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. For a detailed guide on how to upload an existing save file, check out our post on how to upload an existing save file to your Factorio dedicated server. If you enjoy factory-building games, you might also like Satisfactory dedicated servers.
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. For other great multiplayer experiences, check out our best LAN games guide.
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. For a more general overview of hosting, check out our guide to game server hosting.
Best Factorio Server Hosting Providers
Game Host Bros
Game Host Bros provides budget-friendly game server hosting for popular games.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Easy setup
- Good for beginners
Cons:
- Limited locations
Nodecraft
Nodecraft is a well-known hosting provider that offers a range of servers for various games. They provide servers with low latency and high uptime, ensuring a smooth gaming experience.
Pros:
- Low latency and DDoS protection
- Intuitive and user-friendly control panel
- Various add-ons and configuration options
- Experienced hosting provider for various games
- Good server performance
Cons:
- Customer support can be slow at times
- Limited server locations compared to some other providers
- Pricing can be higher than competitors
BisectHosting
BisectHosting delivers premium Minecraft hosting with excellent performance and support.
Pros:
- Excellent performance
- 24/7 expert support
- Modpack support
Cons:
- Higher pricing
- Mainly Minecraft focused
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.
Pros:
- Servers optimized for sandbox and simulation games
- 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
- Smaller provider with less established reputation
Factorio Zone
Factorio Zone is a budget-friendly option for Factorio server hosting. They allow you to create your own Factorio server for free, however there is a 4-hour session limit making it suitable only for short gaming sessions.
Pros:
- Free tier available
- Budget-friendly pricing
- Servers optimized for Factorio
- User-friendly control panel
- Multiple server locations worldwide
Cons:
- 4-hour session limit on free tier
- Not suitable for megabases
- Limited upload/download functionality
- No 24/7 server availability on free tier
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.