Minecraft Server Cost Calculator
Choose how much RAM you need and how long you’ll run the server. The calculator estimates the monthly and total cost at each host from its published price per GB, and what each player pays if you split it.
Cheapest per month—
Total for the period—
Per player per month—cheapest host
| Host | Per month | Total | Per player |
|---|
Estimated from each host’s regular price per GB, before tax. Many hosts discount longer billing periods; some (like Hostinger) only reach their lowest price on long prepaid terms.
How much does a Minecraft server cost?
Minecraft hosts price their plans by RAM. Budget hosts charge about $1 per GB a month; mid-range hosts $2–$3; premium hosts with the fastest CPUs, more support and extras $4–$5. That means the same 4 GB server can cost anything from about $4 to $20 a month.
| RAM | Cheapest | Average | Most expensive | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 GB | $2.00 | $7.43 | $19.49 | Testing or a proxy server |
| 4 GB | $4.00 | $11.36 | $19.49 | Vanilla/Paper: up to 12 players · light modpack: up to 5 players |
| 6 GB | $6.00 | $17.04 | $29.22 | Vanilla/Paper: up to 25 players · light modpack: up to 15 players · large modpack: up to 5 players |
| 8 GB | $8.00 | $22.72 | $38.96 | Vanilla/Paper: up to 40 players · light modpack: up to 30 players · large modpack: up to 15 players |
| 12 GB | $12.00 | $34.08 | $58.44 | Vanilla/Paper: up to 80 players · light modpack: up to 70 players · large modpack: up to 50 players |
| 16 GB | $16.00 | $45.44 | $77.92 | Vanilla/Paper: up to 120 players · light modpack: up to 100 players · large modpack: up to 90 players |
Monthly prices across the hosts we compare, estimated from their published price per GB.
What you get for a higher price
- Faster CPUs. Minecraft’s main game loop runs on one core, so single-core speed decides how many players and farms a server handles before it lags. Premium plans usually use newer Ryzen or EPYC CPUs.
- Backups. Some budget plans charge extra for backups, or don’t include them at all.
- Support. 24/7 live chat costs money to run; budget hosts often support you through Discord or tickets only.
- Locations. Asia-Pacific locations often cost more than US or EU ones at the same host.
- Dedicated IP. Useful if you want players to connect on the default port without a subdomain.
Ways to pay less
- Get the RAM right. Don’t buy 8 GB for 5 friends on vanilla. The RAM calculator tells you what you need.
- Split the bill. A $12 server shared by six friends is $2 each.
- Pay quarterly or yearly once you know you like the host. Check the renewal price, not just the first payment.
- Try a free host first for a short project. See free Minecraft hosting.
- Consider self-hosting if you have a spare PC. Compare its electricity cost with the self-hosting calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Minecraft server cost per month?
A small server for friends with 3–4 GB of RAM costs roughly $3–$20 a month depending on the host. Budget hosts charge around $1 per GB; premium hosts with faster CPUs and more support charge $3–$5 per GB.
Why do prices per GB differ so much?
Budget plans run on older or shared CPUs, include fewer backups and offer less support. Premium plans use newer, faster CPUs (which reduce lag more than extra RAM), add backups and often a dedicated IP.
Is paying yearly cheaper?
Often. Many hosts discount quarterly or yearly billing, and some advertise their lowest price only on long prepaid terms. Check the renewal price as well as the first payment.
Are these the exact prices?
They’re estimates from each host’s published per-GB price. Real plans come in fixed sizes, so the plan you buy may have a little more RAM than you need. Taxes and regional pricing (Asia-Pacific locations often cost more) aren’t included.