How Much Does a Game Server Cost Per Month? (2026 Prices)

A game server costs about 5 to 40 USD per month in 2026, depending mostly on how much RAM the game needs. Light games like Minecraft, Terraria and Factorio run on 2 to 4 GB for 5 to 10 USD. Big survival games like ARK, Palworld and Rust need 8 to 16 GB for most groups, which costs 20 to 40 USD a month.

The reason prices spread so widely is simple: hosts charge for memory, and some games need six times more of it than others. Below are real monthly prices for every game we host, what makes a server cost more, what the same RAM costs at other hosts, and the honest ways to pay less.

Why does game server cost depend on RAM?

Game server hosting is priced by RAM because RAM is the part of a server that cannot be shared. CPU time and bandwidth can be spread across many servers, but the memory your world sits in is reserved for you alone, so hosts build plans around GB of RAM.

That makes price per GB the number to compare. Our rate is 2.50 USD per GB per month on every game. On 3 October 2026, standard Minecraft plans on other big hosts' own pricing pages worked out between 3.50 and 4.50 USD per GB, before promotions. Our best game server hosting comparison has the sources.

How much does a game server cost for each game?

Here is what our plans cost per month for every game, with the player counts each plan is sized for. Prices are in USD, before the new customer deal.

For single game deep dives, see the cost guides for Minecraft, Rust, Palworld and Valheim.

What makes a game server cost more?

Four things push a server into a bigger, more expensive plan: the game itself, the number of players online at once, mods, and world age. Of these, the game is by far the biggest factor.

1. The game. ARK and Palworld load huge maps and many creatures into memory, so they start at 12 GB. Terraria and Factorio keep tiny worlds and run happily on 2 GB.
2. Players online at the same time. Each player loads their own part of the world. Count the people who play together at peak, not everyone in the Discord.
3. Mods and plugins. A big Minecraft modpack can need 8 GB where vanilla needs 2 to 4. Rust plugins and ARK mods add memory too.
4. World age. A world that has run for months has more buildings, items and explored map to keep track of. A plan that was fine in week one can feel tight by month three.

You can upgrade a plan later without losing the world, so start with what fits today. Our RAM guide explains the signs that you have outgrown a plan.

Is it cheaper per month to rent a VPS?

A VPS can look cheaper per GB, but you install, update, secure and back up the game yourself, and many budget VPS plans share CPU cores that struggle with game servers. For one game with a group of friends, game hosting usually costs about the same once you add the time. Our game server hosting vs VPS guide compares both properly.

How can you pay less for a game server?

You can cut the monthly cost of a game server by sizing the plan correctly, splitting the bill, paying yearly, and using launch deals. None of these need you to give up RAM your game actually uses.

Splitting is the biggest saver for friend groups. An 8 GB server at 19.99 USD split 4 ways is 23.99 USD in total with the 1 USD share fees, so three friends pay 5.99 USD and the first pays 6.02 USD. Here is the usual share at different group sizes:

Leftover cents go to the first share, so one person pays a few cents more than the rest. The full steps are in how to split the cost of a game server.

Are there hidden costs with game server hosting?

There should not be, but check three things before you pay: whether the price shown is a first month promotion, whether backups or DDoS protection are add ons, and whether you are signing up for a quarter or a year. A low headline price that renews higher is the most common surprise.

With us, the price on the plan is the monthly price. The new customer deal takes 50% off the first month only, and the checkout shows the renewal amount before you pay. Backups, DDoS protection, SFTP access and 24/7 support are included on every plan, there is no contract, and a first purchase can be refunded within 72 hours. Billing details are in our billing docs.

FAQ

What is the cheapest game server per month?

The cheapest servers are for light games. A Puck server starts at 2.99 USD and Minecraft, Terraria and Factorio start at 4.99 USD a month on 2 GB of RAM.

How much does a Rust server cost per month?

A Rust server costs about 20 to 40 USD a month for 8 to 16 GB of RAM. Our Rust plans are 19.99 USD for 8 GB, 29.99 USD for 12 GB and 39.99 USD for 16 GB.

Is 10 USD a month enough for a game server?

Yes for Minecraft, Terraria, Factorio, CS2, Valheim and other light games, which run on 4 GB. It is not enough for ARK, Palworld or a large Rust server, which need 12 GB or more.

Do I pay for a game server when nobody is playing?

Yes. A hosted server is a monthly rental, so you pay for the month whether or not you play. You can cancel any time and the server stops renewing.

Can I change plans to save money later?

Yes. Downgrading takes effect straight away and the unused difference comes off your next bill, so you can drop to a smaller plan when fewer friends are playing.