Sparked Host
Bone
- 8 GB RAM
from$8.00/mo
- Low per-GB prices on several games (e.g. Valheim $1.50/GB Enterprise tier, Zomboid $1/GB)
- 1-day free trial (Valheim page)
Price checked September 28, 2026
Advertising disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It does not change the price you pay or the order of the list.
Game server
Sons of the Forest server hosting for your co-op group
Sons of the Forest server hosting keeps the island, your base and your co-op save online even when the friend who usually hosts is offline. The calculator below sizes the plan for your player count and mods, and the offers show who sells it.
RAM calculator
You need at least
5 GB RAM · 2 vCPU
Our rule of thumb with headroom, never below the developer’s published minimum.
Cheapest VPS plans with 6 GB RAM → Contabo · Cloud VPS 4 · $6.26/mo
Hosts that run this game
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It does not change the price you pay or the order of the list.
G-Portal (GPORTAL)
8 slots
- 👥 8
from$12.52/mo
- Calls itself 'the world's largest Valheim hoster'; ValheimPlus in web interface, 1-click BepInEx/Thunderstore mods
- Server online in under 3 minutes; 50 GB backup space; 24/7 ticket support
Price checked September 28, 2026
Nitrado
8 slots
- 👥 8
from$12.99/mo
- Only host found selling console (PS/Xbox/Switch) servers for DayZ and ARK
- ARK: Survival Ascended official licensing partner (per ARK wiki EULA note)
Price checked September 28, 2026
Apex Hosting
6 GB
- 6 GB RAM
from$16.87/mo
- Established Minecraft specialist
- Unlimited slots
Price checked September 28, 2026 · Renews at $22.49/mo
Shockbyte
Kelvin
- 8 GB RAM
- 👥 8
from$19.99/mo
- Cheap entry plans named after Minecraft blocks
- Big affiliate payout
Price checked September 28, 2026
BisectHosting
8gb
- 8 GB RAM
from$23.99/mo
- 21 locations
- 2,300+ one-click modpacks
Price checked September 28, 2026
Game host or your own VPS?
| Game host | Own VPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | One click in a panel | Terminal / SteamCMD |
| RAM per dollar | Less | More |
| Mods | From the panel | By hand |
| Several games at once | Paid separately | On one server |
What a Sons of the Forest server needs
Sons of the Forest is built for small co-op groups, so the load comes less from player count and more from what you build and how much of the island is active. Large log-and-plank bases, many placed items, and the AI of cannibals, mutants and companions like Kelvin and Virginia near each player all add up.
Mods play a smaller role than in some survival games, but community mod loaders exist. If you use them, check that they support dedicated servers and leave some headroom in the plan.
For most groups stability matters more than raw power: a server that stays up for weeks without corrupting the save is worth more than headroom you never use. Choose a location close to all players, because co-op fights against mutants feel bad with lag.
Sons of the Forest server hosting or a VPS?
The dedicated server is a Steam tool configured through a JSON settings file: server name, password, game mode, save slot and more. Game hosts turn that into a form, keep the server updated and restart it for you, which is the easy route for most groups.
The dedicated server is distributed for Windows. On a Linux VPS it needs a compatibility layer such as Wine, which works but adds setup steps and something else to fix after updates. If you want your own machine, a Windows VPS or a host with ready-made support is simpler.
Tip: bring your co-op save with you
You do not have to start over. In most cases an existing multiplayer save can be moved to the dedicated server by copying its save slot folder and pointing the server settings at it. Stop the server before copying, and keep the original.
- Set a server password so strangers cannot join your island
- Back up the save automatically and keep several dated copies
- Restart and update the server after every game patch
- Check the save before each big build - rebuilding a treehouse is no fun
Set it up in 5 steps
- Size the plan with the calculator for your player count and mods.
- Pick a game host or a Windows-capable server from the offers, close to your group.
- Install the Sons of the Forest dedicated server from the panel or with SteamCMD.
- Set the server name, password, game mode and save slot in the panel or settings file.
- Copy in your co-op save if you have one, join from the game and schedule backups.
Server requirements (community wiki)
- RAM
- not published
- CPU
- not published
- Ports
- UDP 8766 (game), UDP 27016 (query), UDP 9700 (blob sync)
- Max players
- 8
Source: steamcommunity.com · September 28, 2026
Questions people ask
How much does Sons of the Forest server hosting cost?
It depends on memory, location and billing term. The offers above list current prices with the date we checked them; the calculator tells you which plan size is enough for your group.
Can I move my co-op save to a dedicated server?
Usually yes: copy the multiplayer save slot folder to the server and set the matching slot in the settings. Stop the server first and keep a backup of the original save.
Why can’t my friends see the server?
Check that the server runs the same game version as the players, that the password matches, and - if you host it yourself - that the game’s ports are open in the firewall. Game hosts handle the ports for you.
Can I run the server on Linux?
Only through a compatibility layer such as Wine, because the dedicated server ships for Windows. It works for many admins, but a Windows VPS or a game host is the simpler option.
Other games
Valheim serverYour own Viking world, always online for the whole crewPalworld serverA persistent Palworld world for your guild, online around the clockMinecraft serverJava or Bedrock, vanilla to modpacks, for friends or a communityARK serverARK: Survival Ascended servers for tribes, clusters and mods7 Days to Die serverHorde nights with your crew on a server that never sleepsProject Zomboid serverA persistent Knox County for your group, with Workshop modsRust serverYour own Rust server with your wipe schedule, rules and pluginsEnshrouded serverA dedicated world for your group of Flameborn, online 24/7Hytale serverHosting Hytale with friends: options and what to check firstDayZ serverA DayZ server with your own mods, loot and rules for your communityArma Reforger serverYour own Arma Reforger server for your unit or a public community
Sparked Host · Bone
from $8.00/moSee plan →
from $8.00/moSee plan →