10 Best Game Server Hosting Providers 2024 (Comparison & Review)

Searching for the Best Game Server Hosting providers in 2023? Then you are at the right place.

Welcome to the exciting world of online gaming! In this digital era, playing video games is not just about having fun, but it’s also about experiencing seamless gameplay. This is where game server hosting comes into play. It’s crucial to select the right game server hosting to ensure that your online gaming adventure is smooth, fast, and uninterrupted.

In this guide, we’ll focus on the top game server hosting providers that can elevate your gaming experience. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a pro, understanding the importance of game server hosting and choosing the best provider is key to a great gaming journey. Let’s dive in and explore the world of game server hosting, where every millisecond counts!

Here is a list of the top 10 game server hosting providers, each described in a brief line:

1. A2Hosting.com: Offers VPS hosting with low prices and a range of options, including a focus on game servers and Minecraft hosting requirements​​.
2. Hostinger.com: Specializes in affordable VPS hosting for Minecraft, featuring a custom control panel and a preinstalled Game Panel​​.
3. LiquidWeb.com: Delivers managed dedicated server hosting with high-performance environments and options for custom configurations​​.
4. NexCess.com: (Details not provided in the cited sources; further research needed).
5. InterServer.net: Provides affordable dedicated server hosting with flexibility in configurations and a focus on maximum uptime​​.
6. Hostwinds.com: Offers managed and unmanaged VPS hosting with a focus on Minecraft, providing around-the-clock monitoring and automatic backups​​.
7. InMotionHosting.com: Known for cloud servers and high-performance VPS hosting with cPanel and WHM, suitable for Minecraft or Steam/Valve games​​.
8. Bluehost.com: Provides VPS hosting with easy multi-server management, root access, and strong cybersecurity, ideal for Minecraft and Steam/Valve games​​.

What is Game Server Hosting?

Game server hosting is a specialized service that provides the necessary infrastructure and resources for online multiplayer games. Unlike regular web hosting, game server hosting is tailored to handle the specific demands of online gaming, such as high-speed connections, low latency, and the ability to handle many simultaneous players.

Key Points of Game Server Hosting:

• Designed for Online Gaming: Specifically optimized for hosting games, ensuring smooth, lag-free experiences.
• Support for Multiple Games: Many game servers support popular titles like Minecraft, and games available on platforms like Steam.
• No Need for GPU: Unlike traditional gaming setups, game servers don’t render graphics; they focus on providing a synchronized environment for players.
• Mod Support: Allows the admin to install mods and customize the gaming experience.
• Platform Compatibility: Supports various platforms, including PCs, laptops, and mobile phones.
• Cost: Varies based on the provider, with options ranging from affordable VPS (Virtual Private Server) plans to more expensive dedicated servers.
• Hardware and Configuration: Typically includes options for different levels of CPU, RAM, and storage, catering to different gaming needs and budgets​​.

In essence, game server hosting is pivotal for online multiplayer games, offering a stable and efficient environment for gamers to connect and play together from different locations.

Things to consider while choosing the best Game Server Hosting

Choosing the best game server hosting involves several important considerations to ensure an optimal gaming experience. Here are key factors to consider:

1. Server Type and Configuration: The choice between VPS (Virtual Private Server) plans and dedicated servers is crucial. VPS plans are generally more affordable but involve sharing resources with other users, which might affect performance. Dedicated servers, on the other hand, offer single-tenant occupancy, ensuring maximum performance but at a higher cost​​.
2. Game Server Hosting Nature: Game server hosting is typically designed for independent gaming titles available on platforms like Steam, and supports games like Minecraft. Such servers don’t require GPU cards for 3-D graphics but do need robust hardware for synchronized multi-user environments​​.
3. Performance and Reliability: Essential for a smooth gaming experience, performance is influenced by factors like server speed and low latency. Reliable hosting ensures minimal game disruptions and consistent accessibility​​​​​​.
4. Scalability and Flexibility: Your chosen hosting should be scalable to accommodate growing player numbers and game updates. Flexibility in configuring the server environment to game requirements is also important​​​​.
5. Network Infrastructure and Connectivity: Assess the hosting provider’s network infrastructure, including high-speed connections and server uptime, to reduce latency and enhance the gaming experience​​​​​​.
6. DDoS Protection: Protection against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks is vital for maintaining server uptime and game continuity​​​​.
7. Server Location and Latency: Choosing a hosting location close to your player base can significantly reduce latency, leading to faster and smoother gameplay​​​​.
8. Technical Support: Quality customer support is crucial for addressing technical issues and ensuring server stability​​​​.
9. Pricing and Affordability: The cost of hosting varies based on the type of server and its specifications. VPS plans are generally more budget-friendly than dedicated servers​​​​.
10. Hardware Specifications: Consider the server’s CPU power, RAM capacity, and storage type (SSD or HDD) to ensure they meet the demands of your game and player count​​​​.
11. Ease of Setup: The ease of setting up and managing the game server is an important factor, especially for less technical users​​.

