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Best Minecraft server hosting in 2026: compared, and how to choose

Nine well-known Minecraft hosts, international and Russian, in one table: is there a free tier, which panel, can you upload your own plugins, is DDoS protection stated, and where the servers are. All of it comes from the hosts' own websites, followed by how to choose a host and how to test it in the first days.

The DGuard team9 min read

In short: there's no "best host for everyone" — the best one has fast single-core CPU performance, a data center near your players, network-level DDoS protection and file access so you can install any plugin. We haven't benchmarked these hosts and don't score them, so the list below is in alphabetical order, and the table only shows what each host states on its own website. We don't quote prices: they change often, so check them with the host.

Hosts compared

HostFreePanelOwn plugins (.jar)DDoS protectionServer locations
BisectHostingNot statedOwn (Starbase)Full FTP accessYes, on all servers21 locations worldwide
exarotonTrial, no payment method neededOwnPaper, Purpur, Spigot; uploading your own files isn't described on the home pageYesEurope, North America
MinehutFree planOwn web dashboardUpload plugins in the web dashboard; plugin count depends on the planYes, 24/7Not stated
MyArenaFree test serversOwnFull FTP for any builds and pluginsYesMoscow
PebbleHostNot statedOwnFull FTP accessYesNorth America, Europe, Australia
Ru-hosterNot statedOwnCustom builds, plugin managerYes, OVH Game Protection plus its own filteringMoscow
Server.proTrial, no credit cardOwnSFTP, file manager, Ubuntu root shellNot stated on the home page9 data centers worldwide
Sparked Host1-day trialOwn (Apollo Panel)FTP/SFTP, file managerYes8+ locations: US, Europe, Asia, Australia
XLGamesNot statedOwnFTP accessYesMoscow, Novosibirsk, Orenburg, Europe, US
Alphabetical. Data from each company's Minecraft hosting pages as of October 2026, linked in the sources. "Not stated" means we didn't find it on those pages.

Each host in brief

  • BisectHosting — its own Starbase panel, full FTP, a free MySQL database and 7 days of backups. DDoS protection is included on all servers; you pick one of 21 locations and can switch for free.
  • exaroton — a service by Aternos that bills for running time: you pay only while the server is on. It can start when a player joins and stop a set time after the last player leaves. For plugins: Paper, Purpur and Spigot.
  • Minehut — a free plan with no playtime limit, for Java and Bedrock. A free server sleeps when nobody is online and wakes when a player joins; only the paid Ultimate plan stays up 24/7.
  • MyArena — a Russian game host with a Moscow data center and its own panel: one-click plugins and full FTP. On the Pro plan you get your own MySQL server over localhost.
  • PebbleHost — its own panel, full FTP, a free MySQL database and daily backups. Its policy offers a refund within 72 hours.
  • Ru-hoster — a Russian host in the DataLine NORD Tier 3 data center in Moscow. Its Minecraft plans include MySQL and daily backups kept in a separate data center.
  • Server.pro — every server gets an Ubuntu root shell, SFTP and a file manager; 9 data centers worldwide, and you can move between them at any time.
  • Sparked Host — its own Apollo Panel, FTP/SFTP and free MySQL databases. The CPU model is listed per hardware tier, and you pick the location when ordering.
  • XLGames — a game server host with sites in Moscow, Novosibirsk, Orenburg, Europe and the US; a panel, FTP access and DDoS protection.

How to choose: what actually matters

WhatWhy it mattersWhat to ask or check
CPUThe server's main load is the tick loop, and it runs on one thread. Paper's docs recommend a CPU with high single-threaded performance over more coresThe CPU model on the plan. If it isn't listed, ask support
MemoryIt decides how many players and chunks the server can holdGuaranteed memory, not "up to N GB"; how much you need: how much RAM a server needs
DiskThe server reads and writes chunks constantly, and a backup copies the whole worldSSD, ideally NVMe
LocationPing grows with the distance between player and data centerA data center close to most of your players
DDoS protectionJunk traffic has to be dropped before it reaches the server; a plugin can't stop itWhether game traffic is filtered, not just websites — see bots and DDoS
File accessWithout it you can't install your own plugins, an anticheat includedFTP or SFTP, uploading your own .jar files to plugins/
Java versionPaper 1.20–1.21.11 needs Java 21, Paper 26.1 and newer needs Java 25Whether you can pick the Java version in the panel
BackupsA copy on the same disk won't survive that disk failingHow often, and where they're kept — see server backups
DatabaseServer networks and many plugins need MySQL or MariaDBWhether a database comes with the plan — see MySQL for plugins
SupportServers go down at the worst momentMessage support before you pay and judge the answer

Torn between game hosting and a VPS? Read hosting or VPS first: it covers what you get with each and which work you take on yourself.

