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Updated 10 October 2026
Valheim has left Early Access, and version 1.0 extends crossplay to every platform the game ships on: Windows, Linux and Mac, Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. What has not changed is the size of a world’s crew. Iron Gate’s own FAQ caps servers at 10 players, and the studio runs no official servers, so a group that wants its world online around the clock needs a dedicated server of its own. Renting one is the easy route, and the hosts below differ more than their plan cards suggest.
At a glance: on 10 October, Godlike.Host’s page listed Valheim VPS plans that come with the game installed and guarantee each server its own CPU cores and memory, which matters if you want resources no other server shares. XGamingServer suits crews spread across continents, Kinetic Hosting has the lowest price per gigabyte among the fixed-memory plans here, LOW.MS lets you choose from 13 named data centers, Indifferent Broccoli lets small groups pay per player, and GPORTAL ships ValheimPlus ready to configure.
How we picked
We read each host’s own Valheim page from a US connection on 10 October 2026 and compared what a full 10-Viking world costs per month, the memory and processor behind each plan, where the servers sit, how crossplay and mods are handled, backups and refund terms. Every fact below comes from the host’s page or from Iron Gate. Two familiar names, BisectHosting and Nitrado, load their Valheim prices only inside a browser, so we could not check them for the table; Streamline showed prices only in Australian dollars, even from a US connection.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What a Valheim server actually needs
- Players: 1 to 10. Iron Gate built 1.0 for that range, and mods are the only way past it.
- Memory: Iron Gate publishes no figure, so hosts fill the gap themselves. XGamingServer marks its 6 GB plan as recommended. Godlike’s managed 10-slot plans start at 6 GB, and LOW.MS pairs 10 slots with 10 GB.
- Network: on the Steam backend, the server uses ports 2456 and 2457, which must be reachable from the internet. The crossplay backend sends traffic through a relay instead, so it needs no port forwarding, but players cannot join it through a local IP address.
- Linux: a self-managed server needs GLIBC 2.29 and GLIBCXX 3.4.26 or newer, plus the libatomic1, libpulse0 and libpulse-dev packages. Iron Gate ships a Docker start script for older systems.
1. Godlike.Host: a Valheim VPS with reserved CPU and RAM
Godlike.Host sells Valheim as a virtual private server, so the machine’s CPU and memory belong to your server alone. Every plan is its own KVM virtual machine, powered by AMD’s third-gen EPYC Milan chips, and the CPU cores and memory you pay for are guaranteed to your server alone, with no overselling, plus NVMe storage and 1 TB of traffic. The smallest plan already carries 16 GB of memory and four vCPU cores, with 20 GB and 32 GB plans above it, which leaves room for a modded world or extra tools running beside the game.
#1 Best Overall
- Versatile Compatibility: Supports Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One X/S consoles, and PC Win10 and above (including the Steam game platform).
- Precise Control: Features Hall Joysticks and Hall trigger for comfortable feel, long life, and enhanced gaming accuracy.
- Plug-and-Play Convenience: USB wired connection (detachable) for easy setup and instant gaming without the need for additional drivers.
- Customizable Experience: Includes 2 custom back keys, allowing users to eliminate false triggers and enhance their gaming experience.
- Immersive Gameplay: Offers pulse type vibration trigger motor and asymmetric vibration grip motor for immersive tactile feedback.
Valheim comes pre-installed, and the VirtFusion panel handles reboots, reinstalls and monitoring without Linux commands; Godlike says setup takes a few minutes once payment clears. You keep full control over mods and configuration, take snapshots and restore points before risky changes, and get DDoS protection, IPv4 and IPv6, and a 99.9% uptime target. Godlike’s VPS page does not mention crossplay, but full control includes the launch options, and Iron Gate’s -crossplay argument is what moves a server onto the crossplay backend.
Prefer a managed game server? Godlike also runs regular Valheim servers on a Pterodactyl-based panel, with an automated mod installer and updater, as many as three free backups per day, SFTP access, a personal firewall and management through a Discord bot.
The catch: Godlike lists one USA-East data center for its Valheim VPS plans, so crews in Europe, Asia or Oceania will feel the distance in their ping.
