Minecraft is among the most popular games played by young and older people around the world. One of the main reasons for its success is the wide variety of types of games and game servers it has.
With the vast number of public and private servers, players can enjoy multiplayer gaming of all types, including role-play, PvP, creative economy building, prison, hardcore, feed the beast, hunger games, challenge, faction, city, survival, and more.
If you are contemplating whether to set up your own Minecraft server, here are some of the basics to consider before deciding on the best way to do it and determining the price you will have to pay for it.
What are the benefits of creating and running your own Minecraft server?
There are multiple benefits of making and running a personal Minecraft server, as compared to playing on a public server, including:
- Satisfaction and pride of owning a Minecraft server, and the ability to invite friends and family
- Improved privacy and security of your gameplay because you will be able to choose and moderate the players on your server
- You can set your own rules and terms
- You can decide which modpacks and plugins to use
- You can get professional technical support if you choose a hosting company for your server
Hosting your own server vs. choosing professional server hosting
The first question you need to ask yourself before creating and starting your own Minecraft server is whether you want to host it on your own machine or whether you prefer to choose a professional Minecraft server hosting company instead.
Here are the pros and cons of both:
Hosting your own Minecraft server
Pros:
- You don’t have to pay a monthly or annual fee for hosting
- You can use your existing hardware and internet connection so that you will save money
- You can decide when the server will be running and when it is offline
Cons:
- You will need to leave your computer on 24/7 if you want continuous uptime
- Your security and privacy may be at risk once you open the server to the public
- You will need sufficient RAM dedicated to the Minecraft server for the number of players you want to invite to ensure a lag-free experience
- You must have tech skills, time, and experience to set up the server with the mods, plugins, and settings you want, as well as to maintain, manage and update it
Relying on a hosted server for your Minecraft server
Pros:
- Your server will have its own IP address and will be secured from DDoS attacks
- You can choose a hosting plan depending on your preferences, number of players, game version, mods, plugins, and your budget
- Most hosting companies offer 1-click setup, automatic backups, and server management, so you can focus on the game rather than have to deal with the technical stuff yourself
- Hosting companies offer 99.9-100% uptime and blazing fast connections
- Reputable hosting services offer timely and useful customer support 24/7
- Your server won’t take up any of your RAM and other computer resources
What are the factors which will affect the cost of the Minecraft server
The different hosting companies offer different Minecraft server hosting plans.
You can find plans which will cost you less than $3 a month and ones which can cost over $150 per month, depending on the server type, the RAM, the version of the game (Java or Bedrock), the player slots, the server management tools and services, the number and types of plugins and mods you want to install, the storage and bandwidth and more.
As a rule of thumb, if you are a beginner, a hosting plan which includes about 2GB RAM is a good starting point. You can try it out and then downgrade or upgrade if needed.
Thankfully, most of the best hosting companies offer monthly plans and the ability to switch in between plans on a monthly basis without the need to migrate or transfer your server.
A Minecraft Server with 2GB of RAM is a good starting point for most people. You can always upgrade or downgrade later.
How much will the server cost?
The pricing of the Minecraft hosting plans differ from one company to another and from one plan to another.
As mentioned previously, you can find basic plans which cost just about 2-3 dollars per month, and there are premium plans which can cost $100 and more every month.
Usually, the price increases when the RAM and player slots increase, and other features like plugins, mods are added.
If you want to host your Minecraft server at home, you should be prepared to pay between $500 and $1,000 for a powerful computer that can host and run the Minecraft server seamlessly. And if your internet bandwidth is not sufficient, you may need to opt for a pricier plan from your ISP.
Choosing the best Minecraft server hosting company
If you have decided to rely on a professional hosting company for your personal Minecraft server, then you can ask the experts from the company to suggest the best plan and option for your needs.
Some hosting companies have server setup wizards, which will help you configure your own server hosting plan in accordance with your preferences for the game version, the server size, the number of players, the types of mods and plugins, and other features you want to add to your Minecraft server.
Some companies offer free trial periods. Others offer money-back satisfaction guarantees. There are hosting services that provide generous discounts for their plans based on the payment period and others.
You can read everything you need to know about finding the best and more affordable Minecraft server hosting services in this detailed review by Fortunelords.
Final words
Overall, whichever option you choose, you will no doubt enjoy being the owner of your own private Minecraft server and playing your favorite game with your friends with the rules and features you have always wanted to have.
So, good luck with your server and enjoy it!
