Best ARK Server Hosting Providers of 2025

Our top web hosts for ARK servers offer fast speeds, mod support, and the option to scale to larger servers if needed. Learn why we picked Hostinger, IONOS, and InterServer.
We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Best for beginners

4.9
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Hostinger web hosting's website

Hostinger web hosting
BLACK FRIDAY: From $1.95/mo + 2 Extra Months & Free Domain
View More

Best value

4.7
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On IONOS web hosting's website

IONOS web hosting
PROMOTION: Save Up to 93% With 1-Year Term
View More

Best for communities

4.6
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On InterServer's website

InterServer
View More

Hostinger is the top choice for most people looking for ARK server hosting, thanks to its combination of mostly reasonable prices and ease of use.

But of course, it’s not the only option out there: IONOS is affordable and gives you all the control you could want over your server, and InterServer is one of the best dedicated server providers out there. Let’s find out which one is best for you.

In this article
The best web hosting services for ARK server hosting
Compare the best ARK server hosting services
Hostinger: Best for beginners
IONOS: Best value
InterServer: Best for large communities
What you need for an ARK server
How we tested the best web hosting services
Bottom line
FAQs

The best web hosting services for ARK server hosting

Best Ark Host for Beginners
4.9
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Hostinger web hosting's website
Website Hosters
Hostinger web hosting
BLACK FRIDAY: From $1.95/mo + 2 Extra Months & Free Domain
  • Robust user-friendly AI tools for quick web building
  • Cheaper than other all-in-one ecommerce web host & builders like Wix and Shopify
  • Passed tests for reliability and speed

Best Value Ark Server Host
4.7
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On IONOS web hosting's website
Website Hosters
IONOS web hosting
PROMOTION: Save Up to 93% With 1-Year Term
  • Very affordable plans, both during the introductory period and on renewal
  • Excellent server speed and reliability
  • Managed WordPress hosting plans include guided setup through the WordPress Cockpit and its AI site builder

Best Ark Host for Communities
4.6
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On InterServer's website
Website Hosters
InterServer
  • Solid variety of hosting features, with good support
  • All plans come with the same features; you pay for performance
  • Shared hosting performance is inconsistent

Compare the best web hosting services for ARK server hosting

Hostinger web hosting logo IONOS web hosting logo InterServer logo
Best for Best for beginners Best for value Best for large communities
Star rating
4.9
4.7
4.6
Starting price Starts at $1.95/mo Starts at $3.20/mo Starts at $2.50/mo
Money-back guarantee Yes — 30 days Yes — 30 days Yes — 30 days
Uptime guarantee 99.9% 99.99% 99.9%
Storage* 200 GB - 400 GB 240 GB - 720 GB Customizable
CPU cores* 4 - 8 4 - 12 4 - 24
RAM* 16 GB - 32 GB 8 GB - 24 GB Customizable
Server locations North America, Europe, Asia, and South America North America and Europe North America
DDoS protection
Automatic backups Yes for VPS — costs extra for dedicated servers
Mod support
Customer support 24/7 — live chat, email, guides 24/7 — live chat, phone, help center 24/7 — live chat, phone, ticket/email, guides
Learn more Get Hostinger

Read Hostinger Review

Get IONOS

Read IONOS Review

Get InterServer

Read InterServer Review

* Based on VPS hosting plans that meet the minimum requirements for an ARK server.

Hostinger: Best for beginners

4.9
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Hostinger web hosting's website
Website Hosters
Hostinger web hosting
BLACK FRIDAY: From $1.95/mo + 2 Extra Months & Free Domain
  • Robust user-friendly AI tools for quick web building
  • Cheaper than other all-in-one ecommerce web host & builders like Wix and Shopify
  • Passed tests for reliability and speed

What we liked

Dedicated ARK server plans: Hostinger has VPS plans specifically for game servers, including ARK: Survival Ascended. Not all VPS hosting is designed for gaming, so dedicated gaming plans are a bonus.

One-click installation: Hostinger makes it easy to install game servers with a single click, which can be handy for beginners. The platform has an intuitive design and offers clear navigation for users new to game hosting.

Worldwide data centers: Of the three options here, Hostinger offers the most server locations around the world. Since the closer you are to the server, the less lag you’ll have, that’s definitely something to consider.

