5 Best Factorio Server Hosting Providers

If you've ever played Factorio with friends before and hosted the server locally, you know the pain of the host having to go to bed while you're still in the zone to automate your 500spm green chip factory. 

To fully enjoy the multiplayer experience and play Factorio with friends, you'll need a reliable Factorio server hosting provider. A public server will allow players to come and go as they please.

In this article, we'll explore the top Factorio server hosting providers, highlighting their features, pros, and cons to help you make an informed decision.

Game Host Bros

Simply order your server and join, no extra configuration needed. Game Host Bros is a top-tier choice for Factorio hosting. They offer high-performance dedicated servers, ensuring a smooth gaming experience with low latency. They have amazing customer support from knowledgeable staff. Game Host Bros also provides a user-friendly custom control panel and plenty of configuration options to tailor the server to your preferences.

They also have a 7-day refund policy, so you can try 100% risk-free before you truly commit to buying.

Pros:

• Instant setup for your Factorio server 
• High-performance servers with generous server resources
• Upload your existing world and mods easily 
• Manage your game from a game server panel 
• Access to all your server files
• Knowledgeable customer support staff available via Discord live chat

Cons:

• Limited server locations compared to larger hosting companies

Nodecraft 

Nodecraft is a well-known hosting provider that offers a range of servers for various games, including Factorio. They provide servers with low latency and high uptime, ensuring a smooth gaming experience. Nodecraft's control panel is intuitive and easy to use, making server management a breeze. They also offer various add-ons and configuration options to enhance your Factorio dedicated server.

Pros:

• Low latency and DDoS protection
• Intuitive and user-friendly control panel 
• Various add-ons and configuration options
• Experienced hosting provider for various games

Cons:

• Customer support can be slow at times
• Limited server locations compared to some other providers 

Bisect Hosting

Bisect Hosting is a reliable provider that has been offering game server hosting for years. They provide competitive pricing for Factorio server hosting and a variety of plan options to suit different needs and budgets. Bisect Hosting's servers are reliable and backed by robust security measures. Their customer support team is available 24/7 to assist with any issues or questions you may have during your server hosting experience.

Pros:

• Competitive pricing
• Various plan options to suit different budgets
• Reliable servers with robust security measures
• Excellent customer support

Cons:

• Limited customization options compared to some other providers

Indifferent Broccoli

Indifferent Broccoli is a dedicated hosting provider for sandbox and simulation games like Factorio. They offer servers optimized for these types of games and provide excellent performance and reliability. Indifferent Broccoli boasts a user-friendly custom control panel and offers various configuration options to tailor the server to your liking. Their knowledgeable customer support team is responsive, ensuring any issues are resolved promptly.

Pros:

• Servers optimized for sandbox and simulation games like Factorio
• Excellent performance and reliability
• User-friendly custom control panel
• Various configuration options
• Knowledgeable and responsive customer support

Cons:

• Limited plan options and server locations
• Higher pricing compared to some other providers

Factorio Zone 

Factorio Zone is a solid choice for Factorio server hosting, especially for those looking for budget-friendly options. They allow you to actually create your own Factorio server for free, however there is a 4-hour session limit (server will shut down) so it's not suitable as a long term hosting service. However, it does allow you to quickly get a server online if you only want to jump on for a few hours at a time.

Pros:

• Budget-friendly pricing
• Servers optimized for Factorio
• User-friendly control panel
• Multiple server locations worldwide for lower latency

Cons:

• 4-hour session limit on their free tier
• Not suitable for megabases
• Couldn't find an easy way to upload or download a map.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Factorio Server

By default, when you're just starting out, the Factorio server doesn't need many resources to run. However, once you start getting into a megabase, resources can start to spiral out of control. I would consider anything over 2000 construction bots starting to get into megabase territory. 

Our own personal GhostCap Factorio server using the Space Exploration mod uses 1 CPU thread, and 1.2 GB of RAM. That is currently a 150mb save file.

I suggest starting with the base plan of any provider and then upgrade your private server if you need. Most hosting providers will allow you to upgrade for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much RAM does a Factorio server need?

We suggest you get a server with at least 2GB of RAM. This will allow you to build a megabase without having to worry about upgrading.

Does the server stay running 24/7?

Most Factorio server providers you pay money for stay running 24/7. This allows any player to join and leave as they please.

How many players can a Factorio server support?

The number of players a Factorio server can support depends on the server's hardware and network capacity. On average, a well-configured server can support up to 100 players simultaneously.

Is it possible to customize the game settings on a hosted Factorio server?

Yes, most Factorio server hosting providers allow you to customize game settings such as map generation, resource settings, enemy difficulty, and mod support.

Can I use mods on a hosted Factorio server?

Yes, most Factorio server hosting providers support the use of mods. You can typically upload and manage mods through the hosting control panel.

If you have questions before you order a server, come and join the GhostCap Discord community and ask any question you have there.