2. XGamingServer: best for crews spread across regions
XGamingServer’s Valheim machines use Ryzen 9 7950X chips with DDR5 memory and threads reserved per server, spread over five regions: the East and West Coasts of North America, Germany, Singapore and Australia or New Zealand. That spread matters now that console players join through crossplay, and XGamingServer lists full crossplay for PC, PS5, Xbox and Switch 2.
The panel installs BepInEx and Thunderstore mods in one click, including ValheimPlus and Epic Loot, and keeps automated daily backups of both world files, the .fwl metadata and the .db save, with one-click restores. Servers update automatically on every patch, can switch to the public test branch, and roll back from the panel if a patch breaks a save. Slot counts are yours to choose.
The catch: the Starter plan in our table has 4 GB, while the plan XGamingServer itself marks as recommended is the 6 GB tier above it.
3. Kinetic Hosting: best for memory per dollar
Kinetic’s Valheim plans start at 8 GB of RAM on hardware up to the Ryzen 9 9950X, which boosts to 5.7 GHz, with six CPU threads on the entry plan and eight on the 12 GB plan above it. There are no player caps, every plan includes five backup slots and up to four server splits, and switching the server to a different supported game is allowed at any time.
Crossplay can be enabled on every Kinetic Valheim server, all mods are supported, and you keep full file access. Support is human only, with no bots or AI, and refunds come with no questions asked within seven days of a first or renewal payment, or within 14 days if the hosting is at fault.
Rank #2
- Anti-drift Hall Effect sticks: Using GameSir non-contact magnetic Hall Effect technology to ensure the sticks never wear down in their lifetime and provide an ultra lifespan of up to 5 million cycles, GameSir T7 prevents stick drift and secures reliable, durable stick performance for gaming on Xbox, PC and Steam.
- Precision-tuned Hall effect analog triggers: With precision-tuned Hall Effect triggers for a consistent, smooth pull, get ready to race with confidence and enjoy a seamless gaming experience like never before.
- Realistic and subtle vibration: The controller features a total of four rumble motors, with one motor in each grip and trigger, providing immersive and realistic vibration feedback. Additionally, the two asymmetric actuators in the grips enhance the realism of the vibrations, ensuring that every small crash and shot is felt in your hands as if it were happening on the spot.
- Comfort Ergonomic Design and textured surface: The ergonomic design, combined with the delicate laser-textured surface on the grips, bumpers, and triggers, ensures a secure hold and provides a comfortable, stable grip, even during extended gaming sessions.
- 3.5mm headphone jack: The 3.5mm audio jack allows easy headset connection for immersive sound and clear communication.
The catch: the Valheim page lists no data centers, so check Kinetic’s separate locations page before you order.
4. LOW.MS: best for choosing a nearby location
LOW.MS names 13 data centers on its Valheim page: Amsterdam, Nuremberg, Helsinki and Warsaw in Europe; Ashburn, Miami, Dallas, San Jose, Los Angeles and Bend in North America; and Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne in Asia and Oceania. It notes that the location you pick also decides which region your server appears under in the in-game browser.
Its Nexus panel searches Thunderstore and installs mods in one click, BepInEx and dependencies included. A Backups tab copies the world off the server on demand, a scheduled task can do it nightly, and updates can be pulled as soon as Iron Gate ships a build. Console players join crossplay servers with the six-digit code shown in the panel, plans run from 10 to 64 slots for modded communities, and refunds are full within five days.
The catch: asked about hardware, the page says only that it uses top-tier Intel or AMD machines, without naming a processor.
5. Indifferent Broccoli: best for small groups paying per player
Indifferent Broccoli charges per player seat, one to ten, and leaves RAM uncapped on every plan, on machines it says carry at least 128 GB. A duo pays only for two seats, and a big BepInEx modlist does not push anyone into a memory upgrade.
Servers run in six regions across North America, Europe and Asia. The panel uploads existing worlds, installs mods, switches crossplay on and edits startup parameters, with full file access. You can try a server for two days without a credit card, a seven-day refund policy applies after that, and a Discord bot, subusers and a shared bill make it easy to run as a group.
The catch: because only the player count changes the price, a full crew of ten pays for the top tier, as the table shows.
