If you play with the same handful of friends every week, at some point someone says, “We should just get our own server.” Then you open a search tab and find a dozen hosting companies, each claiming to be the best. This guide cuts that down for small groups of 2-10 players.
A quick note before we start: hosting prices, plans, and supported games change often. Treat everything below as a framework for deciding, and check each provider’s current pricing page before you buy.
What small groups actually need
A group of 2-10 players has different needs than a public community server. Before comparing providers, answer these four questions:
- Which game? Support varies a lot. Some hosts focus on a few games. Others list dozens.
- How many players at once? Hosts price either by player slots or by RAM. Which one is cheaper depends on your group size.
- Do you want mods? Mod support and file access matter more than raw specs for many games.
- Who is the admin? If the person running it isn’t technical, a simple control panel is worth paying for.
Nitrado
Nitrado is a big name in console and PC game hosting. It is a common pick for games like ARK, Rust, and other survival titles, and it is one of the few options that serves console players on Xbox and PlayStation.
Good for: Groups with console players, and people who want a mainstream, polished control panel.
Watch out for: Pricing is typically based on player slots, so a small group can end up paying for capacity it doesn’t use. Compare the slot count you need against the monthly price before committing.
G-Portal
G-Portal is another long-running host with a wide game list and a strong presence in survival games. Like Nitrado, it prices mostly per slot and offers servers for both PC and console.
Good for: Groups that want a wide choice of games and several server locations.
Watch out for: Slot-based pricing again. A 5-player group should look at the smaller tiers and check whether mods and custom settings are allowed on the plan.
Apex Hosting
Apex Hosting focuses mostly on Minecraft. At the time of writing, its public pricing is RAM-based, with a 4 GB plan listed at a discounted first month and a higher recurring price afterward. That “first month” detail matters: always look at the recurring price, not the introductory one.
Good for: Minecraft groups, especially beginners who want an easy panel and mod support.
Watch out for: It is specialized. If your group plays several different games, you may need more than one host.
Self-hosting on your own PC
If you have a spare computer, you can run a server yourself. It costs little beyond electricity, and you get full control. It also means you handle port forwarding, updates, backups, and security.
Good for: Tinkerers who enjoy the process, and groups on a tight budget.
Watch out for: Your home internet upload speed and uptime become the limit. If the PC is off, nobody plays. If you’ve never forwarded a port, expect a learning curve.
Quick comparison
| Option | Best for | Pricing style | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrado | Console and PC survival games | Per slot | May pay for unused slots |
| G-Portal | Wide game variety | Per slot | Check mod rules per plan |
| Apex Hosting | Minecraft | Per GB of RAM | Mostly one game |
| Self-hosting | Budget and control | Hardware and power | You are the support team |
How to choose
- Pick your game first. The game decides which providers are even options.
- Count your real peak players. Don’t pay for 50 slots if you have 6 friends.
- Check the recurring price. Introductory discounts end.
- Look at the cancellation terms. Start month to month so you can leave if the group loses interest.
- Test performance in the first week. Look for lag, and make sure the server location is close to most of your players.
The bottom line
For console players, Nitrado and G-Portal are the usual starting points. For Minecraft, a specialist like Apex Hosting is hard to beat for simplicity. For a technical group on a budget, self-hosting is a great way to learn. Start small, stay month to month, and upgrade when your group actually needs it.
Related reading: if you’re setting up a place to organize your group, see How to Set Up a Discord Server from Scratch and Best Free Discord Bots for Small Gaming Servers in 2026.