We earn commissions when you shop through the links below. Learn more
Best VPS for Game Servers in 2026 (Minecraft, Valheim and More)
Run your own Minecraft, Valheim, Rust or Palworld server on a VPS for full control and a fraction of the cost of managed game hosting. Here’s how much server you need and which providers are best.
Prices checked October 2026DDoS protectionRAM guideSetup tips
Sizing
How much RAM does a game server need?
| Game | Small group | Larger or modded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft (Java) | 2–4 GB | 6–8 GB+ | Modpacks and plugins need much more RAM |
| Minecraft (Bedrock) | 1–2 GB | 4 GB | Lighter than Java edition |
| Valheim | 2–4 GB | 4–8 GB | Fast CPU helps with large worlds |
| Terraria | 1 GB | 2–4 GB | Very light |
| Rust, ARK, Palworld | 8 GB | 16 GB+ | Heavy; choose a larger plan |
These are rough starting points for a few friends. More players, bigger worlds and mods all add up, and most VPS plans let you upgrade later.
Our picks
The best VPS hosting for game servers
ShockHosting
Game servers attract DDoS attacks, especially public ones. ShockHosting includes free 20 Gbps network-level DDoS protection on every VPS, plus 2 GB of RAM on the entry plan, making it our top pick for hosting games.
- Free DDoS protection included
- 2 GB RAM on the entry plan
- Linux or Windows
- Smaller company than the big clouds
- No one-click game panels
Best for: Public and community game servers
Hostinger VPS
RAM is what game servers run out of first, and Hostinger gives you the most per dollar: 4 GB on KVM 1 and 8 GB on KVM 2. Great for a modded Minecraft or Valheim server for friends.
- 4 GB RAM on the entry plan, 8 GB on KVM 2
- NVMe storage for fast world loading
- Extra 20% off through our link
- Best price needs a long prepaid term
- Renews at a higher price
Best for: Modded and memory-hungry servers
Vultr
Ping matters in games. With more than 30 locations worldwide, Vultr lets you put the server close to where your players actually are, and its high-frequency plans suit CPU-hungry games.
- More than 30 locations
- High-frequency CPU plans
- Hourly billing for game nights
- Cheapest plans have little RAM
- DDoS protection costs extra where offered
Best for: Players spread across one region or country
DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean’s simple dashboard and per-second billing make it easy to spin up a server for a weekend LAN party and delete it afterwards, paying only for the hours you used.
- Per-second billing
- Very easy to set up
- Snapshots to save and restore worlds
- Less RAM per dollar
- No DDoS protection add-on for games
Best for: Short-term and occasional servers
Setup
Setting up a Minecraft server on a VPS
Every game is a little different, but most follow the same pattern. Here’s the outline for a Minecraft Java server on Ubuntu:
Prepare the server
Create an Ubuntu VPS with your SSH key and lock it down first.
Install Java
Install the Java version your Minecraft release needs; recent versions need Java 21 or newer.
Run the server
Download the server .jar from minecraft.net, accept the EULA in eula.txt, and start it inside screen or tmux.
Open the port
Allow the game port in the firewall, for example sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp for Minecraft.
Prefer a web dashboard? Free game panels such as Pterodactyl or Crafty Controller install on your VPS and let you manage several game servers from a browser. Start with our guide on how to set up a VPS.
Buying tips
What makes a good game server VPS
- Location first. Choose a data center near most of your players for low ping.
- Enough RAM. Use the table above, and add headroom for mods and plugins.
- Fast single-core CPU. Many game servers mainly use one CPU core.
- DDoS protection. Essential for public servers, nice to have for private ones.
- Snapshots. Back up your world before every big update.
VPS or managed game hosting?
Managed game hosts are easier but usually cost more per gigabyte of RAM and limit what you can install. A VPS is cheaper for the same power, runs any game or mod you like, and can host several servers at once, in exchange for doing a little setup yourself.
FAQ
Game server VPS questions, answered
Is a VPS good for a Minecraft server?
Yes. A VPS with 2 to 4 GB of RAM runs a small Minecraft Java server well, and you get full control over versions, plugins and mods, often for less than managed Minecraft hosting.
Do I need DDoS protection for a game server?
For a private server shared with friends, it is optional. For any public server listed online, it is strongly recommended, because game servers are common targets for DDoS attacks.
Linux or Windows for a game server?
Linux uses fewer resources and costs less, and most game servers run on it. Choose Windows only if the game’s dedicated server is Windows-only.
How many players can a VPS handle?
It depends on the game, mods and world size. As a rough guide, a 4 GB VPS handles a vanilla Minecraft server for 10 to 20 players comfortably.
Can I run several game servers on one VPS?
Yes, as long as you have enough RAM and CPU. A game panel such as Pterodactyl makes it easy to run and manage several servers side by side.
How do I back up my game world?
Take a provider snapshot before big changes, and copy the world folder off the server regularly with scp, SFTP or rsync.