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6. GPORTAL: best for ValheimPlus out of the box
GPORTAL builds ValheimPlus into its web interface, with a separate tab for its 400-plus settings, from build options to player limits. Other BepInEx and Thunderstore mods install in one click from the same interface, existing saves import easily, and each server comes with 50 GB of storage set aside for save and config backups. Crossplay covers PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
Rank #3
- Widely Compatible - Play your favorite games across multiple platforms: Switch/Switch2, iOS (iPhone/iPad/Mac and Apple TV including Apple Arcade), Android (phones/tablets/TV boxes including Fire TV), Windows PC, Steam Deck, and Tesla Arcade.
- We've implemented regular upgrades to our gaming controller, and this latest version now features dynamic RGB lighting effects. While the daytime appearance matches the product images, the lights transform into an even cooler spectacle at night. Powered by an optimized 800mAh+ battery delivering 10-15 hours of gameplay. Allowing you to dominate each battle with more personality and become the center of attention.
- Pro-Grade Gaming Controls - Features Bluetooth 5.0 for lag-free connection, dual precision vibration motors with 3 adjustable levels, high-sensitivity 6-axis gyroscope, customizable Turbo rapid-fire, programmable M1/M2 back buttons, and instant one-touch reconnect/wake-up for seamless gameplay. Experience precision control with joysticks rated at ≤0.3% error, and the ability to swap YXBA/XYAB button functions in any connection mode.
- Wired Controller Mode - For games compatible with wired controllers, the included accessories are highly practical. The package comes with a 25cm USB-C to USB-C cable (with a phone holder), which is instantly recognized by iPhone 15/16/17 and Android devices like Samsung and Motorola (more convenient than Bluetooth).
- The set also includes a 100cm (3.3ft) USB-C to USB-C cable, ideal for iPad 10/iPad Pro, Android tablets, PCs, and Tesla gaming. Plus, you’ll get a USB-C to USB-A adapter—connect to traditional devices or charge effortlessly. Experience true plug-and-play simplicity.
Servers come online in under three minutes, Bulwark and Corero filter DDoS attacks, and support runs around the clock through tickets. Rentals can be as short as three days, which makes a cheap trial for a new group.
The catch: GPORTAL itself recommends regular backups when using ValheimPlus, warning that the mod can cause complications.
Comparison table
| Host | Key fact | Entry plan | Players | Crossplay | Backups | Monthly price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godlike.Host | VPS with guaranteed CPU and RAM | KVM VPS, 16 GB, 4 vCPU | Up to 10 (game limit) | Not described; set by launch option | Snapshots and restore points | $39.99 (16 GB VPS) |
| XGamingServer | Five regions; crossplay incl. Switch 2 | Starter, 4 GB, 2 threads | Set by you | PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch 2 | Automated daily | $10 (4 GB Starter; its recommended 6 GB plan is $15) |
| Kinetic Hosting | 8 GB entry plan; no player caps | 8 GB, 6 threads | No caps | Can be enabled | 5 backup slots | $7.99 (8 GB) |
| LOW.MS | 13 named data centers | 10 slots, 10 GB | 10 to 64 slots | Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch 2 | On demand and scheduled | $10.99 (10 slots) |
| Indifferent Broccoli | Priced per player; RAM uncapped | 1 player, uncapped RAM | 1 to 10 | Can be switched on | From the panel | $5.99 (1 player; 10 players cost $18.99) |
| GPORTAL | ValheimPlus built in | 10 slots | 10 recommended | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | 50 GB set aside | $15.59 for 30 days, 10 slots |
US list prices, checked 10-Oct-2026. Monthly rates as listed; first-month codes and sale offers are left out.
Crossplay in Valheim 1.0: what to check
Crossplay has to be switched on in two places. The server must run on the crossplay backend, which Iron Gate enables with the -crossplay argument and most hosts expose as a checkbox, and players must allow crossplay on their side; on Xbox, the option can be hidden by parental controls. Once the server is up, its join code appears in the pause menu, and a friend on any platform adds the server by choosing Add server under Join Game and pasting the code.
Two limits are worth knowing. An Xbox cannot host a dedicated server, although it can join one. And because the crossplay backend relays traffic, players connect with the public address, a join code or the server list, never a local IP address, which matters if someone plays on the same network as a self-hosted machine.
