Game Server Plan or VPS? Which One Should You Choose?
Game server plan or VPS? A comparison of ready-made setup, supported games, location, operating system and running multiple servers, and which to pick.
There are two ways to set up a game server: a game server plan that comes with the game already installed, or a VPS (virtual server) where you set up everything yourself, from the operating system to the software. Both can run on the same powerful hardware; the difference is how much of it you manage and how much flexibility you need. In short: if your game is among the ready-made plans and you want to get started right away, a game server plan is the better fit; if you want different games, multiple services or a specific location, a VPS is.
In this article, we compare the two options in terms of setup, supported games, location, operating system and growth, and explain which one to choose in which situation.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Game server plan | VPS (AMD Ryzen 9 9950X) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | You pick the game at setup and the server is ready | You pick the operating system and set up everything |
| Ready-made games | Minecraft, FiveM, Rust, Unturned, Garry's Mod | None; you set up every game yourself |
| Other games | You can set them up yourself with full admin access | You set them up yourself |
| Location | Frankfurt | Frankfurt and New York |
| Operating system | A setup prepared for the game | Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux or Windows Server |
| Choosing a plan | RAM recommendations per game | General-purpose resource plans |
| Migration | Free migration support | You migrate it yourself |
| Use beyond gaming | Possible, but game-focused | Websites, bots, databases and more |
Both options include the Ryzen 9 9950X processor that reaches 5.7 GHz, NVMe storage, L3–L7 nShield DDoS protection and free daily backups kept for 7 days.
Who is a game server plan for?
- If your game is among the ready-made plans. If you play Minecraft, FiveM, Rust, Unturned or Garry's Mod, the server software comes installed when you pick the game during setup. You can invite your friends within minutes.
- If you don't want to deal with server management. You don't have to deal with installing SteamCMD, Java or a database; you only set the server name, the player limit and your plugins.
- If you want to pick the right plan easily. Each game's page has RAM recommendations based on the number of players. For example, Rust needs at least 8 GB, and Minecraft starts at 2 GB.
- If you're coming from another provider. Migration is free for game servers; you can upload your files yourself or leave the migration to our team.
When your player count grows, you can move to a higher plan from the panel and keep your files as they are.
Who is a VPS for?
- If your game isn't among the ready-made plans. You set up games like Valheim, Palworld, CS2, Satisfactory, Terraria or 7 Days to Die yourself. Our guides are there for this: Valheim, Palworld, CS2, Satisfactory.
- If you'll run other services alongside the game. Your community's website, a Discord bot, a database or monitoring tools can run on the same server.
- If your players are in North America. 9950X VPS plans are also offered in New York.
- If you need Windows Server. You can choose Windows Server 2019, 2022 or 2025 at no extra cost when you order. We explain which one suits you in our Windows Server or Linux? article.
- If you want full control. The operating system, firewall, backup setup and all the software are in your hands. If you're new to Linux, you can start with our Basic Linux commands guide.
What about a dedicated server?
If you'll host lots of game servers as a community or a business, a dedicated server, whose hardware is reserved entirely for you, may be a better fit. The processor cores are yours alone, and with a panel like Pterodactyl you can manage dozens of servers from one place. We cover the setup in our How to install Pterodactyl guide and the difference a dedicated server makes in our What is a dedicated server? article.
A shortcut to deciding
- Is your game Minecraft, FiveM, Rust, Unturned or Garry's Mod? If yes, and you want to get started right away, a game server plan.
- Are your players in North America, do you need Windows, or will other services run alongside the game? If yes, a VPS.
- Will you manage lots of servers together? A large VPS or a dedicated server, depending on your resource needs.
Whichever option you choose, the server's location determines your players' latency. For players in Europe, Frankfurt is a good fit; from Istanbul, for example, latency is about 30–50 ms. See our What is ping? article for details.
Game servers at Nodesty
Nodesty game server plans run in Frankfurt with ready-made setup for Minecraft, FiveM, Rust, Unturned and Garry's Mod. For communities that want more flexibility, AMD Ryzen 9 9950X VPS plans are offered in Frankfurt and New York with Linux and Windows Server options. If you can't decide, write to our support team with your game and player count, and we'll choose the right plan together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install a different game on a game server plan?
Yes. Nodesty game server plans come with full administrator access, so you can also set up a server for a game that isn't on the list yourself. Ready-made setup is only offered for Minecraft, FiveM, Rust, Unturned and Garry's Mod.
Can I change the game on my game server plan later?
Yes. You can choose a different game when you reinstall your server. Reinstalling deletes the data on the disk, so back up your files first.
Can I run more than one game on the same server?
Yes. As long as there are enough resources, you can run, for example, a Minecraft server and an Unturned server on different ports on the same machine. Plans with 16 GB or more are recommended for this. If you want to manage lots of servers from one panel, you can install Pterodactyl on a VPS or a dedicated server.
Can I upgrade my plan later?
With game server plans, you can move to a higher plan from the panel when your player count grows; your files stay as they are.
Can I move my existing server from another provider?
Migration is free for game servers. You can upload your files yourself over SFTP, or open a support ticket and leave the migration to our team.
Which one should I choose for players in North America?
Game server plans run in Frankfurt. If most of your players are in North America, AMD Ryzen 9 9950X VPS plans, which are also offered in New York, give lower latency.
About the author
Nodesty Team · Infrastructure & Support
The Nodesty team runs our servers, network and DDoS protection day to day and answers customer support requests around the clock. These guides come from that work.
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