Expert Review
You and your friends want a Minecraft, Rust or Valheim server tonight. Nobody wants to leave a gaming PC running 24/7, and nobody wants to fight port forwarding at midnight. A game server host fixes that, but there are dozens of them, and the cheapest ones are not always the best.
GravelHost is one of the cheapest names in game server hosting, with Minecraft servers from $1.80/month, support for more than 50 games, free DDoS protection on every plan and Ryzen 9 VPS plans on top. It also has some odd gaps, such as pages that disagree on the number of data centers.
In this GravelHost review, we went through its plan pages, policies and game pages to see what you really get for your money, where it shines and where it falls short, so you can decide before you pay.
Note: This review is based on the plans, terms and game pages GravelHost publishes on its own website, checked in November 2026. GravelHost’s site blocks automated browsers, so we read its pages through search results. Prices and plans change, so confirm them on the official site before you buy.
GravelHost Review at a Glance
| Category | GravelHost Details |
|---|---|
| 🎮 Best For | Cheap Minecraft, Rust, Valheim and other game servers |
| 💰 Starting Price | From $1.80/mo for a 2 GB Minecraft server |
| 🕹️ Games | 52+ game servers, plus VPS and Discord bot hosting |
| 🌎 Locations | North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania (12 to 15 data centers, depending on the page) |
| 🛡️ DDoS Protection | Free on every plan |
| ⏰ Uptime | 99.9% network and power SLA |
| ♻️ Refund | 72-hour money-back guarantee for new customers |
| 🏷️ Coupon | Code GOOGIEHOST: 40% off for new customers |
| 👩🏻💻 Support | 24/7 through tickets and Discord |
Our verdict: GravelHost is a strong budget pick for Minecraft and survival game servers. You get low prices, free DDoS protection, mod support and a 72-hour refund window. The downsides are mixed numbers across its own pages, no refund on VPS plans and no free trial. If you want to host a server for friends without spending much, it is well worth a look.
GravelHost promo code: New customers can use the code GOOGIEHOST at checkout to get 40% off.
What Is GravelHost?
GravelHost, also written as Gravel Host, is a game server hosting company that rents ready-to-play servers for Minecraft, Rust, Valheim, ARK, Palworld, Enshrouded, FiveM and many other games. It pitches itself on low prices, instant setup and a simple game panel built for players rather than system administrators.
Besides game servers, GravelHost sells Linux and Windows VPS plans, Discord bot hosting and voice servers such as TeamSpeak. It runs servers in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. We could not find a founding date or team details on its public pages, so we do not make claims about its history.
Games GravelHost Supports
GravelHost advertises 52+ games. These are the popular ones we found with their own pages and starting prices:
| Game | Starting Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft (Java and Bedrock) | $1.80/mo | Modpack support, RAM from 2 GB to 32 GB |
| Rust | $9.00/mo | Oxide and uMod plugins |
| Valheim | $7.00 per 30 days | PC and Xbox crossplay, BepInEx mods |
| ARK: Survival Evolved | $9.49/mo | Crossplay ARK servers |
| Palworld | $9.00/mo | Tiers up to $23.49/mo |
| Enshrouded | $5.00/mo | 4 GB to 10 GB plans |
| V Rising | $11.99/mo | Dedicated V Rising server |
| FiveM Enhanced | $8.89/mo | Premium roleplay servers |
| Arma Reforger | $8.99/mo | Instant setup |
| SCUM | $15/mo | Instant setup |
| Squad | $11.99/mo | Instant setup |
| Left 4 Dead 2 | $2.99/mo | Cheap co-op server |
| TeamSpeak | $2.99/mo | Voice server |
| Discord bot hosting | $1.20/mo | 24/7 uptime |
Prices are the “from” prices shown on each GravelHost game page, and some pages look older than others, so check the live price when you order.
GravelHost Data Center Locations
GravelHost’s VPS page lists 12 locations: Dallas, Tampa, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oregon and Virginia in the USA, plus Germany, Amsterdam, Singapore and Sydney. Its game server pages talk about North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
| Region | Locations |
|---|---|
| North America | Dallas, Tampa, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oregon, Virginia |
| Europe | Germany, Amsterdam |
| Asia | Singapore |
| Oceania | Sydney |
Heads up: GravelHost’s own pages disagree on the number of data centers. The homepage mentions 15, the VPS page lists 12 and one guide mentions 8. Which locations you can pick can also depend on the game, so check the order page for your game before you pay.
GravelHost Refund Policy and Free Trial
GravelHost does not advertise a free trial. Instead, it backs new customers with a 72-hour money-back guarantee. The rules are:
| Product | Refund Rule |
|---|---|
| New game server plans | 72-hour money-back guarantee, one refund per account |
| Monthly plans after 72 hours | Not refundable |
| Annual plans | Possible prorated refund if requested within 7 days |
| Add-ons | Not refundable |
| VPS plans | Excluded from refunds |
Because there is no trial, our GravelHost review advice is to test your server hard in the first 72 hours: join with your friends, install your mods and check the ping. If something is wrong, ask for your refund before the window closes.
