Late on a Sunday night, you're downloading your world save before cancelling the old host. Where you play decides the replacement. Console groups have far fewer options, because only a few hosts here name PlayStation or Xbox versions of their games, while PC groups can choose by modding needs, panel style or voice chat. Check your exact game and platform is listed before anything else.
If you're leaving Nitrado, the save file and the platform matter more than any feature. The ten hosts below are grouped by the kind of player each one suits. Each host is described as its official site presents it, and that site is also the place to confirm the current game list.
If you play on PlayStation or Xbox
This is where the choice gets narrow. Console players leaving a host have fewer options, because most game server hosts only name PC games on their own pages. Of the ten here, two stand apart.
GPORTAL lists PS5 versions of Farming Simulator 25 and Enshrouded, and a RUST Console Edition, on its own pages. Nodecraft lists PlayStation and Xbox versions of Palworld and Valheim. If your group plays one of those games on a console, those two are where to start.
If your console game isn't on either list, don't assume a host supports it just because it hosts the PC version. Console servers are a separate product, and the PC listing tells you nothing about whether your platform is covered. Check the host's game page for your exact title and platform, and ask support if it's unclear.
If your group plays on PC with mods
PC players have the widest choice, and the deciding question is usually how you handle mods and settings.
BisectHosting leads with automatic modpack installs, which suits modded Minecraft groups. Host Havoc talks about workshop and mod installers. Fragnet's panel is built around switches rather than editing config files, which helps if nobody in your group wants to learn file syntax.
If you want room to grow, ZAP-Hosting and Sparked Host both sell VPS and dedicated servers alongside game servers, so you can move up without changing company. PingPerfect is the one to check if your group hops between many different games, because its game list is very long.
If your clan wants a voice server too
Some groups want their game server and voice chat in one place, with one login and one support team. Citadel Servers hosts both game and voice servers on its own customised panel. GameServers.com rents Teamspeak voice servers next to its game servers, with data centres across several continents, which can help if your clan is spread out.
Ten hosts side by side
| Tool | Host type | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| BisectHosting | Minecraft and multi-game host | Modpack servers with automatic installs |
| Citadel Servers | Game and voice host | Clans needing game and voice servers together |
| Fragnet | Game host | Admins who'd rather click than edit config |
| GameServers.com | Game and voice host | Teamspeak voice next to the game server |
| GPORTAL | PC and console host | PS5 and PC servers on short terms |
| Host Havoc | Game host plus VPS | Groups who rely on workshop mods |
| Nodecraft | Multi-game host | Mixed groups trying a host first |
| PingPerfect | Multi-game host | Groups jumping between many games |
| Sparked Host | Game host plus VPS | Owners who may also need a Discord bot host |
| ZAP-Hosting | Game host | Rust and FiveM servers plus VPS |
All ten hosts in alphabetical order
In no particular order beyond the alphabet. Each line sums up what the host says about itself.
BisectHosting
Best for: Modded Minecraft groups who want automatic modpack installs on a custom control panel, with plenty of other games on offer too.
Citadel Servers
Best for: Clans running game and voice servers on a customised tcadmin panel, with web hosting, VPS and dedicated servers from the same company.
Fragnet
Best for: Admins who want live stats, a browser file manager and per-game switches; the vendor's own phrase is switches instead of syntax.
GameServers.com
Best for: Teams wanting a Teamspeak voice server next to their game server, with data centres across several continents.
GPORTAL
Best for: PlayStation 5 and PC players who want short rental terms and a Gamecloud that lets them switch games.
Host Havoc
Best for: Players who want workshop and mod installers, per the vendor, and perhaps a Ryzen VPS or dedicated server later.
Nodecraft
Best for: Groups who want to try before they move, since the vendor offers a free trial; its own pitch is real customer service.
PingPerfect
Best for: Groups who move between lots of games and want worlds that stay online, set up automatically and run from the vendor's own Game Panel.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Sparked Host
Best for: Owners who'd like VPS, dedicated server or Discord bot hosting from the same company that runs their game servers.
ZAP-Hosting
Best for: Rust and FiveM communities who may later want a VPS or dedicated server from the same host.
Test the move on your smallest server
If you run several servers, don't move them all at once. Pick the smallest one, or the one with the most forgiving players, and move it first. Upload your save, rebuild your settings and mods, and play on it for a few sessions before you touch the rest.
Watch for the small things while you do. Does the panel make sense to whoever does admin? Can you restart, back up and change settings without opening a ticket? Did the save load with everything where it should be? Those answers tell you more than any feature list.
For more options, my guides to game server hosting and Minecraft server hosting cover these hosts and others by game.
When to move your group: advice on timing
Move between seasons, not in the middle of one. If your group is halfway through a wipe cycle or a long survival run, wait for a natural break, because a lost evening is easier to forgive at the start of something new than in the middle of it. Keep the old server running for a few days after the move, just in case.
If you're on a console, settle the platform question before anything else. It's the one thing a good panel or a nice feature can't fix.
Do you make game server hosting? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Can I host a console game server somewhere other than my current host?
Sometimes. Only a few hosts name PlayStation or Xbox versions of their games, so check that your exact title and platform are listed before you move.
Will my save file move to a new host?
Usually, if you download it from your current host first. Keep two copies, and test that the world loads on the new server before you cancel the old one.
What's a game panel?
It's the control page where you start, stop and restart your server, change settings, upload files and install mods. Try it before you commit, because you'll use it every week.
Do I need a separate voice server?
Not if your group already uses Discord or another voice app. Some clans prefer a dedicated voice server, and some hosts rent those alongside game servers.
Should I get a VPS instead of a game server?
Only if you're comfortable managing a server yourself. A VPS gives you more control but makes updates, backups and fixes your job, while a game server host handles them for you.
How long should I keep my old server after moving?
Keep it until the new one has run a few normal sessions without problems, so you can go back if something important didn't move across.
