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Direct answer: For a small Minecraft server with friends, RackNerd’s 4GB plan at $59.99/yr is the sweet spot; if you want more headroom or are new to the terminal, Hostinger’s 8GB KVM 2 at $8.99/mo intro is the easier pick.
Running a Minecraft server is a classic VPS use case — and also where people most often under-buy RAM. Here’s what you actually need.
How much RAM does Minecraft need?
| Players | Vanilla | Paper/Spigot (optimized) |
|---|---|---|
| 2–5 | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| 5–10 | 3–4 GB | 3 GB |
| 10–20 | 4–6 GB | 4–6 GB |
The CPU matters more than you’d think — Minecraft’s main thread is single-threaded, so a modern CPU with decent single-core speed beats lots of cores.
The pick: RackNerd 4GB
For a small private server with friends, RackNerd’s 4 GB plan ($59.99/yr) is the sweet spot. KVM, full root, and a dedicated IPv4 — everything you need to run Paper + a whitelist.
See RackNerd's 4GB planIf you want more headroom: Hostinger
Hostinger’s KVM 2 (8 GB RAM, $8.99/mo intro) runs a larger server comfortably and is easier to manage if you’re new to the terminal.
Check Hostinger's VPS plansQuick tips
- Use Paper (or Purpur) — it’s dramatically faster than vanilla.
- Set a whitelist and enable whitelist + a max-players cap to avoid griefing.
- Run the server in a
screenortmuxsession (or a systemd service) so it keeps running after you disconnect.
FAQ
Q: How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?
For 2-5 players, 2GB is enough; 5-10 players need 3-4GB; 10-20 players need 4-6GB. CPU single-core speed matters more than core count.
Q: What is the cheapest VPS for a Minecraft server?
RackNerd’s 4GB plan at $59.99/yr runs Paper plus a whitelist for a small private server, with KVM, full root and a dedicated IPv4.
Q: Should I run vanilla Minecraft or Paper?
Use Paper or Purpur. They are dramatically faster than vanilla, especially on modest VPS hardware.
Q: How do I keep a Minecraft server running after I disconnect?
Run it in a screen or tmux session, or as a systemd service, so it stays up after you log out.
Bottom line: RackNerd 4GB ($59.99/yr) for a small server; Hostinger 8GB for a larger server or if you are new to Linux.