Mods: what Iron Gate’s stance means for your server
Valheim has no official mod support. Iron Gate’s position is that anyone creating or using mods does so at their own risk, and that it cannot guarantee they will work with newer versions of the game. Its 1.0 FAQ adds that console versions get no mods and that there is no Steam Workshop. In practice, a server that needs mods on every player’s game shuts out friends on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch 2. XGamingServer goes further and says a crossplay-enabled server cannot load BepInEx mods at all, because console players cannot install them, so a mixed group is better served by vanilla rules and world modifiers. After each game update, give modders time to catch up before you update a heavily modded world, and back it up first.
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Iron Gate’s official server guide lists the launch arguments that shape a world, and most host panels expose them as fields:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- -preset applies a world modifier preset: Normal, Casual, Easy, Hard, Hardcore, Immersive or Hammer.
- -modifier fine-tunes combat, death penalty, resources, raids and portals, and goes after any preset, which otherwise overwrites it.
- -setkey toggles nobuildcost, playerevents, passivemobs or nomap.
- -saveinterval sets how often the world saves, every 30 minutes by default.
- -backups, -backupshort and -backuplong control automatic backups. By default the server keeps four: one two hours old and three taken 12 hours apart.
- -public 0 hides the server from the browser so that it is joinable only by IP.
One note from the 1.0 FAQ: Hammer mode counts as a temporary cheat and blocks certain achievements, and most dev commands permanently lock a character and world out of achievements.
Rank #4
- [Light Up Memory Game] This Skywin controller game lights up to create a visually stimulating and engaging experience. It's an electronic memory game that challenges your cognitive skills and keeps you on your toes.
- [Thrilling Speed & Accuracy Challenge] This Perfection Game tests reflexes and precision, creating an exciting, fast-paced experience that keeps kids and adults engaged. Sharpen focus and hand-eye coordination while racing against the clock for endless fun.
- [Versatile Gaming] From being a handheld video game to a mini arcade game, this light up memory controller game offers multiple ways to play. It's perfect for both individual play and family game nights.
- [Educational Fun for Growing Minds] More than just playtime, this light up toy doubles as a learning tool that boosts focus, logic, and recall. Perfect for games for kids ages 4-8, it strengthens memory and cognitive skills through fun, engaging challenges.
- [Sensory Learning Play] A fun and engaging light up memory game that supports focus, color recognition, and cognitive growth. Perfect as autism toys for kids 5-7, it encourages interactive learning and provides stimulating, screen-free entertainment anywhere.
Admins, bans and whitelists
Permissions live in three text files in the server’s save folder: adminlist.txt, bannedlist.txt and permittedlist.txt. Each takes one Platform User ID per line, in the case-sensitive form [Platform]_[User ID], which you can read from the server log or the in-game F2 panel. Be careful with the permitted list: adding even one person to it bans everyone not on it. Admins open the console with F5 and can use Kick, Ban, Unban and Banned. If you run the server yourself, stop it with Ctrl+C in its window rather than closing the window, which Iron Gate warns may leave it running in the background.
Moving an existing world
A Valheim world is a pair of files, a .fwl and a .db, and every host here accepts uploads. Iron Gate gives the default save folder as %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim on Windows and ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim on Linux. Older worlds carry into 1.0 and receive new content, but Iron Gate notes that new biome generation only works properly in areas nobody has explored, meaning no player has set foot within roughly 500 metres. If your crew has already roamed far, a fresh world shows off the update best.
Want to see more of the field? Our full directory of Valheim server hosts ranks 15 providers side by side.
FAQ
What is the player limit on a Valheim server?
Ten. Iron Gate caps servers at 10 players and describes 1.0 as a game for 1 to 10; only mods lift the limit.
Do I need port forwarding?
Only on the Steam backend, which uses ports 2456 and 2457. A server on the crossplay backend relays its traffic and needs no forwarding.
Can Xbox, PlayStation and Switch 2 players join a hosted server?
Yes, if the server has crossplay enabled and the players allow crossplay on their side. They can join with the server’s join code.
Does Iron Gate run official servers?
No. The studio provides no official servers and has no access to players’ worlds, which is why groups rent or run their own.
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Iron Gate gives no figure. The hosts’ own plans point to 6 to 10 GB for a full crew, and more for heavy modlists.
Can I try a host before paying for a month?
Yes. Indifferent Broccoli gives two days free without a credit card, and GPORTAL rents servers for as little as three days.
