Minecraft Server Hosting Compared: AtrbCode vs PebbleHost vs Sparked Host vs PloxHost
Last checked: October 2026, against each host's own pricing and feature pages (sources below). Our own prices update live.
Looking for a Minecraft server for about a dollar? AtrbCode's entry plans start below that. Here is how the hosts compare on price, what the entry plan really includes, and where each one is the better choice.
Featured hosts
Paid to be placed hereWe offer paid placement in this featured area and as a column in the table. Paid listings are marked "Paid placement" and "Not Atrb Tested", and are kept apart from our own picks and verdicts.
Swipe sideways to see every host. Feature names stay on the left.
| Feature |  AtrbCodeUs |
Atrb Services Limited has never tested Godlike.Host. This is a paid placement: the details in this column come from Godlike.Host and its public website, and have not been checked by us. Godlike.Host paid for this spot: 12 months plus 1 free month, from 7 Oct 2026 to 7 Nov 2027. The timer shows the time left. When it reaches zero, the column is removed unless it is renewed. Visit |
 PebbleHost |  Sparked Host |  PloxHost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price and billing | |||||
| Cheapest plan | $0.69/mo (Bedrock, 512 MB) | $1.00/mo (Bedrock, sale) | $1/GB (Budget) | $1.00/mo (1 GB) | From $1.00/mo |
| Cheapest Java plan | $0.90/mo (1 GB) | $2.00/mo (2 GB, sale) | $1/GB (Budget) | $1.00/mo (1 GB) | From $1.00/mo |
| Price per GB of RAM (Java) | $0.90 to $3.44 | $1.00 (sale) | $1.00 (Budget) | $1.00 (Budget) | Not listed |
| Contract and refunds | No contract, cancel any time | Monthly, 3-day money-back | Monthly, 72-hour money-back | Monthly, refunds not listed | Monthly, refunds not listed |
| On the cheapest plan | |||||
| Backups | Included | Up to 3 a day | Premium plans only | Daily (extra slots paid) | Not listed |
| Custom address | Free subdomain | Not listed | Free subdomain | Domain setup is a paid add-on | Not listed |
| Setup | Instant | About 60 seconds | Instant | Instant | Instant |
| File access | Web file manager | File manager and FTP | FTP | File manager and SFTP | Not listed |
| Scheduled tasks | Built in | Scheduled backups | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Friends who can help manage | Invite members | Sub-users | Sub-users | Not listed | Not listed |
| World reset | One click | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Crossplay and versions | |||||
| Bedrock Edition servers | Yes, from $0.69 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Java and Bedrock crossplay | One click (Geyser) | Not listed | Not listed | Paid setup add-on ($5) | Not listed |
| Older and newer Java versions join | One click (ViaVersion) | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Bedrock add-ons (.mcpack, .mcaddon) | Upload in the panel | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Mods and plugins | |||||
| Plugin installer | Search and install in the panel | In Godlike Panel | Yes | One click | Not listed |
| Modpack installer | Modrinth in one click, CurseForge via its server pack | CurseForge, Modrinth, FTB | Premium plans (12,000 packs) | One click | Not listed |
| Datapacks | Built-in manager | Manual | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Resource-pack hosting | Built in | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Help and alerts | |||||
| AI help in the panel | AI server doctor explains crashes and suggests the fix | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Ready-made game modes | 29 one-click templates | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Discord alerts | Online, offline, joins and crashes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Company and locations | |||||
| Operating since | 2026 | 2021 | 2017 | 2017 | 2015 |
| Locations | Frankfurt, Germany | 12 locations          | Budget: Canada, UK, Australia. Premium adds the USA, Singapore, India | Budget: four US cities, Paris, Sydney | Dallas, New York, Tampa, Frankfurt, Helsinki |
Quick picks
Where each one wins
AtrbCode
The lowest entry price ($0.69 Bedrock, $0.90 Java) with everything on every plan: backups, a free subdomain, plugin and modpack installers, one-click Geyser crossplay and ViaVersion, scheduled tasks, an AI server doctor and 29 one-click game modes, on Paper, Purpur, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, Quilt or Vanilla. The trade-offs: we are the newest host here, servers are in Frankfurt only, there is no FTP, and every plan above the entry ones is premium-priced, well above $1/GB hosts.
