Palworld Server Cost: Home PC vs Renting (2026)

The Palworld server cost comes down to two options. Hosting it yourself costs nothing in software (the dedicated server is a no-cost download on Steam), but you pay with your own PC, electricity, internet and time. Renting one costs a fixed monthly fee: on TheGameHosting, from $6.96/month for 8 GB of RAM (the minimum Palworld runs on) or $12.89/month for the 16 GB that Pocketpair recommends. This guide breaks down both, with the official requirements, so you can see which one is cheaper for your group.

How much does the Palworld server software cost?

Nothing. Pocketpair publishes the dedicated server on Steam as its own app (ID 2394010), and you can download it anonymously with SteamCMD, without logging in to a Steam account:

SteamCMD

steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quit

Every player still needs their own copy of the game (Palworld was listed at $29.99 on the US Steam store when we checked in November 2026). After that, the only costs are where the server runs: your hardware or a rented one.

What a Palworld server needs (official requirements)

These come from the official Palworld server guide. They decide which PC can host and which rented plan makes sense:

Component	Pocketpair's guidance
CPU	4 cores or more recommended
Memory	16 GB recommended, more than 32 GB for larger servers; 8 GB boots but raises the risk of crashes from running out of memory
Storage	A fast SSD; slow storage may corrupt save data
Network	UDP port 8211 by default (changeable), with port forwarding on your router
Operating system	Windows or Linux, 64-bit

One detail people miss: the Palworld game itself lists 16 GB of RAM as its minimum on Steam. If you play and host on the same PC, the game and the server compete for the same memory.

The real cost of hosting a Palworld server on your own PC

Home hosting looks like it costs nothing, but every line below is something you pay in money or time:

Cost	What it means at home
Hardware	A PC that can stay on with 4+ cores, an SSD and enough RAM for the server (and for the game, if you play on it)
Electricity	The PC runs every hour your friends want to play, not just when you do
Internet	Upload speed for every player, plus UDP 8211 forwarded; if your provider uses CGNAT, port forwarding does not work
Uptime	When the PC sleeps, updates or reboots, the world is offline for everyone
Maintenance	Updating with SteamCMD after each patch, scheduling restarts, keeping backups of the save
Security	Your home IP is the server address everyone connects to

How to estimate the electricity

Your power bill is easy to estimate. Take the watts your PC draws while hosting, multiply by hours on, and by the price per kWh on your bill:

Formula

monthly cost = watts x hours per day x 30 / 1000 x price per kWh

Example: a PC drawing 200 W, on 24 hours a day, uses 4.8 kWh a day, or 144 kWh in 30 days. At an example rate of $0.15 per kWh, that is $21.60 a month, already more than our 16 GB plan. Plug in your own wattage and your own rate; the point is that home hosting is not zero-cost if the PC stays on all day.

What about plain co-op?

Co-op from inside the game costs nothing extra, but the Steam page lists online co-op at up to 4 players and the world only exists while the host is playing. A dedicated server holds up to 32 players and runs whether or not you are online. We compare both in Palworld co-op vs dedicated server.

How much does it cost to rent a Palworld server?

On TheGameHosting you pay for RAM, and everything else (CPU, storage, network, DDoS protection) is the same on every plan. Palworld needs at least 8 GB, so it runs on six of our nine plans:

Plan	Price per month	With FULL2026 (15% off for life)	Good for
8 GB	$6.96	about $5.92	Small group of friends, few bases, daily restart
10 GB	$8.59	about $7.30	A bit more room for bases and Pals
12 GB	$9.99	about $8.49	10 to 20 players with active bases
16 GB	$12.89	about $10.96	Pocketpair's recommended size; full servers and long-running worlds
32 GB	$22.99	about $19.54	Large communities or heavy settings
64 GB	$44.19	about $37.56	Several servers or very large worlds

Prices are in US dollars per month. Slots are unlimited, there is no setup fee and you can cancel whenever you want. The 2, 4 and 6 GB plans are not an option for Palworld. Not sure where your group fits? Our guide on how much RAM a Palworld server needs goes deeper.

Palworld server cost: home PC vs rented, side by side

	Your own PC	TheGameHosting
Software	No cost	Included in the plan
Monthly fee	None, but you pay electricity and hardware	From $6.96 (8 GB) or $12.89 (16 GB)
Online when you are not	Only if your PC stays on	24/7
Port forwarding	UDP 8211 on your router, no CGNAT	Not needed: the panel gives you IP and port
Hardware	Whatever you have	AMD Ryzen 9950X / 7950X3D up to 5.7 GHz, DDR5, Samsung NVMe
DDoS protection	None; your home IP is exposed	Included
Backups and restarts	You set them up	Backups and Schedules in the panel
Your PC while you play	Shares RAM and CPU with the server	All yours

What you get for the monthly fee

A Palworld server from TheGameHosting is ready about 60 seconds after payment and includes:

Hardware built for it: AMD Ryzen 9950X / 7950X3D CPUs up to 5.7 GHz, DDR5 RAM, Samsung NVMe storage (Pocketpair asks for a fast SSD), a 10 Gbps network and UPS power.
DDoS protection included, so attacks hit our network, not your home connection.
Dallas (US) or Amsterdam (Netherlands), with the Location Changer if your group changes.
Panel tools: Console, a File Manager to edit PalWorldSettings.ini in the browser (see our PalWorldSettings.ini guide), full SFTP, Backups, Schedules for automatic restarts, and 2 databases.
Game Changer: the same plan can switch to another of our 60+ games if your group moves on.
24/7 support by live chat, email and tickets.

How to start your Palworld server

Pick a RAM size: 8 GB for a small group, 16 GB if you want Pocketpair's recommended size.
Open the plans and pricing page and order that plan.
Enter the code FULL2026 at checkout for 15% off every renewal, for life.
Choose Dallas or Amsterdam, whichever is closer to most of your players.
Copy the IP and port from your server page once it is ready (about 60 seconds after payment).
Share the address with your friends and edit PalWorldSettings.ini from Files if you want custom rules.

So, how much does a Palworld server cost?

The software costs nothing. Hosting on your PC costs hardware, electricity, a router you can configure and a PC that never turns off. Renting costs a fixed $6.96 a month for the minimum 8 GB, or $12.89 for the 16 GB Pocketpair recommends, and the world is online for your friends whether you are playing or not. If the numbers above tip the balance, pick your size on our game server pricing page and use FULL2026 to keep 15% off for as long as you have the server.

FAQ

How much does a Palworld server cost?

The dedicated server software has no cost on Steam. Renting one on TheGameHosting costs from $6.96/month for 8 GB of RAM, or $12.89/month for the 16 GB Pocketpair recommends. Hosting at home costs hardware, electricity and time.

How much does a server cost in Palworld for 4 friends?

For a small group with a few bases, the 8 GB plan at $6.96/month is enough to start. If you want the size Pocketpair recommends, the 16 GB plan costs $12.89/month.

Is it cheaper to host a Palworld server on my own PC?

Only if the PC is already on most of the day anyway. A PC left on 24/7 adds to your electricity bill, needs UDP 8211 forwarded and shares its RAM with the game if you play on it.

How much RAM does a Palworld server need?

Pocketpair's official guide recommends 16 GB. 8 GB can boot the server but increases the risk of crashes from running out of memory, and larger servers can need more than 32 GB.

Is there a discount code for a Palworld server?

Yes. FULL2026 gives 15% off on TheGameHosting for life, on every renewal of the plan.

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Written by TheGameHosting Team, the people who run our servers in Dallas and Amsterdam and answer your tickets.

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