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Minecraft VPS: the cheapest plans that run well
For most friend groups 4 GB is plenty; modpacks want 8 GB. A fast CPU core and a location near your players matter more than extra cores.
4 GB: Vanilla or Paper server, up to about 10 friends
| Plan | vCPU | Disk | Monthly | Contract | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVHcloudVPS-1Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific | 2 | 40 GB NVMe | €3.81 | Monthly ('from' price) | See plan |
| HostingerKVM 1North America, Europe, Asia, South America | 1 | 50 GB NVMe | €5.78 | 24 months paid upfront | See plan |
| NetcupVPS 500 G12.5Nuremberg, Vienna, Amsterdam, Manassas, Singapore | 2 | 64 GB SSD | €6.94 | 12-month term | See plan |
| ScalewayPLAY2-NANOParis, Amsterdam, Warsaw | 2 | separate | €20.10 | Hourly, cancel anytime | See plan |
8 GB: Modpacks or 10–30 players
| Plan | vCPU | Disk | Monthly | Contract | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ContaboCloud VPS 4EU, US, Asia | 4 | 100 GB SSD | €4.40 | Promo for first 24 months | See plan |
| ContaboCloud VPS 6EU, US, Asia | 6 | 200 GB SSD | €6.00 | Promo for first 24 months | See plan |
| OVHcloudVPS-2Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific | 4 | 75 GB NVMe | €7.21 | Monthly ('from' price) | See plan |
| HostingerKVM 2North America, Europe, Asia, South America | 2 | 100 GB NVMe | €8.01 | 24 months paid upfront | See plan |
16 GB: Big modpacks, several servers, or a small community
| Plan | vCPU | Disk | Monthly | Contract | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ContaboCloud VPS 8EU, US, Asia | 8 | 300 GB SSD | €11.20 | Promo for first 24 months | See plan |
| HostingerKVM 4North America, Europe, Asia, South America | 4 | 200 GB NVMe | €11.57 | 24 months paid upfront | See plan |
| OVHcloudVPS-4Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific | 8 | 200 GB NVMe | €19.96 | Monthly ('from' price) | See plan |
| NetcupVPS 2000 G12.5Nuremberg, Vienna, Amsterdam, Manassas, Singapore | 8 | 256 GB SSD | €22.62 | 12-month term | See plan |
What to look for
- RAM first: it decides how many players and mods you can run.
- Fast single-core CPU: the game loop is mostly single-threaded. Heavily oversold shared CPUs cause lag spikes.
- NVMe disk: faster world loading and saves.
- Location: close to your players for low ping. Check our network uptime page for each provider's locations.
- DDoS protection: public servers get attacked. Check what the provider includes before you share the IP.
Questions people ask
How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?
As a rule of thumb: 2–4 GB for a small vanilla or Paper server with a few friends, 6–8 GB for modpacks or 10–30 players, and more for big modpacks or several servers on one machine. Leave about 1 GB for the operating system.
Is a VPS better than Minecraft hosting?
A VPS is usually cheaper per GB of RAM and gives you full control (any version, mods, plugins, several servers). Minecraft hosts give you a ready-made panel and one-click modpacks. If you're comfortable with a Linux terminal or a free panel like Pterodactyl or Crafty, a VPS gives more for the money.
Does CPU matter for a Minecraft server?
Yes, more than for most servers: the main game loop runs mostly on one CPU core, so a fast single core matters more than many cores. Shared, oversold CPUs can cause lag spikes when the host is busy.
What's the cheapest VPS for Minecraft?
The cheapest 8 GB plan we track is Contabo Cloud VPS 4 at €4.40/month (Promo for first 24 months), checked 3 October 2026.
Where should the server be?
Close to your players. Every 1,000 km adds roughly 10 ms of ping. For players in Europe pick a German, Dutch or French location; for the US pick a US location.