Valheim Server Hosting Cost in 2026: Prices, Free Hosting, Splits

Valheim server hosting costs about 10 to 20 USD a month for 4 to 8 GB of RAM, one of the cheapest survival games to host. You can also host Valheim for free from inside the game or with the free dedicated server on your own PC. Split across a crew of 10, a server is about 2.50 USD each.

How much does a Valheim server cost per month?

Valheim is light on memory compared with most survival games, so it needs a small plan. Here are our Valheim plans:

Plan	RAM	Players	vCPU	Price per month	Good for
Starter	4 GB	5	2	9.99 USD	Vanilla, up to 5 Vikings
Standard	6 GB	10	2	14.99 USD	A full crew of 10 or big late game bases
Pro	8 GB	10	2	19.99 USD	BepInEx modpacks or heavily built worlds

New customers get 50% off the first month, so a Standard server starts at about 7.50 USD. Yearly billing costs the same as 10 months: 149.90 USD a year for 6 GB if one person pays.

What makes a Valheim server cost more?

Three things:

Building. Big bases with thousands of pieces in one area are the main cause of server load and lag in Valheim. Our Valheim server lag fix explains why.
Mods. A BepInEx modpack adds memory and CPU load, which is why modded servers are better on 8 GB.
A full crew. Valheim caps at 10 players, and Iron Gate's 1.0 FAQ confirms 1.0 is "a game for 1-10 players," so you never need a huge plan. You need enough room for 10 players spread across the map.

CPU speed matters more than core count, because the busiest areas run on one main thread. That is why a cheap plan on slow, crowded hardware can still lag.

How much does a Valheim server cost split with friends?

Very little. With our Server Share, each friend pays an even part by their own card, plus a 1 USD fee per share:

Plan	Split 2 ways	Split 5 ways	Split 10 ways
Starter, 9.99 USD	about 6.00 USD each	about 3.00 USD each	not needed, 5 players max
Standard, 14.99 USD	about 8.50 USD each	about 4.00 USD each	about 2.50 USD each
Pro, 19.99 USD	about 11.00 USD each	about 5.00 USD each	about 3.00 USD each

Everyone pays when they are ready and the server starts with the first share. See how to split the cost of a game server with friends.

Can you host a Valheim server for free?

Yes, in two ways.

Free option 1: Host from the game

Tick Start server when you load a world and friends can join you. It is free and supports the full 10 players, but the world only exists while you play, and your PC runs the game and the server at once. When you log off, the world goes with you.

Free option 2: Run the dedicated server on your PC

The Valheim dedicated server is a free download through SteamCMD, app ID 896660, for Windows and Linux. It runs without the game open and keeps the world online for everyone. What it costs instead:

Cost	What it means
Hardware	4 GB of RAM free for a small group, more for big bases or mods
Electricity	A PC drawing 100 W around the clock uses about 72 kWh a month. At 0.17 USD per kWh, about 12 USD
Networking	Forward UDP ports 2456 and 2457, or use crossplay mode, which connects through a relay
Maintenance	Update after every patch, and Valheim has had five patches in the three weeks after 1.0

Full steps are in how to make a Valheim server. Patch days are the hidden cost: the server and every player must match, or everyone sees "Incompatible version," covered in our Valheim incompatible version fix.

Is it cheaper to self host Valheim or pay for hosting?

For Valheim, they are close. If a PC is already on all day for other reasons, self hosting is nearly free. If you would leave a PC running only for the server, the electricity alone can be about the same as a Standard plan, and a split server costs each player a few dollars. Paid hosting also keeps your home IP private, avoids port forwarding, and keeps the world up when the host's PC is off or updating.

What should you look for in Valheim server hosting?

Crossplay support, so Xbox, PS5, Switch 2 and Game Pass players can join with a join code. See Valheim dedicated server crossplay.
BepInEx and Thunderstore support if you want mods.
File access to upload your world folder and edit adminlist.txt.
World modifiers for combat, resources, raids and portals.
Backups before boss fights and patches.
Monthly billing with no contract.

What you get with GamezServers

Our Valheim hosting gives you a server online in about a minute. You pick Vanilla with crossplay or BepInEx for mods at checkout. Presets and world modifiers are panel settings, the world and admin lists are in the file manager, and the server updates Valheim on every restart. It has backups, DDoS protection and 24/7 support, and you can cancel any time.

FAQ

How much does a Valheim server cost?

A dedicated Valheim server costs about 10 to 20 USD a month for 4 to 8 GB of RAM. Split between 10 players, that is a few dollars each.

How much RAM does a Valheim server need?

4 GB handles a small vanilla group. A full crew of 10 or large bases is happier on 6 GB, and BepInEx modpacks on 8 GB.

Can I host a Valheim server for free?

Yes. Host from the game for free, or run the free dedicated server from SteamCMD on your own PC. Both cost electricity, and the in game option only works while you play.

Is a Valheim server cheaper than a Palworld or ARK server?

Yes. Valheim needs about 4 to 8 GB of RAM, while Palworld and ARK need 12 to 24 GB, and hosting is priced by memory.

How many players can a Valheim server hold?

Up to 10 players. Valheim 1.0 kept the same 1 to 10 player limit.