Head-to-head · ARK Server Hosting
Survival Servers vs Citadel Servers
Survival Servers leads on 1 check, Citadel Servers on 3, 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 scoreSurvival Servers · 9.0/10
- Lowest starting priceCitadel Servers · $13.25/mo
- Most featuresSurvival Servers · 5 of 6
Survival Servers scores higher on our rubric for ark server hosting: 9.0 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.
Citadel Servers is cheaper to start at $13.25/mo against $15.53/mo. Citadel Servers leads on entry slots: 15 slots versus 10 slots. Citadel Servers leads on locations: 29 locations versus 8 locations. Survival Servers leads on refund window: 3 days versus 0 days.
Survival Servers is the better fit for crossplay Ascended servers on a smaller budget. Citadel Servers is the better fit for cheap multi-location clusters on either edition.
- Survival Servers fits best
Crossplay Ascended servers on a smaller budget
- Citadel Servers fits best
Cheap multi-location clusters on either edition
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Side by side
| Feature | Survival Servers 9.0/10 Visit ↗ | Citadel Servers 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.0 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #3 in ARK Server Hosting | #5 in ARK Server Hosting |
| Best for | Crossplay Ascended servers on a smaller budget | Cheap multi-location clusters on either edition |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | $15.53/mo | $13.25/mo (best) |
| Free trial | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Features Survival Servers 5/6 · Citadel Servers 4/6 | ||
| Console players | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Mod installer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clusters | ✓ | ✓ |
| Game switching | Not checked yet | 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 | 8 locations | 29 locations (best) |
| Refund window | 3 days (best) | 0 days |
| Control panel | Survival Servers panel (in-house) | TCAdmin (customised) |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Survival Servers offers both ARK editions on the same terms: 10 slots for $15.53 a month on Standard hardware, or three days for $4.66 if you only want to test a map. Premium hardware, which the host says is about 30% faster, costs more,… 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 → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Survival Servers — where it wins
- ASA crossplay for Steam, Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Game Pass players
- All 10 official ASA maps one click away, each keeping its own save
- ASA database backups every 30 minutes, kept for five days
Where it doesn't
- Eight locations, all in the US, France, Germany and Singapore
- Premium hardware costs extra over the Standard tier
- Refunds are promised only for the first 72 hours
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
- Survival Servers9.0/10 · Per slot · rentals from 3 days
Both ARK editions from $15.53 for 10 slots, with ASA crossplay, PS4 Evolved servers and 30-minute backups.
See Survival ServersFull 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 →
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All ARK server hosting comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update