Best Minecraft Server Hosting

How to Find the Best Minecraft Hosting

The first step to finding the right Minecraft server hosting site for your Minecraft worlds is to figure out what you want from the server host. Certain features are pretty standard across the best web hosting providers, like DDoS protection, free MySQL, low latency, high uptime rates (near 100%), and more.

The following features are key elements of a successful host server. Certain features vary, depending on your needs like whether you’re aiming to host the Java or Bedrock edition, so it helps to have a broad idea of what you hope your Minecraft server can do before you rent one.

RAM

RAM (Random Access Memory is what your server needs to run the software that powers your game. The more RAM your server has, the more you can do with your server. You can host more people, add more mods and plugins, or build a bigger world. If you don’t have enough RAM on your server, you’ll experience more lag (when the game runs slowly). Most plans allow you to upgrade and downgrade, but make sure that’s an option before you commit to a plan.

Mod Packs and Plugin Support

Mod packs and plugins are programs that enhance your Minecraft world. There are fundamental differences between the two, and they aren’t usually compatible. You want to find a server that can handle both. They won’t be able to run simultaneously, but the server should be able to switch between the two with ease.

Mods run on Forge and change the game by modifying the software to add new characters or other in-game items. They can be installed on either your computer or on your server, depending on the mod. Mod packs are groups of mods you can install as a bundle. If your server has mods, the players on your server have to have those mods, too, or the server will disconnect them.

Plugins run on CraftBukkit, Spigot, and Paper and can only be installed on your server. Plugins change or enhance the server content, and any of the players on your server can use them. Plugins are much easier to manage when you run a server. Mods aren’t impossible; they’re just trickier.

Server Locations

The more server locations a hosting site has, the better. There’s less chance of lag time (low latency), and you have more options if you think your server is running slowly and want to switch. In general, the server location that is closest to you geographically will be the best one for you.

A good server hosting site will offer location speed testing on its website, so you can see for yourself how well the server performs. Some server hosting sites offer to show you the best server location for your geographic location.

Make sure you choose a server hosting site that allows you to change your server location without losing files or data or too much time. Some are automatic (you click a button, and the transfer happens), but some require you to submit a ticket. Some server hosting sites charge for select locations, so make sure you’re aware of any new fees.

Uptime

Uptime refers to the online status of the server. Server hosting sites usually have an SLA (service level agreement) that guarantees a minimum level of uptime. Downtime is when the server is offline or unreachable.

Scheduled maintenance is usually excluded from downtime, and a reputable server hosting site will inform you of impending maintenance. Emergency maintenance is also excluded from downtime and refers to situations where the server hosting site has to shut down the service immediately to repair hardware or stop a security breach attempt.

A reputable server hosting site will post their SLA on their website. They’ll also offer a credit if the downtime is a result of something that isn’t covered in the SLA. Before choosing any Minecraft server hosting site, check the SLA to make sure it matches their uptime claims and to be aware of how they handle downtime.

DDoS protection

For server hosting site purposes, distributed denial of service (DDoS) is the deliberate overuse of a server’s resources. The overuse is designed to exclude the site’s actual users from those resources. Cybercriminals will flood a site, causing congestion and blocking legitimate users from accessing their servers.

You should choose a site that has robust DDoS protections in place. Search the internet for any articles that indicate your chosen site has ever been the victim of an attack. Knowing about prior attacks is important because a successful attack can lead to future attacks. DDoS protection should also be upgradeable.

Automated Backups

Automated backups are scheduled to run without you having to do anything. The server hosting site shouldn’t need to do anything to trigger an automated backup. You should also be able to run a backup whenever you want manually.

Make sure you check the small print on server hosting sites. Some of them have a maximum number of backups that can be stored, so even an automated backup will require you to download each backup manually, or you’ll risk overwriting them with subsequent backups.

Restoring from a backup should be easy, as well, and, ideally, you can do this without having to contact the server hosting site. Some sites include backup restoration as part of the hosting fee, and others charge for it.

Ultra-Low Latency or Ping

Latency (also called ping) is the time it takes for information (packets) you send from your computer to reach the server. The packets have to leave your computer, reach the server, be verified by the server, and return to you and the other players. (Ultra) Low latency means that those packets are completing the circuit almost instantly.

