8 Best FREE ARK Server Hosting (2024)

Gamers love the lag-free gameplay experience a dedicated ARK server provides. It helps you host and play ARK in a more reliable environment where you can dictate your game settings and how you want the game to run.

After more than 110 hours of research, I examined 50+ best free ARK server hosting services and selected the top solutions. My verified article covers both free and paid hosting providers, focusing on insightful and well-researched content. This comprehensive guide breaks down features, pros, and cons, helping you make a trusted decision. Read on to discover must-see insights and find your perfect server host.

Best Free ARK Survival Evolved Hosting: Top Picks!

	#1 Best Overall	#2 Top Pick
Hosting Provider	Apex Hosting	Shockbyte	BisectHosting	Nitrado
Best For	Best ARK Server Hosting	Best Uptime Guarantee	Best User-Friendly Control Panel	Best affordable ARK server hosting
Player Capacity	Unlimited	30-125	Unlimited	10-200
Modding	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Supported Platform	PC	PC	PC	PC
Server Locations	18 global data servers	Multiple servers in North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific	17 ARK servers in Europe, Australia, the US, and South America	Multiple data centers in Frankfurt, Singapore, Sydney and more
Free Trial	7-Day Money-back Guarantee	72-Hour Money-back Guarantee	3-Day Money-back Guarantee	14-Day Money-back Guarantee
Price	Starting from $11.24/month	Starting from $14.99/month	Starting from $15.99/month	Starting from $13.77/month
Our Review	Excellent – 4.9	Excellent – 4.8	Good – 4.7	Good – 4.6
Link	Visit Apex Hosting	Visit Shockbyte	Visit BisectHosting	Visit Nitrado

1) Apex Hosting

Best for ARK Server Hosting

Apex Hosting impressed me with its fast setup for ARK server hosting. I particularly liked the automated backup feature, which made managing the server easier. I could access a free sub-domain, and this was essential for seamless server management. The best way to get your ARK server online quickly is by choosing Apex Hosting, which ensures a hassle-free experience.

Also, I found out that Apex Hosting has a 99.9% uptime guarantee and a 99% network SLA. Hence, if Apex fails to deliver the guaranteed promises, you are eligible for a refund.

Features:

• Expansion Support: It allowed me to access all expansions, providing the best way to enjoy versatile gameplay options.
• Modding Support: The modding allows you to customize your ARK experience with enhanced content and better gameplay options.
• DDoS Protection: I received essential DDoS protection, ensuring stable, uninterrupted server performance and enhanced security.
• Server Console: The powerful server console allowed me to manage and control game servers effectively with real-time commands.
• High-Performance Hardware: You get one of the best server hardware with 3.0 GHz+ processors and a 1Gbps network for the lowest latency.
• Data Center Availability: You can access one of the best global data centers across 18 locations for optimized server performance.
• Control Panel Access: The Multicraft control panel has a user-friendly interface that helped me manage my server settings efficiently.
• SLA: Its scheduled downtime is communicated to the user prior to it, to help them prepare before it occurs.
• Customer Support: It offers 24/7 live chat, ticketing, and a knowledge base, providing the most effective user assistance.

Pricing:

Apex Hosting comes with many ARK hosting pricing plans. Here are the three cheapest ones:

Price	Players	Storage	Memory
$11.24/month	Unlimited	Unlimited	4 GB
$14.06/month	Unlimited	Unlimited	5 GB
$20.99/month	Unlimited	Unlimited	8 GB

👉 How to get Apex Hosting for Free?

• Visit apexhosting.com
• Choose a hosting plan that suits your needs, especially their ARK server hosting plan. Apex Hosting provides a 7-day money-back guarantee.
• If you decide to cancel within this time frame, contact customer support, and you will receive a refund on your original payment method.

