What\u2019s included with every Minecraft server

Not an afterthought template. Every Minecraft plan ships tuned and ready.

\u26a1Paper 1.21 by default

Paper with optimized flags, Aikar\u2019s tuning, and view-distance defaults calibrated per plan size. Vanilla, Forge, Fabric, and NeoForge also available.

\ud83d\udce6One-click modpacks

CurseForge modpack browser built in. Search, install, and update packs like All The Mods, Create, Better MC without touching a JAR.

\ud83d\udcbeDaily encrypted backups

World snapshots every night, encrypted and pushed to backups.desertforgeit.com. One-click restore if somebody griefs your base.

\ud83d\udd12Whitelist & DDoS protection

Whitelist managed from the panel. Upstream DDoS mitigation on every port. No extra charge, no configuration.

\ud83d\udda5\ufe0fFull web console & SFTP

Real console access, file manager, scheduled restarts, and SFTP for plugin/mod uploads. No stripped-down imitation panel.

\ud83d\udcacDiscord integration ready

Templates for DiscordSRV, DiscordChatBridge, and webhook events \u2014 drop a token in and go.

Size it for your community

Slide the player count to see what you\u2019ll actually need. We\u2019ll point you at the plan that fits.

Simple plans, real resources

Base monthly rates shown. Save up to 15% on longer billing cycles at checkout.

\ud83c\udf31 Starter

For small vanilla or lightly-modded groups.

$8/mo

4 GB RAM
2 vCPU
10 GB SSD
Up to 10 players
Daily backups

Choose Starter

\u2b50 Standard

Best for most communities, modpacks included.

$15/mo

8 GB RAM
4 vCPU
25 GB SSD
Up to 25 players
Heavy modpack ready
Daily backups

Choose Standard

\ud83d\ude80 Performance

Big modpacks, large communities, long-running worlds.

$25/mo

16 GB RAM
6 vCPU
50 GB SSD
Up to 50 players
All The Mods / Create Astral
Daily backups

Choose Performance

Ready to play in 3 steps

Most servers are joinable in under 3 minutes.

Pick your plan

Use the calculator above, or start with Standard \u2014 it fits 80% of communities.

Choose version or modpack

Paper 1.21, a specific Forge/Fabric version, or browse the built-in CurseForge picker for All The Mods, Create, Better MC and more.

Hand friends the address

Whitelist from the panel. Restart, schedule backups, and watch your world grow. Full docs in the control panel.

How we compare

Honest, not a marketing pitch. We ran these servers on several other hosts before building our own.

Feature	DF: Game Hosting	Shockbyte	Apex	Self-hosted VPS
Starter price (4 GB)	$8/mo	$10/mo	$9.99/mo	$6\u201315/mo
Paper tuned by default	Yes	No	No	Manual
Daily encrypted backups included	Yes	Weekly only	Yes	Manual
One-click modpack install	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Free tier	4 GB always-free	No	No	N/A
SSH/SFTP file access	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Real humans on Discord	Yes	Ticket queue	Ticket queue	N/A

Minecraft hosting FAQ

How many players can I host?

Depends on plan and modpack. Vanilla Starter handles 10\u201320 comfortably; heavy modpacks like All The Mods 10 want 8\u201316 GB (Standard or Performance) to stay smooth at 10+ players.

Do you support Forge, Fabric, NeoForge, and Paper?

Yes \u2014 all four, plus vanilla. Switch loader and version from the panel without losing your world.

Can I upload my existing world?

Upload via the panel\u2019s file manager or over SFTP. Worlds up to 25 GB supported on Standard, 50 GB on Performance.

How often are backups taken? Can I restore them?

Nightly at a time you pick, encrypted at rest, pushed to our backups vault. One-click restore from the panel. Retention: 7 days Starter, 30 days Standard, 90 days Performance.

Which Minecraft versions are supported?

All current releases (1.20.x, 1.21.x) and most older snapshots. If you want a specific version for a modpack that\u2019s not listed, message us \u2014 we\u2019ll add it.

Can I install plugins and custom JARs?

Yes. Drop them in /plugins (Paper/Spigot) or /mods (Forge/Fabric) via SFTP, or upload through the panel. Auto-restart after install.

What happens if I exceed my RAM limit?

Server stays up but JVM may pause for long GCs. We alert you before it becomes a problem and suggest an upgrade path \u2014 we don\u2019t oversell or throttle silently.

How do I give friends admin / op access?

Panel has a one-click OP/de-OP interface. No console-hunting. SSH/SFTP access for advanced admin is on every plan.

Can I migrate from Shockbyte / Apex / BisectHosting?

Yes \u2014 upload your world + server.properties + plugins/mods directory and we\u2019ll match your configuration. Free migration support on Discord.

Is there a free tier?

Yes: always-free 4 GB Minecraft server that stays alive via Forge Credits (earn by watching one ad to extend). No credit card. Details here.

Minecraft hosting guides

Deep-dives from our knowledge hub. Applicable whether you host with us or run your own.

\ud83d\udcd6Self-host a Paper server on Proxmox LXC

The exact pattern we use to run Paper in production. Systemd autostart, tuned flags, firewall rules.

\ud83d\udce6Modpack overview

What\u2019s actually in All The Mods, Create, Better MC \u2014 and which ones will eat your RAM.

\u2699\ufe0fServer optimization

View-distance, simulation-distance, chunk loaders, and the JVM flags that actually matter.

\ud83d\udd0cMust-have Paper plugins

The 12 plugins we install on every server by default \u2014 and which ones you can skip.

\ud83d\udcbeAutomatic world backups

The restic-based backup system that drives our backups.desertforgeit.com vault.

\ud83c\udfafServer won\u2019t start? Troubleshoot

Port conflicts, EULA flags, memory limits, the usual suspects when a server silently fails.

Start your Minecraft server tonight.

Free 4 GB server in 90 seconds \u2014 or pick a paid plan and we\u2019ll have you online in under 3 minutes.

Get a paid server \u2192 Start free

Managed Minecraft server hosting from $2/week.