When choosing a game server hosting provider, consider these factors in relation to your specific needs and the requirements of the game you intend to host. This comprehensive approach will help you find a hosting solution that offers the best balance of performance, reliability, and value.

Top 10 Game Server Hosting Packages

1. A2Hosting.com

Introduction: A2 Hosting stands out in the game server hosting market for its exceptional speed and performance, primarily due to its turbo server and caching options. This hosting is ideal for gamers and developers looking for fast and reliable server performance, which is crucial for seamless gaming experiences. Additionally, the provision of a free CDN and auto-installs enhances the ease of setting up and maintaining game servers.

Key Features:

• Turbo server and cache options ensure faster page loads.
• Plans start with 4GB RAM, suitable for gaming needs.
• Free CDN and auto-installs with Softaculous.
• Offers multilingual support and allows unlimited databases.
• Enhanced security with daily kernel updates.

Pricing: Starting at $5.99 per month​​.

2. LiquidWeb.com

Introduction: LiquidWeb is renowned for its high-end, customizable server solutions, making it a top choice for professional-grade game server hosting. Its 100% network and power uptime guarantees are particularly beneficial for maintaining continuous game server operations. The flexibility in choosing between Linux or Windows and different control panels, combined with custom configurations, caters to a wide range of gaming needs.

Key Features:

• Choice of Linux or Windows with three control panel options.
• Guarantees 100% network and power uptime.
• Custom configurations and instant provisioning.
• Features like auto-migrations, backups, and real-time monitoring.
• Block/object storage and load balancer add-ons are available.

Pricing: Starting at $99.00 per month​​.

3. InterServer.net

Introduction: InterServer offers robust game server hosting solutions, particularly known for their high bandwidth and core options. This is crucial for handling high-traffic game servers. The 24/7 uptime monitoring and the private data center ensure a stable and secure gaming environment, which is essential for uninterrupted gaming experiences.

Key Features:

• 24/7 uptime monitoring and a private data center.
• Offers up to 24 cores and 100TB bandwidth.
• Supports 12 operating systems and 3 control panels.
• Custom configurations are built and maintained in-house.
• Price-lock guarantee without contracts.

Pricing: Starting at $44.00 per month​​.

4. Hostinger.com

Introduction: Hostinger’s game server hosting is notable for its affordability and reliability, backed by cloud-based SSD storage. This provider is ideal for gamers looking for a balance between cost and performance. The burstable RAM options and the provision of dedicated IP addresses make it a practical choice for both amateur and professional gaming needs.

Key Features:

• Cloud-based SSD storage for enhanced speed and reliability.
• Option to double your RAM during burst periods.
• Free dedicated IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.
• Custom control panel for easy reboots and OS installations.
• Special discounts for HostingAdvice readers.

Pricing: Starting at $3.99 per month​​.

5. Hostwinds.com

Introduction: Hostwinds offers versatile hosting solutions, suitable for a variety of game server requirements. Whether you need a managed or unmanaged server or prefer Windows or Linux, Hostwinds caters to all these needs. Its cloud hosting options with flexible billing, along with instant upgrades, make it a convenient choice for game server hosting.

Key Features:

• The choice between managed or unmanaged in Windows or Linux.
• Cloud hosting with flexible billing options.
• Instant upgrades without downtime.
• Free around-the-clock monitoring.
• Automatic nightly backups are available.

Pricing: Starting at $4.99 per month​​.

6. InMotionHosting.com

Introduction: InMotion Hosting provides reliable and robust game server hosting services with a focus on dedicated IP options and real-time redundancy. This makes it an excellent choice for gaming environments where uptime and stability are paramount. The additional benefits like free site migrations and Launch Assist further enhance its appeal for game server hosting.

Key Features:

• Discounts for first-term sign-ups.
• Free site migrations and 2 hours of Launch Assist.
• Options for 2 to 3 dedicated IP addresses.
• Free cPanel/WHM licenses included.
• Highly available servers with real-time redundancy.

Pricing: Starting at $19.99 per month​​.

7. Bluehost.com (VPS Hosting)

Introduction: Bluehost’s VPS hosting is tailored for game servers requiring easy management and substantial storage. The ability to easily migrate from shared hosting and manage multiple servers makes it a flexible choice for growing gaming communities. The provision of ample RAID-1 storage and bandwidth ensures that game servers run smoothly.

Key Features:

• Seamless migration from shared hosting plans.
• Root access and easy multi-server management.
• Ample RAID-1 storage and substantial bandwidth.
• At least 3 dedicated IP addresses for each plan.
• cPanel and WHM with root access.

