Last updated: July 2026. All prices checked against each provider's public pricing.
If you searched for a $1 Minecraft server, these four providers are the realistic budget options. Here is how they actually compare, including where each one wins.
| AtrbCode Host | PebbleHost | Sparked Host | PloxHost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | $0.69/mo (Bedrock 512MB) | $1.00/mo (1GB) | $2.00/mo (2GB min) | $1.00/mo (1GB) |
| Cheapest Java plan | $0.90/mo (1GB) | $1.00/mo (1GB) | $2.00/mo (2GB) | $1.00/mo (1GB) |
| Price per GB (budget tier) | $0.90–$1.15 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| Bedrock support | Yes, from $0.69 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free backups on cheapest tier | Yes | Premium only | Varies | Nightly |
| Custom address included | Yes | Subdomain | Subdomain | Subdomain |
| Cross-version play (Java) | 1-click ViaVersion | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Instant setup | Yes | Yes | Yes | <30s |
| Operating since | 2026 | 2017 | 2017 | 2015 |
| Locations | Europe | Global | 10 global | 5 (US + EU) |
| Contract | None, cancel anytime | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
AtrbCode Host has the cheapest way to get a real Minecraft server online: $0.69/month for Bedrock, $0.90/month for Java. Every plan, including the cheapest, includes free backups, a custom address, full console access, and unlimited plugins on Java. The trade-offs: we are the newest provider here (2026), currently Europe-based, and at some higher RAM tiers our per-GB price runs slightly above $1/GB. If you want the lowest possible monthly cost with no feature gates, that is our lane.
Running since 2017, PebbleHost defined the $1/GB category. Fast Discord support (average ~17 minute responses), a 72-hour refund policy, and a large community. Free automatic backups are reserved for Premium tiers, and budget hardware is older. If track record matters most to you, PebbleHost has earned its reputation.
Sparked's budget tier is also $1/GB but starts at 2GB, so the minimum spend is $2/month. Budget plans run on older dual Xeon hardware; their Ryzen-based Enterprise tier is genuinely fast but costs more than double per GB. Ten global locations is the widest spread in this comparison.
Operating since 2015 with five owned datacenters across the US and Europe, PloxHost deploys in under 30 seconds and includes nightly backups on budget plans. Long-running discount codes can push effective pricing below $1/GB, which makes it the strongest per-GB deal here if you use them.
By entry price, AtrbCode Host at $0.69/month (Bedrock) and $0.90/month (Java). By per-GB price at larger sizes, PebbleHost, Sparked and PloxHost at $1.00/GB.
Budget hosting runs $0.69 to about $10.90/month depending on RAM. A small server for friends starts at $0.90/month for Java and $0.69/month for Bedrock; 8GB for a large group costs around $10.81/month.
For vanilla play with a small group, yes. Heavy modpacks and big communities need more RAM and stronger CPU tiers at any provider.
Competitor prices were checked in July 2026 against public pricing pages and independent reviews. Prices and features change; verify current pricing with each provider before purchasing. This page is published by Atrb Services Limited (UK CRN 17226687), operator of AtrbCode Host.