Visit Apex Hosting

7-Day Money-back Guarantee

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2) ShockByte

Best for uptime guarantee

ShockByte offered me a great way to host ARK servers with its solid performance and popular game server host reputation. I checked out the other game hosting options like Minecraft, Terraria, and Valheim, and I could see how versatile they are as well. It has DDoS protection and automated backups, along with free migration, which allowed me to move my data easily. 

Moreover, the teams at ShockByte are committed to providing 100% uptime guarantees, so you can rest assured that your server is up and running, no matter what happens.

Features:

• Automatic Updates: It allowed me to automatically update my server, thus ensuring it always runs the latest versions.
• Instant Setup: The instant setup feature helped me deploy my server immediately, hence making it ready for use right away.
• Low Latency: One of the best features of this hosting is low latency, which provides a smoother gaming experience with minimal lag.
• FTP Access: You get full FTP access, which allows you to upload and manage your files directly and efficiently.
• Server Configuration: It offers a fully configurable environment, thus helping me modify and adjust server settings to my needs.
• Free Subdomain: You receive a free subdomain, which is a great option to simplify server access for your players.
• Mod and Map Support: It allowed me to install mods and maps from DLCs and Custom Maps, thus enhancing my gameplay.
• SLA: It guarantees 100% network availability for all applicable services. If downtime exceeds 5 consecutive minutes, the affected service will be covered by our SLA.
• Customer Support: I received support through 24/7 live chat, knowledge base, and Discord.

Pricing:

ShockByte’s most affordable art server hosting plans are:

Price	Players	Storage	Memory
$14.99/month	30	Unlimited	10 GB
$29.99/month	70	Unlimited	12 GB
$49.99/month	125	Unlimited	16 GB

👉 How to get Shockbyte for Free?

• Visit shockbyte.com
• Pick an Ark hosting plan that fits your requirements. ShockByte also offers a 3-day money-back guarantee.
• If you decide to cancel within this period, reach out to their customer support team, and you will receive a refund.

Visit ShockByte >>

3-Day Money-back Guarantee

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3) BisectHosting

Best for User-Friendly Control Panel

BisectHosting provided me with ARK server hosting that was easy to manage. I could set up my server with multiple maps and even use ARK clustering to connect different servers. During my research, I found the character transfer feature between servers to be a great option. This host makes complex setups simple and efficient.

Features:

• Mod Support: Its full mod support allows you to install and manage custom mods, significantly expanding gameplay possibilities.
• Auto-Update Feature: You can enable auto-updates to keep your server running the latest versions whenever restarted, which I found great for minimizing downtime.
• Daily Backups: Its daily backups allow you to avoid data loss, keeping your server safe and recoverable in case of issues.
• SSD Speed: SSD drives ensure faster map loading and saving, thus making game performance one of the best options available.
• Map Support: It provides all map support, including the latest expansions and custom maps, to enrich your server’s content.
• Global Data Centers: BisectHosting’s sixteen global servers allow you to host your ARK server with low latency, no matter your location.
• Control Panel Access: A custom control panel allows you to easily manage your server settings and monitor performance efficiently.
• Customer Support: I could contact its 24/7 live chat, knowledge base, and Discord support for solutions to any server-related issues.

Pricing:

BisectHosting comes with two ARK game hosting plans:

Price	Players	Storage	Memory
$15.99/month	Unlimited	Unlimited	8 GB
$19.99/month	Unlimited	Unlimited	10 GB

👉 How to get BisectHosting for Free?

• Visit bisecthosting.com
• Select a hosting plan that suits your needs, particularly their ARK hosting plans. BisectHosting provides a 72-hour money-back guarantee.
• If you decide to cancel within this period, contact their customer support team, and you will receive a refund.

Visit BisectHosting >>

72-Hour Money-back Guarantee

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4) Nitrado

Best affordable ARK server hosting

Nitrado is well-known among gamers for offering a simple interface and dependable service. I particularly liked that I could choose from many server locations near me, which helped me achieve stable connections. In my experience, this is one of the best hosting platforms for game server reliability.