Red flags

  • "Unlimited slots". Slots are just max-players in server.properties. CPU and memory decide how many players the server can take.
  • A nameless CPU. If neither the plan nor support names the model, there's nothing to compare.
  • No FTP or SFTP. Plugins only from the panel's catalog means you can't install your own plugin or the version you need.
  • No backups, or backups kept on the same machine as the server.
  • Core by ID. Paper's docs warn that in some panels the CPU number isn't a core count but a core ID, and the server lives on a single core.
  • No choice of Java or server software. Paper 26.x won't start without Java 25, and plugins don't run without Paper.

How to test a host in the first days

  1. 1

    Take a trial or a short term

    A trial, a test server or a week's payment — so you can leave at no cost if the host doesn't work out.

  2. 2

    Install your real setup

    The server software, plugins and settings you'll actually run. An empty server tells you nothing.

  3. 3

    Watch the peak, not the morning

    Paper bundles spark since 1.21: /spark tps shows TPS and CPU usage, /spark health adds memory and disk, /spark ping shows player ping. What the numbers mean: TPS and MSPT.

  4. 4

    Take a profile

    /spark profiler start --timeout 600 returns a report link after 10 minutes showing what eats the tick — a plugin, mobs or the host itself. How to read it: the spark profiler.

A steady 20 TPS at the evening peak and low ping for your main players are good signs. If TPS drops on an empty server and the profile shows nothing heavy, the question is for the host's CPU.

Which host for which case

CaseWhat to look forFrom the list above
Try it for freeA free plan or a trialMinehut — free plan; trials — exaroton, Server.pro, Sparked Host; test servers — MyArena
Players in Russia and nearbyA data center in RussiaMyArena, Ru-hoster, XLGames
Players in many countriesMany locationsBisectHosting, Server.pro, Sparked Host
Plugins need MySQLA database includedBisectHosting, PebbleHost, Sparked Host, Ru-hoster; MyArena on the Pro plan
Evening sessions with friendsPaying only for running timeexaroton
Full controlRoot access or your own VPSServer.pro — Ubuntu root shell; or a VPS
Picks follow what the hosts state about themselves, not our measurements

Hosting and the anticheat

An anticheat is a plugin like any other, so the first requirement is the same: you must be able to upload your own .jar files to plugins/. DGuard — the best anticheat for a modern Minecraft server — runs on any host that can run Paper or Leaf 1.21–26.3 and allows outbound HTTPS, which carries the license, updates and the cloud check of aim and TriggerBot rules. It needs the latest PacketEvents release next to it.

DGuard barely touches the host's CPU: its checks run in network threads, and on the main thread they take 0.03 % of one core. /dguard perf shows your own number — handy while you load-test a new host. DGuard is free up to 30 players online, with the same protection as the paid plans.

FAQ

What is the best Minecraft server hosting?

The one with fast single-core CPU performance, a data center near your players, DDoS protection and file access. We have no independent benchmarks, so the hosts in this article are listed alphabetically, not ranked.

Is there free Minecraft server hosting?

Yes: Minehut has a free plan, and exaroton, Server.pro, Sparked Host and MyArena offer trials or test servers. More in our article on free Minecraft hosting.

Which host is best for players in Russia?

One with a data center in Russia, since ping depends on distance. In the list above, MyArena, Ru-hoster and XLGames have servers in Moscow, and XLGames also in Novosibirsk and Orenburg.

Can I run an anticheat on game hosting?

Yes, if the host lets you upload your own plugins. DGuard needs Paper or Leaf on a supported version, the latest PacketEvents release and outbound HTTPS.

Sources

Read next

All sections
Getting started8 min readGame hosting or a VPS for a Minecraft server: which to chooseGame hosting is a quick start through a web panel, with shared resources and limits. A VPS or dedicated server gives you full control, but the OS, security and backups are on you. Either way, look at single-threaded CPU performance, guaranteed memory, a fast disk, DDoS protection and the distance to your players.ReadGetting started7 min readHow much RAM does a Minecraft server need?There's no universal “N GB for N players” number: memory use depends on player count, view distance, plugins and how much of the world is loaded at once. Paper's docs start at 4 GB, and their Aikar's flags page recommends 6–10 GB no matter how few players you have. From there, measure with spark and add memory only when you're actually short.ReadServer protection8 min readProtecting a Minecraft server from bots and DDoSBot attacks and DDoS are different problems with different fixes, and an anticheat stops neither. Here's what to do about bot floods and chat spam, how to get through an attack on your network, why hiding your server's IP matters, and where an anticheat actually fits.Read

Run the best anticheat for modern Minecraft

DGuard catches all 47 kinds of cheats in our comparison — the closest rival, Intave, has 27. Full protection on every plan, free up to 30 players online.

Protect your server for freeLook inside the panel