Palworld Server Hosting Cost (2026): Prices and Free Options
How much a Palworld dedicated server costs per month in 2026, why it needs 16 GB of RAM, how to host Palworld for free and what it costs split with friends.
Updated Oct 3, 2026 · 5 min read
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Palworld server hosting costs about 30 to 60 USD a month for 12 to 24 GB of RAM, and Pocketpair recommends 16 GB. You can host Palworld for free with a 4 player co-op world or the free dedicated server on your own PC. Split eight ways, a 16 GB server is about 6 USD per player.
How much does a Palworld server cost per month?
The cost follows memory, and Palworld needs plenty of it. Pocketpair recommends 16 GB for a dedicated server, and memory use grows as bases fill with Pals and structures. Here are our Palworld plans:
| Plan | RAM | Players | vCPU | Price per month | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 12 GB | 8 | 3 | 29.99 USD | A small group of friends |
| Standard | 16 GB | 16 | 4 | 39.99 USD | Most worlds, Pocketpair's recommended size |
| Pro | 24 GB | 32 | 6 | 59.99 USD | A full 32 player server or big late game bases |
New customers get 50% off the first month, so the Standard plan starts at about 20 USD. Yearly billing costs the same as 10 months, which is 399.90 USD a year for 16 GB if one person pays. More on sizing by player count in how many players can join a Palworld server.
Why does a Palworld server need so much RAM?
Three reasons:
- Base Pals keep working. Every Pal at every base keeps simulating while players are offline, and the server tracks all of them.
- Structures add up. Late game bases hold thousands of objects. The v1.0.4 patch even added
MaxBuildingLimitNum, a per player building cap, to help admins control it (Steam, September 7, 2026). - The memory leak. Palworld servers hold more memory the longer they run, which is why scheduled restarts are standard practice. Our Palworld lag and memory fix explains it.
Running out of memory causes crashes and rollbacks, so a cheap plan without enough RAM ends up costing you progress.
How much does a Palworld server cost split with friends?
Splitting turns Palworld into one of the cheaper games to host per person. With our Server Share, each friend pays an even part by their own card, plus a 1 USD fee per share:
| Plan | Split 4 ways | Split 8 ways | Split 10 ways |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter, 29.99 USD | about 8.50 USD each | about 4.75 USD each | about 4.00 USD each |
| Standard, 39.99 USD | about 11.00 USD each | about 6.00 USD each | about 5.00 USD each |
| Pro, 59.99 USD | about 16.00 USD each | about 8.50 USD each | about 7.00 USD each |
The server starts as soon as the first share is paid, and each friend pays when ready. See how to split the cost of a game server with friends.
Can you host a Palworld server for free?
Yes. There are two free ways to play Palworld multiplayer, with clear limits.
Free option 1: Co-op with an invite code
Any player can open their world to friends with an invite code. It is free and takes seconds, but co-op is capped at 4 players and the world only exists while the host is playing. When the host logs off, everyone else does too, and base Pals stop working.
Free option 2: Run the dedicated server yourself
PalServer is free from Pocketpair through SteamCMD, app ID 2394010, and runs on Windows or Linux. It supports up to 32 players and keeps running without anyone in game. What it costs you instead:
| Cost | What it means |
|---|---|
| Hardware | A machine with about 16 GB of RAM free for the server and a fast SSD, since slow disks can damage saves |
| Electricity | A PC drawing 150 W around the clock uses about 108 kWh a month. At 0.17 USD per kWh, about 18 USD |
| Networking | Forward UDP port 8211. Behind CGNAT, outside players cannot reach you |
| Maintenance | Update after every patch, restart regularly for the memory leak, back up saves |
The full walkthrough is in how to make a Palworld server. If your PC is also your gaming PC, running the server and the game at the same time on 16 GB or 32 GB total is tight.
Is self hosting or paid hosting cheaper for Palworld?
For a group of four or more, a split hosted server is usually close to the electricity cost of self hosting, without tying up a PC. Self hosting wins if you already have a spare machine with plenty of memory, cheap power and a router you can forward ports on. Paid hosting wins if you want the world up 24/7 without someone's PC running all night, a stable address that works on Xbox and PS5 through the community server list, and no patch day chores. Our Palworld version mismatch fix shows what patch day looks like when you do it yourself.
What you get with GamezServers
A Palworld server from GamezServers is online in about a minute. XP, capture rate, day length, work speed, death penalty, PvP and raids are panel settings, crossplay platforms are one setting, and the server restarts itself with a two minute warning before the memory leak slows it down. It updates on start, has backups and DDoS protection, and support is available 24/7. Billing is monthly with no contract, and you can cancel any time.
FAQ
How much RAM does a Palworld server need?
Pocketpair recommends 16 GB. Small groups can start on 12 GB, and a full 32 player server or big late game bases are happier on 24 GB.
Is it free to host a Palworld server?
The dedicated server software is free, and co-op for up to 4 players costs nothing. Running a dedicated server around the clock costs either your own hardware and electricity or a monthly hosting fee.
What is the cheapest way to get a Palworld server for 8 players?
Split a hosted server. A 16 GB server split eight ways is about 6 USD per player a month, with no PC left running.
Can Xbox and PS5 players join a hosted Palworld server?
Yes. Since 1.0, Steam, Xbox, PS5 and Mac players can share a server. Console players find it by name in the community server list.
Why are Palworld servers more expensive than Valheim servers?
Palworld needs around 16 GB of memory against roughly 4 GB for Valheim, and hosting is priced by memory.
Skip the setup. Your own Palworld server.
Then $29.99/mo. Just trying it? $7.50 for 3 days