These servers offer high flexibility to let gamers engage in multiplayer gaming environments easily. The user-friendly interface helped me manage and reconfigure the server settings as per my preferences.

Features:

• Flexible Runtime: It allows you to adjust server runtime to fit your individual needs, thus providing great flexibility.
• Mod & Plugin Installation: You can install supported server mods and plugins easily, helping you customize your server effectively.
• Low Ping: It ensures the lowest pings by routing traffic through the shortest internet paths; hence, I achieved optimal performance.
• Backup & Protection: Daily backups and DDoS protection allow you to avoid data loss while securing your server from attacks.
• Server Scaling: I could upgrade or downgrade my server anytime, which offered me a great option for scalability according to my requirements.
• Global Data Centers: Its data centers are located in top cities like Frankfurt, Singapore, and Miami, and they help deliver low-latency connections.
• Customer Support: I could access free 24/7 support via chat and email, providing helpful solutions in seven languages.

Pricing:

Here are the Nitrado ARK server hosting options and pricing:

Price	Slots	Subscription limit
$13.77	10	30-Days
$17.85	16	30-Days
$33.57	32	30-Days

👉 How to get Nitrado for Free?

• Visit nitrado.net
• Select a hosting plan that fits your needs, particularly its ARK server hosting plans. Nitrado offers a 14-day money-back guarantee.
• If you decide to cancel within this period, contact its customer support, and you will receive a full refund.

Visit Nitrado >>

14-Day Money-back Guarantee

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5) Gravel Host

Best for Unlimited ARK Slots

Gravel Host is a leading provider of Ark Server Hosting, which I evaluated for its reliable and smooth performance. I particularly liked the simple interface, which helped me purchase more resources without any issues. According to my research, it is great for gamers who need additional resources for enhanced gameplay. 

It also helped me put my game servers on the cloud without professional help. Gravel Host offers game server hosting that can be instantly deployed in eight locations globally.

Features:

• FTP Access: The full FTP access allows you to upload, manage, and configure files directly to meet your server’s needs.
• ARK Slots: I received unlimited ARK slots, which is one of the easiest ways to expand player capacity.
• Task Scheduling: It allows you to schedule tasks efficiently, thus ensuring server maintenance and updates are automated without manual input.
• MySQL Database: This ARK server hosting allowed me to manage server data efficiently with a free MySQL database, thus offering a great solution.
• Settings Manager: The easy ARK settings manager allows you to adjust and configure server settings with minimal effort.
• NVMe Storage: NVMe storage ensures high-speed data access, hence making it one of the best options for performance optimization.
• DDoS Protection: Its DDoS protection helped me avoid cyberattacks, keeping my server safe from interruptions and potential security threats.
• Global Data Centers: Gravel Host’s servers are located in eight countries, including Singapore, the USA, and Amsterdam, and typically ensure low-latency access.
• Customer Support: It offers 24/7 customer support and provides the most effective assistance for resolving issues and inquiries in real time.

Pricing:

Here are the ARK server hosting options and pricing:

Price	Players	Storage	Memory
$16/month	20	25GB NVMe	13 GB
$21/month	40	50GB NVMe	15 GB
$27/month	80	75GB NVMe	17 GB
$32/month	120	100GB NVMe	19 GB

👉 How to get Gravel Host for Free?

• Visit gravelhost.com
• Select a hosting plan that fits your needs, especially its ARK hosting plans. Gravel Host offers a 72-hour money-back guarantee.
• If you can cancel within this time frame, you will receive a full refund.

Visit Gravel Host >>

72-Hour Money-back Guarantee

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6) ScalaCube

Best Free ARK Server Hosting

ScalaCube is a unique game hosting provider that I reviewed for its free ARK hosting plan. I particularly liked that all ARK server plans include DDoS protection and 24/7 uptime, which helps you keep your server running smoothly. In my experience, it is great for those who need constant uptime and security. It is best for gamers looking for a free and reliable hosting option.

