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Head-to-head · ARK Server Hosting

Nitrado vs Citadel Servers

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 9 checks side by side
Higher score Nitrado #2 in ARK Server Hosting 9.2/10 Per slot · 3 to 365-day runtimes ✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Nitrado
Citadel Servers #5 in ARK Server Hosting 8.6/10 Paid plans · price varies by game ✓ 4 of 6 features Visit Citadel

Nitrado leads on 0 checks, Citadel Servers on 3, and 6 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 scoreNitrado · 9.2/10
  • Lowest starting priceCitadel Servers · $13.25/mo
  • Most featuresNitrado · 6 of 6

Nitrado scores higher on our rubric for ark server hosting: 9.2 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #5.

Citadel Servers is cheaper to start at $13.25/mo against $16.19/mo. Citadel Servers leads on entry slots: 15 slots versus 10 slots. Citadel Servers leads on locations: 29 locations versus 9 locations.

Nitrado is the better fit for tribes mixing PC and console players. Citadel Servers is the better fit for cheap multi-location clusters on either edition.

  • Nitrado fits best

    Tribes mixing PC and console players

  • Citadel Servers fits best

    Cheap multi-location clusters on either edition

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Side by side

Feature Nitrado 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Citadel Servers 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.6
Ranking #2 in ARK Server Hosting #5 in ARK Server Hosting
Best for Tribes mixing PC and console players Cheap multi-location clusters on either edition
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $16.19/mo $13.25/mo (best)
Free trial Not checked yet Not checked yet
Features Nitrado 6/6 · Citadel Servers 4/6
Console players ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Mod installer ✓ ✓
Clusters ✓ ✓
Game switching ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Auto backups ✓ ✓
DDoS protection ✓ ✓
Specs
Editions ASE + ASA ASE + ASA
Priced by Per slot Per slot
Entry RAM Not checked yet Not checked yet
Entry slots 10 slots 15 slots (best)
Locations 9 locations 29 locations (best)
Refund window Not checked yet 0 days
Control panel Nitrado web interface TCAdmin (customised)
Our review
Pros
  • ASA crossplay across PC, Xbox and PlayStation 5, with CurseForge mods
  • ASE servers for PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch
  • CrossARK transfers, daily backups and up to five games per server
  • 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
  • The 20-slot ASA package cannot run Astraeos or Lost Colony
  • Pricing is per slot and per 30 days, so big tribes pay steeply
  • No money-back window is published in its terms
  • 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

Nitrado covers more of ARK than anyone else here. Its Ascended servers support crossplay between PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and the Microsoft Store version, with CurseForge mods, including crossplay mods, managed from the web…

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. NitradoARK Server Hosting 9.2Per slot · 3 to 365-day runtimes
  2. Citadel ServersARK Server Hosting 8.6Paid plans · price varies by game

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Nitrado — where it wins

    • ASA crossplay across PC, Xbox and PlayStation 5, with CurseForge mods
    • ASE servers for PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch
    • CrossARK transfers, daily backups and up to five games per server

    Where it doesn't

    • The 20-slot ASA package cannot run Astraeos or Lost Colony
    • Pricing is per slot and per 30 days, so big tribes pay steeply
    • No money-back window is published in its terms

  • 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
  • Nitrado9.2/10 · Per slot · 3 to 365-day runtimes

    The broadest ARK coverage: Ascended with PC, Xbox and PS5 crossplay, plus Evolved for PC and consoles.

    Visit NitradoFull 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