What we didn’t like

Mildly expensive renewal prices: While it’s far from the most expensive option, Hostinger’s VPS prices — after your first plan renewal — do jump rather high. The cheapest ARK-capable plan renews at $26.99/mo.

Test results

When we tested Hostinger’s service, it performed remarkably well in terms of overall performance, including low server response times (which you want) and reliable uptime. Keep in mind, however, that we tested the shared hosting. Its VPS performance should look even better.

Uptime 100%
Average response time 138 ms
Did Hostinger pass the stress test? Yes
Learn more Get Hostinger

Read Our Hostinger Review

Star rating summary

Our own overall experience with Hostinger has been quite good. It scored 5s across the board in our most important categories: features, performance, and security. Not all hosts manage that, and those categories are especially important if you’re going to be hosting a game server.

Hostinger earned a near-perfect star rating of 4.9 because its user-friendly and comprehensive, provides reliable performance, and affordable for small- to medium-sized businesses. 

Decision factor Weight Verdict
Our experience 10% 5.0
Value and capacity18% 4.2
Performance20% 5.0
Features25% 5.0
Security20% 5.0
Support and reputation7% 4.9

Learn more about our testing experience in our Hostinger review.

IONOS: Best value

4.7
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On IONOS web hosting's website
Website Hosters
IONOS web hosting
PROMOTION: Save Up to 93% With 1-Year Term
  • Very affordable plans, both during the introductory period and on renewal
  • Excellent server speed and reliability
  • Managed WordPress hosting plans include guided setup through the WordPress Cockpit and its AI site builder

What we liked

Game server variety: IONOS makes a point of letting you know that you can host your game server on any of these web hosting types: VPS, cloud hosting, and dedicated servers, depending on your needs.

Official game server installation guides: IONOS doesn’t have one-click installs, but it does have a variety of useful guides for installing game servers, including ARK.

Affordable plans: IONOS’ VPS plans are affordable, and the cheapest ARK-capable plan renews at $15/mo, which is really quite decent.

What we didn’t like

You have to do everything manually: This is going to be the hard part for some people, and a possible deal-breaker. You will have to install and configure the server yourself, as well as configure the server firewall, etc.

Test results

In our testing, IONOS performed very well, especially for uptime and reliability, and server stability. Again, these were tests we ran on the shared hosting plans, so VPS, cloud, and dedicated server plans should all perform even better.

Uptime 100%
Average response time 311 ms
Did IONOS pass the stress test? Yes
Learn more Get IONOS

Read Our IONOS Review

Star rating summary

In our testing, we found that IONOS offers a bit less in the way of features, hence the slightly lower score in that category. But we think the prices, performance, and security are great, which will probably be more important to most game server hosts.

IONOS received a high star rating of 4.7 due to its highly intuitive dashboard, comprehensive features for affordable prices, and impressive performance. 

Although we had a positive testing experience with IONOS, it received in a lower score in the experience category due to the upsells on various pages of the dashboard. IONOS also lacks built-in content delivery network.

Decision factor Weight Verdict
Our experience 10% 4.5
Value and capacity18% 4.8
Performance20% 5.0
Features25% 4.5
Security20% 5.0
Support and reputation7% 4.9

Learn more about our testing experience in our IONOS review.

InterServer: Best for large communities

4.6
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On InterServer's website
Website Hosters
InterServer
  • Solid variety of hosting features, with good support
  • All plans come with the same features; you pay for performance
  • Shared hosting performance is inconsistent

What we liked

Managed hosting: On both VPS and dedicated servers, you can get the InterServer team to help you solve a lot of your problems. Now, for certain things, like installing game servers, you may need to pay a bit extra, but the hard part will be taken care of for you.

Good dedicated servers: I actually ran the old ARK: Survival Evolved version of the game on one of InterServer’s dedicated servers, and it ran beautifully.

Good customer support: Our experience with the support team at InterServer has been pretty good. Given that you might require a certain amount of help for your managed server, this is important.

What we didn’t like

VPS plans may not be enough: ARK: Survival Ascended is a heavy game, and needs fast CPU cores, and InterServer’s VPS hosting plans might not be up to snuff. Unfortunately, its dedicated servers are expensive — like, starting at $129/mo expensive. Web hosting doesn’t always cost much, but dedicated servers do.

Test results

InterServer’s shared hosting didn’t perform too badly in our testing, with decent uptime. However, it was a bit underwhelming compared to the competition, with pretty high response times. The good news is that getting a dedicated server would basically bypass this issue, as all the hardware on the server is just for the game.