In addition to ARK, I noticed that ScalaCube also rents dedicated servers for Minecraft, Valheim, Terraria, Hytale, Rust, and Project Zomboid games.

Features:

• Official Mod Support: You can easily install ARK Official Mods, which allow you to enhance your server with popular add-ons.
• Steam Workshop Mods: I noticed that Steam Workshop mods are supported, which is a great option for expanding your server’s customization possibilities.
• SSD Drives: Its SSD drives offer faster performance, thus ensuring that data is accessed quickly and map loading times are minimized.
• FTP Access: I received full FTP access, which allowed me to manage server files directly. Hence, it gave me the flexibility to upload and configure files easily.
• Map Changes: You can change maps quickly, so you get the flexibility to explore new environments without long delays.
• Server Configuration: It allowed me to modify server configurations easily, aiming to help you customize the gameplay experience.
• Custom Launch Parameters: Its custom launch parameters provide one of the best ways to adjust settings specific to your ARK server needs.
• Stable Ping and Fast Downloads: The stable ping times and fast download speeds ensure low latency and smooth gameplay for all players.
• Global Data Centers: It allowed me to enjoy optimal server performance with low latency from global data centers.
• Customer Support: You get 24/7 ticketing and access to the knowledge base to provide essential help for server management inquiries.

Pricing:

ScalaCube is the only ARK game host on this list that offers a free plan. Besides the free plan, you can also choose between two premium pricing plans:

Price	Players	Storage	Memory
Free	Basic servers	50 GB	32 GB
$15.20/month	20	320 GB	32 GB
$19.20/month	30	320 GB	32 GB

👉 How to get ScalaCube for Free?

• Visit scalacube.com
• Select a hosting plan that suits your needs, particularly their ARK hosting plans. ScalaCube offers a 7-day money-back guarantee.
• If you decide to cancel within this time frame, you will receive a full refund.

Visit ScalaCube >>

7-Day Money-back Guarantee

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7) Survival Servers

Best for PS4 Servers

Survival Servers was founded in 2013 and became known for its reliability. During my research, I noticed the NVMe SSD drives delivered fast speeds, and the automated restarts made server management easier. The mod support, in fact, was always up to date. My best advice is to consider this hosting for anyone looking for reliable and efficient features. Survival Servers is also the only ARK server host on this list that is compatible with PlayStation 4.

Features:

• FTP Server Control: You can control your server through full FTP access, which allows you to easily manage files directly.
• Config Manager Tool: The game server configuration manager tool allows you to modify settings quickly, optimizing server performance.
• Steam Workshop Mods: All Steam Workshop maps and mods are supported, which allowed me to expand the gameplay with custom content.
• High-Performance CPUs: It uses highest single-thread benchmark Intel/AMD CPUs that ensure the best server performance for demanding ARK environments.
• Procedural Map Generation: The procedural map generator helped me create new and unique worlds for a more dynamic ARK experience.
• Custom Launch Parameters: Its custom launch parameters let you adjust the server’s behavior, providing the flexibility to meet your specific needs.
• Official Mod Hosting: You can host ARK Official Mods easily, thus offering one of the easiest ways to add official content.
• Cluster Game Server: I could connect multiple servers with the cluster game option, thus making travel between worlds seamless
• Global Data Centers: With seven data centers in the US, Europe, and Singapore, you can host servers globally for low latency.
• Customer Support: Support is provided through ticketing, email, and the community forum, offering multiple ways to find solutions.

Pricing:

Survival Servers offers several pricing plans, from 10 slots to 255 slots. Their 20-slot plan is the most popular.

Price	Players	Storage	Memory
$12.42/month	10	N/A	N/A
$89.06/month	255	N/A	N/A

If you go for their quarterly, semi-annual, or annual plans, you’ll get a discount of 10%, 15%, and 20%.

