Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · ARK Server Hosting

Host Havoc vs Citadel Servers

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 9 checks side by side
Higher score Host Havoc #4 in ARK Server Hosting 8.8/10 Per slot · 72-hour guarantee ✓ 4 of 6 features Visit Host Havoc
Citadel Servers #5 in ARK Server Hosting 8.6/10 Paid plans · price varies by game ✓ 4 of 6 features Visit Citadel

Host Havoc leads on 2 checks, Citadel Servers on 2, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 9 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreHost Havoc · 8.8/10
  • Lowest starting priceCitadel Servers · $13.25/mo

Host Havoc scores higher on our rubric for ark server hosting: 8.8 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.

Citadel Servers is cheaper to start at $13.25/mo against $15/mo. On editions, Citadel Servers gives you ASE + ASA where Host Havoc offers ASE only. Host Havoc leads on entry slots: 30 slots versus 15 slots. Citadel Servers leads on locations: 29 locations versus 14 locations. Host Havoc leads on refund window: 3 days versus 0 days.

Host Havoc is the better fit for evolved clusters across several maps. Citadel Servers is the better fit for cheap multi-location clusters on either edition.

  • Host Havoc fits best

    Evolved clusters across several maps

  • Citadel Servers fits best

    Cheap multi-location clusters on either edition

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Host Havoc 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Citadel Servers 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.6
Ranking #4 in ARK Server Hosting #5 in ARK Server Hosting
Best for Evolved clusters across several maps Cheap multi-location clusters on either edition
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $15/mo $13.25/mo (best)
Free trial Not checked yet Not checked yet
Features Host Havoc 4/6 · Citadel Servers 4/6
Console players — Not checked yet
Mod installer ✓ ✓
Clusters ✓ ✓
Game switching Not checked yet Not checked yet
Auto backups ✓ ✓
DDoS protection ✓ ✓
Specs
Editions ASE only ASE + ASA
Priced by Per slot Per slot
Entry RAM Not checked yet Not checked yet
Entry slots 30 slots (best) 15 slots
Locations 14 locations 29 locations (best)
Refund window 3 days (best) 0 days
Control panel TCAdmin v2 (modified) TCAdmin (customised)
Our review
Pros
  • Automatic clustering at no extra cost, even across different locations
  • One-click Steam Workshop installs, including Workshop collections
  • ARK API plugins supported through FTP and the file manager
  • Switch the same server between Evolved and Ascended
  • 1,000+ one-click mods, including Workshop mods, ARK API and Ark Remote
  • Full clustering and 29 locations, from Oslo to São Paulo
Cons
  • No Ascended servers; Evolved on Steam and Epic only
  • Genesis 2 and Lost Island need 16 GB, which costs more
  • No consoles and no free trial
  • Game servers sit outside Citadel's 7-day money-back guarantee
  • Asian and Australian locations add $6.18 to $7.99 a month
  • No mention of console players on the ARK page
Our verdict

Host Havoc does not host Ascended, but for Evolved it has one of the most admin-friendly setups we found. Thirty slots cost $15 a month before billing-term discounts, up to 100 slots, on the Steam and Epic versions of the game. The page…

Read the review →

Citadel Servers treats ARK as a single cloud product: you order once, then switch the server to the ARK version you want, with Ascended included and ARK 2 promised when it launches. Fifteen slots cost $13.25 a month at the base locations,…

Read the review →
  1. Host HavocARK Server Hosting 8.8Per slot · 72-hour guarantee
  2. Citadel ServersARK Server Hosting 8.6Paid plans · price varies by game

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Host Havoc — where it wins

    • Automatic clustering at no extra cost, even across different locations
    • One-click Steam Workshop installs, including Workshop collections
    • ARK API plugins supported through FTP and the file manager

    Where it doesn't

    • No Ascended servers; Evolved on Steam and Epic only
    • Genesis 2 and Lost Island need 16 GB, which costs more
    • No consoles and no free trial

  • Citadel Servers — where it wins

    • Switch the same server between Evolved and Ascended
    • 1,000+ one-click mods, including Workshop mods, ARK API and Ark Remote
    • Full clustering and 29 locations, from Oslo to São Paulo

    Where it doesn't

    • Game servers sit outside Citadel's 7-day money-back guarantee
    • Asian and Australian locations add $6.18 to $7.99 a month
    • No mention of console players on the ARK page
  • Host Havoc8.8/10 · Per slot · 72-hour guarantee

    Evolved-only, but free automatic clustering, Workshop collections and ARK API plugins suit serious admins.

    Visit Host HavocFull verdict →
  • Citadel Servers8.6/10 · Paid plans · price varies by game

    One ARK product that switches between Evolved and Ascended, from $13.25 for 15 slots across 29 locations.

    Visit CitadelFull verdict →

More comparisons

All ARK server hosting comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update