![11 Best Game Server Hosting Providers [Chosen By ACTUAL Gamers!]](/images/game-server-hosting-Best-Game-Server-Hosting.png)
If you are looking to host game servers with your friends or for your gaming community, then there are two main problems that need to be addressed.
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You want game server hosting that has the stability and speed required to run your game server smoothly.
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You don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a dedicated server that won't perform.
Let's face it—the last thing you want is everyone complaining that they are lagging and their shots aren't hitting. No one will play on that server and they will never come back, resulting in a dead server. This is where we step in. Over the last 20 years of hosting game servers for internet and LAN parties, we know what to look for in a good server.
In fact, we run one of the most popular CS:GO servers in the world right now, so we know what we are talking about.
OK, it's time to get a little into gaming servers. There are many different hosting companies out there that offer them various price points and features. But how can you know which is the best?
Well, if we were talking about websites for running games, what would be so hard about finding one with stable uptime each month? What exactly do your go-to sites need when they're looking at game server hosts—stability!
11 Best Game Server Hosting Companies
So before choosing any particular host make sure you read reviews from actual server owners (like us) who may have encountered some problems during their own run of developing a successful online gaming community using said, service provider.
Let's look at the top 11 game server hosting companies.
Game Host Bros
Game Host Bros provides budget-friendly game server hosting for popular games.
Pros:
- Powerful Hardware
- Unlimited Players
- Easy setup
- Good for beginners
Cons:
- Limited locations
Streamline Servers
Streamline Servers specializes in game server hosting with optimized hardware and networking for gaming.
Pros:
- Gaming-optimized
- Good performance
- Specialized support
Cons:
- Higher pricing
- Limited general VPS options
Shockbyte
Shockbyte offers affordable game server hosting with a focus on Minecraft and other popular games.
Pros:
- Affordable pricing
- Good uptime
- Multiple game support
Cons:
- Basic control panel
- Support can be slow during peak times
Host Havoc
Host Havoc provides premium game hosting with excellent hardware and customer support.
Pros:
- Premium hardware
- Excellent support
- Low latency
Cons:
- Higher pricing
- Limited budget options
GameserverKings
GameserverKings provides powerful gaming DDoS protection (CosmicGuard) with great prices and thousands of happy customers.
Pros:
- 24/7 support offered
- Extremely powerful DDoS mitigation
- Good pricing
- Great uptime
- Excellent support team
Cons:
- Recent reviews are mixed
- Limited server locations
OVH Cloud
OVH is one of the leading providers of servers in the world with 27 data centers throughout North America, Europe, OCE, and Asia. Great for dedicated servers but requires technical knowledge.
Pros:
- 27 Data Centers worldwide
- Dedicated servers start at $96 per month
- Full control with free KVM access
- Excellent DDoS protection (GAME firewall)
- Unmatched price to performance ratio
- Can run multiple game servers on one machine
Cons:
- Poor customer support with long wait times
- Control panel is slow and dated
- Not beginner-friendly
- Reports of 24+ hour ticket response times
- Requires technical expertise to manage
Vultr
Vultr offers high-performance cloud compute instances perfect for gaming servers with locations worldwide.
Pros:
- Wide global coverage
- Competitive pricing
- Good performance
- Reliable uptime
Cons:
- Limited support options
- Basic control panel
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
Apex Hosting
Apex Hosting specializes in Minecraft server hosting with one-click modpack installation and excellent performance.
Pros:
- One-click modpack installation
- 24/7 customer support
- Automatic backups
- DDoS protection included
Cons:
- Higher pricing than competitors
- Limited to Minecraft hosting
- No free trial available
ScalaCube
ScalaCube provides reliable game server hosting with a user-friendly control panel.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Good uptime
- Multiple game support
Cons:
- Limited advanced features
- Support response time varies
PebbleHost
PebbleHost offers budget TF2 server hosting with features like instant setup, DDoS protection, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. They provide full FTP access and a free MySQL database for advanced users.
Pros:
- Affordable pricing
- DDoS protection
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Free subdomain for your server
- 72-hour money-back guarantee
- Instant setup after purchase
Cons:
- Limited information about server hardware
- No explicit mention of customer support availability
- Basic features compared to premium providers
Our Recommended Games For Each Provider
Based on our extensive experience, here are our recommendations for which games work best with each provider:
Recommended For These Games
Streamline Servers:
Shockbyte:
Host Havoc:
- Rust
- 7 Days to Die
- Garry's Mod
Game Server Kings:
- Rust (they specialize in this)
Nodecraft:
- Minecraft
- ARK: Survival Evolved
- Pixark
- PixARK
Apex Hosting:
ScalaCube:
PebbleHost:
- Minecraft
- Among Us
- Terraria
Special Offers and Free Credits
Some providers offer special deals for new customers:
- Vultr: Get $100 USD free credit when you use our link below. This is perfect for testing out their service!
- Game Host Bros: 7-day refund policy for risk-free testing
- Streamline Servers: 20% discount when purchasing 1 year in advance
Dedicated Servers vs Game Hosting
While these providers offer managed game hosting, sometimes you might want more control with a dedicated server:
- Streamline Servers offers dedicated servers starting at $80/month with that amazing DDoS protection
- OVH Cloud provides dedicated servers from $96/month with full root access
- Vultr offers VPS solutions starting at just $5/month with no commitment
Final Thoughts
All of these providers have their strengths:
- For beginners: Game Host Bros or Shockbyte (easiest to use)
- For multiple games: Streamline Servers or Host Havoc
- For budget hosting: PebbleHost or Shockbyte
- For advanced users: OVH Cloud or Vultr
- For Minecraft specifically: Apex Hosting or ScalaCube
- For global reach: Nodecraft or Streamline Servers
Remember that most providers offer money-back guarantees or trial periods, so don't be afraid to test them out before committing long-term.
Whether you're hosting for a small group of friends or building a large gaming community, these providers have proven themselves reliable through our years of experience in the gaming server hosting space.