PebbleHost
Running since 2017 and the benchmark for $1/GB hosting: a plugin installer, a free .my.pebble.host subdomain, sub-users, scheduled tasks, full FTP access and a 72-hour money-back policy. Automatic backups and the one-click modpack installer (12,000 packs) are on Premium plans.
Sparked Host
Budget plans at a flat $1.00 per GB from 1 GB with the Apollo panel: one-click modpack and plugin installers, a file manager with SFTP, daily backups and Bedrock support, in four US cities, Paris and Sydney. Geyser crossplay is a $5 setup add-on.
PloxHost
In business since 2015 with locations in the US (Dallas, New York, Tampa) and Europe (Frankfurt, Helsinki), starting at $1.00. Its site lists few plan details, so check the order page before buying.
The paid column in the table is not part of our picks or verdicts: we have not tested that host, and its details come from the host itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest Minecraft server hosting in 2026?
Among the hosts compared here, AtrbCode has the lowest entry price: $0.69 a month for a Bedrock server (512 MB) and $0.90 a month for Java (1 GB). PebbleHost, Sparked Host and PloxHost start at about $1 per GB.
How much does a Minecraft server cost per month?
A server for a few friends starts at $0.90 for Java and $0.69 for Bedrock. Bigger servers cost more: about $1 per GB at budget hosts, and more on premium plans such as AtrbCode's, which go up to $54.99 a month.
Is a $1 Minecraft server good enough?
For vanilla play with a few friends, yes. Plugins, more players and modpacks need more RAM: 2 to 4 GB for a plugin server with 10 to 20 players, 6 GB or more for big modpacks.
How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?
About 1 GB for vanilla with up to 5 players, 2 to 4 GB for Paper with plugins and 10 to 20 players, and 6 to 8 GB or more for large modpacks such as All the Mods. Bedrock servers need less: 512 MB to 1 GB for a small group.
Can phone and console players join a Java server?
Yes, with Geyser. AtrbCode sets up Geyser and Floodgate in one click, so Bedrock players on phones, consoles and Windows join your Java server. Sparked Host offers Geyser as a $5 setup add-on; PebbleHost and PloxHost do not list it on their plan pages.
Do budget Minecraft plans include backups?
It depends on the host. AtrbCode includes backups on every plan, and Sparked Host lists daily backups with extra slots for a fee. PebbleHost lists automatic backups on Premium plans only, and PloxHost does not list backups on its plan page.
Which host has servers closest to my players?
AtrbCode runs in Frankfurt, Germany, which suits Europe and the Middle East. Sparked Host and PebbleHost also have North American and Australian locations on budget plans, and Asian locations on other tiers.
Can I run modpacks on a cheap server?
Light modpacks run on 2 to 4 GB. AtrbCode installs Modrinth packs in one click (CurseForge packs through their server pack), Sparked Host has a one-click modpack installer on budget plans, and PebbleHost includes one on Premium plans.
Why does the table have a paid column?
One host paid to be featured in the table for a fixed period. Its column is marked Paid placement and Not Atrb Tested: the details come from that host and have not been checked by us, and it is not part of our picks or verdicts.
Is this comparison independent?
No comparison by a host is fully independent: this page is published by Atrb Services Limited, which runs AtrbCode. We list sources for every competitor fact, write "Not listed" where a host's own page does not say, and describe where the others are the better choice.
Sources
More comparisons: Discord bot hosting and managed databases.
Competitor prices and features were checked in October 2026 against their own pages; where a page does not say, the table says "Not listed". Prices change, so verify with each provider before buying. This page is published by Atrb Services Limited (UK CRN 17226687), the operator of AtrbCode, so we are one of the hosts compared; we have tried to describe where the others are the better choice. Names and trademarks belong to their owners; no affiliation is implied. Minecraft is a trademark of Mojang AB.