Game Servers
Minecraft Server Hosting on a VPS You Fully Control
Root access to run vanilla, modded, or plugin-heavy servers exactly the way you want, sized in RAM and CPU for your actual player count.
VPS
From $9.99/mo with root access
NVMe
SSD for fast world loading and saves
Root
Access to install any server jar or mod
24/7
Support if the server needs troubleshooting
In short
Minecraft server hosting needs a VPS rather than standard shared hosting, because a game server is a single continuously running process holding the entire world state in memory, not a website answering occasional requests. Hosting Cheap provides VPS plans from $9.99/mo with root access to install any server jar, Forge or Fabric modpack, or Spigot and Paper plugin set, backed by pure NVMe SSD for fast world loading and reliable uptime for uninterrupted play sessions.
A Minecraft server, whether it's vanilla survival for a handful of friends or a heavily modded Forge or Fabric server with dozens of plugins, works nothing like a website: it's a single process that stays running continuously, holding loaded chunks, entities, and player data in memory the entire time it's online, and it needs specific ports open for players to connect directly. Standard shared web hosting, built around serving pages on request, simply isn't designed to run that kind of persistent process at all - a VPS with root access is the actual requirement, not an upgrade.
RAM and CPU needs vary enormously depending on what's actually running: a small vanilla survival world for two or three friends needs relatively little, while a modpack loaded with dozens of Forge or Fabric mods, or a Spigot and Paper server running a long list of plugins, can need several times as much memory per player slot, and world size only grows that footprint further as more chunks get explored and generated over time. Sizing a VPS plan to match the actual server, not just the player count, is what keeps a server from lagging or crashing under load.
Why Minecraft needs a VPS, not shared web hosting
A Minecraft server is a long-running Java process that keeps the entire loaded world, every connected player's state, and often a running list of plugin or mod logic in memory continuously, listening on a specific port for player connections around the clock. That's fundamentally different from how shared web hosting is built, which typically runs short-lived scripts in response to individual page requests rather than one process staying alive indefinitely.
VPS plans from $9.99/mo give a Minecraft server dedicated CPU and RAM plus root access, which is what actually lets the server process run continuously, hold the world in memory reliably, and keep the right port open for players to connect without depending on infrastructure designed for something else entirely.
Sizing RAM and CPU for vanilla, modded, and plugin-heavy servers
A small vanilla survival server for a few friends runs comfortably on modest resources, but the moment a modpack enters the picture - a heavily modded Forge or Fabric setup, or a Spigot or Paper server running a long plugin list for custom gameplay mechanics - both RAM and CPU demands increase substantially per player slot, since every mod and plugin adds its own memory footprint and processing overhead on top of the base game.
World size adds a second, slower-moving pressure on the same resources: as players explore further and generate more chunks, the world file grows and more of it needs to stay accessible for fast loading, which is exactly where pure NVMe SSD storage keeps performance from degrading the way slower storage would as a world ages.
Root access for mods, plugins, and full server control
Running a customized Minecraft server means installing a specific server jar version, layering in a Forge or Fabric modpack, or building out a Spigot or Paper plugin set, then configuring server.properties and opening the right port - all tasks that require actual control over the server environment rather than a locked-down shared account. Root access on a VPS makes every one of those steps possible directly.
That same access supports scheduling automatic world backups and server restarts through cron jobs, which matters for keeping a server stable over long uptime stretches between planned restarts, especially for busier servers running a heavier mod or plugin load.
Keeping latency low and the server online for players
Game servers live and die on responsiveness in a way most websites don't - a few hundred milliseconds of lag barely registers on a webpage, but the same delay in Minecraft shows up as rubber-banding, delayed block placement, or combat feeling unresponsive, all of which drive players away from a server fast. Reliable uptime keeps a server from dropping mid-session, which matters most during a group building project or an event that a whole community has planned around.
Daily backups protect world saves from corruption, a bad plugin update, or griefing, meaning a server can be rolled back to a known-good state rather than losing months of building progress, and 24/7 human support is available when a server-level issue - not a Minecraft configuration question, but an actual hosting problem - needs a real answer.
