How to compare Minecraft server hosts
Published on 3 October 2026
Compare Minecraft server hosts on six points: memory, processor time, location, backups, notice period and support. The price per GB tells you little if the processor is slow or backups are missing. You wouldn’t pick a cake on price per kilo alone either. Below you’ll find, point by point, the question to ask and why it matters, without naming other hosts and without a "best of" list.
| Point | Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | How much RAM is reserved for me? | Too little memory means lag and crashes |
| Processor | How much processor time, and how fast is one core? | Minecraft runs the world mostly on one core |
| Location | Where is the server? | Distance sets your ping |
| Backups | How many, how often, and can I download them? | A broken world without a backup is gone |
| Cancelling | Monthly, or locked in for a year? | You want to be able to stop or switch |
| Support | Which language, which channel, and how busy? | When things break, you want help fast |
How much memory do you really need?
Enough for your world, and not much more. A group of friends on Paper with a few plugins needs less than a server running a heavy modpack. Memory your server doesn’t use won’t make it faster. Also check whether the memory is actually reserved for you, or whether a host sells player slots without saying how much memory comes with them. How much you need is explained in How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?, or work it out with the server size calculator.
Why does speed per core matter so much?
According to the Minecraft Wiki, a Java server does most of its world calculations on a single core and uses a few more cores at most for other work. A processor with strong single-core performance therefore matters more than a high core count.
Also ask how much processor time you get. In game panels such as Pterodactyl, 100% stands for one full processor thread and 200% for two. A plan with 50% can only use half a thread, however fast the processor is. At CakeHosting every plan shows how many CPU threads you get. The difference between our Standard and Premium lines is explained in Standard or Premium: which game server is right for you?
Where should the server be?
As close as possible to most of your players. Light needs about 5 microseconds per kilometre of fibre, and cables never run in a straight line. So every 1,000 kilometres adds at least 5 milliseconds each way, and no fast processor can win that back. Playing from the UK, the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe? Pick a European location.
At CakeHosting, Standard lets you choose from Europe (Netherlands, Germany or France), Canada or Singapore. Premium lets you choose from Europe (Netherlands or France) or the United States (San Jose, California). All locations are listed on Locations.
Want to compare for yourself? Specifications shows memory, CPU threads, storage, backups, DDoS protection and locations side by side for each line. A Minecraft Java server starts at €4.95 a month.
What about backups and support?
Ask how many backups you get, whether they can run automatically and whether you can download them. A copy you keep yourself is the best insurance for your world. At CakeHosting a Minecraft server has 2 backup slots: you make a backup with one click or schedule it, and download it whenever you like.
For support, look at the language, the channel and how busy it is. We help through tickets, in English or Dutch. Our contact page shows honestly how busy we are right now.
What’s in the small print?
- Notice period. Can you stop monthly, or are you tied in for a year? With us you choose the billing period yourself and cancel towards the end of it.
- Cooling-off period. As a consumer in the EU, you get 14 days to change your mind when you buy a service online. How that works with us is in the terms and conditions.
- DDoS protection. Ask exactly what’s included. On Premium your server has DDoS protection through Cloudflare Magic Transit. On Standard your server has standard DDoS protection from the data centre.
- Extra costs. Is a domain name, an extra port or a database charged separately? And does the price go up after the first period?
How do you compare hosts in fifteen minutes?
- Decide what you need: Java or Bedrock, the number of players and whether you want plugins or mods.
- Pick two or three hosts and line up the same amount of memory at each, with the processor time next to it. For a rough idea of the cost, see How much does a Minecraft server cost?
- Go through the six points in the table and drop any host that can’t give a clear answer.
- Test in the first month. On busy evenings, check memory and processor use in the game panel. If everything stays well below the limit, you’re in good shape. How to measure lag is explained in Find lag on your Minecraft server with Spark.