GravelHost Pricing
GravelHost pricing depends on the game: it charges by RAM or by plan tier. Longer billing terms are cheaper: quarterly billing saves 10% and annual billing saves 25% on VPS plans.
GravelHost Coupon Code: 40% Off for New Customers
The GravelHost coupon code GOOGIEHOST gives new customers 40% off. Enter the promo code at checkout and check the discounted total before you pay. The offer is for new signups, so it is meant for your first order.
GravelHost Minecraft Hosting Plans
GravelHost’s Minecraft page lists these RAM plans, which work out to $0.90 per GB per month:
| RAM | Price | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| 2 GB | $1.80/mo | A small vanilla server for a few friends |
| 4 GB | $3.60/mo | A vanilla or lightly modded server |
| 6 GB | $5.40/mo | Plugins and small modpacks |
| 8 GB | $7.20/mo | Bigger communities and modpacks |
| 16 GB | $14.40/mo | Heavy modpacks and busy servers |
| 32 GB | $28.80/mo | Large networks and big modpacks |
GravelHost also sells higher-tier Minecraft plans, which a GravelHost guide prices at about $1.50 and $3.00 per GB, so check which tier you pick at checkout. Use our Minecraft server hosting comparison to see how the prices stack up.
How Much RAM Do You Need for a Minecraft Server?
RAM is the main thing you pay for, so size it to your group. A vanilla server for up to 5 players runs well on 2 GB to 4 GB. Plugin servers with 10 to 20 players need 6 GB to 8 GB, and modpacks usually need 8 GB or more, because they load many extra items and mobs. A server with too little memory lags, and one with too much wastes money, so start small and upgrade when players complain about lag.
Enshrouded Server Plans
| Plan | RAM | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 4 GB | $5.00/mo |
| Standard | 6 GB | $8.49/mo |
| Plus | 8 GB | $11.00/mo |
| Large | 10 GB | $14.00/mo |
These plans run on DDR4 RAM and NVMe storage. See how they compare in our best Enshrouded server hosting guide.
GravelHost VPS Plans
| Plan | vCPU | RAM | NVMe | Bandwidth | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pebble | 3 | 4 GB | 90 GB | 5 TB | $11/mo |
| Stone | 4 | 8 GB | 170 GB | 8 TB | $19/mo |
| Boulder | 6 | 16 GB | 300 GB | 15 TB | $35/mo |
| Bedrock | 8 | 32 GB | 450 GB | 25 TB | $68/mo |
GravelHost VPS plans use AMD Ryzen 9 vCPUs, DDR5 memory and NVMe storage in RAID-1. You can run Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux or Fedora, or Windows Server 2025 with your own license, with one-click reinstalls. VPS plans are not refundable, so choose carefully. Compare them with our best VPS hosting providers.
Key Features of GravelHost
Free DDoS Protection on Every Plan
GravelHost includes DDoS protection on every plan and in every region at no extra cost. One of its game pages cites capacity of 2.2 Tbps, a large claim that we could not verify. For a game server, any always-on protection helps, because attacks on popular games like Minecraft and Rust are common. If protection is your top priority, compare it with our dedicated servers with DDoS protection.
Mod and Plugin Support
GravelHost supports mods on the games that need them. Its Valheim page lists mod and plugin support with room for a full BepInEx mod list, its Rust page mentions Oxide and uMod, and it has a dedicated modded Minecraft page for modpacks. You get FTP access to upload your own files.
Instant Setup and Game Panel
Servers deploy right after you pay, and GravelHost’s guides say a Minecraft server installs in under 60 seconds. You manage the server from a custom game panel designed for players, with start, stop, console, files and backups in one place. We could not confirm which panel software it is built on.
Backups and One-Click Restores
GravelHost advertises scheduled backups with one-click restores, which protect your world from griefing, crashes and bad mod updates. Check how many backups your plan keeps before you rely on them.
Ryzen 9 VPS Hardware
Its VPS plans list AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vCPUs, DDR5 RAM and PCIe 4.0 NVMe in RAID-1, which is strong hardware for the price. One older guide mentions Ryzen 9 7950X instead, so the hardware may have been upgraded recently.
GravelHost Uptime and Reliability
GravelHost’s legal terms promise 99.9% network and power uptime, and its homepage mentions 99%, while the VPS page says 99.99% over the last 12 months. Treat 99.9% as the guarantee you can rely on, and the higher numbers as marketing. A 99.9% SLA allows about 8 hours and 45 minutes of downtime a year.
GravelHost Customer Support
GravelHost says support is available around the clock through its ticket system and Discord, which suits gamers who already live in Discord. We did not find phone support on its public pages, and the answers you get can depend on the game, so ask pre-sales questions before you buy if you have a special setup.
GravelHost Review: What We Liked
- Very low prices: Minecraft servers start at $1.80/month, and Enshrouded at $5.00/month.
- 52+ games: One host for Minecraft, Rust, Valheim, ARK, Palworld and more.
- Free DDoS protection: Included on every plan and region.
- Mod support: BepInEx, Oxide, uMod and modded Minecraft are supported.