Full control over your world, your mods, and your players' experience
Running a Minecraft server well means matching real resources to what's actually running - a small vanilla world needs far less than a heavily modded Forge server or a plugin-loaded Paper build. VPS plans from $9.99/mo with root access and pure NVMe SSD give a server the dedicated CPU, RAM, and control that a continuously running game process needs.
Root access covers installing any server jar, modpack, or plugin set directly, while reliable uptime and daily backups keep a community's world and progress protected through long play sessions and the occasional bad update.
- VPS plans from $9.99/mo with root access for full server control
- Pure NVMe SSD for fast world loading as saves grow over time
- Install any server jar, Forge or Fabric modpack, or plugin set directly
- Daily backups protecting world saves from corruption or griefing
Why Hosting Cheap
What you get
Root access, fully yours
Install any server jar, modpack, or plugin set directly, with full control over configuration.
Fast world loading
Pure NVMe SSD keeps chunk loading and saves fast even as an explored world grows large.
Sized for how you actually play
VPS plans from $9.99/mo scale in RAM and CPU to match vanilla, modded, or plugin-heavy servers.
Low-latency gameplay
Dedicated resources help keep combat, movement, and block placement responsive for connected players.
Protected world saves
Daily backups mean a bad plugin update or griefing incident is a rollback, not lost progress.
Real help when needed
24/7 human support is available for genuine server-level issues, not just configuration guides.
How It Works
Get set up in a few steps
Choose a VPS sized for your server
Pick a VPS plan from $9.99/mo based on player count and whether you're running vanilla, modded, or plugins.
Install your server jar or modpack
Use root access to install the exact server version, Forge or Fabric modpack, or Spigot and Paper plugin set.
Schedule backups and restarts
Set up cron-scheduled world backups and periodic restarts to keep the server stable long-term.
Included
Everything you need, on every plan
- Size RAM and CPU based on your actual mod list or plugin count, not just player count
- Confirm root access is included before choosing a VPS plan
- Install the correct server jar version for your intended Forge, Fabric, or Paper setup
- Open the correct port and configure server.properties for player connections
- Enable daily backups before installing new mods or plugins
- Schedule regular server restarts to keep memory usage stable over time
- Test latency from your players' actual regions before committing long-term
- Confirm 24/7 support is available for genuine server-level troubleshooting
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I run Minecraft on shared web hosting?
No, Minecraft needs a continuously running process holding the world in memory and a specific open port, which requires a VPS with root access rather than shared hosting built for serving web pages on request.
How much RAM does a Minecraft server actually need?
It depends heavily on what's running - a small vanilla server for a few friends needs relatively little, while a heavily modded Forge or Fabric server, or a Paper server with many plugins, needs substantially more RAM per player slot.
Can I install mods and plugins myself?
Yes, root access on a VPS plan from $9.99/mo lets you install any server jar, Forge or Fabric modpack, or Spigot and Paper plugin set directly, along with full configuration control.
Will my server world load slowly as it grows?
Pure NVMe SSD storage keeps chunk loading and world saves fast even as an explored world grows large over months of play, which is where slower storage typically starts to show lag.
What happens if a plugin update or griefing damages my world?
Daily backups let you restore the world to a known-good state, so a bad plugin update or a griefing incident becomes a quick rollback rather than permanently lost progress.
Is there support if something goes wrong with the server itself?
Yes, 24/7 human support is available for genuine server-level issues, separate from Minecraft configuration questions that community guides typically cover.
Related hosting
VPS Hosting
Root access and dedicated resources from $9.99/mo, sized for vanilla, modded, or plugin-heavy servers.
Dedicated Servers
Full hardware for large communities running multiple heavily modded servers at once.
Domain Registration
Give your server a memorable domain instead of sharing a raw IP address with players.
Web Hosting
Host a companion website or store for your Minecraft community alongside the server.
Get a VPS built for your Minecraft server
Root access, NVMe speed, and RAM sized for vanilla, modded, or plugin-heavy play - from $9.99/mo.
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