Server location can be a factor in latency. If you’re too far from the server, there could be a lag in the connection time. Before choosing a server location, run the tests (if offered by the server hosting site) to find out which one works fastest for you.

Number of Allowed Slots or Players

When you research server hosting sites, pay attention to the number of slots or players you can have. The number of slots indicates how many players can be on simultaneously. The number of players is the number of people who will play with you simultaneously. A server hosting site can offer unlimited slots, but if you haven’t purchased a plan with enough RAM, you won’t be able to fill them.

Before you choose the number of slots, you should have a good idea of how many players you’ll have, and how many will play simultaneously. For instance, if you have ten players, but only five slots, no more than five can play together. If you have ten players and ten or more slots, all ten can play at once.

Plans are upgradeable and downgradeable, so don’t worry if you’ve purchased a plan with too little or too much RAM.

2 Main Benefits of Running Your Own Minecraft Server

Your World, Your Rules

When you run a Minecraft server, it’s your world. You create the world and make it what you want. You design it, establish the rules, decide who plays, and who doesn’t. Your friends and other players get to come in and explore your world, but they must follow your rules within the spaces you’ve set up. You get to choose mods and plugins, and the people playing on your server will have to adapt or play somewhere else.

Create a Community

When you run a Minecraft server, you get to decide who joins you. If you’ve built a world that people enjoy and want to share, they’ll invite their friends, and those friends will invite their friends, and so on. You might even end up running a popular public server. Being the host means you get to decide who stays and who goes.

Minecraft communities can be small and private, such as you and the friends and family you want to invite. A key advantage to running your own server is that you get to decide how big you want your community to be. From friends inviting other friends to strangers learning about your world and asking to be let in, you could end up with the next big Minecraft server. It’s all in your hands.

FAQ:

What is the best free Minecraft server host?

If you’re new to hosting or planning to host only a few friends for Minecraft, a free Minecraft server might be a better option for you. Free Minecraft server hosts offer minimal resources. Your RAM will be low, plugins and mods will be restricted or not allowed, and customer service will much slower because there won’t be as many people available to handle issues.

Aternos is probably the best free Minecraft server host. It exists solely to provide free server hosting to Minecraft players. There are slots for eight to 20 players, it’s fully customizable, and, most importantly, it has DDoS protection. Other features include automatic backups, mod pack and plugin compatibility, and customer service support that responds within 24 hours.

How much RAM is good for a Minecraft server?

To calculate how much RAM you need, you need to know how many people you expect to be on your server and how many mods and plugins you’ll be using — estimate about 50MB per person and mod and plugin. If you’re going to have ten friends playing and have ten mods and plugins, you’ll need at least 1GB of RAM.

How much does it cost to host a modded Minecraft server?

Hosting a modded Minecraft server requires enough RAM to run the mods. When you’re looking into server hosting sites, if they don’t have separate pricing options for modded servers, you’ll have to know precisely how many mods you have so that you can calculate the amount of RAM.

BisectHosting’s website has added banners to let you know which of their server plans are best for non-modded Minecraft servers.

How can I create a Minecraft server?

If you want to create a Minecraft server, rather than rent one, you’ll need some technical knowledge and the right equipment.

Your computer will need, at a minimum:

• DDoS protection (you don’t want to expose your players to hackers and cybercriminals)
• 8Ghz CPU (you want a dual-core processor to run Minecraft well – the higher the CPU, the better)
• 6GB RAM (to run both the server and the game)
• 10MB/s upload connection (nobody will play on your server if the lag times are high)

Note: Minecraft can run on a single core, but if you’re hosting a server, you’ll want a dual-core processor.

Choose your Minecraft version and download it to the server computer. Consider using a dedicated computer for the server. Vanilla is the easiest version for beginners but doesn’t allow extensions. Bukkit and Spigot are also suitable for new host servers, with some technical knowledge, and both allow plugins.

Log in and add your server (using your computer’s IP address) to the multiplayer screen. At this point, you’ll need to configure your server so that you can add players.