- Strong VPS hardware: Ryzen 9 vCPUs, DDR5 RAM and NVMe RAID-1 from $11/month.
- Worldwide locations: North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
- 72-hour refund: A safety net for new game server customers.
GravelHost Review: What We Disliked
- Mixed numbers: Its pages disagree on data centers (8, 12 and 15) and uptime (99%, 99.9% and 99.99%).
- No free trial: You have only the 72-hour refund window to test.
- No refunds on VPS: VPS plans are excluded from the money-back guarantee.
- Monthly plans are strict: Refunds stop after 72 hours.
- No phone support: Help comes through tickets and Discord.
Who Should Use GravelHost? Our Review Pick
- Friend groups who want a cheap Minecraft or Valheim server.
- Survival game fans hosting Rust, ARK, Palworld or Enshrouded.
- Modded server owners who need FTP access and mod support.
- Developers who want a cheap Ryzen 9 VPS or Discord bot hosting.
- Not ideal for people who want a free trial or phone support.
GravelHost vs Other Game Server Hosts
Here is how GravelHost compares with other popular game hosts on an entry-level Enshrouded server, a game all of them support, using each host’s published prices:
| Host | Entry Plan | Price | Our Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| GravelHost | 4 GB RAM | $5.00/mo | This review |
| Shockbyte | 5 slots, 4 GB RAM | $9.99/mo ($7.49 first month) | Shockbyte review |
| GTXGaming | 4 slots | £6.29/mo | GTXGaming review |
| Apex Hosting | 16 GB RAM, 4 vCores | $71.99/mo ($53.99 first month) | Apex Hosting review |
| Indifferent Broccoli | Per-player plan | From $5.99/mo | Indifferent Broccoli review |
GravelHost is the cheapest of these at the entry level. For Rust, Valheim and Palworld, see our best Rust server hosting, best Valheim server hosting and best Palworld server hosting guides, or browse the best dedicated game server hosting.
How to Get a Game Server From GravelHost
- Go to the GravelHost website and choose your game.
- Pick the RAM or plan that fits your group. For Minecraft, 2 GB suits a few friends, and 8 GB or more suits modpacks.
- Choose a location close to most of your players for the lowest ping.
- Pick a billing term. Quarterly and annual terms are cheaper than monthly.
- Enter the coupon code GOOGIEHOST at checkout to take 40% off as a new customer, and check that the total drops. Then create your account and complete the payment.
- Open the game panel, install your mods or upload your world, and share the server address with your friends.
- Test the server in the first 72 hours, so you can ask for a refund if it does not suit you.
FAQ – GravelHost Review 2026
Is GravelHost good?
Yes, GravelHost is a good budget game server host. It offers Minecraft servers from $1.80/month, 52+ games, free DDoS protection and a 72-hour refund. Its main drawbacks are no free trial, no refunds on VPS and inconsistent numbers across its pages.
How much does GravelHost cost?
GravelHost game servers start at $1.80/month for a 2 GB Minecraft server. Rust starts at $9.00/month, Valheim at $7.00 per 30 days, Enshrouded at $5.00/month, and VPS plans start at $11/month.
What is the GravelHost coupon code?
The GravelHost coupon code is GOOGIEHOST. New customers can use it at checkout for 40% off. The offer is for new signups, so check that the discount appears in your total before you pay.
Does GravelHost have a free trial?
No. GravelHost does not advertise a free trial. New customers get a 72-hour money-back guarantee instead, limited to one refund per account.
What is GravelHost’s refund policy?
New game server customers can ask for a refund within 72 hours. Monthly plans are not refundable after that, annual plans may get a prorated refund within 7 days, and add-ons and VPS plans are not refundable.
Where are GravelHost servers located?
GravelHost’s VPS page lists Dallas, Tampa, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oregon, Virginia, Germany, Amsterdam, Singapore and Sydney. Its pages mention 12 to 15 data centers in total.
Does GravelHost have DDoS protection?
Yes. GravelHost includes free DDoS protection on every plan and in every region.
Does GravelHost support mods?
Yes. GravelHost supports BepInEx mods on Valheim, Oxide and uMod plugins on Rust and modpacks on Minecraft, with FTP access for uploading your own files.
Is GravelHost good for Minecraft?
Yes. GravelHost is one of the cheapest Minecraft hosts, with plans from 2 GB to 32 GB at about $0.90 per GB, modpack support and instant setup. It suits friend groups and small communities well.
GravelHost Review Verdict: Is GravelHost Worth It?
Is GravelHost good? Yes, if you want a cheap game server for friends. Minecraft from $1.80/month, free DDoS protection, mod support, 52+ games and a 72-hour refund make it hard to beat on price, and its Ryzen 9 VPS plans are a bonus for developers.
That is our GravelHost review in short. Just keep the limits in mind: there is no free trial, VPS plans are not refundable, and its pages do not always agree with each other, so confirm the numbers that matter to you. Start with GravelHost, use the code GOOGIEHOST for 40% off as a new customer, and use the 72-hour window to test your server with your friends.
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