Visit Survival Servers

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8) HostHavoc

Best for Selection of Games

HostHavoc is an ARK hosting provider that made my gaming smoother and more enjoyable. I tested their powerful servers, which gave me fast loading times and smooth gameplay. I particularly liked how the support team responded in under 10 minutes whenever I needed help.

As per my observation, HostHavoc is a great option for gamers who need reliable service. They offer 30 different game servers with free DDoS protection, daily data backups, and API plugins.

Features:

• FTP & File Manager Access: You can access server files easily with FTP and file manager tools, thus allowing me to manage files directly.
• Steam Workshop Support: Steam Workshop is available, hence, you can get one of the best ways to install custom mods and content quickly.
• Game Switching: I could switch games anytime, which is an excellent option for hosting without extra servers.
• NVMe SSD Performance: It is powered by NVMe SSDs, which deliver fast data speeds, typically ensuring one of the best performance options.
• Advanced Server Settings: The advanced server settings helped me customize configurations and adjust gameplay experiences according to my needs.
• 99.9% Network Uptime: Its network SLA guarantees 99.9% uptime, and performance credits are issued if this commitment is not met.
• Global Data Centers: The data centers are located in Australia, Europe, and America and provide great global coverage for low-latency server hosting.
• Customer Support: Its 24/7 ticketing and knowledge base offer helpful solutions to any server-related inquiries at any time.

Pricing:

Host Havoc offers three ARK game plans:

Price	Players	Storage	Memory
$15/month	30	Unlimited	8 GB
$16.50/month	35	Unlimited	8 GB
$18/month	40	Unlimited	8 GB

👉 How to get HostHavoc for Free?

• Visit hosthavoc.com
• Select a hosting plan that suits your needs, especially their ARK hosting plans. HostHavoc offers a 3-day money-back guarantee.
• If you decide to cancel within this period, you will receive a full refund.

You’ll get a discount if you sign up with Host Havoc for a more extended period.

Visit HostHavoc >>

3-Day Money-back Guarantee

How to Host Your Own ARK Server for Free?

Here are the steps required to take in the process of hosting your own ARK server:

• Step 1) Download and open SteamCMD.
• Step 2) Once that’s done. Continue with downloading ARK dedicated server files.
• Step 3) Now, set up and customize your server. For example, specify which map you want to use, how many players will be included, the difficulty level, and so on.
• Step 4) If your server is running, your next step is to join the game and check if your server is working and connected. Here, you need to set up localhost, private IP, and public IP.

Done! Now you’re fully set to host and play ARK.

How Did We Choose Best Free ARK Server Hosting?

At Guru99, we prioritize credibility by focusing on accurate, relevant, and objective information. After over 110 hours of research, we examined 50+ ARK Server Hosting services, selecting the best free and paid options. Check out the essential factors to evaluate below, such as ease of use, reliability, and performance. This trusted guide ensures you make the right choice by highlighting key features and well-researched options, helping you find the perfect server host for your needs.

• Performance: It is crucial to ensure fast and smooth gameplay for all users.
• Reliability: Make sure you avoid frequent downtimes to keep players engaged.
• Security: A great hosting option offers strong data protection measures for players.
• Customization: One of the top features that we looked for is the ability to easily modify game settings.
• Customer Support: Having a responsive support team helps you resolve issues quickly.

Verdict:

In this review, you got acquainted with some of the best ARK hosting providers. All of them have advantages and disadvantages. I have created this verdict to help you make the final call.

• Apex Hosting offers a comprehensive solution with automated backups, high-quality hardware, and a free sub-domain to ensure a seamless gaming experience.
• ShockByte is a reliable provider that offers DDoS protection, full FTP access, and secure hosting, all backed by a 100% uptime guarantee.
• BisectHosting delivers user-friendly control with strong mod support, daily backups, and clustering for multi-map setups.