Since its release back in 2011, Minecraft has stolen the hearts of over 126 million active players around the world via single-player mode and online multiplayer supported by Minecraft server hosting. The sandbox game is immensely addictive, offering education and fun for players of all ages.
Minecraft has advanced somewhat since its birth, making it available on desktop PC, mobiles, and consoles.
The perfect combination of simplistic graphics, creative players, and straightforward gameplay has caused Minecraft to evolve into one of the most popular video games of all time. Even Lego has made a theme of it.
Minecraft Multiplayer
Minecraft can be played as a single-player game, however, one of its main features is that you can play with other people online. Engaging with other players, building worlds, and buying/selling from in-game shops is all part of the fun.
When you choose to play Minecraft in multiplayer mode, you’ll be faced with a few options:
- LAN: Here you can connect to local computers, e.g. in the same room or house.
- Realms: Minecraft Realms is a subscription-based game mode where players can quickly host Minecraft games.
- Split screen: Console players can play Minecraft in split-screen, sitting side by side on a single screen.
- Server: Players can set up online environments using hosted servers to host Minecraft games. This allows a lot of players to meet and play with each other online by renting space from a hosting company.
Minecraft Server Requirements
Hosting games is a slightly different kettle of fish compare to hosting an app. They tend to require more resources as you will need to take into account the operating system and the game itself.
The Minecraft Wiki has a good guide to the minimum server requirements dependent on the operating system, type of server, etc. However, here’s a quick and basic summary at a glance for running a LAN type server.
| Requirements | Players | CPU | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1-4 | Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64 x2 | 1GB | At least 150MB for world saves |
| Recommended | 5-10 | Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64 x2 | 2GB | At least 200MB for world saves |
| Best | 10+ | Intel Core i5-4690 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 | 4GB | At least 200MB SSD |
Why Should I Run My Own Minecraft Server?
Before we take a look at the best providers for Minecraft hosting plans, it’s worth considering why you’d want to host a Minecraft game and rent a hosting server.
- Mods: Mods are what take Minecraft to a whole new level. Mods allow you to create shops in your game with in-game currency, they can change the entire look of the game with different environment skins, and they can solve frustrating problems you might have with the base game. By hosting your own Minecraft server, you can have free reign of what mods you want to install.
- Education: Minecraft is actually a really good educational tool, and in some Schools is actually used to learn about decision making, creativity, and can help with certain social and behavioural situations.
- Monetisation: Hosting a Minecraft server can get expensive, however, there are ways in which you can monetise your Minecraft server such as in-game advertising, web stores, community donations, etc.
- Community: Whilst gaming isn’t necessarily for everyone, it is a great way to socialise, whilst keeping a distance, in your own time. Building a community for people to enjoy and immerse yourself in it too can be great fun.
1. Hostinger (Best Minecraft Server Hosting)
Taking the number one spot, Hostinger is my pick for the best Minecraft hosting provider. Whilst there may be a lot of hosting companies that offer game hosting suitable for Minecraft, I haven’t come across many that provide specific Minecraft hosting servers like that of Hostinger.
Hostinger’s Minecraft plans are setup on VPS servers, offering customers dedicated resources to host their Minecraft game with complete control. You’ll get dual CPUs, DDoS protection, 24/7 support, free MySQL, and access to a mobile app.
Setting up your Minecraft server with Hostinger is really quick and simple, and if you don’t like your experience, there’s a money-back guarantee. Once you’ve registered for your account, your Minecraft server will be set up instantly with one-click modpack installations and plugins.
To ensure you offer the best possible Minecraft hosting for your player community, Hostinger has five server locations to choose from including the US, UK, Netherlands, Singapore, and Lithuania.
VISIT HOSTINGER.CO.UK (£8.95/MONTH)
2. Shockbyte
Shockbyte specialises in game servers, specifically Minecraft, Ark, Rust, and more. As you’ll see, Shockbytes Minecraft server hosting plans are very specific and detailed, making it a solid choice if you want to host a Minecraft server.