Keep in mind that for the best results, you probably only want to go with InterServer if you live close to one of their data centers.

Uptime 99.935%
Average response time 1,180 ms
Did InterServer pass the stress test? No
Learn more Get InterServer

Read Our InterServer Review

Star rating summary

Again, I’d like to give the context that the low performance score was for the shared hosting. Other than that, InterServer has a great track record of providing plenty of useful features and downright solid security.

InterServer earned a high star rating of 4.6 due to its competitive pricing, extensive hosting features, and comprehensive security measures. 

Our biggest issue was with InterServer's shared hosting performance, with inconsistent load times and failed stress test. 

Decision factor Weight Verdict
Our experience 10% 5.0
Value and capacity18% 4.6
Performance20% 3.5
Features25% 5.0
Security20% 5.0
Support and reputation7% 4.7

Learn more about our testing experience in our InterServer review.

What you need for an ARK server

Here’s a rough estimate of what you need to run a basic ARK server, based on player count. Also, the RAM varies based on the map and the mods you have installed.

  • 1-5 players — 4 cores, 8-12 GB RAM, minimum 20 GB of storage for the server, maps, and mods
  • 6-10 players — 4 cores, 12-16 GB RAM, minimum 20 GB of storage for the server, maps, and mods
  • 10-20 players — 4 cores, 16-24 GB RAM, minimum 20 GB of storage for the server, maps, and mods
  • 20+ players — 4 cores, 24+ GB RAM, minimum 20 GB of storage for the server, maps, and mods

For more information on how to host game servers, see our guides on how to host a Minecraft server and how to port forward a Minecraft server.

How we tested the best web hosting services apps for ARK server hosting

We chose the services listed in this article based on performance, available features, modding support, security, and other metrics useful for game servers. Our tests included trying out the hosting to see how easy it was to use, seeing how their features were implemented, and running performance tests.

Here are the criteria we considered, in more detail:

  • Server resources: We looked at CPU cores, RAM, storage, and how easy it would be to upgrade them when needed.
  • Modding and DLC support: Setting up a game server can be tricky, and adding mods makes it even more so. We chose providers that have good support methods to help you with issues.
  • Ease of game server installation: Setting up a server can be time-consuming, so we picked hosting options that are easy to use.
  • Pricing: Hosting game servers can be expensive, so we picked the cheapest options available to get you playing for less.
  • DDoS protection: Protection from DDoS attacks is important if you’re running a multiplayer server, so the hosts we listed above have some manner of protection from bot attacks.
  • Backups: You don’t want to lose any of your game progress due to accidents. We chose hosting providers that perform frequent backups.

Bottom line: The best web hosting service for ARK server hosting

Hostinger is the best choice for most people just starting their game server hosting journey. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it doesn’t cost too much.

But the affordability and control you get from IONOS make it a compelling choice, especially if you don’t mind setting things up yourself. InterServer is great for when you need a big server, and given that ARK can be resource-heavy, that day may come sooner rather than later.

FAQs

Can I host an ARK server with crossplay?

Yes, you can host an ARK server with crossplay. You’ll need to set your server to accept all platforms in the server settings, but it’s a quick and easy edit.

Can I add any mod to my ARK server?

Yes, you can add any mod, assuming the mod is up to date and working with your version of the ARK server. Old mods, it should be noted, may simply not work, especially since the switch from ARK: Survival Evolved to the new ARK: Survival Ascended.

Can I play DLCs on a self-hosted ARK server?

Yes, you can play DLCs on a self-hosted ARK server. However, if you’re playing a DLC map, everyone who wants to play must own the relevant DLC in order to join your server.


4.9
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Hostinger web hosting's website
Website Hosters
Hostinger web hosting
BLACK FRIDAY: From $1.95/mo + 2 Extra Months & Free Domain
  • Robust user-friendly AI tools for quick web building
  • Cheaper than other all-in-one ecommerce web host & builders like Wix and Shopify
  • Passed tests for reliability and speed
Author Details
Ezequiel Bruni is an All About Cookies writer with over 12 years of professional experience covering web design, privacy rights, and open-source software. Passionate about digital security, he frequently explores topics such as end-to-end encryption, privacy-focused tools, and the intersection of video games with online safety.