lets players from around the world join in exploring your worlds and building a community. Here’s a look at the best Minecraft server hosting services today.

Contents

Minecraft Server Hosting Comparison Chart

Apex Hosting

Apex Hosting is a Minecraft-focused hosting service offering dedicated hardware and extensive support. You can get your Minecraft server up within 5 minutes of purchasing a plan. Newcomers to Minecraft hosting will appreciate the smooth process in setting up their very first server, since Apex Hosting handles all of the technical details.

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You can run both Minecraft versions on Apex Hosting servers. Its hosting plans range from 1GB to 7GB RAM, with unlimited player slots. All modpacks are available on the 5GB and up plans and you can install them in one click. Apex Hosting integrates Bukkit, Votifier, Spigot, and more plugins so you can setup donations, monetization, and other features hassle-free.

Setting up a website for your Minecraft server is also easy on Apex Hosting. Their website builder doesn’t require coding knowledge, so you can pick out a theme, customize it, and get it up in no time. You get your own subdomain so players can easily connect to your server. Apex Hosting has more than a dozen server locations around the world, ensuring ultra low latency, and they have multiple avenues for customer support.

Key features and benefits:

  • Instant setup and one-click modpack installers
  • DDoS protection for all server locations
  • 24/7 uptime with ultra low latency
  • Automatic backups
  • Custom web-based Multicraft 2.0 control panel
  • Professional support staff

MCProHosting

As one of the first game server hosting providers, MCProHosting is one of the largest ones as well, providing 21 server locations across 5 continents. Server uptime is also one of the best, which is saying something considering how long they’ve been in the biz. They have branched out to offer game server hosting to games other than Minecraft, too.

MCProHosting has an excellent customer service and support system, with friendly staff who are quick to respond to issues and requests. You can get a Minecraft server up and running almost as soon as they receive your payment. Newcomers and veterans alike can utilize their server management packs to get expert assistance in customizations, or you can take full control of plugins, modes, JAR files, etc., yourself. You’ll have full file access and even your own MySQL database.

You’ll be able to manage your game server on the go using their self-developed iOS and Android app. Their custom control panel is intuitive and provides numerous premium features. You get unlimited storage no matter which plan you choose, while daily backups are automatic and stored for up to 1 year.

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Key features and benefits:

  • Premium server fleet hardware with dual processors
  • Ultra low latency courtesy of global network
  • Automatic daily backups to off-site locations for up to 1 year
  • Fast ticket response times from dedicated support team
  • Free web and FTP file access plus MySQL database
  • Server management packs and plugin/mod support

ServerMiner

Like most top Minecraft hosting providers, ServerMiner sets up your server almost instantly after paying for your order. You can create and upload as many worlds as you like and control all of their settings via their custom SMPicnic control panel, which has one-click installers, player tracking, and more.

There are eight ServerMiner locations to choose from with packages ranging from 1.5GB to upwards of 10GB. Storage is limited to 50GB, but you get unlimited world size so there’s no need to worry about insufficient disk space. You can freely switch between mods without deleting worlds, letting you enjoy different mod packs for any world you play in.

ServerMiner also includes a free Mumble voice server, mySQL database, an Enjin advanced tier website, and BuyCraft Premium. There’s a wealth of tutorials on their site to help you get started and troubleshoot. For more difficult issues, you can submit tickets to get quick assistance from their support specialists.

Key features and benefits:

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  • Instant server setup after payment
  • DDoS protection
  • Unlimited worlds and world size
  • Single-click version and plugin installers
  • Player tracker

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BisectHosting

BisectHosting specializes in Minecraft game servers, though they provide similar services for other games. You can choose either the original Java or mobile Bedrock version and get started immediately. With the Multicraft control panel, you can modify your server’s mod packs and plugins as you like. You’ll also get a free dedicated IP, your own subdomain, and MySQL database.

15 server locations allow BisectHosting to provide low latency connections to players around the world. They offer a huge number of premium and budget packages ranging from 1GB RAM to more than 32GB RAM, making them ideal if you’re keen on building an enormous server. All premium packages include unlimited player slots, daily backups, modpack updates, and unlimited SSD space (subject to fair usage policy in their TOS). Budget packages have limited player slots, from 12 to 160+ players, and are only available on select server locations.

Key features and benefits:

  • Hosting plans for up to 32GB RAM servers
  • Unlimited SSD space and player slots for premium plans
  • DDoS protection and daily backups
  • Free modpack installations
  • Custom JAR support
  • Free dedicated IP, subdomain, MySQL

ScalaCube

With some of the most affordable Minecraft hosting plans, ScalaCube can be an excellent starting point for those new to game servers. ScalaCube lets you install unlimited game servers in a single VPS server and they can accommodate more players than the listed 10 to 600 slots as long as there’s sufficient RAM and CPU juice.

You can run any Minecraft version on your ScalaCube server and configure it using their custom control panel. Single-click installers for popular modpacks and minigames are included. You can use Forge to pack your favorite or self-made mods into new modpacks. ScalaCube even lets you crate your own Minecraft game launcher, making it easier for players to update their files and connect to the server.

Key features and benefits:

  • Instant setup and full file access
  • Unlimited game servers and slots
  • Pre-installed website and forum
  • Customizable game launcher
  • Automated backups and DDoS protection
  • Ultra low latency