Pricing: Starting at $19.99 per month​​.

8. Bluehost.com (Dedicated Hosting)

Introduction: For more demanding game servers, Bluehost’s dedicated hosting offers state-of-the-art hardware and dedicated support. This type of hosting is ideal for high-traffic gaming servers that require robust hardware specifications and quick support response times. Instant provisioning and dedicated IP addresses are key features that cater to complex game server needs.

Key Features:

• Instant provisioning for all server plans.
• A minimum of 3 dedicated IP addresses.
• Modern hardware, built and maintained in-house.
• 24/7 expedited support from a dedicated team.
• Discount on the first term.

Pricing: Starting at $79.99 per month​​.

9. NexCess.com

Introduction: Nexcess stands out in the cloud hosting landscape with its emphasis on scalability, security, performance, and user-friendliness. This makes it a strong contender for game server hosting, especially for PHP-based applications. With its worldwide data centers and CDN, Nexcess ensures fast and reliable performance, which is critical for gaming servers. The developer-friendly environments and server-level Redis support offer an enhanced experience for game developers and players alike.

Key Features:

• Serverless hosting specifically catered to PHP-based applications.
• Worldwide data centers and CDN for enhanced performance.
• Developer-friendly environments.
• Server-level Redis included.
• 24/7/365 expert support.

Pricing:

• XS Plan: $52/month – Up to 11 sites, 50GB storage, 1TB bandwidth.
• S Plan: $104/month – Up to 16 sites, 75GB storage, 2TB bandwidth.
• M Plan: $184/month – Up to 21 sites, 125GB storage, 3TB bandwidth.
• L Plan: $315/month – Up to 31 sites, 400GB storage, 5TB bandwidth, 20 VCPU, 20GB RAM.
• XL Plan: $578/month – Up to 41 sites, 600GB storage, 8TB bandwidth, 26 VCPU, 26GB RAM.
• XXL Plan: $894/month – Up to 51 sites, 800GB storage, 10TB bandwidth, 32 VCPU, 32GB RAM​​​​​​​​​​.

10. Cloudways.com

Introduction: Cloudways is renowned for its managed cloud hosting services, providing an intuitive and easy-to-manage platform, perfect for game servers. It allows the hosting of unlimited sites on some of the best cloud hosting platforms like DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, and GCP. The pay-as-you-go payment system and the flexibility to host as many websites as server resources can handle make Cloudways an attractive option for game server hosting.

Key Features:

• Managed web hosting servers from top hosting companies.
• Ability to create servers and host unlimited sites.
• Simple and intuitive management of servers and applications.
• Pay-as-you-go payment system.
• Strong security measures and patching.
• Reliable service with flexible pricing.

Pricing:

• Starts at $11/month on DigitalOcean with 1 GB RAM, 1 CPU, 25 GB SSD storage, and 1 TB Bandwidth.
• Other providers (Vultr, Linode, AWS, GCP) have different pricing structures starting at $14/month, $38.56/month, and $37.33/month respectively​​​​​​.

These introductions provide a clearer understanding of what each hosting provider offers in terms of game server hosting, highlighting their unique features and suitability for different gaming requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion: Which Is The Best Game Server Hosting Services?

In the context of game server hosting, A2 Hosting is highlighted for its reliability and flexibility, catering to both managed and self-managed hosting needs. Their dedicated server plans offer root access, a choice of Linux operating systems, and rapid deployment with expert management. The Hyper 1 plan is recommended for its robust features, including an unmanaged dedicated server with an Intel Xeon E-224 4.6 GHz CPU, significant storage, and bandwidth capabilities, making it a suitable choice for game masters comfortable with command line operations and seeking robust hardware support​​.

Liquid Web, on the other hand, excels in managed dedicated server hosting. They provide a high-performance environment with 100% uptime guarantees and real-time hardware monitoring. Liquid Web’s managed dedicated server plan is particularly notable for its powerful Intel Xeon quad-core CPU and substantial storage and bandwidth, offering fully customizable hosting for games like Minecraft and Steam/Valve titles. Their focus on security, speed, and custom solutions in their state-of-the-art data centers makes them a strong contender for more demanding gaming needs​​.

When choosing between VPS and dedicated game server hosting, it’s important to consider the performance needs. Dedicated servers offer higher performance speeds and are suitable for large gaming communities with high bandwidth and processing requirements. They provide a single-tenant environment, ensuring that web traffic is not shared with other users, which is a limitation of VPS plans. However, VPS plans are generally more affordable, making them a viable option for smaller-scale or less demanding hosting needs​​.

In summary, A2 Hosting is a good choice for beginners or those seeking flexible hosting options, while Liquid Web, with its focus on managed hosting, is better suited for more demanding and customized gaming server needs.