You’ll be able to choose your server location from the following options:
- North America
- Europe
- Asia-Pacific (Singapore, Australia)
There are nine plans to choose from, up to 9GB RAM. There’s also the option to get a custom quote, or you can extend your horizons and opt for their Spartan, Zeus, or Titan plans which go up to 16GB RAM.
Shockbyte’s customer support team is available 24/7 if you get stuck setting up your server or run into any issues. You’ll get 100% uptime, DDoS protection, instant setup, a free subdomain, a 45-day free trial of Enjin, and a 30-day free trial of Buycraft.
All in all, I’d say that’s very generous and the perfect choice for your Minecraft game server.
VISIT SHOCKBYTE.COM (£1.92/MONTH)
3. BisectHosting
BisectHosting offers a range of hosting services, including web hosting, voice servers, VPS hosting, and powerful dedicated hosting servers. They support Java (original) and Bedrock (mobile) servers, with budget and premium packages to suit every type of user.
Budget packages start from $2.99 per month (£2.30) and include instant setup, full FTP access, free MySQL, DDoS protection, 24/7 support, custom JAR support, Multicraft control panel, and a free subdomain.
Premium packages start from $7.99 per month (£6.14) and include free unlimited slots, free dedicated IP, free daily backups, a wider range of locations, free Modpack installation, free Modpack updates, Sponge installation, and all of the features the budget servers come with too.
BisectHosting label some of their servers which they deem suitable for certain scenarios, e.g. best for non-modded servers, best for modpacks, etc.
VISIT BISECTHOSTING.COM (£2.30/MONTH)
4. Apex Hosting
Apex Hosting makes hosting your Minecraft server really easy. It’s simple to install modpacks, plugins, mini-game, and maps, with a choice of over 16 server locations including the US, UK, Canada, France, China, and more.
A Minecraft server from Apex Hosting will cost you as little as £3.43 per month for 1GB RAM, and you can choose to pay monthly or quarterly with a 10% discount.
All packages include unlimited player slots, live chat support, 7-day money-back guarantee, DDoS protection, automated backups, one-click pack installers, free subdomain, unlimited storage, instant setup, and a dedicated IP.
Apex Hosting comes with everything you need to get started in order to host your Minecraft server. There’s plenty of help available and even a bunch of video tutorials for beginners if you get stuck.
VISIT APEXMINECRAFTHOSTING.COM (£3.43 MONTH)
5. GGServers
Canadian-based hosting company GGServers offers a range of hosting services including web hosting for personal use and small businesses, as well as game hosting with a particular focus on Minecraft.
When you sign up for a Minecraft server with GGServers you’ll be able to choose from 9 different server locations, meaning your latency levels will be low so players from all around the world will be able to enjoy a lag-free experience.
Servers start from as little as $3 per month (£2.30) which will give you 1GB RAM and 12 player slots. You can choose from standard or premium servers; premium servers offer higher-priority CPUs, faster write speeds on their SSDs, MySQL database, unlimited slots, and access to all 9 locations.
All plans include DDoS protection, quality server hardware, and instant activation, but in my opinion, cost a little more than the average price we’ve seen so far.
VISIT GGSERVERS.COM (£2.30 MONTH)
Minecraft Hosting FAQs
Is Minecraft free?
No, Microsoft owns Minecraft on a variety of different platforms. You can purchase Minecraft Java Edition for £17.95 or Minecraft Windows Edition for the PC for $29.99.
Can I host a Minecraft server for free?
No, unless you’re playing a local game of Minecraft, you’ll need to purchase Minecraft hosting from a hosting company. As we’ve seen, Minecraft hosting can range from around £2.30 per month for a small and basic server.
What’s the best type of hosting for Minecraft?
VPS hosting plans tend to offer the right amount of resources for Minecraft hosting, and you can even host Minecraft on a free VPS plan if you find the right one, however, I would recommend choosing one of the rated and reviewed hosts from the list above to ensure you get a decent server and good support.
How much RAM would I need for Minecraft hosting?
The minimum amount of RAM recommended for Minecraft hosting is 1GB for a very basic server. However, I would consider getting at least double that amount of RAM for a smooth gameplay experience.